Bay bass stage deep as June heat settles in, weakfish surprise at the inlet

The last quarter moon this past Tuesday shifted everything in the bay. Those big spring tides we had two weeks back are history — we're into neap territory now, which means gentler current flows and fish behavior that's completely different from the ripping water we saw in mid-June. Water temps have stabilized in the upper 60s after that brief cool-down from the northeast blow last weekend, and the bass have responded by sliding off the shallow flats and setting up in the deeper channels where the current still has some push.

This week's weather pattern looks promising for anyone willing to adjust their game plan. We've got light southwest winds through Thursday, then a shift to northwest Friday that should clean up the water and drop temps a degree or two. The new moon hits next Tuesday, which means we're building toward spring tides again — perfect timing for the inlet fishing to really turn on. I'm watching the Marine Parkway Bridge area closely because that's where the bass stage when the current starts to rip again.

The striped bass fishing has been solid but you need to think deeper water. I've been finding fish in 15 to 20 feet along the channel edges, especially the drop-off south of the Cross Bay Bridge where the current cuts through. These aren't the schoolies we were catching on the flats in May — I'm seeing fish from 24 to 32 inches, with a few pushing the slot. Live bunker on a fishfinder rig has been the most consistent producer, but you need to get the bait down in the water column. The fish are suspended about halfway down, not hugging bottom like they do in the fall.

Bucktails are still working, but I've had to go heavier — 1-ounce white heads with 5-inch Gulp Swimming Mullets in pearl white. The key is working them slow through the deeper water, letting them tick bottom on the drift then lifting them back up. I had a nice session Tuesday morning where I put four keepers in the cooler doing exactly that, fishing the incoming tide from the Marine Parkway Bridge south toward the inlet.

The real surprise this week has been the weakfish showing up at Rockaway Inlet. I'm talking legitimate weakfish, not the tiny cocktail blues that sometimes get mistaken for them. Fish from 16 to 20 inches hitting small bucktails and Deadly Dick spoons on the early morning incoming. The bite window is narrow — first two hours of daylight — but if you're there when it happens, it's been spectacular. I think these fish are moving through on their way north, following the bait that's been thick in the inlet.

Fluke fishing in the bay has been hit or miss, which is typical for late June when the water warms up. The fish are there but scattered. I've been finding them in 25 to 30 feet of water on the south side of the bay, dragging white Gulp and chartreuse bucktails on the drift. Had a nice 22-incher Wednesday that took a 3/4-ounce bucktail with a 4-inch Swimming Mullet, but for every keeper I'm throwing back three shorts. The bite improves on the moving water — either the first two hours of the incoming or the last hour of the outgoing.

Porgy fishing has been the most consistent action if you want to put fish in the cooler. The deeper structure around the Marine Parkway Bridge has been loaded with nice-sized porgies, and they're not picky about bait. Clam strips, squid, even small pieces of bunker will get bit. I've been using a simple high-low rig with 2/0 hooks and enough weight to hold bottom in the current.

Looking ahead to next week, that new moon Tuesday is going to change everything. The spring tides will start building, which means stronger currents and more active fish. I'm expecting the bass bite at the inlet to really turn on, especially on the outgoing water when the bay drains through the inlet. The weakfish run might extend a few more days if the water stays clean. And with the stronger tides, the fluke should start moving more predictably — I'd focus on the channel edges where the current creates feeding opportunities.