Shallow-water ?left-handed? flounder reigns supreme on Long Island 17 inch minimum length, 3 fish limit. Open season May 15 to Sep. 6 Found - on the edges of channels or drop offs Caught - drifting Time Caught - moving tide changes in summer Bait - squid, sand eels, killies, shiners, smelt buck tails, fin-s, rubber grubs Tackle - light-action spinning or conventional rods, 6- to 10- pound test Hook - Carlisle 3/0 4/0 5/0 6/0.

Shallow-water ?right-handed? meaning its mouth faces right when lying flat. Starts life with eyes on both sides of its head; one eye starts to migrate to the other side soon after birth. Season opens third Sat. in March to June 30 reopens Sept. 15 to Nov. 30 11 inch minimum length, 15 fish limit. Found - on the edges of channels or drop offs Caught - drifting or anchored Time Caught - moving water (tide changes) in spring Bait - mussels, blood or sand worms, clam strips Tackle - light-action spinning or conventional rods, 6- to 10- pound test Hook - Chestertown 7,8,9,10,11,12 Tip - use yellow bead on hook leader

Can reach up to 25 pounds, but 1 to 3 pounds is average, and 3 to 6 pounders are common 1 per day - June 1 - Sep. 31; 10 the rest of the year 14 inch minimum length, 10 fish limit Found - by rocks, wharfs or wrecks Caught - Bridges, structures, wrecks Time Caught - Spring, Summer, Fall Bait - claims, crabs, worms, sand fleas, mussels Tackle - stout, conventional tackle is the best choice 7-foot rod, 20- to 30- pound test line Hook - Virginia 2,3,4,5,6,7 Tip - for big bulldogs, North Fork or western South Shore in the fall. use fresh hermit crabs

Could be the top fighting fish in the area, with razor-sharp teeth and eyesight to match. 10 fish per day, including snappers No size limit, 10 fish limit Found - Off docks in the bays or offshore Caught - Drifting trolling or anchored Time Caught - Moving water in the summer Bait - Trolling; lures, umbrella rigs, bunker spoon, large plugs, bucktails, parachute, hopkins, jigs Drifting; flounder, live eels, bergauls, black fish, clams, squid, porgies, fluke Tackle - Spinning, conventional and fly tackle Hooks - Carlisle, long shank 4/0 5/0 6/0 7/0 8/0 Tip - for gorilla blues, Montauk and Orient Point in summer and fall, and City Island to Port Jefferson through fall

Vivacious and easy to catch. Season June 16 - Oct. 17 and Nov. 1 to Nov 30 11 inch minimum length, 20 fish limit Found - by rocks or wrecks Time Caught - Open all year though Bait - clams, blood or sand worms, squid Tackle - light- to medium action spinning or conventional rods, small hooks

Caught below the George Washington Bridge L.I. Bays, Sound & Ocean from Apr 15 to Dec. 15 One fish per day per angler - 28 inch minimum. Two fish per day if on party or charter boat Found - At the bottom of ledges or holes anchored Caught - Drifting, trolling or anchored Time Caught - Moving water, moon tides, full moon Bait - Bass eat almost anything. Crabs, eels, squid, bunker, blackfish, flounder, clams, bergauls. trolling lures, umbrella rigs, bunker spoons, flies, bucktails, parachute, hopkins, jigs Tackle - Spinning, conventional, trolling, fly fishing. Tip - for cow bass, try the North Fork, Montauk or South Shore becahces in the fall.

Gets its name from the species tender mouth structure. Average weight 1 to 3 pounds, 4 to 7 pounds common. 16 inch minimum length, 6 fish limit. Found - in deep holes Caught - at anchor or drifting Time Caught - moving water in spring/early summer Bait - squid,blood or sand worms (whole), crabs plugs, spoons, plastic worms, bucktails Tackle - good fun on light -action spinning gear Hook - top: Sproat 2,3,4 - bottom: Carlisle 1/0 2/0 3/0 4/0 5/0 6/0 Tip - use Ultraline tackle