2019 Western Sound Spring Bass run...

[ag3]

Let's hope for a much better 2019 season.

2018 was hit or miss. I believe it was due to the very cold March and April, where we had record snowfall and cold and it threw off the migration. Huge bodies of fish were well offshore on the massive sand eel schools and the majority stayed out there all year.

Hopefully, 2019 is a much better striped bass year.

 

[Rick67]

Hope your right. It stunk for last two seasons from Jersey to northern Mass.

 

[ag3]

Hope your right. It stunk for last two seasons from Jersey to northern Mass.

Bass fishing was really good in the far western sound in the spring of 2017. Really bad in 2018.

 

[Scupper]

Some Bass have been known to winter over in Mid Sound

 

[BennyV]

Wonder if they still get them over by the LIPA plant in the winter.

 

[buddha162]

Bass fishing was really good in the far western sound in the spring of 2017. Really bad in 2018.

Hopefully 2019 bounces back. I do very little bass fishing...but I want to tangle with a big one off the yak, shallow...among the boulder fields in the western sound...that would be fun!

 

[BennyV]

Hopefully 2019 bounces back. I do very little bass fishing...but I want to tangle with a big one off the yak, shallow...among the boulder fields in the western sound...that would be fun!

I got a few spots that used to produce well for me. If you’re interested give me a shout.

 

[Roccus7]

Wonder if they still get them over by the LIPA plant in the winter.

Don't see why not. Because of Northport, I've caught bass in every month of the year on LI. I'm guessing access for surf fishing is a bit tougher than it was 40 years ago though. I had friends who fished Pt. Jeff by boat and did well too...

 

[Rick67]

Hopefully 2019 bounces back. I do very little bass fishing...but I want to tangle with a big one off the yak, shallow...among the boulder fields in the western sound...that would be fun!

If you come out to RB when I go in April I'll set you up. Just watch and learn and you'll be towed.

 

[Capt13]

We had one of our better years (2018) both in size and numbers Port Jeff area. Last year (2017) was not as good ...... kept waiting for them to make their way east from the western sound. Never really happened, at least for us anyway.

In 2018 they were stacked up at times .... these ran 15-30 lbs.

 

[BennyV]

Sick

 

[Rick67]

We had one of our better years (2018) both in size and numbers Port Jeff area. Last year (2017) was not as good ...... kept waiting for them to make their way east from the western sound. Never really happened, at least for us anyway.

In 2018 they were stacked up at times .... these ran 15-30 lbs.

View attachment 1620

Do you keep a log?
If so, how many 25-29" fish did you get the last two seasons, compare them. The previous season they were everywhere it seemed. They just seemed to disappear. I tagged 150 in that size category in 2016. Not one has shown.
Hold on to that picture, it may become a novelty.

 

[BlueMarlin478]

Great to be back gents!

Personally speaking, 2018 was one of the best Bass years we've ever had - quality fish too, released all the bigguns and tagged nearly 40 fish along the way.

Might be boatless for the first time this season if she sells, so I may be living vicariously through the board.

 

[buddha162]

Great to be back gents!

Personally speaking, 2018 was one of the best Bass years we've ever had - quality fish too, released all the bigguns and tagged nearly 40 fish along the way.

Might be boatless for the first time this season if she sells, so I may be living vicariously through the board.

There you are...welcome! And get a kayak lol

 

[BennyV]

Drove over the Throgg’s Neck Bridge Friday and couldn’t help but think about the Spring Run. I never got in on the Littleneck bite (bass beach, etc.) but I couldn’t help but think about it as I drove on the Cross Island Parkway. For me the Spring Run always started as soon I heard stories of a bass or two coming up in that area. I’d then hightail it to Fort Totten wit some of Jack’s fresh bunker and fish the entire incoming tide. I changed baits often and hoped for the best. Nothing like getting that first bass of the season.

 

[PropellerJohnII]

I live in the area for more than half my life. This winter has been so awful with no cod bite or even herring to sooth my jonesing to catch a fish. Praying for the day when schoolies show up this season. Earliest I can remember catching stripers here ,was one February not too long ago. In fact , bite was so good, there were kayakers and float tube guys with out of state plates from, CT, NJ, PA and even RI. i was at my local bait and tackle this Friday and subject came up. No reports yet from Little Neck Bay. Not exactly spot burning. beginning of season usually is all artifcials and every year we see more and more fly fishing guys. Bait is usually a ways to go later in early spring. I will let u know if u PM me, whats happening. RE: tide, time of day and also what artifcials are working best . Tides look good this week but I fear the water still to dang cold.CIAO, John

 

[Scupper]

I live in the area for more than half my life. This winter has been so awful with no cod bite or even herring to sooth my jonesing to catch a fish. Praying for the day when schoolies show up this season. Earliest I can remember catching stripers here ,was one February not too long ago. In fact , bite was so good, there were kayakers and float tube guys with out of state plates from, CT, NJ, PA and even RI. i was at my local bait and tackle this Friday and subject came up. No reports yet from Little Neck Bay. Not exactly spot burning. beginning of season usually is all artifcials and every year we see more and more fly fishing guys. Bait is usually a ways to go later in early spring. I will let u know if u PM me, whats happening. RE: tide, time of day and also what artifcials are working best . Tides look good this week but I fear the water still to dang cold.CIAO, John

Caught my first flounder in Little Neck Bay , first Bass after sneaking onto the Base at Fort Totten [ when it was an Army facility } , first Bluefish at the Fort Totten Jetty on a Hopkins , snappers on the Barge in Little Neck , and we cut School a few times to catch Mackerel in Early June ... Mackerel rig consisted of flounder hooks covered with stripped plastic insulation from old copper wire , 2 ounce sinker on the bottom instead of a jig .. { $$$$ was tight those days } ....
Dug plenty of worms on the flats alongside the Cross Island Parkway , mostly Tape , but some Sandworms as well ............

 

[BennyV]

Caught my first flounder in Little Neck Bay , first Bass after sneaking onto the Base at Fort Totten [ when it was an Army facility } , first Bluefish at the Fort Totten Jetty on a Hopkins , snappers on the Barge in Little Neck , and we cut School a few times to catch Mackerel in Early June ... Mackerel rig consisted of flounder hooks covered with stripped plastic insulation from old copper wire , 2 ounce sinker on the bottom instead of a jig .. { $$$$ was tight those days } ....
Dug plenty of worms on the flats alongside the Cross Island Parkway , mostly Tape , but some Sandworms as well ............

If you haven’t dug and fished tapeworms you’re not a Western LIS fisherman. It’s like a right of passage lol. I remember the first time I saw one of those things. I was fishing Eastchester Bay with my grandparents off the rocks in the back of Pelham Bay Park. Big rock with a USCG Plaque on it. There was a lady who we used to see fishing back there all the time and she was hammering bass and flounder. Being my inquisitive younger self I asked her what her secret was. She pulled out a tape worm. I never saw anything like it before. Soon after I started digging my own.

 

[flounderbound]

Ahh, the good ol`days. Used to catch plenty of flounders,eels and tommy cods off the sewer pipe across from the golf driving range.Schoolie bass were a "pest"

 

[Scupper]

Tinker Mackeral in the Summer ... "Giant " Tommy Cod on the Ft Totten jetty , never caught them well , but we managed a few now and then ... Would go into Nov , gather up wood walk the jetty till we found a empty space , build a fire in the jetty to stay warm while we waited for the 'Cod' bite ......