Blitzes in Montauk, Big Stripers on South Shore
We’re getting into the primetime of this season’s Fall Run, and fisheries across the state are beginning to come alive. Huge numbers of bass have moved into the wash around the Montauk Lighthouse and the rips continue producing with lock-and-load consistency. The wrecks and artificial reefs are alive from one end of the south shore to the other, and the bite off Long Island’s south shore is also heating up. There’s a lot of great fishing options to be found around the state, so let’s get right into into it — here’s the breakdown.
East End
There’s a reason Montauk is called “Mecca” by diehard surfcasters around the globe, and it’s weeks like this one that help build that reputation. “It’s been awesome,” says Paulie down at Paulie’s Tackle of Montauk, “There’s a ton of fish on the beach right now.” Our conversation this week was short as I could hear the commotion in the shop behind him. Fish are showing up just about everywhere right now and hitting a variety of offerings. Poppers and other topwaters have been producing fish under the mid-day sun, though Paulie himself is still sticking with his standard 1 ½-ounce while bucktail tipped with a red-and-white Uncle Josh pork rind. This combo could easily be considered the official offering of daytime Montauk surfcasting, and if you’re new to fishing the End it’s a great option – just make sure you’re stocked up before heading down to the Light. For those fishing the overnight session, needlefish and darters are the way to go. I like the one’s manufactured by Super Strike, the consistently produce monster trophy fish after dark and inexpensive enough that you won’t hate yourself every time you lose one. If you can get to ‘Tauk for Friday, get to it. The east wind in the forecast should help bring some of the big cows that are out in the rips closer into the beach. If you can’t get out until the weekend, the northwest wind should also be good, especially well north of the Light. Last weekend saw a nice shot of 30-pound class fish on the Shagwong beaches under similar conditions. The bite for the charter fleet out in the rips is even better, if you can believe it. Lots of 50 pounders have been hooked in recent days, and the action should just be getting started. Six-pack charters are limiting out in the first few drifts with huge cow bass.
Shinnecock and Peconic Bay
Although Montauk remains loaded with bass, the early birds of the migration are definitely beginning their push west. Ken from Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Sag Harbor reports a big increase in the number of linesiders coming out of the Shinnecock area. Bass are being caught inside the inlet day and night. Live eels have been the ticket at night, and are working from the boat on three-way rigs and tossed up current from the jetty and retrieved extra slow. The action has also been good recent from the sand beaches in the area, and nice keeper-size bass are being caught day and night. Bucktails and tins are producing most of the fish in daylight hours, and needles and darters are working best after nightfall. Fishing in the Peconic remains decent, though few reports are coming in this week due to the bass bite out at Montauk and around Shinnecock Inlet. Steve from East End Bait and Tackle also mentioned the increased presence of keeper-size bass in the area. It’s definitely the focus right now, as the fluking is quickly coming to an end for the year. The Shinnecock Canal has also slowed significantly, and it’s definitely a good idea to turn for focus to the bass moving through the area.
South Shore
Fishing is hot just about everywhere off Long Island’s 84-mile south shore, with the extreme western end the only exception. Water temperatures are still hanging in the 72 to 73 degree range deep inside the New York Bight, but once you get to Jones Inlet is picks up quickly. Ed from Jones Beach Fishing Station reported a nice increase in the amount of keeper-size bass in the area. “It’s not Montauk good yet,” he mentioned but there were linesiders into the low 20-pound class weighed in at the shop this week. Wreck and reef fishing also continues to be hot with a nice mixed bag of black sea bass, porgies, triggers, kingfish and northern puffers being caught. There’s also still a few keeper fluke around, though that bite is definitely showing signs of coming to an end. There’s still plenty of bluefish running around, from snappers and “cocktail” size all the way to legitimate “gators.” There’s even been some more exotic species inside the bay, one of the Jones Beach regulars had his bluefish snatched off the hook by a 4- to 5-foot hammerhead shark while fishing a 30-foot hole inside the bay. That’ll get the blood pumping.
North Shore
Although the action off the east end and south shore is stealing much of the thunder this week, the bite happening on the Long Island Sound has also improved significantly. The bass are beginning to heard the adult bunker inside the central and western north shore harbors reports from Mark at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport. The bass are pretty fixated on the large bunker, so either snag yourself a livewell full or set up with a few dozen fresh ones for the chunk bite. Also, don’t be afraid to fish inside. The larger bass are feeding under the schools, Mark reports, so hang on tight when snagging bait. Porgy fishing also continues going strong along the north shore, although the larger fish are now set up on some of the deeper rock piles and structure in the sound. Focus you attention in the neighborhood of 45 to 65 feet. There’s also still a few keeper-size sea bass in the mix as well as thousands of shorts — a good sign for the longterm viability of the fishery in the sound
Metro New York
After several months of ling and sea bass dominated fishery, options for anglers around the NYC are finally starting to expand — at least a little. The false albacore have been making an appearance from time to time, though it’s not something which can be consistently relied upon. The crew at Bernie’s Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn reports that things have yet to really get going due to water temperatures still hovering in the neighborhood of 72 to 73 degrees but there are some signs of good things to come. A few bass and blues are beginning to show up in the area, and it shouldn’t be long before the fish in Debs/Jones area push a little closer to the city. The good thing is that the porgy fishing has picked up significantly over the past week, and it’s providing plenty of action for NYC anglers waiting for the water to cool down a few more degrees. The crew on the Marilyn Jean IV out of Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn has been putting together some great trips recently and there’s still some nice sea bass in the mix. Fishing was great over the past weekend, and got even better on Monday and Tuesday this week with many anglers taking a limit of jumbo porgies. There’s also still a nice amount of triggers and bluefish in the mix.
Upstate
Shorter days, some rain and a few nights that could legitimately be called “cold” have done wonders to jumpstart the sweetwater fisheries upstate. Matt at Beaverkill Angler in Roscoe reports good isonychia hatches in the afternoon and evenings on the Beaverkill and Willowemoc. Wet fly and streamer fishing has also been producing strikes throughout the day recently. Lower stretches of the West Branch of the Delaware River have also been productive with good late-day hatches. The water has a little color in it according to Matt – especially near the dam – but that can actually be good for streamer fishing this time of year. The salmon and steelhead fishing has also broken open up on Lake Ontario according to the crew at Narby’s Station in Kent. More fish are moving inshore each day as water temperatures beginning falling faster. Nice fish are being caught off the local piers and bridges, and fish are bight well past sundown right now. Trolling is also producing good numbers of fish with spoons and swimming plugs. One good cold rain should be enough to break things wide open, as low water levels seem to be the only thing holding some fish back right now.
Best Bets
If you’re a junkie for hooking big fish in the surf like myself, get to Montauk ASAP. The End has come roaring to life this week, and the north and east winds in the forecast should keep the fish tight to the beach through the weekend. If you can’t make it all the way to the End, Shinnecock Inlets has also been producing nice bass with an every-tide consistency. If heading east isn’t an option at all, consider heading to Captree. There’s a decent number of keeper-size bass around and the mixed-bag bottom fishing around the artificial reefs remains very productive. Upstate, it’s a good time to consider a steelhead/salmon trip up Lake Ontario — especially if we get some rain. The fishing’s been improving everyday and is poised to break wide open. Tight lines.