North Shore Long Island Fishing Report
This looks to be the week where things really start shutting down on the fishing front. Boats are coming out of the water and shops are starting to pack up for the season or change over to winter hours. However, there are fishing opportunities out there if you look hard enough. John at Terminal Tackle in Kings Park said that the blackfish died out over the weekend with water temperatures dropping seven degrees in less than a week, but the short action is still happening. We need a couple of nice days to see if tog fishing is really over or there is still a chance it could bounce back a bit.
John reported herring in the Nissequogue, Huntington Harbor, and Eatons Neck. There are probably some bass on them, but no one has been out to catch anything. Squid were also found sporadically in Huntington Harbor and the Nissequogue.
South Shore Long Island Fishing Report
South Shore blackfishing seemed to remain solid this week with limits of fish to 8 pounds on KO rigs and white crabs. The AB Reef saw nice tog action after the change of tide to the outgoing, according to Bay Park Fishing Station in Oceanside. However, Mike at White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays said the eastern South Shore reef action has slowed up for blackfish and the sea bass pushed off into deeper water.
Not very many bass reports made it back to the shops this week, but Mike from White Water said guys just really aren’t going out. Striper action has slowed down, but there is still life in the water with gannets working various baits just off the beaches with a potential for stripers underneath them.
Bay Park also reported great bluefin action at the Hudson Canyon with trolling and chunking catching the majority of fish.
Metro Long Island Fishing Report
Tog action in western Long Island hasn’t slowed down much with really good action this week at the South Reef and New Bottom, according to Stretch at Stella Maris Bait & Tackle in Brooklyn. Vinny from Bernie’s Fishing Tackle in Brooklyn also said the boats that did manage to get out are doing well at the local wrecks for blackfish.
Stretch at Stella Maris reported a lot of short bass in the area, but there are plenty of fish for the guys who just want to play around. The Breezy Point Jetty is hit or miss more so than in past weeks, but Vinny from Bernie’s said a few fish are lingering around despite things winding down.
John at Jack’s Bait & Tackle in the Bronx said all the local party boats are done for the season and out of the water, but the shop is still open until at least December 20th and will be running a winter sale until the doors close. They will reopen sometime in February.
East End/North Fork Long Island Fishing Report
Tonya at Westlake Marina in Montauk said the only fishable day to get the boats out was Saturday, which turned out to be the last day on the water for the season for most. Blackfish and sea bass are really the only things happening on the East End right now, and that is hit or miss at best. Bill from Jamesport Bait & Tackle in Mattituck said a lot of boats were actually cancelling trips as they didn’t want to drive all around with anglers not catching anything.
Paul from Paulie’s Bait & Tackle in Montauk said the beaches have been dead, but there is a bit of herring life at the pier and a few cod around for those that are interested.
Steve at Wego Bait & Tackle in Southold said no reports came back this week, but the shop is having a nice Christmas sale throughout the month.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Well, we are getting to that time of year where we are doing a lot less fishing and not much catching. Blackfish and sea bass are hanging in there on parts of the South Shore and western Long Island, but it is only a matter of time before they call it quits. The stretch of nice weather we need to really get a read on the fishing is unfortunately not coming this weekend with rain and the winds picking up through Sunday. We do have some better days coming up next week sometime, but we are just hoping it is not too late for the fish. If you are able to get out, hit some of the productive reefs and wrecks in the southern and western waters for a shot at last minute tog. There are a few cod around already also, and that will just continue to pick up steam, so we do have that to look forward to.
There isn’t really a shortage of bait in the water with the influx of herring within the last two weeks, you just have to get out to see if anything is on them. Try to find a back bay or another area that might stay warmer than surrounding waters for a shot at a December striper.
The Hudson Canyon bluefin bite is the only action that is pretty awesome right now, so if there is a chance to possibly get out there, definitely do it before it is too late.