The mini, early season heatwave last week took a lot out of me. New York City hit 99 degrees on June 24, and it felt like 112 when you factored in the dense humidity.
It was not much better here on the East End, where there were equally tropical conditions.
Fishing or hauling in lobster traps in such weather is not fun. I stayed on the living room couch. I believe I may actually be getting smarter as I grow older. My wife may offer a different opinion.
I’m not a fan of hot weather. Both sets of my grandparents immigrated to the United States from Russia (to be precise, near Minsk in Belarus), just before and during the Russian Revolution back in 1917. They were smart enough to take the chance to move to another country, given the negative signs they saw ahead. As such, I guess my genetic background predisposes me to love cold weather. It’s also probably the main reason why I went to college in Buffalo and to play ice hockey when I wasn’t behind a classroom desk. Hockey rinks are ubiquitous there. It was heaven. And the Buffalo chicken wings were a most delicious bonus.
Miami and other similarly warm locations were never on my radar screen when I chose to go Buffalo. Far from it. If there were a college at the North Pole, I would have applied.I will never grumble or complain about the polar winds, snow, and slush of winter. Sign me up anytime. But let’s first get through July 4, eh? Summer is here for quite a while. I will try to be as patient as possible.
On the local fishing scene, things are heading into summer mode, but the fishing has been productive on many fronts.
“June was a busy month for us with tilefish and going to Nantucket for fluke,” said Capt. Steven Forsberg Jr. of the Viking Five Star that sails out of Montauk. “The fishing for tiles has been great and fluking was steady picking of quality fish every day which yielded great catches by the end of the day.”
“We recently switched gears on our last Captains Choice trip and will be straight canyon fishing for tuna and tiles for the next few months,” he added. “On the trip last week, it was our first
trip targeting tuna and we end ended up with our two-fish limit of bluefins and released over 15 others ranging from 40 to 180 pounds, three bigeye tuna up to 180 pounds, and a long fin.”
“So far, it’s a good sign of bigeyes around and the yellowfin tuna shouldn’t be too far behind either,” he noted.
A few spots at the rail are still available in July when the fishing should be even better. Call the Viking office and get in on it before the final few trips fill up.
While anglers can’t retain any mako sharks again this year, there are still a few who are heading offshore to tangle with thresher sharks and other specimens. On Saturday, the charter boat Windy out of Montauk landed a 193-pound whiptail for its fares. A very nice fish for sure. Well done.
Fluke fishing at Montauk has had its ups and downs, but the bite on Sunday was excellent for many.
“We whipped them good today in beautiful conditions, providing a very nice boat limit with lots of short action,” said Capt. Mark Ryckman of the Montauk Star. “All indications show a new body of fish moving in on the back side of Wednesday’s new moon.” The Ebb Tide II also had a great catch on Sunday on both of its half-day excursions.
Elsewhere, Sebastian Gorgone, the ever-smiling proprietor of Mrs. Sam’s Bait and Tackle in East Hampton, was braced for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
“Oh man, the weather looks great, and people are ready to fish,” he said. “Porgies are running well in the rocky areas on the north side of Springs, and some really big striped bass are being landed at night on live eels,” he said. “I’ve been selling a crazy amount of eels.”
Gorgone said that bass fishing remains strong at Montauk and Plum Gut to the north, and bluefish are everywhere inundating the rips of Montauk. “Plus, a few fluke up to four pounds have been landed near Napeague and the backside of Gardiner’s Island,” he added. “They are not in deep water yet, so keep to the shallows.”
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