Long Island, Metro NY - East End Fishing Reports

Over at Double D Charters in Montauk, Captain Dan reported that false albacore and green bonito have made their appearance around town. Bluefish, porgies and sea bass also remain strong, giving anglers a wide range of options from light-tackle surface action to dependable bottom fishing.

From the Ebb Tide, they reported a solid Saturday afternoon half-day fluke trip with a light crowd aboard. The crew bounced around and stayed ahead of the tide, picking away at keeper fluke on nearly every stop. Terri took the pool with a 4-pounder, while Michelle managed to put together her limit. Earlier that morning, the annual Boy Scout Troop 205 trip got off to a slower start while fighting a strong tide and smaller fish, but by the end of the trip the young anglers were putting a hurting on some jumbo bottom fish. More than 30 pounds of fillets were put together for the Saturday night cookout, consisting mostly of porgies along with several jumbo sea bass.

Captain Keith from the Fin Chaser reported another excellent stretch of Block Island bottom fishing. On Saturday, September 12, anglers loaded up on jumbo sea bass and porgies, with Earl Groce taking bragging rights with the standout sea bass of the trip. Friday’s trip was equally productive, with an excellent group of anglers—including several first responders—finding plenty of jumbo sea bass and quality porgies around Block Island. Earlier in the week, Wednesday’s trip saw limits of quality Montauk porgies before the boat moved over to Block Island, where the jumbo sea bass were very cooperative. Overall, the Fin Chaser continues to see excellent late-summer bottom-fishing action. To reserve a trip or find out more, visit myfinchaser.com or call (516) 643-0940.

Captain John from Fishemlite Charters let me know that he did not sail during the past week, but his focus over the next month will be on false albacore, fluke and sea bass around Montauk Point. Once the striped bass begin showing back up in better numbers, he will shift more attention toward the developing fall run.

Captain Savio from Fishooker Charters reported a great mix of fast-moving species around Montauk Point on recent trips. Bonito, false albacore, bluefish and Spanish mackerel have all been in the mix, creating plenty of light-tackle opportunities whenever the schools push within range.

Mike from the Lazy Bones reported that he is still working the fluke grounds around Montauk, with some quality fish continuing to come over the rail. The bite is hanging in there as September progresses, giving anglers another shot at putting a few late-season fluke in the cooler. Call ahead for reservations at (631) 500-0580.

Over at Marlena’s Yacht Club, they reported that bluefin tuna are still holding around the Habs, while the canyon grounds continue to produce yellowfin for crews making the run offshore. On the bottom-fishing side, sea bass have been caught around the Pocketbook and Washington Shoals. Bluefish remain widespread around Montauk Point as well, with fish showing on both the north and south sides.

Will from the Montauk Anglers Club reported that the offshore tuna jig bite has picked back up, along with action on some of the closer nearshore tuna grounds. Dead-sticked RonZ baits have been effective, while live whiting has also been producing well. The trolling bite has not been nearly as consistent. Fluking has slowed somewhat, but the Pocketbook continues to give up fish, while false albacore have arrived thick around Montauk Point. Sea bass fishing remains steady around the Point and on the grounds to the south.

Jill from the November Rain reported that after taking a few days off to celebrate her dad’s 80th birthday, the crew got right back into the bottom fishing. Jenn and Mike returned for another trip this season and kept the rods bent with sea bass and scup, keeping just enough for a beach-fire dinner and releasing the rest. Bob Wong and the boys also hammered the sea bass, working through plenty of shorts before filling the coolers with quality fish. Kit and Chris returned with the family, and the kids stayed busy at the rail while everyone put together a nice catch of sea bass, scup and fluke. Kyle and his family also sailed later in the week, with the older kids adding a few friendly wagers to the day. The sea bass were a little pickier on that trip, but they still put enough fish together for dinner. The Don Shaw charter gave fluke a try, but with the bite less than impressive, the crew switched gears and finished with a good catch of sea bass. The week wrapped up with Dan Scocca and a group of 10 anglers. They had hoped to target fluke, but based on the previous day’s action, the crew focused on sea bass and scup instead. Plenty of smaller fish were mixed in, which is an encouraging sign for the future, and the group still put together a respectable catch to take home. Give the November Rain a call at (646) 335-7315 to book a trip.

Captain Tom from the Sea Wife IV reported another busy stretch of fishing. On Wednesday, Steve Molloy and the boys put together a strong mixed-bag trip, catching a pile of bluefish along with a sea bass limit, plenty of porgies and several fluke. On Friday, Anthony, Giovanni, Uncle Pat, Bob Coffey, Chuck and the crew started out trolling and jigging for bluefish before switching over to the bottom grounds, where they added a sea bass limit, scup and some fluke. Saturday brought Dan Bozzo and his crew aboard, and they enjoyed plenty of action with 22 bluefish, a sea bass limit, a pile of scup and a mix of keeper and short fluke. Captain Tom still has some fall dates available; give him a call at (631) 680-1025 to book a trip.

Mike from Star Island Yacht Club reported a decent fluke bite around the Point, with strip baits producing some of the better action. Sea bass fishing remains productive south of the Point, while bluefish continue to hold along the north side. Mike also mentioned some giant tuna activity farther down the beach, giving offshore crews another option when conditions allow.

Captain Jim from Tailwrapped Sportfishing reported that mahi and yellowfin have moved to the front of the offshore picture. Mike Sullivan joined the crew earlier in the week and loaded up on mahi to 8 pounds. Robert Ungero put together another productive offshore trip with three yellowfin to 40 pounds along with a dozen mahi ranging from about 3 to 6 pounds while working the pots with light tackle and squid strips. Closer to home, Greg V. and his crew traveled in from Vancouver and got a taste of Montauk’s excellent bluefishing, finding steady action off the Point with fish topping 15 pounds. James and his crew switched over to bottom fishing and had a blast catching black sea bass and porgies around Cartwright and Frisbees, heading home with a good bag of fillets. Tailwrapped has a few September openings remaining and is preparing for October chunking trips for tuna, along with the fall striped bass, sea bass and blackfish seasons.

