Peconic bass bite fires as bay water hits 72 degrees

The Peconic finally woke up this week. Bay water spiked to 72 degrees — a full 8 degrees warmer than the ocean side — and that thermal gradient is doing exactly what it should: stacking bait on the flood and holding bass on the ebb.

Slot stripers are hitting bucktails hard around the usual suspects. The flood tide through Plum Gut has been money, especially that last hour before slack. White and chartreuse 1-ounce bucktails tipped with 4-inch Gulp Swimming Mullets are getting crushed in 25 to 35 feet. The key is staying tight to the bottom on the drift — these fish are hugging structure as the current pushes bunker through the channel.

What's interesting is the bite timing. With the new moon behind us, we're seeing more consistent action through the tide cycle rather than those brief feeding windows we had during the spring tides. The bass seem more settled, less spooky. I'm marking good numbers of fish holding in 20 to 30 feet around the channel edges, and they're feeding aggressively when you put the right presentation in front of them.

The porgy bite around Shelter Island remains world-class, though it's shifted slightly deeper as the water warmed. The 35 to 45-foot drops are holding the biggest fish — true jumbos pushing 3 pounds. Clam chum is still king, but you need to be patient. Give it 20 minutes to work, then expect steady action for the next two hours. High-low rigs with size 2 hooks and fresh clam are all you need. The bite has been best on the last two hours of the outgoing, when the current slows and the fish can settle on the bottom.

Weakfish are showing in better numbers than we've seen in years. Three Mile Harbor and the deeper holes in Noyack Bay are producing fish to 4 pounds. The trick is finding the right depth — they're suspended in that 15 to 20-foot zone, right above the thermocline. Small bucktails with white or pink teasers, worked slowly through the water column, are getting bit. The early morning bite has been strongest, especially on the incoming tide when bait gets pushed into the back bays.

Fluke fishing picked up considerably as the bay water warmed. The channel edges between Shelter Island and Greenport are holding keeper fish to 6 pounds. Drift the 25 to 35-foot contours with white Gulp on 3/4-ounce bucktails. The key is covering water — these fish are scattered, but when you find them, they're hungry. Outgoing tide has been most productive, especially when the current creates that perfect drift speed.

Bait situation is excellent. Bunker schools are thick throughout the bay system, and the bass are keyed in on them. Sand eels are showing in good numbers around the deeper structure, which explains why the bucktail bite has been so consistent. Spearing are thick in the shallows, drawing weakfish and small blues into the back bays.

Looking ahead, this warming trend should continue the bass bite. With water temperatures now in the low 70s, we're entering that sweet spot where the Peconic really shines. The full moon on Friday will bring bigger tides — I'm watching for that evening drain through the inlet to fire up the first real weakfish push of the season. Those spring tides should also concentrate bait in the channels, setting up what could be an epic weekend for anyone willing to work the moving water.

The bay is fishing like it should in late June. Get out there.