Plum Gut bass crash butterfish schools as 68-degree water triggers feeding frenzy

The water hit 68 degrees this week and everything changed. After weeks of scratching for fish, Plum Gut exploded with bass feeding on thick schools of butterfish that moved in with the warming water. I've been hammering them on the flood and ebb, with fish to 37 inches coming over the rail on every other drift.

The key has been matching the current to the presentation. When the tide screams at 3 knots, I'm running heavy — 8 to 10-ounce cannonballs on three-way rigs with 80-pound leaders. That thick mono stands the lure off the bottom and prevents constant hang-ups on the rocky terrain. The surprise has been how much better swim shads are producing over bucktails for the bigger fish. Seven-inch Tsunami swim shads in white are absolutely crushing it, pulling overslot bass while the bucktails are getting the slot fish.

The Race has been equally productive but more dangerous. The new moon spring tides are pushing serious current through there — I clocked 4 knots on the sounder yesterday. The rip stands up like a wall when the wind goes against it, but when conditions settle, the bass are stacked on the edges feeding on squid and butterfish. Topwater action has been spectacular at first light before the current gets nasty.

Orient Point has been the sleeper spot. The temperature gradient between the Sound and the ocean side is holding bait tight to the structure. I'm finding 68-degree water on the Sound side while the ocean drops to 64 — that 4-degree difference is creating a feeding zone that's been loaded with slot bass. Three-way rigs with eels after dark have been deadly, especially around the deeper structure off the point.

The bluefish showed up in force this week and they're wrecking tackle. These aren't the small snappers — we're talking gorilla blues to 15 pounds that are cutting through 50-pound leaders like they're nothing. Switch to wire or heavy fluorocarbon if you want to keep your expensive plugs. The blues are mixed in with the bass schools, so you never know what's going to hit.

Fishers Island has been producing steady blackfish action for those willing to make the run. The 20-foot drops on the west side are holding keeper tog, with green crabs on jig heads getting the nod over fiddlers. The bite has been best on the flood tide when the current pushes bait against the structure.

Bait situation is interesting — the butterfish showed up earlier than usual, probably pushed in by the rapid temperature rise. Squid are scattered but present around the deeper rips. Bunker are around but not in the massive schools we usually see. The bass seem keyed in on the butterfish, which explains why the swim shads are so effective.

Looking ahead, this full moon Friday is going to push some serious water through the rips. The spring tides will flush bait out of the back bays and stack it in the current breaks. I'm planning to hit the Gut on the ebb when the ferry traffic dies down and the current creates those perfect feeding lanes. If the wind stays light, the topwater bite at The Race could be epic at sunset when the tide turns.

Water temps should hold steady in the high 60s, which keeps the bass aggressive and the bait active. This is prime time fishing — the kind of conditions that make you remember why you put up with all the blown-out days and slow tides. Get out there while it lasts.