With a sluggish start to the fishing season, fishermen mustered up more tenacity than usual.

By Janice Llanes Fabry

With a sluggish start to the fishing season, fishermen mustered up more tenacity than usual. As a result of a prolonged winter, Long Island Sound remained stagnant and anglers held off from putting their boats in the water. Now that the summer has officially begun, however, the weather is cooperating and fishermen are casting their rods in full swing.

“Each species of fish was delayed for weeks,” said David Catalano, co-owner of Harbor Island Bait and Tackle in Mamaroneck. “Now, striped bass and fluke are the main targets and they’re a lot more consistent.”

According to Dan, David’s brother and partner at the shop, anglers are catching striped bass, fluke, and blue fish in the customary hotspots in and around the Sound, including Buoy 42, the Scotch Caps, Hens and Chickens, and Execution Point. They recommend fresh bunker, clams, and bloodworms for catching stripers. Squid and spearing are the bait of choice for fluke.

Freddy Guitard of Mamaroneck took his son Brandon out last Saturday morning and they caught a decent striper off Captain’s Island with a chunk of bunker on the hook. They released it because it didn’t meet the Department of Conservation’s size requirement, but the middle schooler was happy as a clam.  
Night fishing for stripers is proving more fruitful. “The day bite is a little slower than the night, so our customers are going out right after sunset,” said David, who also suggests going out during the changing tide.

There is activity closer to shore as well. The pier at Playland is reeling in plenty of fishermen, who are having luck with porgies, stripers, fluke, and bluefish. Pick up a rod and reel with some bait and head on over.