Date: 2026-08-10
Quick Take: Lake Ontario's king salmon bite is firing strongly from Wilson to Oswego, while Niagara River offers productive bass and walleye fishing. Montauk reports strong mixed-bag action with sea bass, jumbo porgies, fluke, and bluefish offshore. Striped bass runs are active in the East River and Long Island Sound areas. [Facts: NY271, NY002, NY125].
Best Bet This Week: Target king salmon on Lake Ontario's western end from Wilson to Oswego using trolling methods. The salmon bite remains hot and consistent, providing excellent angling opportunities. [Facts: NY271, NY273].
What Fish Are Active: King salmon, largemouth bass, northern pike, striped bass, black sea bass, fluke, bluefish, walleye, and brown trout are all active. Bluefish and striped bass are schooling near shorelines, while trout stocking continues in inland rivers. [Facts: NY271, NY272, NY002, NY125, NY184].
Where to Fish: Lake Ontario from Wilson to Oswego for king salmon and brown trout; Niagara River for bass and walleye; Salmon River estuary for largemouth bass and pike; Montauk for sea bass, porgy, fluke, and bluefish; East River and Long Island Sound near Rye, Northport, and Huntington for striped bass. [Facts: NY271, NY272, NY002, NY125, NY130]. Specific marks in the reports include buoy 15 and Obstruction Buoy and buoy 11.
Freshwater Focus: Lake Ontario's king salmon bite is firing on all cylinders from Wilson to Oswego, while changing water conditions haven't slowed productive bass and walleye fishing on the Niagara River. A local charter Coordinator Ron Bierstine: The Salmon River estuary is also a great destination for northern pike and largemouth bass.
How to Fish: Use live eels for striped bass in East River and Long Island Sound during night and outgoing tides. Bottom fishing with bait is effective for fluke and sea bass around Montauk. Fly fishing for bass, pickerel, and panfish is productive in Long Island ponds during early morning and evening. [Facts: NY125, NY130, NY251, NY184].
Best Baits and Lures: Live eels produce the best results for striped bass in East River and Long Island Sound. Clouser Minnows and baitfish patterns work well for fluke on shallow flats and sandy drop-offs. Casting bait attracts striped bass and bluefish near shorelines. [Facts: NY125, NY130, NY097, NY094].
Trend Watch: Salmon fishing on Lake Ontario remains strong, continuing the spring bite into August. Striped bass runs are on with increased bait concentrations bringing more bluefish and bass into casting range. Fluke fishing remains productive with steady bottom action. [Facts: NY271, NY273, NY094, NY251].
Regulation and Access Changes: No new regulation or access changes were reported for this period. Anglers should continue to follow existing rules for species like striped bass and trout. [Facts: ].