Montauk still retains its title as one of the top 10 fishing destinations in the world! This season has been packed with action despite the Striped Bass & Fluke being finicky at times, the abundance of other species really took up the slack. Which brings up a great point, Black Sea Bass are basically everywhere and are really impeding the Fluke fishing and are also demolishing the juvenile Lobster. Fluke landings will show being down, but in reality the Sea Bass are getting to your bait before the Fluke have a chance to get it. Our neighboring states of Connecticut & New Jersey both have much shorter size limits, and bigger bag limits.
Connecticut Size: 15.5 New Jersey size: 12.5!! Rhode Island actually has a separate category for the Charter/Party Boats. New York needs to do the same, mainly because New York is so much bigger than Rhode Island and also has way more land on the ocean.
Montauk is an historic fishing destination for over a hundred years. Anglers come out, stay in the hotels & motels, go out to eat at the restaurants, buy souvenirs, but if they can’t keep any fish, afford a room or afford to eat, they’re going to go elsewhere and, in my eyes, that equates to a huge loss of income.
The Nor’easter did get the Striped Bass moving, but the mild weather conditions now has them slowed down. Reports from “Down East” are stating that the Striped Bass are still around southern Maine and Mass which is good news for everyone anxiously awaiting the Fall Blitz. Hopefully it will bust open here very soon.
Blackfish season opened October 15th and so far, when the weather permitted, the fishing has been on fire! Blackfish size limit is 16 inches and the bag limit is 4 fish per angler. Same rules apply year after year you just need to find rockpiles that haven’t been pounded by other anglers and you will have action. Try to anchor so you have the wind & tide working together, much like Fluke fishing, wind against tide is not conducive for proper presentation.
Giant Bluefin Tuna are topping off the Tuna season in a grand way! The Really Big Boys decided to stop by for a snack before continuing on their 2500 mile swim. There were a few withdrawals at the West Bank and they were all very large knocking on the 1000 pound door. Numerous 800 – 900 pound class fish were taken!
Still got some time left everyone. Go catch some freezer stock for the winter!!
~ Tight Lines, Capt. Skip
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