Disclaimer: Before you read this, understand that EVERY year is different. The below is based on general trends observed over the last 20 years on the water.
April
We will be honest here. Early April can REALLY suck. Some years we have brutally cold winters, and April weather can be bad. Snow isn’t out of the question. Even when it is bad, we do catch some, but, the fishing isn’t great… Unless it gets warm. When, or IF it gets warm in April, it can go from very slow to GAME ON in the space of a day. The truth is, we’ve had some of our best days of the year in April.
All that said, generally by the end of the month, things are starting to go. A day or two of good weather can produce EPIC grass-shrimp hatches and/or menhaden aggregations. And that brings out stripers in good numbers.
Some years, believe it or not, we get an early run of big racer bluefish in April, for reasons that we haven’t been able to figure out yet. One year they are here, the next, they are not. In other words, there’s no real pattern to this.
One thing is clear about April, if we get a mild winter, and that continues though March, April it can be off-the-hook good, for both stripers and blues.
May
May is peak in Jamaica Bay – a ten-thousand-acre urban, yet wild estuary that abuts JFK airport. We spend most of May on the skiffs, in the back of Jamaica Bay throwing poppers and sliders in the mudflats and crushing stripers, both big and small. Bluefish should be around in good numbers in May too. They get up into very shallow water, and often tail like bonefish. Stupid fun.
For sure we get runs of ocean fish, which involves chasing birds and casting at busting fish, often very big ones, and we do that, but really, during May, we try and focus on the backwater stuff. Because it’s just freak’n cool to get up in the shallow and watch a big striper destroy a popper in 2′ of water.
May and even well into June, is damn good if you like the backwater stuff.
June
June, particularly the early part of it, is arguably THE best time for stripers, not only in the back bay, but under the bunker schools out front. It is probably the best time of the year to score a fish in the 40lb class. And for sure we will be fishing the back bay and the front for trophy stripers.
But really, what June means to us is Bluefin tuna. Big 100 to 200lb class fish crushing topwater baits. June is generally when it starts up, and while every year is different, it can last until September.
Figure a 30 to 60 mile run to the tuna grounds, but that’s nothing in a boat that does 50mph comfortably.
July
Yep… That can be good inshore for stripers too. Particularly the ocean fish under the bunker schools. But again, offshore really peaks in July. Not only do we have bluefin around, but we should have good shots at yellowfin tuna also. We might have to run a bit farther to get them. But generally they are the same ferocious animals that smash surface plugs.
August
During some years, we still have bluefin around in August, but it’s really the peak month for yellowfin tuna, and that’s our general focus this time of the year. We should also see some really nice mahi in August, particularly toward the end of the month.
We should mention that during the last several years, there’s been a legit fishery for schoolie striped bass, and even some bigger ones in the back bay in August. Hopefully this continues. It’s not uncommon for big bluefish to frequent the back bay in July also.
September
While there are still some offshore opportunities, we are generally back inshore focusing on false albacore. Running and gunning on these speedsters is super fun. And when you stick one? Better hold on, cause they may be the strongest fastest fish in the ocean. They are perfect for light spin and fly fishing gear. Every single one rips out line like you wouldn’t believe.
October
Hell yeah, we’re still fishing albies in October. In fact, it probably peaks in October. But really, what October is known for is striped bass. Stripers begin their migration when water temps begin to cool. And we find them in the ocean and in the back bay blitzing on juvie bunker. It is straight up run and gun mayhem. And the stripers can be really big too. 20, 30, 40lbs. Good stuff.
November
Things only get better in November. While the ablies are generally gone by then, the stripers undoubtedly get more abundant. But, the weather is precarious, and unless there’s a good run of fish in the back bays, and there often is, we really have to pick our days. Still, it can be quite good. Arguably the best month of the year for stripers.
December
Yep… We’re still fishing in December. Because there are usually still plenty of stripers around, although they tend to be the smaller ones. Of course, that varies year by year. It’s not unheard of to have 40-pounders blitzing herring off of Breezy point in December.
But what’s really unique is the late season run of bluefin tuna we get in December. These are all fish migrating down from New England, and they are much closer than what we’ve got in the summer months. Generally within 3 and 10 miles off. And generally it’s all run-and gun, chasing busting fish under the birds. These fish range in size, but can be anywhere from 60 to 250 pounds.
After the Holidays? The boats come out, for some long needed maintenance.