Fishing could not get better going into the second week of August on the East End. Well, maybe it could — but it seems darn good right now.
Striped bass, fluke, sea bass, porgies and cocktail blues are all hitting good right now.
Steve Sponza, owner of Wego Fishing Bait and Tackle in Southold reports big porgies still being caught on clam bellies and bottom rigs are producing 6-to-8-pound weakfish.
Cocktail blues off Jessup Neck have been great, Sponza says. Everyone is nailing them. Blowfish — puffers or “chicken of the sea” — are all over the bay.
Sponza also says he’s getting reports of 40-pound bass being caught off Horton’s Point at night while drifting on incoming tide.
Phil Kess, owner and captain of the Fishy Business charter boat out of Port of Egypt, is reporting catches of nice size striped bass and blues on buck tails out in the Race.
“Everyone is having fun. The weather has been nice,” Kess says.
Peconic Star first mate Dennis Tinnin reports catching the limit almost every day on porgies. Fluke and seabass have been great too, he said.
Tinnin says the boat will go wherever the fish are. “Some days we go out towards Connecticut, some days toward Montauk.
So far their biggest fluke was 9.8 pounds and the biggest porgy seen so far was 3.8 pounds. “That’s a big one,” Tinnin said.
Yep, it’s been darn good, so get out there and enjoy!
Correction: A prior version of this article misstated the location of the Fishy Business dock.
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Peter Blasl is lifelong Riverhead resident who’s enjoyed fishing East End waters since childhood, whether surfcasting or on a boat. Fishing and nature photography are his favorite pastimes. Got fishing tips, questions or a picture of a great catch? Send him an email.
