8/8/25 Top Water Joker

Fishing Report July August 8th, Top Water Joker

We're having a fantastic stretch of weather, and today and tomorrow are looking ideal for both inshore and offshore fishing.

This week, we've seen a significant increase in weed in the pond. While we had extreme clarity last Friday and Saturday, a lot of eelgrass and red weed has been flowing in and out of the breachway. It seems to be clearing up now, and fishing the beginning of the tide, especially in the pond, should be helpful.

Just a note about the red weed: there are a few types, both invasive plants. *Heterosiphonia japonica* and *Grateloupia turuturu*, also known as Red Asian seaweed, are native to the Northwest Pacific region (Japan, China, and Korea). They likely spread to the western North Atlantic from Europe via ship ballast water or fishing nets.

Here's a breakdown of what's going on by species:

Fluke: The local bite has slowed down, especially with the dirty water, but we're hoping things pick up in the next few days. Focus your efforts in 45-55 feet of water. A customer this week who had a mako pick up two of their fluke rigs, then jump six feet out of the water!

Seabass: There are still some good-sized seabass being pulled in, both locally and out at Block.

Tautog: We're off to a really great start with tautog, with both boat and shore anglers getting their fix. There have been good-sized fish around in shallow water, and customers have been catching them on crab, clam, and even by spear.

Bass: Fishing around the Island and on the beach picked up this week, with many bigger fish around. However, the reports of people losing nice fish to sharks are becoming a bit tiresome. We heard of someone losing nine fish to sharks in one tide. If it happens twice, please consider fishing for something else—there's no need to teach these sharks how to get an easy meal. Heads up big pod of adult bunker were in front of the breachway yesterday.

Bluefish: Bluefish still seem to be around in good numbers, and snappers are starting to bite in the salt ponds and back bays.

Tuna: Reports remain quite good. Avoiding the main fleet tends to help. Trolling continues to work, but the bite has really picked up on the jig and dead sticking.

Remember, the fall run starts in August; these fish know summer is coming to an end.

Weekend Weather report: