There are usually a few weeks of summer doldrums immediately after the stripers move north in July. But starting in mid-July we catch bonito and Spanish mackerel, and in August and early September you can find false albacore and skipjack tuna at Rockaway Inlet. You can also find these tuna rockets in nearby New York Harbor from the Statue of Liberty to the Brooklyn Bridge. Although it didn't last very long, Capt. Bryan Goulart reported school-sized bluefin tuna off the beach at Coney Island while guiding clients this past August.

The most common baits this time of year are spearing or bay anchovies 1 to 3 inches long. One of the best local patterns is the Albie Ho created by local angler Richard Reagan. The Albie Ho is easy to tie, easy to cast, breathes well in the water, and is durable enough to catch numerous fish. Dixon's Corsair Rainbait, small poppers, and Joe Blados's Crease Fly are also worth trying when albacore and their relatives are blitzing the surface.

When fish aren't showing, throw the same flies on sinking-tip lines around rip lines and near structure. Sometimes blind fishing is more productive than chasing busting fish from place to place.
 

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