From the Viking Fleet of Montauk, Captain Joe reported good action on the Saturday, September 12 half-day morning trip. Anglers found plenty of porgies along with some keeper fluke while fishing calm local waters. Andrew Rzempoluch took the morning pool with a 3.4-pound fluke. Give the Viking Fleet a call at (631) 668-5700 or reserve a spot at vikingfleet.com.

Scott from East End Bait and Tackle reported that fluke fishing remains solid around Shinnecock, with anglers continuing to pick away at fish throughout the inlet and surrounding waters. Porgy fishing has been decent over in Peconic, while bluefish remain stacked inside Shinnecock Inlet and just outside the inlet in the ocean. With bait continuing to move through the area, the inlet remains one of the more consistent spots for mixed action.

Bryce from White Water Outfitters in Hampton Bays reported plenty of exciting developments around Shinnecock, led by the arrival of false albacore and green bonito. Spanish mackerel and bluefish are mixed in as well, and Bryce said the action has not been especially tide-dependent thanks to an incredible amount of bait packed into the area. Striped bass are also beginning to show in better numbers at certain locations inside the bay, with anglers starting to connect with them. Fluke are concentrating around Shinnecock Inlet and immediately outside of it as they stage around the moving bait. The reef is also producing some quality fish, although anglers have had to work a little harder to put together a catch. Offshore, yellowfin have been showing in the 25- to 40-mile range with scattered bluefin mixed in. Over in Peconic, weakfish are providing another option around Roses Grove, with some fish measuring to about 22 inches.

Kenny from Tight Lines Tackle in Southampton reported more interesting action developing offshore and around Montauk. Adam and Chris Jenetti got into bluefin tuna around the Habs last week, while some exceptionally large bonito have also been caught off Montauk Point. Several of those hardtails have been running from 5 to 8 pounds, making for some impressive catches on light tackle.

Capt. Phil Kess of the Fishy Business in Orient reports great bluefishing with some slot size striped bass slamming the diamond jigs. The bottom fishing is top notch with great porgy fishing with lots of black sea bass being culled through with a dozen or two hitting the ice box. There are still some dates open for the remainder of the season; however, with blackfish season fast approaching now is the time to grab your day which promises to be yet another great blackfish season. To seal the deal give Capt. Phil a call at (516) 316-6967.

Capt. Rich of the Nancy Ann in Orient, reports an excellent week on the fishing grounds with bluefishing really on turbo charge along with some slot size stripers and all the porgies you care to catch. Black sea bass fishing is lock and load; however, a few hundred fish a day results in only a dozen or two in the box. It was truly a fun week with lots of fish hitting the fillet table and lots of happy faces. Folks don’t miss out on this fishing and in fact, there are still some dates open for the remainder of September and early October. The 2026 blackfish season is all booked up; however, Capt. Rich and Nancy has put together a list of people who would like to fill in for some blackfish charters that are an angler or two short of filling out a charter. If you are interested and able to fill in on a charter on short notice or fill in whenever needed you can give Rich and Nancy a call or text them with the words “Fill In” with your contact info and you will be ready to rock and roll. To join the fill in list or set up a charter give Capt. Rich and Nancy a call at (631) 477-2337.

Capt. Paul Ripperger and Captain Rachel Jannace Johnson of the Tide Hustle in Greenport was happy to report another great week fishing close to home, out East and off Montauk. The bay remains loaded with scup, weakfish and several other panfish, while the East End and Montauk trips results in buckets and coolers filled to the brim with jumbo porgies, quality keeper black sea bass quality fluke and plenty of big bluefish. The extended Montauk trips will continue for as long as the good fishing continues which as good as the bottom fishing has been, it will only get better as October comes around and then it is off to blackfish season where the fishing promises to be grand judging by the amount of blackfish being caught and released by anglers fishing the reefs for sea bass. The Tide Hustle is sailing from Brick Cove Marina in Greenport every day, weather permitting starting at 7 a.m. and returning back to the dock between 2 and 2:30 p.m. unless they are on an extended trip which returns at 4 p.m. The Tide Hustle is the newest addition of the East End open boat operation and is owned and operated by both Capt. Rachel and her husband Todd Johnson. Open boat trips are limited to 15 anglers with a 100 feet of rail space to roam in. Although walk Ons are welcome when the boat is not filled, a reservation is strongly suggested to guarantee your spot on the rail. The Tide Hustle is also available for charters, also limited to 15 passengers. For further information or to book your spot on the rail you can give Capt. Paul a call at (631) 522-2002 or Captain Rachel at (631) 384-6294.

Craig from WeGo Bait and Tackle in Southold reports the bluefish are all over the Race, the Sluiceway and Plum Gut. Diamond jigs has been best for the choppers along with poppers when they are feeding on the surface. Anglers casting Epoxy Jigs also seeing false albacore and some green bonito. There are also some slot size bass slamming the jigs intended for the speedsters. Not far away from the gamesters are the bottom dwelling porgies and sea bass in the Sound with jumbo scup north of Plum Island while the sea bass are taking up residence off Fishers Island. Both species are liking clams and fresh squid on high/low rigs. Back inside the bay there are smaller but more abundant porgies anywhere from Greenport to Noyack Bay. Weakfish, kingfish, croakers, blowfish and cocktail blues are by buoy 16 and buoy 17. Worms, clams and squid are all being taken on high/low rigs. Snapper fishing has been excellent at the Railroad Dock.