Warmer waters bring more fish

We’re now into what I’d call aquarium season, with all varieties of fish currently in our metro waters.

Porgies, ling and schools of bunker are plentiful. Fluke are, too, although keeper-size are, of course, harder to come by.

New York’s new black sea bass season got off to a busy start Wednesday.

Sharks — brown, dusky, thresher, makos and, wow, even hammerheads — are cruising along Long Island’s south shore.

Their presence has temporarily scattered the bluefish into back bays and inlets.

Big striped bass are around and often on top of the water. But warm ocean temps have made them less eager to take bait than those stripers swimming in the slightly cooler 74-degree western Long Island Sound water.

Some early triggerfish are beginning to show up.

And blueclaw crabs and snappers are starting to excite the dockside set.

Seeking bluefin tuna or marlin? They’re out at Montauk.

It’s a nice, busy time to introduce Captain Paul Paris. He’s begun taking over the driver’s seat on the Capt. Dave III out of Sheepshead Bay.

Paris is surely qualified, having started fishing at age 4 standing atop a milk crate on his dad’s boat.

Capt. Paul is at the party boat’s helm four days a week, while dad, Capt. Dave Paris, continues his 54-year, on-water career the rest of the time.

Another Sheepshead Bay boat, the Brooklyn VI, also has news. Special longer offshore day trips are often offered on Mondays. For example, fluke and black sea bass are on this Monday’s agenda.

And take note that on the Flamingo III early this week, Anthony “the diesel man” from Whitestone reeled in a 41-pound striped bass.

Results are in from last weekend’s 34th annual Sandy Hook Bay (N.J.) Anglers Club Fluke Tournament. The popular two-day contest attracted 118 boats.

The 9.4-pound fluke weighed in by Daniel Nykyforuk of Manchester earned him the $3,000 first prize. That just barely topped the 9.2-pound second place $1,000 fluke reeled in by David Monar of Atlantic Highlands.

In the contest’s new women’s division, Kathy Saporito from Matawan won the special ladies rod-and-reel combo for her 6.2-pound specimen.

Maybe almost as exciting was the 25-inch channel catfish caught recently with “gobs of worms” in a Garden State pond by 10-year-old N.J. lad Christopher Prozor.

Maybe introduce him to saltwater fishing at Captree State Park on Long Island this Sunday at the Captree Bait & Tackle Fluke Surf Classic.

There’s a junior division for ages 12 and under that costs a mere $5 entry I fee. t’s $15 for adult competitors, with cash or equipment prizes for the heaviest fish weighed in by 4 p.m. For info, phone (631) 587-3430.