Regal Legal Bass
Recreational striped bass fishing came on strong last week. Charter captains, whose customers may keep two bass measuring 28 inches or longer per day, have reported excellent fishing in the tidal rips off Montauk Point.
It's like a return to fall fishing, complete with cold wind, diving gannets, and bass, some large ones, swirling on the surface chasing bait.
Michael Potts, captain of the Bluefin IV, reported that the first 11 fish caught on Sunday were keepers, one "regal legal" measuring over 36 inches.
He then took his party toward Block Island after cod, and got two, although the spot south of the island was "laden with dogs," he said - dogfish, that is, the bane of cod fishermen.
The trip ended with the Bluefin's anglers reeling in 19 flounder off Block Island in the two to three-pound range. Captain Potts reported mackerel south of Montauk Point.
Tackle Shop To Reopen
Harvey Bennett's Tackle Shop, once located at Skimhampton, has become a movable feast for sport anglers and commercial pinhookers. The Tackle Shop will open its doors in the Arts Building, No. 3 Fort Pond Boulevard in Springs, beginning June 15.
After weeks of wondering where the big bluefish were comes word of large schools off Cherry Harbor, Gardiner's Island. Demand is such that blues were said to be selling for as much as $1.10 per pound.
Striped bass were thick around Big Rock near the windmill on Gardiner's Island. The commercial season is not scheduled to open until July.
Okay Powering
Clammers received good news last week during the monthly meeting of Town Trustees at Town Hall.
Richard Lester, on behalf of a number of diggers of soft clams, asked the Trustees for permission to "power" steamers from the flat on the eastern tip of Hicks Island, off Napeague. Powering involves the use of an outboard motor's prop wash to unearth the clams.
The Trustees agreed, as they have in the past, to allow the special season from July 2 to Sept. 1, to make the clams available for the summer restaurant season.
The quota is to be three bushels per day, per boat.
The Trustees also announced their intention of amending the town shellfishing laws, as was done last summer, to allow the sale of oysters beginning in early July.