April 2026 — Long Island NY: Striper Run Building, Fluke Opens, Winter Flounder. April is a spring month with water in the 50-60°F range — striped bass spring migration peaks (Chesapeake spawn, OBX surf, Raritan Bay); spring tautog. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — April 2026
Primary targets this month: Striped Bass, Tautog, Fluke, Flounder.
Striped Bass
Striper around Great South Bay (the historic LI striper fishery), Western LI Sound, the North Shore beaches (Eatons Neck, Sunken Meadow), Peconic Bay, Block Island Sound, and Plum Gut. Live and chunked bait; bucktails and soft plastics on lighter tackle.
Tautog
Tautog (blackfish) on the rocky north shore (Connecticut shoreline visible across the Sound), the inlet jetties, the offshore wrecks. Green crab is the gold standard bait; whole or half on a 4/0 octopus hook with minimal weight. Bites are subtle, sets must be sharp. Cold-water specialist — best Nov-May.
Fluke
Fluke (summer flounder) on Great South Bay, Peconic Bay, the North Shore harbors (Mount Sinai, Port Jefferson), the south shore beaches, and the inshore wrecks. Drift over sandy bottom with a bucktail jig tipped with Berkley Gulp! 5-6″ or a strip of squid. Three-way rigs with a teaser and a large bucktail are deadly. Bigger fish hold in deeper water (60-120 ft).
Flounder
Flounder around winter flounder in the bays in early spring (April-May); summer flounder (fluke) is the dominant species. Bucktails with Gulp! trailers, live mud minnows, finger mullet on Carolina rigs. Slow on bottom.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 50-60°F. Striped bass spring migration peaks (chesapeake spawn, obx surf, raritan bay); spring tautog. Long Island has moderate tides (3-8 ft depending on location) but the inlets (Jones, Fire Island, Moriches, Shinnecock) move enormous water — striper and bluefish action at the inlets peaks on outgoing tide. Plum Gut (between Plum Island and Orient Point) is one of the most current-driven striper spots on the East Coast.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Striped bass migration. Watch water temperatures — 50°F triggers the spring run.
- Pre-spawn tautog peak. Best blackfish window of the year — wrecks and rocky structure.
April Outlook
Peak spring migrations — cobia (Gulf/SE), striped bass (mid-Atlantic), spawning movements everywhere.
Regulations Reminder
Flounder: 14″ minimum, 5 per day (FL). State-specific elsewhere. Striped Bass: Federal slot typically 28-31″ with state variations; verify ASMFC and state rules annually. Fluke (Summer Flounder): 17-19″ minimum (state-by-state), 3-4 per day. Tautog: 15-16″ minimum, 1-4 per day depending on state and season — strictly regulated. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: J&H Tackle (Patchogue, 631-475-9818); Causeway Bait & Tackle (Wantagh); Eddies Bait & Tackle (Babylon); West Lake Marina (Montauk — adjacent); Camp-Site Sports (East Patchogue); Wego Fishing (Southhold).
Public Boat Ramps: Captree State Park (Great South Bay), Bay Shore Marina, Captree boat basin, Heckscher State Park, Sunken Meadow State Park (north shore), Port Jefferson ramp, Greenport (North Fork), Shinnecock public ramp.
Charter Fishing: $650–$900 inshore (Great South Bay, Sound); $1,000–$1,800 canyon tuna; $700–$1,100 nearshore wrecks; $450–$700 party-boat day trips.
More Long Island NY Resources
Long Island NY Fishing Guide · Long Island NY Seasonal Calendar · All Long Island NY reports →
Reports updated every Thursday on fishing.digital.