North Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Not a whole lot has changed of the North Shore since last week. There are still some schoolie sized stripers on jigs at the Triangle, according to Mark from Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport, but the fishing has been hit or miss. John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park also reported schoolies with a few keepers mixed in off the beaches for those who really know where to be.

Blues have been found mixed in with the stripers while jigging at the Triangle and off the local beaches.

Blackfishing is still very hot right now, with Carmine from Camp-Site Sports Shop in Huntington Station reporting that you can find fish on any rocky spot from here to Connecticut. John at Terminal Tackle said that tog of 5-8 lbs are fairly easy to come by in good numbers, but are gradually moving deeper to about 40-70 feet of water. Some good places to try for blackfish, according to Mark from Cow Harbor, include Buoys 13 and 11B, Old Field, and Smithtown Reef. The sea bass bite has been really good in 50 feet of water at Buoy 15, Old Field, and the Middle Grounds. Mark also reported big 12-inch squid around Huntington, Northport, Stony Brook, and the Nissequogue River.

South Shore Long Island Fishing Report

Stripers are still hanging out all over the South Shore, although they are starting to thin and spread out according to a few shops. Bryce at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays said that pods of bass are cruising the beaches and hitting diamond jigs; however you had to work a little harder for them this week. John from Terminal Tackle in West Babylon said diamond jigs are also working for the boats from Fire Island Inlet west to Tobay Beach. Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside reported that the western South Shore is still pretty hot for striper action with fish up to 38 inches caught by anglers trolling umbrella rigs in 40-70 feet of water off the Church and south of Atlantic Beach and Debs Inlet.

Greg at Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantagh said the blues are mixing in with the bass in 20 to 60 feet of water. Bay Park reported that south of Atlantic Beach and from Fire Island Inlet to Jones Inlet are holding blues right now. Trolling tubes and bunker spoons are the best, but blitzes for those jigging are occurring every so often.

Bay Park reported that anglers have been limiting out on tog at the Rockaway Reef on green crabs and Bryce at White Water said blackfishing is good on the eastern South Shore on the reefs in 75-80 feet of water. Bryce also reported that the sea bass have been thick in the deeper wrecks of 120-180 feet and cod are starting to mix in if you can pick through the sea bass.

Metro Long Island Fishing Report

The striper action is pretty decent in the Metro area with keepers up to 20 pounds caught off the Breezy Point Jetty on diamond jigs, according to Vinny from Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn. Louie at Island Bait and Tackle in the Bronx said squid and mackerel have been working for bass by the Pelham Bay Bridge and the Whitestone Bridge, while squid and bloodworms are doing the trick in the Hudson. John at Hudson Park Bait and Tackle in New Rochelle added that anglers have been finding some stripers around the Stepping Stone Lighthouse as well.

Vinny at Bernie’s said that blues of up to 18 pounds have been mixing in with the bass at Breezy Point Jetty and the Stepping Stone Lighthouse.

John from Jack’s Bait and Tackle in the Bronx said there are a few more short blackfish this week as the larger fish have moved a bit deeper, but there are plenty of tog to go around in 50 feet of water at Rye Playland, Execution Lighthouse, and up toward Connecticut at Captains Island.

East End Long Island Fishing Report

There haven’t been many big stripers on the East End, although Mike at Star Island Marina in Montauk
said there’s a decent supply of fish in the 3- to 5-pound range off the beaches. According to the reports, herring have been showing up the last few days, and Mike said that some nice bass usually follow them down the coast so there might be a chance of better striper action for the next two weeks or so.

Paulie at Paulie’s Bait and Tackle in Montauk reported that the blackfish action is good at Cerberus Shoal in 80 to 100 feet of water, and there are huge sea bass in deep water south of Block Island, at the Southwest Ledge, and at Cartwright, with some cod mixed in.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The weather cooperated a bit last weekend so more people were able to get out, although I wish this weekend looked more promising. Even so, there is still a decent bass bite for those throwing diamond jigs from the beaches or trolling bunker spoons and jigging on the boats. If you do venture out, the South Shore is your best bet for a sizable fish, but schoolies are still hanging out all over. Although the herring have started to move in on the East End, there hasn’t been any word yet if the bass have followed them. It is definitely something to keep an eye on for a little while.

The blackfish have moved out of the shallows and in to deeper water, but the fishing is still excellent for the entire Island. The sea bass bite has picked up lately, with some big fish coming from the deep wrecks on the East End and South Shore. With the cod moving in as well, and winter fishing beginning to get underway, it seems like a good time to hit a party boat and head to deep water.