North Shore Long Island Fishing Report

John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said that the bass are gone for the most part, although a few stragglers can be found on occasion.

Blackfish have been giving anglers the most action on the North Shore, with some decent sea bass mixed in, and Carmine from Camp Site Sports Shop in Huntington Station said the shorts to keeper ratio is improving for tog. Robert at Hi Hook Bait & Tackle in Huntington said the hottest spots are at Buoys 11B and 28C and out at Greens Ledge in Connecticut. John from Terminal Tackle said there are no specific depths as the tog seem to be all over, but anywhere from 35-80 feet on the wrecks and reefs has been working nicely. If the weather stays warm, the fishing should continue to be good.

 

South Shore Long Island Fishing Report

The striper action has slowed down on the South Shore, although Bryce from White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays said there are a few small fish still off the beaches and in the tidal creeks.

The blackfishing on the other hand has not slowed at all. Dan at Causeway Bait and Tackle in Wantagh said the tog bite on the Hempstead Reef and the AB Reef has been great out around 100 feet of water. Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside reported boats heading out to the 65 mile wrecks have been bagging limits of sea bass to 7 lbs, porgy to 4 lbs, and cod and pollock up to 20 lbs, with some bluefish mixed in. Bryce at White Water also said the sea bass and cod bite is unbelievable on the eastern South Shore wrecks in 150-200 feet. It is also worthy to note that the Bluefin tuna bite at Hudson Canyon is insane right now, according to Trophy Tackle in West Babylon.

 

Metro Long Island Fishing Report

The bass bite in the Metro area is pretty decent compared to the rest of the Island. Frank at Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn reported good numbers of stripers at Breezy Point and NY Harbor. Most of the fish have been shorts, but a few small keepers have mixed in. Louie at Island Bait & Tackle in the Bronx reported bass up to 25 lbs around the Pelham Bay Bridge, the Throgs Neck Bridge, and the East River. Bloodworms have been working well, but since there is a lot of squid in the water, squid bait is also doing the trick.

 

Tog fishing has been steady as well with Joe from Stella Maris Bait and Tackle in Brooklyn saying New Bottom and Buoy 17 are good right now. Frank at Bernie’s also added that herring fishing has been consistent from the Verrazano Bridge to South Street Seaport. Louie at Island Bait also wanted to add that the shop is currently having their holiday sale from now until Christmas of 10-50% off select items.

 

East End Long Island Fishing Report

Paulie at Paulie’s Bait & Tackle in Montauk said that the striper bite has been slow, but the herring are in the area. Guys have been having luck jigging them up at the piers, but haven’t been able to land any bass when livelining them.

There was an East End report from Bay Park Fishing Station from a boat that went out of Montauk who caught their limits of blackfish up to 9 lbs at Block Island and sea bass up to 5 lbs at the SW Ledge. A few cod have also mixed in on these trips.

Best Bets for the Weekend

It seems like the striper fishing is waning just about everywhere; however there are stragglers around the North Shore and a few small fish being caught on the South Shore. The Metro area also has a steady bite of bass where you can at least have a bent pole, but many of the fish are shorts.

Bottom fishing is the better way to go. The blackfish are biting all around the Island with big fish being caught on all the wrecks. Sea bass and cod fishing are picking up on the East End and South Shore in deep water, and if you have the means, the bluefin tuna bite is incredible at the Hudson Canyon.