I set my lobster traps in early April, when the water temperature was around 42 degrees. It’s now around 66 off to the east, where I dropped them, and elsewhere, especially in the inner bays, coves, and harbors to the west, it’s well into the upper 70s. Well offshore, it’s been as warm as 83. Quite a contrast.
Given the lackluster results I’ve recorded in my logbook over the past few years, I did not anticipate abundant lobster catches this summer season. I figured I’d be eating more hamburgers and frankfurters.
On Friday, I took my dear friend Robert Cugini, who hails from Seattle, aboard the Rock Water as my substitute first mate. My regular trusty comrade, Ray, who is acutely attuned to the idiosyncrasies of how I expect my traps to be cleaned and baited, was busy that day hauling in a plethora of fish, including striped bass, bluefish, porgies, whiting, fluke, and other denizens of the deep on a trip that Capt. Rob Aaronson skippered aboard the Oh Brother!, a popular charter boat out of Montauk.
Aaronson and I have been close friends for decades. He knows where the fish are. Ray was a very happy man at the end of the day. He enjoyed many fish dinners and smoked up some bluefish fillets, some of which I made into a fine fish spread that was served on slices of toasted baguette a few days later.
Cugini has served as a valued deckhand for many years when bay scallop season opens in early November. But lobsters are a different ballgame.
Cugini was already on board with his deck boots, a solid set of slicks, and waterproof gloves when I arrived at my boat.
After spending nearly 90 minutes checking my 15 traps, we ended up with a dozen lobsters. It was a solid catch. A few of them went over the two-pound mark. Most surprisingly, they were of the hard-shelled variety. Later that evening, Cugini and his wife, Mary, came over to our house on North Haven for dinner.
Cugini had worked hard for his supper and hot buttered lobster rolls were on the menu. It was a most enjoyable evening with good food and great friends. My new apprentice did well.
Elsewhere, in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club of East Hampton and the Montauk Friends of Erin, the Montauk Grand Slam charity fishing tournament will once again take place during the weekend of July 20 and 21 at Uihlein’s Marina on West Lake Drive in Montauk.
There are categories for recreational, charter boat, and party boat fishermen. The highest combined weight caught of sea bass, fluke, bluefish, and porgy can capture the $8,000 in prize money.
“It’s a really fun event that we’ve had for nearly 25 years,” said Henry Uihlein, the host. “I’m so glad it has gone on for so long.”
As well, Capt. Michael Potts will be crowned as the Fishing Legend of the Year at the award party on Sunday afternoon.
“Michael so much deserves this recognition,” added Uihlein. “He and his family have been fishing Montauk for over 60 years and Michael is so very well respected. He’s a true legend.”
Having personally fished with Potts for many decades, I can say that this honor is most appropriate and well-deserved.
Anglers can sign up for the tournament at mtkmercurygrandslam.com.
In East Hampton, Sebastian Gorgone at Mrs. Sam’s Bait and Tackle said that porgies, kingfish, and blowfish are being caught near to shore. “The fishing has been really good,” he said. “And there have been schools of bluefish roaming around the area too.”
Gorgone added that striped bass have been taken regularly from the ocean beaches using small diamond jigs adorned with a teaser tied above the shiny lure. “The action has been consistent,” he remarked. “Fluke have also been cooperative in the Accabonac and Napeague areas too.”
Finally, baseball is the pastime of summer. And Capt. Harvey Bennett, the former owner of the Tackle Shop in Amagansett, plans to send another shipment of baseball equipment to children in need in Cuba later this summer.
“I had a great response this spring when I was on the hunt for baseball-related items,” he said while watching his beloved New York Yankees on TV the other evening. “Hopefully, I’ll get good amounts again.”
Those who wish to donate can contact Bennett at 631-324-7770 or [email protected].
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Fishing tips, observations, and photographs can be sent to [email protected].