Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
Eastern Long Island
The Eastern Long Island Fishing Report is compiled and written by writer/blogger and fly-fishing industry professional, Jack Larizadeh (@jack.lariz).
With most of the shops closing up for the holidays, and not much happening outside of freshwater fishing, reports have grown slim. But a few anglers plying the ponds are finding action from bass, trout, and even walleye.
Bill Falco from Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reported: “Now that striper season is over, many local anglers are itching for a bite this winter. Most of them are turning to white perch, largemouth bass, and trout. Most of the lakes on the island have been stocked with trout at this point, and they eat all winter long. A split shot rig with a worm, some dough, or eggs will do the trick. Slow-moving inline spinners and small jigs always entice a bite too. We also have some incredible hatchery rivers to enjoy as well. They’re fly fishing only, and we have lots of flies, tippet, and gear to hit the park all winter. As for the bass, fish low and slow. A senko rig will do it, and so will a football jig dragged and hopped slowly across the bottom. Mid-day, when the water is warmest, is your best bet for good action. As for the white perch, they’re tricky to locate, but a blast to catch when you find them. I like to search for them with a basic split-shot rig and a live worm. Once I find them, I switch to a small curly-tail jig and keep at it. All you need to catch these fish this winter is a reliable small spin rod with some light braid or mono. The lures, rigging, and bait are all pretty similar and interchangeable.”
Sean Conway (@long_island_fishing_guy) from Eastern Long Island reports: “The trout fishing has been great. I’m catching small browns from 6- to 12-inches on Kastmasters just under ⅛ ounce. The setup for the job is 4-pound-test line and and ultralight rod with a 1000- to 2500-size spinning reel.”
Derek Monfort (@derek_sucks_at_fising) from Eastern Long Island reports: “With the temps falling, large walleye are creeping up into almost inches of water to feed at night. Anywhere I can find rocks, I’m finding at least a couple fish looking for small baitfish to eat. Jerkbaits and small paddletails have been crushing fish; the ticket is to move these baits as slow as possible. Stay ready for the thump!”
With the boat put away for the season, it’s the perfect time to reorganize my gear and store everything away for the winter. If you haven’t already, it’s also the perfect time to get all your rods and reels serviced. My surf reels definitely need some love after a long and eventful season. If you’re like me, don’t sleep on it, you’ll thank yourself come springtime when your gear is ready to tussle with some large spring fish.
When it comes to plugs and gear, it’s also a fantastic time to replace rusty hooks and clean off your plugs. Giving your lures a quick warmwater bath in the sink will ensure that you get any salt or muck off your favorite go to lures.
If you’re into fly tying or making bucktails use this time of year to re-up on all your favorite patterns. I’ll be cranking out white Deceivers, Hollow Fleyes, Flatwings, and plenty of poppers in preparation for next season. My favorite colors are typically white, olive over white, and yellow over white.
Eastern Long Island Fishing Forecast
Over the next week we are going to see some very cold temperatures; they’ll dip as low as 17 and reach as high as 45. With the saltwater season over, pond and river fishing are great options. That said, I wouldn’t blame you if skipped out on fishing. However, if you’re willing to brave the elements the Connetquot is a sure fire bet. Euro Nymphing, streamer fishing, and indicator nymphing will all give up solid fish. When it comes to pond fishing, slow-moving jerkbaits and spinners are also killer! Hopefully it warms up so local ponds don’t freeze over.
Have an amazing Christmas!
The Eastern Long Island Fishing Report is compiled and written by writer/blogger and fly-fishing industry professional, Jack Larizadeh (@jack.lariz).
Western Long Island & NYC
The Western L.I./NYC Fishing Report is compiled and written by NYSDEC licensed kayak fishing guide, Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater).
Jamie from Bay Park Fishing Station said: “Striped bass season has closed and most boats are sailing offshore for sea bass, cod, or blackfish. We still have green crabs in stock and the fish are biting! Get those last trips in before the season closes. We are open Thursday-Sunday, so stop by and get your holiday shopping done! We’re also offering gift cards!”
