Fishing forecast: Ocean fluke make big splash

Because the odds of culling a keeper fluke from the multitudes of shorts is better in the cool depths of ocean waters than inside shallow bays and harbors at this time of year, many anglers look forward to hearing that the ocean bite has hit stride.

Consider notice given.

During the past week, reports of solid action with keeper fluke to 12 pounds spiked in frequency with many catches of note filed at Montauk, Orient, Greenport, Shinnecock and west along the entire South Shore.

"We've seen steady catches of keepers in 70-foot depths around the Atlantic Beach Reef," said Mark Keller at Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside. "In fact, we had four boats from our marina fill their limits on Tuesday."

Anglers aboard Freeport's Captain Lou Fleet also found ocean catches much improved. "We've had real steady scores with a nice shot of keepers in 60-foot depths," reported Captain Michael Wasserman. "On Thursday morning, we made a two-hour drift and caught fluke the entire time with several anglers limiting out."

Sailing from Point Lookout aboard the open boat Princess Marie, Captain Dennis Kanyuk put his fares over a fun mix of keepers and shorts in 60-foot depths off Jones Inlet. "The action has been steady with some nice keepers hitting the deck," he said.

Anglers heading out from Fire Island Inlet also reported a vast improvement in ocean fluke catches. "With the exception of Tuesday, which found a heavy roll to the sea, fluking was good all week," said Paul Risi of the Captree open boat Tradewinds II. Risi tallied 18 to 40 keepers per day for light crowds with doormats weighing 9 and 12 pounds topping the charts this week. Fishing in 60- to 90-foot depths, he was "within minutes of limiting out the boat" when we communicated Thursday afternoon.

Of course, if the ocean swells aren't your cup of tea, bay fishing for fluke still offers some advantages. "It's usually calm where we fish," said Patrick Gillen of the Captree open boat bearing his surname, "and the action has been consistently good on incoming tides."

If you already have a freezer full of fluke fillets, now would be a good time to try mixed bag bottom fishing for porgy and black sea bass. Action with these tasty fish has been solid on the ocean reefs outside of Shinnecock, Moriches, Fire Island and Jones Inlets. In addition to sea bass and scup, the Point Lookout open boat Super Hawk has begun to pull some feisty triggerfish while working over structure in 45 to 65 feet of water.

Bluefin trophy season over

Late Monday, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) closed the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Northern Area Trophy Fishery for the remainder of 2010 to prevent recreational anglers from exceeding their seasonal harvest quota. Simply put, you now must release immediately any bluefin measuring 73 inches or greater

Upcoming events

The 14th Annual Riverhead Moose Fluke Tournament is scheduled for Saturday with proceeds benefiting abused children. A raffle and Moose Lodge barbecue follow the fishing. Visit www.adventuresinfishing.com or call 631-5257987 for details . . . Babylon Tuna Club's 54th Annual Tuna Tournament will be held July 29-Aug. 1. Proceeds go to Long Island veterans and active troops through American Legion Post 94. Check www.babylontunaclub.org or call 516-860-9345 for information.

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