Thom Glace, the award-winning watercolorist’s commissioned striper, is one of the best illustrations of Morone saxatilis.
Capt. Andrew Derr is one of the most important light tackle fishing guides in Eastern Long Island, New York (Greenport and Montauk). Andrew’s contributions to protecting that environment are well known. He has also written extensively for this publication since 2002, spending several years managing us as editor-in-chief. During his guiding years in Key Largo, he co-authored the popular book Fly Fishing the Florida Keys. Derr has traveled extensively, several hosting fellow anglers, one such trip being to Seychelles’ Astove Island—the feature of this story, reposted with permission. Image Fooled by a fly. Long Island, New York. A North Fork flats striper cooperated recently. Capt. Andrew Derr image.
By Capt. Andrew Derr
When most waters around Long Island, NY, are getting too hot for excellent top-water fishing. The waters surrounding North Fork manage to hang in there.
With bonito making an occasional appearance, as they have lately, and the albies generally showing up in late August, the striped bass and blue fishing get nicely rounded out, creating a pretty impressive and dependable bite.
Angler Dave Wanamaker has a decent summer bass taken on top.
Jazzed-up large striper whack a fly
Early mornings and evenings tend to be the ticket for the bass. Coaxing them up in shallow water rips with poppers, plugs, and streamers can also be exciting. Watching a jazzed-up large striper whack a fly on the surface is just cool any way you look at it, let alone in the heart of the summer in New York State. Nearby Atlantic waters 
provide the East End with clean, cool water, fueling the area’s excellent fishing through the warmer summer months.
Also of vast importance is the sheer volume of bait in the area at this time of year. For instance, fish are keåying in on a significant abundance of butterfish. Watching fish pick off ‘butters’ on the falling tide is excellent. They love butterfish, the tasty little morsels of protein on a virtual conveyor belt.
Eels, crabs, shrimps, and snappers
In addition, they key in on spearing eels, crabs, shrimps, and snappers. Speaking of snappers, the area is rife with them and their larger brethren in the 3-15-pound range. Bluefish snobs need not apply. These behemoths that show up are aggressive and will fight and jump to the boat, dogging you every chance they get. Pound for pound, they will fight as well as just about any gamefish.
Albies generally start to show in the latter part of August. (photo by A. Derr)
Telltale bonito markings.
Albies generally start to show in the latter part of August. Shortly after they begin to be seen in Nantucket, they tend to show up somewhere between Orient and Fishers Island. Some prime fishing areas they frequent before setting up shop in Montauk for the well-documented pre-migration feed bag in mid-September.
Bonito
And finally, the hallowed East End bonito bite is an enigma. While one needs to have an element of luck to get shots at the now elusive bonito, this is an excellent place to wager your efforts. Some traditionally productive bonito spots are close to productive summer bass and bluefish water.
We recently had some bonito sightings and are excited by their presence. Here’s hoping it comes together. They hang around, and we will get a good bonito run this month. I know I’ll be checking my spots keenly and ready to fire next time they show (hopefully within 100 feet of my boat).
More to come on this
I think they know they taste good and make themselves scarce because of it.
False ççby award-winning watercolorist Thom Glace – here’s a link to his awesome gallery.
Summer months on the North Fork offer excellent fishing, beaches, restaurants, farm stands, wineries, and music.
For more information on chartering a boat on the East End, go to: www.longislandonthefly.com
For more information on visiting the North Fork, go to: www.northforker.com
