Long Island, Metro NY - North Shore Fishing Reports

Mike at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck reports porgy fishing has been excellent from Bayville to Oyster Bay with spot, blowfish, snapper blues and weakfish all mixing into the catches. Worms, crabs and clams dupe the bottom dwellers. Striped bass are plentiful by the bridges and inside the river but getting them to bite is a different nature. The beaches at night has been more consistent than the day bite. Fresh bunker both dead or alive will be successful at certain stages of the tides therefore patience is a virtue. Now that blackfish season is upon us Mike is carrying a wide selection of tog jigs and rigs and will also be carrying green crabs.

Capt. Pat Barrett of the Shamrock Charterboat in New Rochelle reports bottom fishing remains excellent with big fat jumbo porgies leading the way with still a nice mix of Virginia spot, kingfish, blowfish, weakfish and sand sharks. Sandworms and clams continues to be top choices. Beginning this Friday October 11th, Capt. Pat plans to mix up the days with scup and tog. Private charters are his specialty and Capt. Pat will continue to book private charters through November. The Captain’s number is (914) 552-3050. Be sure to book early for the upcoming blackfish season.

Nuno DeCosta Tyalure Professional Tackle & Gear in Rye NY reports stripers remain consistent fishing inside the East River and should remain that way for the duration of the season. Fishing has also been good between the Whitestone and Throggs Neck Bridge with trolling spoons and umbrellas the method of choice, although diamond jigs and plugs are also producing fish to 30 pounds. Porgy fishing has also been on the up and up with plenty of quality scup coming right from the local waters, especially off Rye Playland and also from the Playland Pier. Bluefish have really showed their shoulders inside the rivers and outside the bays and harbors. Just look for the birds and toss out metal jigs and poppers. The offshore scene continues to see great tuna fishing at most of the walls and canyons with bluefin, yellowfin and a few big eye all smacking spreader bars trolled with glow and pink squid. Doling out butter fish chunks as chum and fishing with cut butterfish or anything live capture and also increases the odds of catching a limit of tuna. Tyalure Professional Tackle and Gear is your one stop shop for all your tuna, swordfish and tilefish gear and bait with anything from frozen ballyhoo to custom rods, reels, line and lures to send you on your way to some successful offshore fishing. Nuno DeCosta is a professional offshore fisherman who will stop at nothing to put a variety of tuna, swordfish and marlin in your boat as well as all other inshore and offshore species. You can purchase any gear for either inshore or offshore directly at the store located in Rye, New York or online at tyalure.com. For your convenience, the store is open 7 days a week from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M.

Aboard the open boat the Rip Tide III in City Island Capt. Carl tells me porgy fishing keeps getting better with a lot of quality fish to 3 pound hitting the deck. Boat limits of weakfish also come over the rails as does spot, kingfish, and some keeper sea bass. Please note that the boat will continue to bottom fish for scup and friends with soft baits, however starting Friday the boat will be carrying green crabs for anyone looking to give blackfish a shot. As the waters continue to cool down, Capt. Carl will focus more on the blackfish. For the time being, why leave a solid porgy bite when most of the blackfish during the early fall will be shorts and fares go home disappointed with empty coolers when they could head home with big bags of tasty porgy fillets. The boat sails daily at 8 A.M. with plenty of room at the rails.

Blaise from Duffy’s Bait and Tackle in Glenwood Landing reports the fall blitz has begun as porgy fishing is sensational just outside of the harbor right by the breakwater as well as buoy 28 C, 11 B and the Bayville Reef. Bluefish are making frequent visits inside the harbor chasing peanut bunker and anchovies. Crippled Herring, Kastmasters and diamond jigs are all accounting for some good fishing with some stripers in the mix. False albacore are still galivanting the Sound with Epoxy Jigs doing it best on the speedsters. Blaise is ready to go with a large assortment of tog jigs, rigs and bait. Be sure to stop on in before heading out togging.

On Cold Spring Charters in Cold Spring Harbor, Capt. Herb Hahn will kick off the start of blackfish season this Friday October 11th. Tog, sea bass, blues and striped bass will be the options depending on what the captain and the charters are looking to catch. To set up a charter, give Capt. Herb a call at (516) 641-3401.

Carmine at Campsite Sport Shop in Huntington reports plenty of porgies inside and outside of Huntington Bay. There is also good fishing off Marshalls Field and Crab Meadow Beach. Target Rock and the Brush Pile are also chock full of scup. Striped bass fishing is slow however bluefish have picked up the slack big time. Just follow the birds and toss out metal jigs. The store has quite a selection of tog jigs for the start of blackfish season. Stop on in and check them out.

Over from Rob at Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports stripers are playing hard to get with the second hour of the outgoing tide producing for about 45 minutes. Diamond jigs, poppers and live bunker are the best choice on the menu. Trolling bunker spoons and umbrella rigs are also producing. Porgy fishing remains excellent at buoy 11 B, the Brush Pile and Cranes Neck with worms and clams getting it done. Rob is carrying a huge variety of tog jigs, blackfish rigs and crab bait, therefore be sure to stop on in and grab your tog arsenal before heading out.

Capt. Mark DeJong of the Celtic Quest Fleet in Port Jefferson is happy to report of the great porgy, sea bass and bluefishing aboard the Celtic Grace in Mattituck. The Port Jefferson based boat, the Celtic Quest is enjoying a fest of its own with porgies, sea bass, blues and some keeper stripers. The fishing off Mattituck is incredible as it is more like fishing in an aquarium rather than a fishing hole. The sea life is insane with porgies and sea bass paving the bottom and are stacked up to at least 15 feet off the bottom at some spots while bluefish are a can’t miss anywhere from the bottom to the surface. Everyone is catching all the scup and choppers they care too while most anglers see 3 or 4 jumbo sea bass added to their catch. Both the Celtic Quest and the Celtic Grace will stick with the exceptional bluefish and bottom fishing until sea water temperatures drive the scup and biscuits away and the blackfish start chewing away. You don’t want to miss out on this October mayhem therefore reserve your spot at the rail online on the Celtic Quest website.

