East End Fishing

This will be the last East End report for the 2020 season. On behalf of the entire staff here at The Fisherman, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all our loyal readers and your families a happy and healthy Holiday Season. We’ll see you at the start of the 2021 season with the action-packed January issue. Although this is the last report for the year, by no means is the fishing season over. Blackfishing remains strong in the deep waters of the eastern Sound, but you’ll have to hurry as tog season along Long Island Sound closes on December 9th. There is no reason to fret should you miss out along the north shore since tog season remains open until December 22nd along the waters of New York Bight at which time the deep-water wrecks and rocky ledges around Block Island proves productive with big white chins. Make sure to include white crabs in your arsenal since the true bulldogs love white leggers this time of year. Sea bass and porgy season remains open until December 31st and will be found on the deep-water wrecks and rockpiles along Block Island Sound. Let’s not forget codfish, as the winter kings will be plying the ocean floors in the 145-foot depths south of Block Island. As of this weekend, it seems as a new school of teen size green cod have moved into the area as most boats who made the run to Block Island saw a significant difference in the size, which should bode well for the upcoming winter season. In addition, several boats saw a good shot of pollock coming from the cod grounds as well. Rather than take wintertime fishing upon yourself, I strongly suggest jumping aboard one of the open boats of the Viking Fleet, or gather some buddies and charter one of the several Montauk charter boats that sail throughout the winter months. For shore bound enthusiast that prefer to shake some winter blues from land, there’s always blueback herring to fall back on, as are white perch and catch and release holdover stripers in the warmer creeks. Sea run brown trout can also be found lurking with the stripers that head up the brackish tidal rivers and settle in at the tidal pools for much of the winter. Then again, they’ll be no shortage of fishing flea markets, winter boat and sportsman shows to fall back on. As fisherman, I have faith and no doubt that you will choose your spare time wisely, such as catching up on reading the informative features in The Fisherman Magazine.