Peconic porgy bite stays steady as summer patterns lock in

The waning crescent moon we're working through this week — down to 15% illumination by Friday — has dialed back the tidal extremes that dominated the bay through the new moon period two weeks back. That's actually good news for Peconic fishing right now. The moderate tides we're seeing, with highs around 2.5 feet instead of the 3.5-foot springs we had earlier in the month, are keeping the current manageable in the deeper holes where the porgies have been stacked. Water temps finally broke through the 68-degree barrier this week, and that thermal threshold has flipped a switch on fish behavior across the bay system.

The southwest winds that hammered us for three straight days last week stirred up the shallows pretty good, but the deeper structure around Shelter Island and the Greenlawns stayed fishable. Now we're looking at a more settled pattern through the weekend — light northwest flow backing to southwest by Sunday, which should keep the water clean and the drift controlled. The real story is what 68-degree water does to our summer species mix. Weakfish that were scattered and finicky at 64 degrees are now feeding aggressively, and the porgy bite has that consistent, predictable quality that makes late June such a reliable time on Peconic Bay.

The porgy fishing has been the bread and butter through this stretch, and for good reason. These fish are locked into their summer feeding pattern now, holding in 25 to 35 feet around the traditional spots — the Greenlawns, the Middle Grounds, and the deeper water off Jessup's Neck. The key has been a steady chum line and patience to let the slick work. I'm seeing boats that set up properly and commit to the drift putting 50 to 80 fish in the boat over a four-hour session, with plenty of 17 to 19-inch fish in the mix. The real jumbos — those 3-pound-plus scup that make your arms ache — are showing up consistently enough that you can count on a few per trip if you're fishing the right spots.

Clam chum is still the foundation, but I've been adding some crushed green crab to the mix when the bite slows down. High-low rigs with size 4 hooks, fished with small pieces of sea clam or sandworm, are producing the most consistent action. The fish are feeding aggressively enough now that you don't need to get fancy — a simple dropper loop rig with 2-ounce sinkers to hold bottom in the moderate current is all you need. The bite window has been best from two hours before high water through the first hour of the ebb, when the current slows enough for the chum to settle and draw fish up from the deeper water.

Weakfish numbers have really picked up over the past ten days, which always happens when the bay water hits that 68-degree mark. I'm finding them mixed in with the porgies around the deeper structure, but also holding in 15 to 20 feet along the channel edges between Shelter Island and the North Fork. The fish are running 16 to 22 inches, with enough keepers in the mix to make it worth targeting them specifically. Bucktails tipped with Gulp Swimming Mullets in white or chartreuse have been the most consistent producers, worked slowly along the bottom on the drift. The weakfish bite has been best on the moving water — either the last two hours of the flood or the first two hours of the ebb — when the current is strong enough to position bait but not so ripping that you can't maintain bottom contact.

Striped bass are around but scattered, which is typical for late June when the water warms up and the fish spread out to follow bait schools. I'm picking up fish in the 28 to 34-inch range around the deeper rips and channel edges, mostly on live peanut bunker when I can find them, or fresh chunks of bunker on fishfinder rigs. The bass bite has been most productive at dawn and dusk, when the fish move up to feed in the shallower water. Orient Point has been producing some fish on the flood tide, but you need to cover water and be willing to move when the action slows.

Fluke fishing has been hit-or-miss, which is frustrating because this should be prime time for doormat season. The fish are there — I'm marking them on the deeper flats in 20 to 30 feet — but they've been finicky about eating. Bucktail and Gulp combinations in white and pink have been the most consistent, but you need to work them slowly and be ready to downsize your presentation when the fish are being picky. The better fluke action has been on the edges of the channels where the current creates feeding lanes, particularly around the Sag Harbor area and the deeper water off Three Mile Harbor.

Looking ahead, the new moon on July 5th is going to bring back those big tides that can really turn on the fishing — or make it more challenging if you're not prepared for the stronger current. The porgy bite should stay consistent as long as the water stays clean, and I expect the weakfish action to get even better as we move deeper into summer. If the weather pattern holds and we don't get any major wind events to muddy the water, this could be a very productive week for anyone willing to put in the time to find the fish.