NY Newsday

1. Western Long Island Sound: Jack's B&T in City Island reported striped bass in the 20-pound class and said the big 40-pound cows have been coming to anglers trolling wire. That means the fish are deep and on the bottom, so make sure the chunks get all the way down. A burst of bluefish hit the area this week around the bridges and fluke to 4 pounds have been caught off Harts Island.

2. Huntington / Northport bays: The coolers lined up outside Four Winds B&T in Huntington Station yesterday as the shop weighed five fish over 20 pounds by 10 a.m. with Tim Lober's 26-pounder leading the way. Most action is in Cold Spring Harbor but there are fish in the Triangle and inside Huntington Bay. Charlie Burk had a 7.38-pound fluke off Asharoken.

3. Smithtown Bay: Steve from the BLT CafA© in St. James took a 14.5-pound striper from the mouth of Stony Brook Harbor using worms and Swaine's B&T in St. James had reports of bass to 15 pounds with bluefish mixed in at the Nissequogue. Most stripers are on clams or worms but some anglers are using bucktails and plugs.

4. Port Jefferson to Mattituck Inlet: Anthony Caputo hooked a 7-pound fluke on the Celtic Quest on Sunday, and like the other keepers it was stuffed with sand eels. There was also a report that a local dragger pulled a 20-pound fluke near Buoy 11. The Capt. Bob fleet in Mattituck continued to mash the keeper fluke with fish to 8 pounds. Rocky Point Fishing Stop reported huge shad in the Sound with 25-pound stripers feeding on them and bluefish along the beaches.

5. Orient Point to Fishers Island: Steady fluke as the Peconic Star reported 60-80 keepers per day, including last week's 11-pounder. Bernie Osofsky had an 8-pounder last week then returned Monday for a 7.35-pounder, and Choi Duk Il had a 6.85-pounder on Wednesday. There have been one or two tough nights for bass in the Gut and Race, but overall the fishing has been excellent.

6. The Peconics and Gardiners Bay: Lots of life in the bay. The weakfish arrived and anglers are taking fish to 12 pounds from Jessups to the Greenlawns, according to Wego Fishing. Bluefish are buzzing all over. Stripers are hitting in Jessups. Anthony Capasso caught a 6.41-pound fluke on Tuesday, one of many 4-6 pounders.

7. Montauk Point: George Bowman nailed a 42.5-pound striper from the surf on Monday and the bass fishing has been good according to Johnny's Tackle Shop in Montauk. The charter boats are diamond jigging and trolling for their limits and the big open boats start their nighttime eel fishing trips this weekend. Lots of fluke with plenty of shorts and a few sea bass. Many charters have openings this weekend.

8. Shinnecock Bay: Ocean fluking had fizzled with the storms but as things settled the fishing returned. The Shinnecock Star had fish up to 8 lbs., 6 oz right outside the inlet. Molnar's Landing reported Willard and Mary Huber have averaged 15 flounder a day this week in the nearby creek.

9. Moriches Bay: The final weekend of flounder season promises to be a very good one. Silly Lily's in East Moriches reported that the best action should be early in the morning. Worms and mussels have been working very well between buoys 15 and 21. Stripers are being caught in the east and west cuts on clams and lures. Anglers after fluke could find them at the warmer water around buoy 7.

10. Great South Bay / Fire Island Inlet: Conditions dictate how the Captree boats make out on night striper trips. The Laura Lee had 15 fish over 20 pounds on Monday, including Steve Wilitus' 29- and 23-pounders, while on Tuesday with more wind Cole Rudnick limited out with a 22-pounder amid slow action. By Wednesday it picked back up and Chris Fogione had a 30-pounder. Fluke action is frenzied but keepers are absent. There are sea bass to 5 A1 2 pounds.

11. Jones Inlet / Western Bays: Ed Haran caught a 30-pound striper off Long Beach using chunks yesterday, according to Scotty's Fishing Station in Point Lookout. There are some keeper fluke mixed with the shorts in the bay and out in the ocean. Jose Rodriguez hooked a 12-pound blackfish using fiddler crabs off the Point Lookout jetty. Blackfish season closes Wednesday.

12. East Rockaway Inlet: Clams are the bait for striped bass with Bay Park Fishing Station reporting action at the Rockaway Reef and the Atlantic Beach Bridge. The Fish On reported six keeper-size fish to 28.5 pounds over the weekend and the Valiant had lots of action with a pair of keepers. An occasional keeper fluke pops up, but the sea bass are a better bottom bite.

13. New York Bight: Striped bass fishing is terrific for the Sheepshead Bay boats and while fluking has been tough there are plenty of sea bass, blackfish and ling to pick at. Don't forget the Noreast.com Striped Bass Memorial Classic this weekend where the angler with the two heaviest fish between 30 and 34 inches could win $10,000. [Newsday Tom Rock]