8/1/2011
Inshore fishing couldn't be any better. The fluke action continues to be excellent with a lot of fish as well
as a lot of keepers. It has spread out as well, with some boats now fishing as far west as Gurney's. Seabass and
porgies are pretty good as well.
Striped bass fishing has improved somewhat too. Boats are regularly catching their limits of nice size fish
with many in the twenty pound range. And you can catch them any way you like. You might have to be a little
more patient if you are using the bait, but eventually you'll get your bites. Also with the bait you could have
bluefish problems.
If you are into tuna fishing, you have to be a little hard core. Yellowfins are biting out on the Edge and
beyond, along with occasional marlin, wahoo, etc. But you have to make the long run. Stopping at the 400 line
and trolling south is pretty much a waste of time. Your best bet is an overnighter or leave at 2:00 am or so. For
bluefins, you have to be equally dedicated, although you can save a lot of fuel $$$. There are fish southeast of
Block Island around the Tuna Bank, and probably at the Butterfish Hole as well. But, most of the guys that go
after them have a backup plan in the form of a couple of buckets of chum and after a couple of hours of trolling
switch over. If you really want tuna, you have to be "all in". Leave the chum home.
Shark fishing has picked up a bit with a lot more bluesharks around than there have been as well as makos
and very occasional threshers. Making a long run isn't necessary either. Just get into the bluewater and you are
far enough.
Star Island will be holding their annual mako/thresher tournament next Friday and Saturday, so if you want
to show the kiddies what "Jaws" looks like stop over after around 3:00 pm or so. It's the last chance this year.
For as long as I can remember, if you wanted codfish at this time of year, Coxes Ledge was the place to go.
No longer. Now you can catch them locally. I'm not going to tell you where, but if you are a codfish guy, you
know.
If you have any interest in fishing in Panama, check out www.tropicalfishing.com/panamareports11.html
The reports there will help you decide what area you want to go to, depending on what you want to catch. Or,
you can just give me a call.
For more info about fishing in Montauk, check out www.montauksportfishing.com and if you would like to
receive these reports directly, drop me a line at captaingene@montauksportfishing.com