Mid-September fishing has begun to show itself as surf action really picked up this week. Blues and bass continue to show up along the shorelines and the false albacore have suddenly appeared across most of Long Island. The abundance of bait we have had all year seems like it is about to pay off as anglers gear up for the fall run.
John from Hudson Park Bait & Tackle continues to report tons of blues around but the size has dropped slightly. There are still some big fish off Mamaroneck and at night on bunker chunks. Weakfish are biting well too, with some weighing 7 to 9 pounds. On the bottom, porgies are red hot on clam and there are some fluke to 24 inches still hanging around .
Aboard the Capitol Princess, Capt. Eric is still finding solid fluke fishing along with tons of blues. These fish have hit the scales at up to 10pounds and have a few keeper stripers mixed in. The bass have been few and far between and mostly on the small side but you never know what you might pull up. The boat’s new location is on East 23rd St. at Skyport Marina.
In Oceanside at Bay Park Fishing Station, Ashley has seen great bottom-fishing action. Fluke in the 5- to 8-pound range continue to be brought back to the dock as well as plenty of sea bass and scup. On the offshore scene, shark fishing has been decent this week as a 180-pound thresher fell victim to fresh bunker 40 miles offshore.
Over at Terminal Tackle, John Sr. reports that the fluke bite is finally thinning out. However the fluke fishing effort has also been down so there may still be a few keepers hanging around for those looking to snag a last couple summer flatties. Bluefish on the other hand have been just about everywhere you can fit a cast. There are a ton of fish inside the river and some stripers have been mixed in as well. The blues have been on the small side so far but the bigger fish should be moving in soon as they are now ranging 3 to 8 pounds. Off Sunken Meadow there are some weaks in the 2- to 4-pound class.
At Captree Bait & Tackle, Brendan has seen blues in Fire Island Inlet coming in at about 3 to 6 pounds, with most biting on bunker chunks and plugs. Schoolie bass are also being hooked on the same gear. Bottom fishing has recovered from last week’s weather and picked up where it left off with sea bass and scup. You have to work through the shorts but the cooler stuffers are still there in numbers. Fluke fishing has slowed a little however there is still a pick of keepers to be had. On the local docks and structure, weakfish are hitting well on pink Gulp!. Off the docks, blue claw crabbing is still red hot and for now, the snappers are all over.
Jason from Campsite is still waiting for the hot fishing to resume after the foul weather. He has seen plenty of porgies as well as some cocktail blues off the local beaches but the action has not been up to par this week. With the amount of bait that has been there all year, later this week and into next should bring the action that anglers have been awaiting.
In Northport at Cow Harbor, Mark reports that there are blues everywhere. Gorillas in the 15- to 18-pound class are working off the local beaches and slamming pencil poppers for those attacking from the surf. Sea bass and porgies have been better this week both from the beaches and boats, and fluke seem to be moving west but are still present. False albacore have begun to pop up off the beaches as well, hitting best just before high tide. Peanut bunker are still around in huge numbers and should be able to hold the fall-run fish when they all arrive.
Jim from Miller Place Bait & Tackle reports that there has been decent bass fishing mainly on bone colored Daiwa SP Minnows. In the Middle Grounds, black sea bass have been coming aboard at up to 18-inches. Off the local piers, snappers and porgies are all over and there are more than enough to keep the whole family busy. Cocktail blues are very plentiful off Cedar Beach, mainly on 007 tins.
In Shirley, at Smith Point Bait and Tackle, Craig saw a 22-pound bass landed this week off a local beach on a pencil popper. Mixed in with the linesiders are plenty of blues and false albacore. The blue and albie action has been out at the inlet with an 8-pound average on both.
At Wego Fishing, in Southold, Craig has seen plenty of action this week. In Plum Gut and Race, there are lots of bass around but the sizes have not been up to snuff. Keepers are being taken with good numbers but there are lots of shorts to work through to reach them. Off the beaches, there are tons of blues starting to work the bait pods and mixed in with them are early signs of false albacore. On the bottom, there are still big scup to be found and a few sea bass as well.
In Montauk at Gone Fishing Marina, TJ reports red-hot action for those dropping bait. Everything from sea bass and scup to fluke are still well worth a day on the water. The fall predators, bass and blues, have been good but not great. The bluefish are more present and better in size than the bass but they are still waiting for the heavy fall run to get under way.
At Montauk Marine Basin, Chris also has seen good action with sea bass and fluke riding through the early fall season. Albies, bass and blues have shown up as well, with bluefish and albacore especially present off The Point. Stripers have been on the smaller size but should give way to bigger fish in the weeks to come.
Ray from Paulie’s reports that the best action has been off the local beaches. Albacore and plenty of bluefish are on the northern side of Montauk, and mixed in are some schoolie bass. The bluefish have been hitting best on a mix of tins and bucktails while the false albacore are taking both small tins and surface poppers.
Also in Montauk, at West Lake Marina, Tonya reports that there was a 7.8-pound fluke weighed in this week at the dock. Sea bass action is smokin’ and there is a nice local bite of stripers with most fish in the low ‘teens. Blues and albacore are all over. On the offshore scene, there are a couple yellowfin and mahi being taken but things have not been great since last week’s storm.
Joe from Staten Island Tuna Club has seen that the fish are moving in all around the Island. Weakfish are still being caught in the 3- to 6-pound range and up and down the Staten Island shoreline. This morning a few members ran into some false albacore, the first of the season for the local area. Baitfish are still plentiful and when the water temperature drops, should set up nicely for bass to move back into the area. Fluke season ends the 21st but made a big showing this season. This week a nice 9.7-pound doormat was taken and there are sure to be more around.
At River Bay Outfitters, Paul reports that the false albacore have shown up outside the inlets of Shinnicock and Jones Beach. The best bite has been on the outgoing tide and there are some big blues to be had as well.
On the freshwater scene, the warm temperatures have worked well for keeping the hot bite alive. Lunker largemouths as well as pickerel, perch and panfish are in full swing for anyone looking for a quick trip full of action.
Fishing Forecast for Long Island, New York
As the fall season comes upon us, work a look at the local beaches into your schedule as the bass, blues and especially false albacore can show up on a moment’s notice and be gone just as quick. Keep binoculars in the car to watch the birds and always carry along a fishing pole. The abundance of bait should make for one of the best fall runs Longs Island has seen in recent years. Until that that kicks into full gear, continue to pick away at the remaining summer fish or look for an active day on the sweeter side.
Coming down from VT hope to catch some big strippers.