Big bass crash Plum Gut as butterfish fuel feeding frenzy

The Race and Plum Gut are absolutely on fire right now. I'm talking about the kind of fishing that makes you forget about sleep, forget about everything except the next drift. Big migratory bass — the real Hudson River fish — have stacked up in the rips, and they're feeding like it's their last meal.

Here's what's working: Seven-inch Tsunami swim shads on three-way rigs are absolutely crushing the bucktails for size. I've been running head-to-head tests all week, and it's not even close. The swim shads are pulling overslot fish while the bucktails are getting schoolies. Set up with an 8-10 ounce cannonball on a foot of line below your three-way swivel, then run a 5-6 foot leader of 80-pound test to your lure. That heavy leader isn't just for abrasion — the stiffness keeps your presentation standing off the bottom in the screaming current.

The Gut's been the most consistent producer. Start your drift in 80 feet and ride it up over the rip to 40 feet, then back down. Current's running 2.5 to 3 mph on the stronger tides, so you're covering serious ground fast. Use that double-drop technique — hit bottom, crank twice, drop again, then pick up the slack. Keeps you tight to the structure where these fish are holding.

Butterfish are the key to this whole bite. They showed up early this year, and the bass are absolutely gorging on them. I'm also seeing squid mixed in, especially around Fishers Island and the outer edges of the rips. When you see that bait on the screen, get ready — the bass aren't far behind.

Topwater action has been insane during the slack periods. Yo-Zuri Hydro Pencils and X-Walks are getting crushed at first light when the current eases up. The fish are pushing bait to the surface, and you can see the explosions from a mile away. Switch to a 6-foot casting rod and work the edges of the rip — that's where the big ones are waiting.

But here's the problem: bluefish have moved in, and they're absolute tackle destroyers. I'm talking gorilla blues that'll snap 50-pound leader like it's nothing. If you're throwing expensive plugs, use wire or heavy fluorocarbon. These aren't the cocktail blues from the harbor — these are the real deal, 15-pound-plus fish that fight like they're twice that size.

Spoons are also producing, especially the 6-9 inch Tsunami models. Drop them into the current and let them work mid-column before they hit bottom. The bigger bass are often suspended, following the bait schools, and a spoon fluttering through that zone triggers vicious strikes.

The Race has been more hit-or-miss but when it's on, it's spectacular. The rip there gets absolutely evil on the big tides — we just had the full moon, so the current's been screaming. Only fish it if you know what you're doing. I've seen guys get their boats turned sideways in that rip, and it's not pretty.

Weather's been the limiting factor. We've had some nasty northeast blows that made it unfishable, but when you get those brief windows of calm, the fishing explodes. The bass seem to know when conditions are about to deteriorate, and they feed aggressively before the weather hits.

Looking ahead, we're moving into the new moon phase, which should settle the tides down and make the fishing more manageable. The butterfish should stick around through July, and as long as they do, these bass will keep feeding. Water temps are climbing into the mid-60s, which is perfect for this kind of action.

If you're planning to hit the eastern Sound this week, get out there early. The bite's been best on the first two hours of the tide change, whether it's flood or ebb. After that, the fish seem to settle deeper and get pickier. And bring plenty of terminal tackle — between the blues and the rocky bottom, you're going to lose some gear. But trust me, it's worth every rig you donate to see one of these 40-inch bass come tight on your line.