Josh Rogers from Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reports: “Solid blackfishing this past week! We saw lots of quality tog hit the deck, with multiple 7- to 9-pound fish. There were also quite a few in the 5- to 6-pound range and lots of action at times. We have been bouncing around wrecks in all different depths and have been able to put a nice catch together on most trips. Only a few days left before the season closes on 12/22!”
Rich from Lindenhurst Bait and Tackle reports: “There are still bass around but its catch-and-release only now. I haven’t heard of any striped bass being caught off the beaches, but the boat anglers are still getting into them outside the inlets. The party boats have been doing well targeting sea bass and other bottom fish on the wrecks. The blackfish continue to bite well, and there have been a few 9 to 10 pounders weighed in this past week. There’s still a good array of saltwater options, but most of it closes at the end of the month, so get out there while you can! We’ll be closing for the winter after the new year and re-opening in March; happy holidays to all of our customers and thank you!”
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Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain around Long Island and NYC!
Sakib Khan of the NY Hooksets told me: “This week, I fished for herring at Coney Island and landed 9 over 2 nights. The herring were noticeably smaller than the 8- to 12-inch fish we saw last year at Magnolia Pier. They were hitting the upper hooks on my sabiki rig, so they seem to be slightly higher in the water column. Alongside the herring action, there were a few schoolie-sized striped bass being caught at night. Some reported larger fish in the 30-inch range near the bridges and in the estuaries. The winter fishing scene is definitely heating up!”
Here’s what local anglers have been posting on social media:
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The 2024 striped bass season has come to a close, and winter is just days away. Are you feeling the cabin fever yet? I’m writing this from Cape Cod, where I’m up for the annual OTW holiday party. Before leaving Long Island, I did one final blackfish trip off the south shore. I didn’t hook any keepers, but I successfully put a bend in a new rod on some short tog before hanging it up until spring. This time of year, I’ll take what I can get.
It was a fantastic season for blackfish, and it’s really changed my perspective on them. They used to be a B-list fish for me that I’d only set aside a few trips for, but a couple of banner trips have opened my eyes to just how fun these structure-hugging crab-eaters really can be when they’re chomping vs. nibbling. Unfortunately, my last trip of the season was more of a nibble-fest, and the fast-ripping tides of the full moon did not make things easy. But that didn’t stymie any optimism I have for targeting them in spring 2025.
Western Long Island Fishing Forecast
Blackfish season still has a couple of days left, and boats like the Gypsea continue to sail for them. The Captree fleet has also been going offshore for sea bass, cod, porgy, and other bottom fish, and they’re getting into some pretty great bites. The sea bass are big and abundant. If you’re looking to put together a Feast of 7 Fishes, or just bend a rod a few more times, these offshore wreck trips are a great option and most are sailing right up until New Year’s Eve.
Herring reports are trickling in, though the numbers haven’t been there. I’ve received pictures of a few tiny individual herring but no ‘christmas trees’ or a half-dozen herring dangling from a sabiki rig with a full bucket in the background. It’s been feast or famine the past few seasons. Hopefully we can expect a good run soon.
I feel like a broken record, but the loss of Blydenburgh is really starting to hurt, emphasized by the low water levels caused by drought conditions. Thankfully, there still is the Connetquot, where the water level hasn’t been an issue and the trout are plentiful. In some places, however, the low water presents a unique opportunity to see bottom structure, and concentrate the fish. Others, like South Pond and Hempstead Lake, are low and practically unfishable due to the dense weeds.
If you’re looking for chain pickerel on Long Island, this article by OTW’s Matt Haeffner has everything you need to know. If white perch is your thing, this article by Tim Regan covers them extensively.
Finally, if you’re just looking for new water to explore, the DEC’s website has really stepped it up over the past couple of years, with a convenient listing of all of Long Island’s lakes and ponds found here.
The Western L.I./NYC Fishing Report is compiled and written by NYSDEC licensed kayak fishing guide, Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater).