Skimmeroutdoors Fire Island Fishing, Hunting and diving reports - Skimmeroutdoors.com

GREAT CLASSIC LAYOUT BROADBILL SHOOT WITH RED OSTER OF REDHEAD GUIDE SERVICE AND A GREAT CREW OF DUCK HUNTERS

12/19/2016

Today I had the opportunity to hunt with probably the best open water layout guides that ever worked the waters of the Great South Bay namely Red Oster and his brother Steve. We had an excellent crew besides me Red and Steve including Craig Kessler, Ron, Chris, Eric.

Today was also a kind of tribute to the late Schuyler Watts who was also one of the if not the best layout shoot guides ever on the Great South Bay. We were thinking about him today and his memory will live on and our thoughts are also of his beautiful wife Mary who we all love and is doing well..

We found the birds we love to hunt and set up early. It was cold, windy and overcast and we were in a lee from the wind, perfect conditions. I was given the challenge of being first in the hunting boat reputation on the line. My stay lasted all of 5 minutes. The birds were really tending and I killed my limit of two right away. It was red hot for an hour or two and we quickly had half our limit but the sun came out and ice built up on the decoys and it slowed some. Craig Kessler got into the Scooter and killed one broadbill and then two geese flew over at 40 yards, Craig lined up the lead bird and dropped it dead. The other bird circled and came over again and Craig dropped it dead as could be. Bonus birds we call them. He then finished with his second breadbill and his limit. Time to get the next hunter in the boat.

Chris had his two broadbill and also a bonus bird a ruddy duck. Very unusual.

Ron and Eric got their limits and the Red went in the Scooter and with his new VersaMax killed the first two ducks that came to the rig. Nice gun but I still love my Benelli.

Stevie finished out the day with his limit and we picked up the rig and headed home after a mosty beautiful and satisfying day of hunting with true lovers of the sport.

It doesn't get any better!

Captain Al Lorenzetti

Rice Breast Black Duck

12/15/2016

Location
western marsh

Hunting Report
Did a quick afternoon hunt. Took the meadow box way back deep in the marsh.. 10 min into hunt had a black duck commit dropped it 10 yards out.. Had a bunch of other black ducks come in and just watched.. Later when went to breast the duck out I noticed it had Rice Breast..
After hatching, the baby parasites migrate to the skeletal muscles and form cysts. The cysts resemble grains of rice and run in parallel lines throughout the muscle, usually the breast and thigh. Dabbling ducks — such as the mallard, gadwall , widgeon and so forth — are most susceptible to rice breast

some people say you can still consume it but I chose not to. This is only the second time I have a shot a bird with this condition.

Rich Figlia

Youth Duck Hunt day 2

11/13/2016

Hunting Report
He wanted to go again sunday so we headed out in our 13 Duckboss for another afternoon hunt. He harvested another black duck and a merganser. Another great day in the marsh.. Cant wait for the regular opener ....

Rich Figlia

Youth Hunt weekend

11/12/2016

Location
Amityville marsh

Hunting Report
Been waiting months for this day.. Myself my son Luke (12 years old) and good buddy Anthony Babich decided we would hunt out of Anthony's TDB so we could have more room and get some photos. Decided on an afternoon falling tide hunt. Had a few hiccups getting underway, Anthony's phone fell in the canal but he jumped into canal with waders on and found it in the mud! Life proof case saved it but realized waders had a hole in the boot so he spent the rest of the day with one leg wet. Headed out of canal into open bay and boat would only do 8MPH, we eventually realized the prop was damaged so we had to creep over to our spot. on the way over we kicked up lots of birds, once there we were greeted by a bunch of black ducks which quickly left as we walked the boat in. We all worked together setting out the decoys, once back in the boat we waited.. Had a single black duck come in but didn't full commit, then 3 more a little later on. Even the brant were flairing! So we removed the mojo, That helped. As Luke was eating a twix bar i saw a bird coming in from our left into the wind he dropped the twix bar and then dropped the Hybrid black duck with one shot, hit him dead on bird was on his back feet up! I will never forget that look on his face, huge smile! He walked out and retrieved the bird. A little later on he took a shot at some committed brant but they flew away to live another day. Had a few more ducks fly past but they had other plans to land somewhere else. After legal shooting time Luke and I picked up all the decoys and we all headed back. On the way home dropped bird off to get mounted. Looking forward to many more days afield with Luke and friends....

Rich Figlia

Vicious Winter Hurting the Ducks and Geese. A Program is in place and the feeding has begun along the entire South Shore of Long Island. Babylon the home of incredible duck hunting heritage is in the forefront of helping the local duck population.

2/27/2015

The ducks Geese and other waterfowl are having a very tough time surviving this winter. The bays are almost entirely frozen over and all the lawns and golf courses and any other inland feeding source is covered in ice. The people who care the most are working to help them in this time of crisis. A feeding program is in progress and all guides, hunters and other concerned individuals are putting their money and resources into getting much needed food to these birds. The Village of Babylon and its Highway Department devised a unique way to get the feed to the birds. A high pressure air compressor device is being used to throw the corn out into open water and on to the ice for the diving and puddle ducks to have a good meal.

Skip Gardner the head of the Highway Department in Babylon Village said that he would make the new feeding device available to any other community that would like to use it to feed their waterfowl. You may contact me at [email protected] if you would like a loan of the device.

Today was the first installment and it went very well. I will be checking on the duck population and its feeding habits on the new feed lot over the next week and will report the progress of the program.

Captain Al Lorenzetti

Pheasant Hunt at Hunters Garden Northhampton NY with Tony Visentin Rich Santos and Tony's great dog Pete

2/25/2015

Great Day!

1/11/2015

Location
western Marsh

Hunting Report
Most memorable day out on the marsh! Spent the day out with my girlfriend and good buddy. Had breakfast in the boat and had a great day shooting Mallards, Blacks, Gadwall and a lone brant. Lots of birds on the move... lets hope the cold stays till the 25th!

Rich Figlia

goose hunt

2/12/2014

Location
western Marsh

Well a great season for ducks is behind us but goose is still open in my area till the 26th so my buddy Mike and I set up this am hoping to decoy a few in. Well it turned out ok. All morning we enjoyed widgeon, mergansers, blacks, gadwall flying all over landing in our decoys. Finally had some geese commit, we downed 2 nice birds and mine had a band (my first banded goose) All in all a great day on the water. New storm coming intomorrow more snow and ice.. Rich Figlia

Last Day!

1/26/2014

Location
Massapequa Marsh

Hunting Report
Headed out at sunrise, we found some open water in a favorite spot, while setting up gadwalls and widgeon were flying in. After setting up we had our limit of blacks right away. It was awesome watching black ducks land 10 feet from the boat over and over again. Decoys kept getting iced and tide was getting low so we had to pack in the season.. Made it back safe after plowing through some ice. Had a great season.. Rich

Battled the ice today

1/10/2014

Location
Massapequa Marsh

Hunting Report
Heading out at sunrise with my buddy John so we could see the ice chunks. Our first 2 spots were iced in so we found a new spot and it turned out ok. Lots of ducks flying, we managed 2 mallards a Black Duck and John got a nice drake Gadwall. When the tide shifted so did the ice and we called it a day because the ice was dragging the decoys.. Rich.