Big storm snags anglers

Just as reports of decent flounder catches and keeper-sized bass showing off the Keansburg Pier started to trickle in, the worst Nor’easter in years roared through to shut down fishing for a few days as hundreds of thousands of gallons of discolored freshwater from flooded rivers poured into Raritan Bay. A good number of anglers took advantage of Saturday’s fishable conditions and were rewarded with a beautiful day on the water and fair-to-good flounder action and red hot bass catch and release action in the western end of Raritan Bay.

We hear the Island’s tackle shops are stocked with bait and are ready for the weekend. Vinny at Michael’s Bait and Tackle, Great Kills, says flounder fishing was pretty good in the back of the bay before the storm and hears some 20-pound class bass are showing off Yankee Stadium and Keansburg.

Paul at Great Kills Bait and Tackle reports clams are producing fair catch-and-release schoolie bass action from Great Kills Park and Seguine Avenue and around the Bug Light. Flounder fishing off Morgan Creek has been good on some days and slow on others.

Brian at Biggie’s Bait and Tackle says lots of schoolie bass were showing before the storm and regulars were enjoying a fair pick of flounder from the shallows off Morgan Creek and Keyport.

Patty at Scag’s Bait and Tackle, Tompkinsville, reports schoolie bass are showing off the Terrace.

Phyllis at Aunt Phyllis’ Bait Shop, Midland Beach, says there are some schoolie bass and flounder showing.

Captain Darrin LaMantia of Kayla Rose Fishing Charters out of Mansion Marina reports they started fishing Round Shoal for flounder on Saturday and wound up enjoying red hot catch-and-release bass action on clam.

By TONY SOMMA

STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE