5/26 my first day of the year on the flats. Incoming tide with a light west wind. The visibility was tough as it was a bit overcast. I was fishing a popular beach West of 3 Mile Harbor which is usually loaded with bait as well as fish. I did see some bait (not sand eels) but not many fish. I walked the entire beach a few times and only managed a few shots. I landed one bass about 24" ( it was covered with sea lice). I pulled the fly out of a few others and had two others turn on the fly. I was using a tan and white epoxy sand eel. Overall it was a good day. Its great to be back.
5/26 Montauk. I set my alarm for 3AM and was out the door by 3:05. Light Northeast wind, no waves (no white water) last of the incoming tide. To my surprise I saw 3 other people near my spot on the South side. Maybe because of the long weekend? Anyway, I made the long walk to "my rock" which sits right on the corner of a big cove and started casting. I started with a white bucktail then a 6" chicken scratch bomber, then a storm wildeye, then back to the bucktail. At first light I saw a few signs of fish and caught one 18" bass. A lot of work for an 18 inch fish!. I did not see anyone else catch fish. I knew that spot would hold fish but for some reason they tend to be small. Later that day I took an hour to fish another Easthampton flat, this time East of 3 Mile Harbor. Again, the conditions were not great and to make it worse a gentleman cruised right down the center of the flat in his flats boat dropped his trolling motor and came back the other way. I should have left. I did see one large bass which I casted to, it turned, but no luck. Sight fishing from the beach can be tough because everything has to be just right. Blue sky, bright sun, clean water, light wind, and hopefully no boats and no swimmers to disturb the flat.
This coming weekend, the tides look good for some of my "go to" night spots which I can usually count on for a good number of fish. With my goals set, I feel as if I need to keep the numbers up unless I'm specifically targeting big fish that day.
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