As we move into the second half of January, herring and cod remain the stars of the fishing action across Long Island. In most waters you can find some herring running through, mainly during the morning and evening hours. Out in Montauk, the cod are still hitting hard and making for a great day of fishing.
At Cow Harbor, Mark reports that the local action is mainly the same with some herring being found on the local docks and in the back harbors. You have to time them right but once you get them down, the fishing has been very good. Twilight seems to be the best time for success. He adds in the a friend of the shop was cod fishing in Montauk this week and went home with a couple 20-25 pound fish and had an afternoon full of bites. The fishing was on fire.
Jim from Miller Place Bait & Tackle continues to hear anglers running into herring in the back of Mount Saini Harbor. There have also been a couple schoolie stripers caught, which are the local fish that hold over for the winter. Although out of season, it’s still fun to run into a couple to mix things up and keep the lines tight.
In Hampton Bays, at White Water Outfitters, Bryce backs up the claims of solid cod fishing out of Montauk. They have been doing well on the South and South East side of the Island and the boats are finding pay dirt with every outing. Anyone in need of jigs, rigs or teasers can stop by the shop to load up as they are right on the way to the fishing grounds.
Paul from River Bay Outfitters reports that, on the saltwater side, there are some herring around but they have been picky as of late. The after dark fishing has been better than daytime but it still takes a bit of luck to time things perfect. On the fresh water side, the Long Island Fly Rodders hit Connetquot River this week and pulled a number of bit trout using dry flies. The river continues to stay hot and Paul recommends making a reservation to get out there, even this time of year, as the fishing has been so good that words gotten out and anglers are flocking to the action.
Fishing Forecast for Long Island
If you are looking for a quick trip to snag a couple fish, the herring have been a perfect target as it is relatively easy fishing and not a long trip from home. However, if you are looking to make a day of being out on the water, hop on a party boat on the East End of the Island and get in on the fantastic cod action that has been going on. It’s always better to act quickly as the bite can slow down without much notice. For the time being though, it seems the cod are here to stay and keep anglers lines tight.