Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
North Shore
The Angler Fleet (@anglerfleet) out of Port Washington reports: “Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at The Angler! The blackfish bite is still hot, and we’ve been putting plenty of fresh tog on the table just in time for the holiday. The season is winding down, so if you’re looking to get in on the action, now’s the time to hop aboard!”
Andrew Bernat (@tactical_bassin26) reports: “As we enter late fall on the western Sound, anglers continue to find consistent opportunities across multiple fisheries. From deep-water tautog to nighttime bridge bass, the action remains steady for those dialing into the pattern. The blackfish bite shows no signs of slowing down, with a stable and reliable chew in deeper water. Most productive pieces have been wreck edges, and ledges in 40 to 50 feet of water where anglers soaking green crabs and are steadily filling limits. As temperatures plummet, expect these fish to continue their gradual slide toward even deeper structure. Inside the bays, school-size striped bass are actively working over pods of peanut bunker. These fish are readily taking soft plastics, especially during high tide when bait is pushed tight to the banks. On calm mornings, brief topwater feeds erupt as bass trap bait on the surface—short windows, but fast-paced action when it happens. The most reliable shot at quality stripers remains after dark, and the bridges are the main attraction of the nighttime fishery. Moving water is everything; the bite shuts down the instant slack tide sets in. Successful anglers are leaning on 10- to 15-inch soft plastics. JoeBaggs 14.5-inch Block Island Eels in black or pink are showing a clear edge in productivity when rigged on 1- to 1.5 -ounce jigheads to maintain bottom contact in the sweep. Use light braid (15–20 lb) to detect those subtle hits. The pattern is simple: stay in the current, work tight to the structure, and be ready—big fish have been feeding on the tide. On the warmer nights, docks and well-lit marinas are holding solid numbers of squid. Light-tackle anglers swinging small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone are putting together steady catches, adding a fun bonus fall fishery and providing bait for upcoming trips or fresh calamari for the table.
Captain Arthur Cortes of Cortes Outfitters (@cortes.outfitters) in NYC reports: “Fishing this week has been an adventure. Large schools of small bass have settled in the area, offering more than enough entertainment on leisurely days. While larger fish have been elusiveat times, with patience and luck, they can still be found. Our fly of choice this week is an Olive/White Beast Fleye, and our most productive lure is a 9-inch, bone-colored spook. Call 347-326-4750 or visit cortesoutfitters.com to book a trip.”
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South Shore
Captain Jess Rogers of Gypsea Charters out of Brooklyn reported: “Some really good blackfishing continues. The little Gypsea has been seeing consistent 6-person limits on most trips, with fish up to 8 pounds. On the big boat, the more experienced anglers have been catching their limits, with the big fish of the week just over 7 pounds. The action has been great, with shorts keeping everyone busy throughout the day. Jigs seem to be outperforming the rigs most days. As the water continues to cool, the bigger fish should begin to bite.”
Captain Doug Touback of Corazon Fishing Charters out of Freeport reports: “Amazing catches of bass this past week; plus, we caught and released a 107-inch bluefin tuna. These are the days that will be talked about for years. We are going to likely extend the season through 12/7 due to the great fishing.”
Colin McElroy (@colintmcelroy) reports: “There are lots of rats around and some larger bass mixed in wherever the bait is. Bunker of all sizes are moving west, and mild weather might keep the season going a little longer. Finding bait close to shore is the way to put together a bite.”
Matt Malone (@mattyhooksets) reports: “The fall run is still in full effect! If you find the birds you’ll find the fish, all over the column. Don’t just sit and wait, fill up the gas tank and move. Poppers, Docs and fat shads are all producing fish. For the fly guys, a big hollow fleye on intermediate line or a Clouser on sink tip line will hammer fish. I was able to put 8 fish on the deck on the fly recently.”
From the surf, Nick Cherkas (@surfcasting_the_island) reports: “I was hit with a dry spell this week due to limited time to get out on the water. The few days I spent in the wash were a disappointment since the majority of fish were out of reach while boat guys enjoyed picking away at a decent wave passing us by. Bass from schoolie size up to about 20 pounds are still being taken on a variety of swimmers, metals and topwater plugs for both surf and boat anglers. Sporadic blitzes along the shoreline are still something to keep an eye out for, although they are not as consistent now. I am hoping we can relive the Cinderella story of the Thanksgiving blitz of 2024. Since my days on the island are numbered, Jersey trips will soon be in order.”
The Author’s Experience
Oh man.. where to begin? I think I might like New Jersey more than New York at this point. As a Long Islander, I know I’m crazy for saying that, but the last couple of weeks have yielded some spectacular inshore tuna fishing on my 19-foot Boston Whaler. On Saturday, I fished 14 hours straight with one thing on the mind…. tuna. My friend Emre and I left the dock at 5 AM and covered 120 miles of water before finding fish 14 miles off Sandy Hook. Around 3:00 PM we encountered bluefin blasting through bait, and with a well-timed cast of the NLBN, Emre immediately hooked up to a rec. size fish. After a brief photo, the fish swam off happy. For the next feed, I went up on the bow and got smoked by a 200-pound-class fish. Unfortunately, it spit the jig after 30 minutes.
On Monday, I hit the deep western Sound with my buddy Andrew Bernat. The local bridges are hot with fish; JoeBaggs Block Island Eels are the mainstay for lethargic fish. While the bite is technical, the fish are pretty large. Andrew managed to stick a mid-20-pound fish on the pink plastic eel! Its proportions were mesmerizing—as Andrew put it, “The fish was built like an oval.”
With December knocking on the door, I think my fishing season is slowly coming to an end. My body needs rest!
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
It seems like the South Shore has a good push of bunker and bass, and the boat guys in particular are crushing fish. The surf crowd has had to exercise more patience and wait for blitzing fish to come into range. Large shads, poppers, and metal lips are the go-to options for bass on bunker.
As for tog, there are still plenty of fish around but they are mostly residing in 40 to 70 feet of water, which makes for a tough jig bite, so ready your rigs.
Looking ahead, there are only a few weeks left before things go dormant. Get after it while you can, and have a Happy Thanksgiving!