Stripers on Herring, Big Blackfish
It’s hard to imagine we’re just a two days away from from the beginning of December, but there’s still some fish out there to target if you don’t mind the crisp fall air. Striped bass remain focused on the herring out in Montauk, and although the average size fish remains on the smaller side, especially for ‘Tauk standards, the numbers remain good. Now’s the time to get out there if you’re looking for one last 2012 linesider, as the season closes on December 15 – less than 3 weeks from now. Tog fishing remains productive over a wide area, and anglers on both the north and south shores are still managing to boat limits of quality blackfish. There’s even a few keeper cod showing up on the south shore wrecks to keep things interesting. Here’s the rundown.
East End
The herring are still the big story out in Montauk, and the charter fleet isn’t having too much trouble filling their livewells with calorie-dense bluebacks. Once out in the rips, the baitfish aren’t making it more than a few seconds before getting mauled by the plentiful teen-size bass and blues still hanging around the area. Water temperatures are falling quickly, though still hanging around 54 degrees with slightly warmer water not too far off from the Point. The word from Scott at Star Island Yacht Club is that the small keeper-size bass are still thick out off the point, and the tog are still being caught off Fishers Island. Scott also mentioned that some of the charter fleet at Star Island have already been heading toward Block Island and picking up some cod off the Southwest Ledge. The dogfish are with them, but the cod are plentiful enough to make the ride worthwhile.
Shinnecock and Peconic Bay
Things have gone pretty quiet in the Peconic Bay, as water temperatures have dropped rapidly over the past few weeks. Ken from Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Sag Harbor reports that foot traffic in the store has never really rebounded after Sandy. Ken had two feet of water in the store for two days and lost quite a bit of equipment and inventory, but the shop is back up and running on their fall schedule. The shop will remain open until the 22nd of December, so stop by and do some Christmas shopping. The shop’s website also has gift certificates available anytime for those last minute shoppers out there.
South Shore
The tog remain pretty active out on the artificial reefs scattered along the south shore, and the stripers are still showing up as well. Some keeper-size bass are even pushing within casting range of the ocean beaches at times. At Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside, the blackfish are on Atlantic Beach Reef in pretty decent numbers although you’ll have to cull through some shorts in order to put together a limit. Most of the larger fish are hanging out on the 17 Fathom line, but also being caught in decent numbers. The bass are still in the inlet, although it’s mostly schoolie-size fish at this point. There are a few small keepers still in the mix, and a tide spent clam chumming should produce at least one fish for the grill.
North Shore
Water temperatures are falling quickly on the Long Island Sound, and have dipped into the 40s along the north shore. The cool temperatures have chased most of the larger bass offshore, but the schoolie action remains pretty good along the shore. Tog action also remains productive in 40- to 80-foot depths. At Terminal Tackle John told me that there’s still fish around but “it’s been hard to find anyone willing to go.” The weather’s been messing around with the tog bite pretty significantly, and the consistent east winds have been making it hard to get the bigger blackfish chewing consistently. The forecast is decent for the upcoming weekend, and John thinks the fish should stick around right until the end of the season in mid December. John also mentioned that the schoolie bass are still around, and holding in good numbers inside Porpoise Channel and the in the mouth of the Nissequogue River. Most of the fish are cookie-cutter schoolies in the 22- to 24-inch range but there is the occasional keeper mixing in. There’s also a good amount of squid and herring in Huntington Harbor, a good option for those enjoy pickling and catching their own calamari.
Metro New York
Fishing remains decent in-and-around New York City. Tog are still holding on the local pieces and there’s even a few keeper-size bass still showing up. Captain Tony of the Marilyn Jean IV out of Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn reports that, “After a few slow days with the swell last week, and not sailing on Saturday with strong winds, the Blackfish where ready to bite again on Sunday.” Sunday’s trip managed an “easy” boat limit with some nice 7- to 9-pound slobs in the mix. Over the weekend a 21-pound blackfish was caught aboard the Ocean Eagle out of Sheepshead Bay. Strong westerly winds finally cleared up the ocean waters and the tog were back on the feed. Weather looks good for the upcoming weekend, so it’s a good opportunity to get out and bounce some sinkers. Especially because the marine forecast for the east end and central south shore is less favorable.
Upstate
I’ve already been seeing some skim ice in the mornings on my local sweetwater ponds down by the coast, so it shouldn’t be long until the hardwater season begins upstate.
Up in Kent on shores of Lake Ontario, the crew at Narby’s Superette & Tackle reports that, “They are letting more water out of the canal but with no precipitation things are very low.” Despite the low water conditions, however, the fishing is good for both brown trout and steelhead. They are using a wide variety of egg patterns, egg sucking leeches and wooly buggers in black, purple, and white. Perch fishing has been very spotty but some anglers are still targeting them. Down in the Catskills, more trout water is set to close tomorrow on the 30th, but the area does have some year round catch-and-release water where you can wet a line.
Best Bets
Bass fishing with live herring remains a good option out in Montauk as well as up on the north fork. The bait remains plentiful and the bass are still feeding heavily. Tog fishing is also a good option, and the bite’s been consistent over a wider area. The action in the New York Bight has been good with tog lately, and the sea conditions will be favorable as we head toward the weekend. Tight lines.