LONG ISLAND KAYAK FISHING REPORT - MAY 18, 2025

CURRENT CONDITIONS
Water temperatures are warming up nicely, currently reading around 58°F in the south shore bays. Bunker pods have moved in throughout the area, bringing with them striped bass and other predators. The tide cycles continue to play a crucial role in determining when and where the fish are biting. Wind conditions have been challenging, but kayak anglers are finding success by targeting protected areas and working with the elements.

WHAT'S BITING

FLUKE (SUMMER FLOUNDER)
The fluke bite is heating up! Both John Skinner and Peter Ranieri (joined by Dan from Fishin' Accomplished) reported great success this week.

• John Skinner scored a limit of fluke. He reported that the biggest concentration of sandeels he's seen in years has these fish actively feeding. His boat was "caked in regurgitated bait" after the trip - a great sign for the season ahead!
• Peter Ranieri and Dan from Fishin' Accomplished hit a south shore bay and limited out with fluke up to 22.5 inches! They noted that working small profiles in channels during outgoing tide was the ticket to success.

STRIPED BASS
John Skinner put together an impressive "Northeast Grand Slam" this week by targeting striped bass, weakfish, bluefish and fluke all in one outing. He noted that the stripers were actively feeding in areas with good current flow, especially during the incoming tide. His bucktail jigs and flutter spoons produced consistent action in tidal rips.

WEAKFISH
Weakfish are showing up in good numbers. John Skinner caught several, including a quality fish over the 16" minimum. He mentioned that these fish can be caught in gentler currents than what's needed for striped bass. His setup included a glow diamond jig with a 3-inch paddle tail teaser.

BLUEFISH
Jumbo bluefish are in the mix! Surface action has been reported, particularly around areas with abundant baitfish. Topwater lures produced exciting strikes for those targeting blues.

KAYAK FISHING TIPS FROM THE PROS

MATCHING YOUR TACTICS TO THE CONDITIONS
Peter Ranieri and Dan from Fishin' Accomplished shared these valuable insights from their recent trip:

• During slack tide, getting bites can be challenging. Be patient and wait for the tide to start moving.
• In stained water, paddle tails with chartreuse contrast tails proved highly effective for fluke.
• Wind against tide creates challenging drift conditions - work with it to create the perfect slow presentation.
• When small fish dominate, try upsizing your presentation to target larger specimens.
• Fresh bunker strips can produce when artificial presentations slow down.

TIDE TIMING STRATEGIES
John Skinner demonstrated the importance of "tide chasing" - moving between different spots to catch the optimal tide stage at each location. He recommended a free tide and weather system from Salt Strong (available through his website) that helps with planning these kinds of trips.

GEAR SPOTLIGHT
Peter Ranieri used a St. Croix Tidemaster 6'6" medium-heavy fast action rod paired with a Penn SLAMMER IV 2500 reel for his fluke fishing success. His go-to lure was a 4" quiver shad in morning glory color on a 3/8oz jig head.

John Skinner continues to find success with bucktails and Gulp combinations for fluke, with his new Dark Matter Skinner swing hook bucktails proving particularly effective.

FORECAST FOR NEXT WEEK
As water temperatures continue to rise, expect the fluke bite to improve even further, especially in areas with good concentrations of baitfish. The abundance of sandeels noted by John Skinner suggests this could be an excellent season. Striped bass should remain active around bunker pods and in areas with good current flow. The next full moon cycle will likely increase feeding activity across all species.

KAYAK SAFETY REMINDER
With the busy boating season upon us, always wear your PFD, carry a VHF radio, and be visible to other boaters. Peter Ranieri mentioned being particularly careful about boat traffic while fishing channels - position yourself to keep an eye on approaching vessels.

NEW VIDEOS THIS WEEK

JOHN SKINNER FISHING


Summer Flounder (Fluke) Limit - Most Baitfish I've Seen in Years! - Posted May 18th


Grand Slam! Chasing the Tide for Stripers, Weakfish, Fluke, and Bluefish! - Posted May 14th


EPIC Striper and Jumbo Bluefish Topwater Fishing on a Nasty Morning! - Posted May 8th


Striped Bass, Weakfish, and Bluefish Pouring In As Waters Come Alive! - Posted May 11th

PETER RANIERI WITH FISHIN' ACCOMPLISHED


Its flukin' time! South shore bay kayak fishing with @FishinAccomplished - Posted May 12th

While I would not find it "personally helpful" overall it has great info.
(I say "personally" as I am an old stick in the mud and rarely leave my waters off Massapequa, have no need or regard for pedal pushers, go extra light with no electronics, and haven't bought bait since 2005.)
I also like my traditional bows more than compounds and mow my own lawn.

This is in the very early stages. Thanks for the feeback.

I meant no sarcasm and am probably in the minority of the kayak fishing people