August, for me, is the most relaxing month of the summer and fishing season. My top obsession of choice is targeting stripers by boat or shore and August is a slow month for that. I tortured myself for years knowing I’d get skunked in the warm ocean water but still coming home with sandy feet and frustration. The last four years or so August has been a month to catch a double-digit fluke in Montauk, push the comfort level and go mid or far offshore for tuna and mahi, or just sit on the beach and see the amazing amount of life feeding on bunker. Threshers whipping their tail through a big pod not even a half mile off the beach. Humpbacks lunge feeding, and dolphins riding waves after gorging on adult bunker.
Not to say there aren’t bass to be caught. With a body of fish still chewing off Breezy Point into mid-July, and a crazy amount of sand eels everywhere, there could be a few cows anywhere along the whole stretch of the south shore. Pods are worth working with live bunker, but trolling is the most logical if you like that method. Clam bellies and chum on incoming cooler ocean water around bridges or structures close to any inlet is a solid bet. Drifting the inlets during incoming especially dusk and into the dark with bucktails or eels is a more hands-on option.
While you’re on the pods… and hopefully not as far west as last year, a recent regular southern visitor to our waters, cobia is becoming more of a regular catch than an odd one. In the past few seasons, there are only a handful of reports of cobia being caught east of Fire Island. Most of the action was off Jones Inlet.
Shark fishing is another August option from just a few miles from shore all the way out to the canyons. Be aware that non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks are needed when using baited hooks for sharks. These rules apply when fishing in both state and federal waters; and apply to all tournament anglers. Also, each vessel needs an HMS (highly migratory species) permit when fishing for sharks in Federal (past 3 miles) waters. A full list of regulations is available here https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/119778.html. Typically, with the warmer waters of August and the abundance of bunker several smaller shark species will be present near bunker pods. Spinners, brown sharks, and others can supply a thrilling fight while live-lining a bunker.
Fluke fishing is in full swing with double digits making it over the rail from Sheepshead Bay to Montauk Point. The Montauk Star, sailing full-day trips from 6 am to 3 pm, has seen the bite improve since late July. When tide and current cooperate the most effective setup is a high low with a bucktail, and teaser tipped with gulp or fish bites. In heavier tides and currents, the old-school setup with a bank sinker is the way to go. Off Shinnecock, the Hampton Lady and Shinnecock Star had a steady bite in 60-80 feet of water from Bridgehampton to Moriches. Further west Captain Steve of Sea Queen VII has been working the edges of Ambrose Channel with success on both gulp and sea robin or squid strips and spearing. One sidenote on baits… plenty of snappers around. The limit per day is 3 per person. Having a few of these in the live well, easily caught from most docks before heading out, could end up landing an epic fish.
The tuna bite’s been good and should continue from mid-shore spots like Coimbra all the way out to Hudson Canyon. Bluefin are harder to come by, but big eye and yellows have been caught on the troll and jig/pop. Kirk Fay (fishgaak.com) is an offshore regular and has been on the meat trolling sterling spreads from 40 miles to 100 miles offshore. Most harbors have a good amount of peanut bunker in them. For the jig and pop guys, throwing the cast net and stuffing the live well with peanuts is only going to help when finding some life to really get the fish interested and into a frenzy. Mahi fishing is solid as well with some reports of bulls caught on the troll and fun size ones on light tackle around the lobster pots. Peanut bunker or sand eel imitators are the best bet to catch these amazingly tasty fish.
Enjoy the end of the summer and catch ‘em up!