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This weekend’s outstanding spring weather allowed the Captains Table to show our customers a fine time on back-to-back combination Fluke/Porgy charters.

Saturday found the Matt party aboard and we began the morning spending the last 3 hours of the ebb tide along with a light west wind on the Fluke drifts in the Greenport area. Action was fast and furious except for the fact that 95% were of the dreaded Sea Robin variety. The guys worked extra hard and did manage to cull one 21” keeper Fluke among 2 other shorts. Also, for the first time this season the Bluefish made an appearance and we boxed 4 nice fish between 4-7# for the grill/smoker.

So, the next logical move was to the west side of Jessup’s Neck to cash in on the very reliable Porgy bite. Once again, the big spawning Pork chops were present in large numbers and the crew had a great time filling the box with medium to some close to jumbo Scup up to 3# on fresh clams. We also played C&R with a few nice Sea Bass and added a couple of additional Blues that enjoyed the clam baits just as much as the Scup. Nice freezer filler trip for a great bunch of guys.

Sunday, we followed the same pattern with the Chris party and although the birds were still overwhelming at times, we did see more Fluke in the mix. Managed 2 keepers at 19” and 20” along with 7 more shorts. Interestingly while we did catch 4 fish during the better drifting conditions, we actually had a brief flurry with 6 fish taken in about 20 minutes right at the bottom of the tide…strange! Nailed a couple of Blues during the early part of the morning as well.

Back to “Porgy Central” for the flood tide and the Scup were waiting to jump on the hooks even before the chum pot hit the bottom. A solid 2 hours of practically non-stop action filled the box with dozens of fat Porgies, similar size to Saturday’s haul plus more of those beautiful “Heartbreak” Sea Bass that had to be returned. A couple more Blues also joined the party to round out the catch. One more oddity on both Saturday and Sunday while on the Porgy grounds the anglers caught 2 Butterfish on each trip. Have not seen that in many years!

So far, the results this spring look very similar to last year. A very solid to, at times, insane Porgy bite and a ton of birds making it difficult to get the baits in front of what Fluke seem to be hanging around the Peconic Bay system. Hopefully as the water temps begin to pass the 60 degree mark the Fluke will become more aggressive and beat those “angry birds” to our baits. Only way to find out is to get out and give it your best shot.

Memorial Day weekend is fully booked but surprisingly I am still open for this coming Sat, Sun 5/22,23. Last chance to cash in on the spring special of a 6-hour trip for the price of a half day ($425). Give me a call if you want to take advantage.

Capt. Mike

516-317-5423 cell

racerock166@aol.com

went ocean fluking today yeah I know ..but I did catch one ...

lots of life in very limited areas ..hit a few drops with only one that had fish worth catching...two dozen plus in the box thanks to Mr B. for cutting & Mr.J for a great lunch..

Jones inlet is beyond bad this morning ...all breakers no clear path out..and they were tight & tall all white water ...

Took the “Busman’s Holiday” today to enjoy the fabulous weather and see if the warmer weather had improved the Fluke bite in the Peconics.

I spent the last 3/12 hours of ebb just east of Greenport with a light NW breeze and pretty steady drift on the drops that produced about a dozen Fluke, but only 3 small keepers over the weekend. The never-ending supply of birds made things a bit frustrating but I persevered. Although the Sea Bass and Blues were still present the Fluke virtually disappeared with one exception. After striking out on the typically productive drops I moved a little west to the area where we actually had a 20-minute flurry on Sunday taking 6 Fluke and one keeper near slack water. On my second drift here, I get a solid hit on my 6” Gulp grub and following a spirited, drag stripping battle, the first quality Fluke of the season finds the deck. Right to the scale where it records 7.1# and quickly into the box as I am filled with hope.

Despite this bright spot, the rest of the day finished the way it started, Birds, Blues, Sea Bass, Porgies, but not even one more short Fluke. Made drops all they way from Greenport to the Greenlawns but very quiet on the Fluke front. While I am not even close to giving up on the local Fluke scene, I must say I can’t wait for next week’s full moon when keeper sized Stripers will be making an appearance at the Gut.

Tough start to the season, but NICE fish Captain Mike!

.......................

Jones inlet is beyond bad this morning ...all breakers no clear path out..and they were tight & tall all white water ...

Hmmmm. 🤔 NY Harbor buoy showed a 3 ft swell most of the day Wednesday. Low slack water was 10:02 AM and high slack was 3:33 PM. So early morning you would have had the water running out into the waves. The trip home should have been a little better with incoming current going with the swell.

I fear the inlet conditions are going to have an effect on the ocean fluking out of Jones this summer.

AM inlet was 5' breakers from the east jetty to the end of the west bar..even in the channel ...once you were out it was 3' with a tight 2' chop till 1030 ish & than lay down to nothing my 1130 ish..I dont wear a watch so guessing on the time..

I run a 32' sportfish at 11+ tons & the breakers washed over the boat ,,just no way to avoid them...I was doing 18kts but once out just a swell & a chop for a few hours...

running in, south swell inlet was nice 22kts on auto pilot ..

AM inlet was 5' breakers from the east jetty to the end of the west bar..even in the channel ...once you were out it was 3' with a tight 2' chop till 1030 ish & than lay down to nothing my 1130 ish..I dont wear a watch so guessing on the time..

I run a 32' sportfish at 11+ tons & the breakers washed over the boat ,,just no way to avoid them...I was doing 18kts but once out just a swell & a chop for a few hours...

running in, south swell inlet was nice 22kts on auto pilot ..

NOAA calling for 3 to 5 on Sunday with 5 to 10 knt wind from the west. Something must be kicking up far offshore.

