As we approach just about the halfway mark of the fishing season on Long Island this month, opportunities abound for so many inshore species. It’s not just inshore fishing that can keep you busy, runs to mid offshore and the canyons are good bets to place in July as well.
For the striper obsessed anglers, July is a last licks of sorts with rising water temps and the tail end of the migrating biomass moving east. The new and full moons of July provide for exceptional fishing for bass on the eastern end of the island. Trolling eel tubes and umbrella rigs during the day in Montauk raises huge fish. Drifting live eels on the bottom from dusk into night on an incoming tide has produced some of my most memorable Montauk catches, and several of them on the July full moon. The mecca is no joke with tides and boat traffic. If you haven’t fished out there before, it’s not a bad idea to do a charter to get an idea of things so you can hit the water ready to go on your first trip.
For the rest of the south shore from Jones Inlet to Shinnecock there’s still plenty of bunker pods around and until a few days after the full moon, bass will be on them. Live lining, flutter spoons, big surface plugs will all be great choices to land over slot fish before they disappear and return in the fall. It’s important to remember with higher water temperatures there’s more stress on big fish after the fight. Reviving a big fish by swimming them and being sure they’re ready to go is essential to keep the big females alive and healthy.
Stripers aren’t the only life feeding on bunker pods during the summer months. Expect to see cobia as far east as Fire Island. With each season this bite that was a novelty has become a steady one. Personally, I’m hoping to see cobia further east in my local waters. A lot harder to catch than bass, these fish can reach 40-50 pounds, are a thrill to catch and some of the best table fare of inshore species. The NY limit is 43 inches minimum with two fish per vessel.
Fluking is in full swing all over the island. The keeper to short ratio has vastly improved since the season kicked off in May with plenty of doormats around. Current regulations allow for 3 fish per angler at a minimum of 19 inches until the end of July, with the minimum size being 19.5 inches come August 1st. Unlike most species, artificial baits work better than the real thing for fluke. Fishbites and Gulp are the two most proven brands. In between drifts it’s a good idea to “recharge” the baits giving them a quick soak in gulp juice. Most of the local tackle shops will have their secret weapon fluke rigs, and by all means, pounce on the local knowledge that led to their production. If you’re not armed with any of those rigs, a high low with a bucktail on the bottom and single hook above tipped with gulp or fishbite will do the job. I like to tie a surgeon’s loop at the bottom of my leader allowing me to switch out different weights of bucktails depending on what tide, depth, and drift speed calls for.
Offshore spots come alive in July. From 15 to 150 miles from shore the chance at small bluefin tuna, yellowfin tuna of all sizes, mahi, tilefish, triple tails and wahoo can be targeted. The jig and pop method for tuna gains more and more popularity every season, and this one is no different. Tackle, plugs and jigs have improved tremendously season to season with feedback from so many anglers opting to take this more hands-on approach instead of trolling spreader bars or drifting baits. When you head out don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. There’s no shortage of heartbreaking stories of the fish of a lifetime getting away because of tackle failure, broken lines and the like. Support your local tackle shops with buying the gear you need and talking to the staff on your plan and how it can be made more effective. As always, be safe. Summer thunderstorms can pop up regularly, boat issues can come up. In your plan, allow for who else you know is out there not just for trading intel but someone to call if needed.
One of the most enjoyable parts of July fishing, is being a part of someone’s first catch. The kids are out of school, sunny days and vacation time abounds, and fluke, porgy, sea bass and snappers are all in our waters and chewing. Anyone that’s told you they’d love to get out fishing sometime, July is the time.