Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
UPDATE: 12/24/25
With the NY Bight tautog season wrapped and the end of the offshore sea bass season approaching, anglers are turning to holdover stripers, white perch, and the rivers and ponds for trout, bass, and panfish. Some ponds may start to see skim ice, so anglers in search of open water should hit brackish creeks for white perch and, potentially, resident stripers. Otherwise, bundle up, strap on the waders and head to stocked trout rivers like the Nissequogue and Connetquot for rainbows, browns and brookies on the fly.
OTW will be providing monthly fishing report updates for Long Island and NYC throughout the winter, beginning next Wednesday (12/31). Stay tuned for more detailed reports each month until late March, prior to the opening of the striped bass and spring tautog fishing seasons.
Merry Christmas from the On The Water crew!
Long Island and NYC Fishing Report
The Captree Fleet reports: “We would like to wish everyone a happy holiday season. We currently have one Member boat still sailing. This past week, their Saturday trip reported catching a full boat limit of sea bass. This week, he is currently doing a full-day blackfish trip. Beginning on 12/20 he will start sailing 13-hour deep water giant sea bass and porgies trips. 12/31/2025 will be his last trip for the season. For more information, please visit captree.com.”
Sean Conway (@long_island_fishing_guy) reports: “This week I hit the Connetquot River and it was brook trout galore. Trout were staying low, so I needed something weighted to get well below the surface. Bead Head Woolly Buggers and pellet imitation flies were the ticket! It’s nice to have a fun, easy-access winter fishery on the island to keep us busy.”
Bill Falco (@fishlongisland) at Chasing Tails Bait and Tackle in Oakdale reports: “Most of the ponds froze over this week, but not enough to ice fish, so rivers and tidal areas have been the name of the game. White perch are the staple of wintertime fishing here, and we know it well. It can be frustrating to figure out the bite, but once you nail it, the fishing is always fun. We use light and ultralight tackle to target these feisty striper cousins. Small soft plastics and marabou jigs get annihilated. Brighter colors for the stained waters, natural colors for the more clear locations. You can also use live worms, they love those. The shop is stocked with white perch gear and bait all winter long. The trout bite has been fantastic; we have been nymphing a lot and using streamers to pull the big, angry ones out of cover.”
Derek Monfort (@derek_sucks_at_fishing) reports: “Lately I’ve been hitting the ponds and tidal rivers hard! I was on a decent white perch bite, just basically dragging curly tails on the bottom. Slow and steady retrieves have been key. I also landed a monster shad! I couldn’t believe the size of the thing!”
Nick Cancelliere (@nick_onthewater) reports: “With snow in the forecast, I ventured down to the Connetquot River for a morning fly fishing session. The fish were willing to bite on Woolly Buggers and various streamers, and I shared a beat with Ned Dunphy (@neddunphy) who hooked a beautiful rainbow and some nice brookies on a chartreuse streamer. It snowed all through the morning session and never stopped until afternoon. I highly recommend visiting the Conny the next time the weather calls for snow. It’s well-worth the white-knuckled drive down Sunrise Highway.”
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Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain around Long Island and NYC
The Author’s Experience
Alright, I’m in full blown hibernation mode. My time has been spent scrolling through fishing photos, sending in reels for service, and tying flies.
Speaking of tying, I’ve been stocking up on 5-inch Deceivers, hollow flies, and sand eel patterns for stripers. As I dream of next season, I’m also preparing a tuna fly box. The reliable hooks I’ll be using are 6/0 from Gamakatsu. They are super strong, light, and easy to tie on!
I know that fly tying can be a bit daunting, but if you’re looking to learn some classic Long Island/ NJ fly patterns, I’d recommend watching Mike Ozkaya (@LIFliesMike) on YouTube. Mike is a wholesale fly supplier for most shops on Long Island, and the tutorials he makes have helped me immensely in my fly tying journey. Once you watch a few tutorials, you’ll quickly pick up fly tying or improve your skills!
Long Island & NYC Fishing Forecast
Welp, the first snow is here. I think we are in for a long winter. That said, the white perch, trout, and crappie don’t seem to mind. If you’re hardcore enough to brave the elements the ponds around Long Island should have plenty of active fish. Check out the DEC website for a list of all the ponds around the island and in New York City, as well as which species they hold.
As for lures and presentation, you’ll need to move slow. Small suspending jerkbaits like the Rapala PXR Mavrik 110, Megabass Vision Oneten and Oneten Jr., or Shimano World Minnow 115, will produce bites from bass, pickerel, and walleye in cold weather. Additionally, micro plastics from Z-Man are a great choice for bass, panfish or stocked trout. Jig them slowly on bottom or suspend them beneath a float.
As the winter rolls on, there is a good chance that our local lakes and ponds freeze over. Prep for a potential ice fishing season now!