Jim Flora of Miller Place Bait and Tackle reports improvement with the porgies at Cranes Neck and also the Middle Grounds with worms and clams the best option both on the drift and at anchor. Jim and his buddy Nick got out on Monday and the duo enjoyed great porgy fishing with fish to 17 inches. Diamond jigs while working the rip lines at the Middle Grounds and buoy 11 are producing plenty of big bluefish and some small to slot size stripers. Fluke and snappers are done until next season. To much delight by all, the shop will be ready with green crabs, tog jigs, hooks, sinkers and any other blackfish tools needed to put a cooler of big chunky tog on ice.

Capt. Brian of Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai reports the east winds finally laid down this week allowing us to leave the harbor for some solid fall fishing. The fall run is in full effect with birds working on rain bait and peanut bunker with bass, blues and albies underneath. Sunrise and sunset have been more productive for bass and blues. Bottom fishing also picked up with a much better showing of keeper sized sea bass and big porgies. The action was nonstop with fish hitting baits as soon as they hit the bottom. Capt. Brian has crabs ready and will switch over to blackfish on October 11th! Call (631) 252-6536 to book a trip.

Kathleen from Ralphs Fishing Station in Mt. Sinai reports the boats getting out to fish are enjoying excellent action with porgies, blues, sea bass and striped bass. The majority of the action comes from the Middle Grounds and buoy 11. There are porgies and tiny sea bass infesting the rockpiles off Cranes Neck and Old Field Point With the start of blackfish season this coming Friday, the shop will be carrying green crabs, tog jigs and all essentials needed for a great day with blackfish.

Phil of Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports excellent porgy fishing basically anywhere there are rocks in both shallow and deep water. The Brush Pile, buoy 11 B and buoy 28 C is seeing excellent fishing on worms and clams leading the way. Sea bass fishing remains disappointing with just a few fish at Cable Reef and the Green Ledge. Diamond jigs or hi/low rigs baited with clams or squid strips work well. Striped bass are in the Triangle but are quite choosy on what bait they find appealing to feed on at a particular stage of a tide. Fret not as the Triangle will light up once the baitfish leave the bays and harbors. Bluefish have begun to blitz with poppers or tins, the easiest way to keep the rods bent. Fluke are all but gone as well as the snappers from all the docks.

Capt. Sean Crean of Port of Call Charters in Northport reports that he will be targeting blackfish and sea bass for the remainder of the season. Dates are still available therefore a call to Capt. Sean at (631) 896-6709 or a visit to the website will seal the deal. Don’t miss out.

Steve from WeGo Bait and Tackle in Southold reports bottom fishing remains excellent inside the bay with plenty in abundance of porgies, spot, kingfish, blowfish and weakfish anywhere from Greenport to the west side of Shelter Island. Worms and clams suits just fine for the groundfish while squid strips nail the weakfish. Fluke have generally split the scene with monster blues and the occasional striper taking over the show. Out in the Block and Long Island Sound’s, big sea bass and porgies are poised for the sensational East End fall run which occurs each year during October. The Plum Gut is infested with big blues that are walloping 8 to 10- ounce diamond jigs. A few slot size stripers are mixing in. Sea bass fishing remains excellent in the abyss of the Sound with monsters to 6 pounds. Snappers are pretty much done for the year.

Capt. Paul of the Peconic Star in Greenport reports phenomenal bottom fishing on the full day boat as most anglers fill their coolers with limits of scup and quite a few big sea bass to go around. The half day boat which only sails on weekends are seeing good to excellent fishing that is aquarium style. Porgies, weakfish, spot, kingfish, blowfish, sand sharks and sea robins all share the same lairs situated inside the bay which catches the amazement of the kids. All in all, its smiles from everyone coming off both boats at the end of the trips. Starting this Friday October 11th, the Peconic Star IV will start blackfish season from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every day, while the Peconic Star III continues to catch jumbo porgies and sea bass. For more information, call Capt. Paul at (631) 522-2002 or Capt. Speedy at (516) 551-4548 or go to their website at Peconic Star Boats.

Liz at Mattituck Fishing Station in Mattituck reports rock solid porgy and sea bass fishing with scup stealing sandworms and clams while drifting in 40 feet of water off the Firing Range going all the way east to Goldsmith Inlet. Sea bass fishing has been best along the Connecticut side of the Sound especially by Clinton and Southwest Reefs. Hi/low rigs tipped with clams catch well, however diamond jigs tipped with a chartreuse colored Gulp or Fishbite’s produces even better. Porgies are also plentiful in the area as well. Bluefish are abundant and swimming along the open waters feeding on peanut bunker and bay anchovies. Look and fish around the terns and sea gulls. Stripers are around but playing catch me if you can with live bunker and diamond jigs being your best tactic during peaking ebb tide. Weakfish are still being taken on Bass Assassins and pink soft baits off Coopers Rock at the start of flood tide. Snappers are all but gone from the creeks and are now being taken from the Sound beaches.

Adam at North Country Gas Bait and Tackle in St. James reports a catch from the boys at Shanahan’s Fishing Club. Al and Chip dropped down 12-ounce diamond jigs in Plum Gut in excellent weather conditions this week and nailed a limit of slot size bass, some blues and a full limit of jumbo sea bass also taken on the jigs. The duo was at it again this week, this time fishing the Middle Grounds for a pair of keeper stripers and a mess of blues.