East End Fishing Report: The Fall Run Heats Up Fishing Action

In general, our Long Island fishing scene is about as good as it ever
gets. Blackfish season opened on Saturday, October 1, and will continue
until December 20.

So far, fishing for for Blackfish has been quite successful and they are feeding well on a variety of crabs, including greenies and hermits.

Montauk

Let's begin this report in Montauk, since it is the traditional hotspot
for anglers this time of year and 2011 is no exception.

In the past few days, including a dominant weekend, lots of women were
out on the water in search of fishing memories and tasty dinners for
the table. The Elizabeth II made its maiden voyage with eight ladies,
who were determined to get their limits of keeper striped bass. No one
was disappointed when they returned to the dock with two for each on
live eels.

Aboard the 39-foot custom charter on Tuesday, Capt. Mark, saw the
male entourage get their striper limits in less than two hours, with
fish ranging between 25-34-pounds. Even the porgy grounds were productive with a healthy scup bite that was almost instantaneous. Those on board wanting a few big bluefish had double-headers with no trouble.

For at least the past five days, the outgoing tide off Montauk has been more productive than the incoming one. A private boater off the Point took almost a dozen striped bass on live eels, releasing all fish which ranged from 20-38 lbs. This happened on Monday while the Capt. Mark took 17 keeper tog (blackfish) to about five-pounds. They also caught keeper stripers to 33-pounds. On the Ebb Tide on Monday, the sunrise excursion with live eels drifting over the Rips paid off with a 43", 30-pound. 6 oz. bass and Halfback Charters entertained the husband/wife team of J. and J. Casola. A brief spinning rod attempt resulted in the catch of a false albacore and a gigantic bluefish, ending with live eels claiming the big striped bass.

Shinnecock

Out of Shinnecock, blackfish have also been enticed by clams as bait, in spite of their attraction for green and white crabs. On opening day, The Hampton Lady did an early season start for blackfish and had 26 keepers to 8-pounds. On Sunday, that boat ran again for tog and a nine pound fish took the pool winning position. Bait was green, white and hermit crabs.

Scott Jeffrey from in Hampton Bays had a solid report this week, saying that The blackfish bite is great from the jetties of the Shinnecock Inlet and green and fiddler crabs are working well.

The inlet is also producing a decent bite of bass on the night tides. Those drifting live baits have had the best results, said Jeffrey, who also noted that the bay has had some nice keeper size bass fall to topwater plugs around the Ponquogue Bridge and the Shinnecock reef.

Local wrecks are holding some blackfish, as well as porgies and snappers are still around, noted Jeffrey.

As to the beaches, Jeffrey said, "The bite on the beaches has been hot and cold and the areas east of the inlet have seen a bit more action than the western beaches. There are large amounts of bait are running up and down the beaches so it's only a matter of time before things bust wide open."

North Fork

This past Monday, out of Orient, a private boater saw fish the incoming tide at the Race and Plum Gut with a 35-inch striped bass and a ton of monster bluefish in hot pursuit. Below the frenzy was another 32" keeper striper.

Aboard the Peconic Star, Saturday's trip saw double fish coming over the rails. Those on board, including Jimmy from Smithtown, had their blackfish
limits and the pool fish was slightly in excess of 5-pounds Tuesday on
the same boat, the porgy catch was incredible in near-perfect weather
conditions. The previous day, the Peconic Star II slammed the porgy
population with weigh-ins more than three pounds and an easy day for
anglers to get their limits.

The Captain's Table out of Greenport had a strong start to blackfishing
on Saturday and those aboard limited out in about an hour with fish to
almost 7-pounds. Major tog action is sure to continue in our local waters.

Tournaments 

The second annual will be held on Sunday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.