High slack at 6:51 AM and low slack at 1:20 PM. That means a really rough ride out in the morning and relative calm for the return trip as long as you return after the current starts moving in.

SUN
W winds 5 to 10 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft.

Still not looking real promising for a trip to the ocean on Sunday.

what makes you say AM high will be bad ? High more water less, smaller waves in the inlet.. I left at the end of the out going & it was bad came in top of the out going & it was nice

High Slack in the AM means that after that time, until low slack, the water will be flowing out of the inlet against the incoming waves. It has been my observation that the rougher water is on the outgoing current and that the level of the tide has less to do with the sea conditions. Of course I would rather have deeper water, but usually the inlet is more doable on the flood current regardless of the tide height.

High more water less wave height ... than why does it lay down as soon as you pass the low spots ? as it did yesterday end of outgoing ..and every other time

High more water less wave height ... than why does it lay down as soon as you pass the low spots ? as it did yesterday end of outgoing ..and every other time

When the water pushes against the waves it makes the distance between them shorter. I causes them to build in height and steepness, hence a greater tendency to break. When the waves and water move in the same direction, the distance between the waves increases and the seas flatten. When the water gets shallow, the same volume from deep areas must pass through that area. The only way the same volume can pass through is for it to increase in velocity making the wave steepness or flattening more pronounced. In general waves start to break when the depth of the water equals the wave height. "In General!" There are many variables. If the waves are steeper and closer together, they will break in water that is deeper than the wave is high.

I am not sure what you experienced on Wednesday since I wasn't on board. You said the seas laid down about 11:30. Maybe that had something to do with it. I first passed through Jones Inlet in 1975 and this is what I have observed since. The current tables are not 100% accurate either. The wind and other factors affect the accuracy of the times that are published. High Tide and low tide do not correspond to high slack and low slack. They are about an hour apart. That means while water is flowing out of Jones Inlet, the height of the tide can continue to increase even though the water is flowing out.

if you say so ..I must of been dreaming..

so I said it was the end of the outgoing dead low ...and at mid to high it was much better on the outgoing ..

Took the “Busman’s Holiday” today to enjoy the fabulous weather and see if the warmer weather had improved the Fluke bite in the Peconics.

I spent the last 3/12 hours of ebb just east of Greenport with a light NW breeze and pretty steady drift on the drops that produced about a dozen Fluke, but only 3 small keepers over the weekend. The never-ending supply of birds made things a bit frustrating but I persevered. Although the Sea Bass and Blues were still present the Fluke virtually disappeared with one exception. After striking out on the typically productive drops I moved a little west to the area where we actually had a 20-minute flurry on Sunday taking 6 Fluke and one keeper near slack water. On my second drift here, I get a solid hit on my 6” Gulp grub and following a spirited, drag stripping battle, the first quality Fluke of the season finds the deck. Right to the scale where it records 7.1# and quickly into the box as I am filled with hope.

Despite this bright spot, the rest of the day finished the way it started, Birds, Blues, Sea Bass, Porgies, but not even one more short Fluke. Made drops all they way from Greenport to the Greenlawns but very quiet on the Fluke front. While I am not even close to giving up on the local Fluke scene, I must say I can’t wait for next week’s full moon when keeper sized Stripers will be making an appearance at the Gut.

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Nice fish there Capt! What's your take on the lack of fluke entering the Peconic system. It's beginning to look like last year when fluke catches were great in Montauk and along the entire south shore for that matter. And the Peconic and sound have been pretty barren? It almost seems like the fluke are passing us right by. Buy why? I know it's too early to tell, but I've been seeing this same pattern in the sound for 3-4 years now, with each year getting tougher.

Plenty of bait, but little action on both fluke and birds. If you're not fishing porgies or striped bass you're just not catching.

if you say so ..I must of been dreaming..

so I said it was the end of the outgoing dead low ...and at mid to high it was much better on the outgoing ..

I am not trying to start, nor win any arguments. Every year someone gets killed in that inlet and this year unfortunately will most likely not be an exception. I am just pointing out what I have observed in this, and other inlets. I will make my decision as to heading offshore based on the direction of the current for my return trip. If others want to plan their day around the height of the tide, then so be it. I am just pointing out the way that I stay out of trouble.

Potato/Patato. Whatever. All I know is JI sux worse every single year. Hate that transit nowadays.

its the worst I have even seen it in twenty five years of traveling through it... I heard hug the green cans..Not sure but I'll check the depth next time out...

its time to dredge it ,,

Can you get your big boat thru by transiting next to the jetty? Maybe not enough water up front when less than 1/2 tide?

Can you get your big boat thru by transiting next to the jetty? Maybe not enough water up front when less than 1/2 tide?

its was gone on the way out ..Was headed to it and I change direction & used the channel ,,Channel was all white water.. I did use it on the way in..But stupid me did check the depth ..

I know last year it was 6 to 8' under the boat at dead low so 10 to 13' of water..and just for a second ..but looked really bad wed. morning...going to have to see how the party boat are going out a low ..west end I would stay away from ...

its the days when it kicks up late & low tide smaller boats & CC are going to have real problems ...I would have turned around if I was in the 22'

I buried my bow up to the top of the windshield early last season, right at the front of the inlet, in the middle of the "marked channel." Scared the crap out of myself. 25 years with this boat, been through "some stuff" and never had water on the fore deck before. First time I've looked thru the windshields and saw the solid green inside of a wave. Frankly, greatly surprised that the windshields didn't blow in. I was still weak-kneed 2 hours later. Did manage a solo limit later that morning though, so there's that. . . 😳

I would of also... happened to me in the 28 grady so happy I sold that POS..
wonder if its on a list to be dredged ? anyone know how to find out ? its a hazard of navigation..swell on for the next few days ..I'll bay fish ..