Some reel good advice: Get out often

Theories abound about how anglers can beat the heat to continue reeling up solid catches in the dog days of summer. Fishing on cool incoming tides, getting out early in the morning and working deeper water are among oft-noted pearls of wisdom. In the end, however, one factor makes a bigger difference: fishing on a regular basis.

"The best way to stay on top of the fish,'' said Capt. Andy LoCascio of Long Island Fishing Charters (lifishcharters.com) in Port Washington, "is getting out on the water as often as possible. That way, you can develop a feel as to which way the fish are moving and what baits they favor.''

LoCascio noted that in the western sector of Long Island Sound, fluking has been pretty good in water 15 to 30 feet deep far to the west around the Throgs Neck Bridge, while bluefish have been smashing size 2, Guide's Choice pencil poppers in shallow water. Porgies are set up off almost any prominent point.

For summer fluke in particular, LoCascio likes working ledges in 15- to 30-foot depths. No matter what the water temperature, he'll cruise from one point to the next looking for schools of baitfish.

"The bait moves around, and it draws the fluke with it,'' he said. "Find the bait and you'll find the summer flatties. The more you head out, the better feel you'll have for which direction and how deep the fish are headed.''

Capt. Joe Blados of Maverick Fly Fishing Charters (jblados@optonline.net) in Southold keeps scouting for fish daily, even when the bite slacks off. "The more time you spend with your eyes on the water, the more success you are likely to have,'' he said.

Blados will move his operation from Peconic Bay to Long Island Sound at this time of the year, looking for strong currents that run close to shore. When he's not actually on the water, he often can be found at various North Fork beaches glassing his favorite spots from shore. Earlier in the season he might spend much time casting to bass and blues on the flats but in midsummer he prefers to work small gray deceiver patterns in rocky areas on cool rising tides.

"I'm looking for bait balled up in the eddies around the boulders,'' Blados said. "I think that the stripers eventually acclimate to the heat, so by finding the bait I get a good shot at the bass. Scouting and being on the water regularly helps keep me in touch with the fish.''

Mike Barnett, skipper of the Freeport charter vessel Codfather (codfatherfishing.com), agreed with LoCascio and Blados.

"Being out on the water consistently provides a sense of where the fish are headed and what they want to eat,'' he said, adding that clam bellies have been doing the trick for South Shore porgies, while fluke have preferred long, fresh-cut strip baits.

"When the action gets picky during hot weather, big summer flatties show a marked preference for the freshest of baits,'' Barnett said.

It's hard to argue with Barnett's logic. Thursday he put 14-year-old Samantha Ryan of Deer Park and Rich Mayline of Patchogue on monster doormats weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces and 13 pounds, 6 ounces, respectively.

Email: Outdoortom@

optonline.net