Long Island, Metro NY - North Shore Fishing Reports

Mike at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck reports his regulars are getting ready to tackle with blackfish locally and to the north such as Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Crabs have been flying out the door as expectations are high for a banner tautog season along the Northeast. In other news striped bass are being caught inside Manhasset Bay during the dark hours. Since large sand sharks continue to be a problem for the surf gang, Mike strongly advises using poppers for the bass since the sand sharks are a menace to anglers tossing natural bait. Porgies and sea bass are still better to the east, although there has been some good fishing around City Island and Rye Beach. Worms and clams are still the top choice. There are still some snappers around however they are on their way out.

Capt. Pat Barrett of the Shamrock Charterboat in New Rochelle reports porgy fishing remains excellent with big chunky scup, some big black sea bass and some true quality weakfish. Since the porgy fishing is so good, Capt. Pat will stay with them until they leave or thin out drastically before targeting blackfish. Full day open boat blackfish trips are slated for this season on selected days which will be posted in the very near future. As always, private blackfish charters for the remaining fall season can be arranged by giving Capt. Pat a call at (914) 552-3050. You can also check out their website at shamrockcharterboat.com.

Nuno DeCosta Tyalure Professional Tackle & Gear in Rye, NY reports blackfish season is off to a great start for the Connecticut residents with lots of limits with togs on opening day. Striped bass fishing has been phenomenal inside the East River either trolling spoons or employing live eels. Nuno was out with his brother on Thursday and enjoyed nonstop action releasing their entire catch to 46-inches. Live eels was their choice of bait. Porgy and sea bass fishing has been very good by Rye Playland and to the east on worms and clams. Snapper fishing is just about done for the year. On the offshore scene, tuna fishing seems to have lost its way since the nor ‘east blow two weeks ago, however, with the low pressure system slated to hit the Northeast early this week, optimism is high for the fishing to pick back up as it was before the storm. At Tyalure’s you can always count on the store being fully stocked with offshore gear, bait and chum to handle anything needed for the task offshore and inshore. Many of the rods available at the store are custom built for heavy and light tackle tuna fishing designed by Nuno. Without a doubt, Tyalure is your one stop shop for all your fishing supplies as well as clothing to deal with any of the elements that Mother Nature may throw at you. Nuno suggests stocking up on tuna bait and gear while everything is in stock and before he sells out with the current tuna craze going on at the moment. The store is open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Aboard the open boat the Rip Tide III in City Island Capt. Carl reports porgy fishing remains excellent with plenty of scup hitting the fillet table along with some jumbo black sea bass and some keeper weakfish. The Rip Tide III will begin targeting blackfish this week for the remainder of the season; however, there will be clams available for anyone who prefers to fill their pails with big chunky porgies and jumbo black sea bass which are still abundant on the blackfish grounds. The boat sails daily at 8 am, returning between 3 and 3:30 p.m.

Blaise from Duffy’s Bait and Tackle in Glenwood Landing reports striped bass fishing has been very good on the night tides from the beaches with plugs and live eels both effective on under and over and slot size fish. Bottom fishing remains excellent with a lot more keeper sea bass mixing in with very good porgy fishing. Clams and worms are the choice baits; however, several shop regulars have purchased crabs for some catch and release preseason blackfish and been doing sensational on catching the trio on green crabs. Buoy 28 C and Anchors Reef are a couple of hot spot producing the trio. Duffy’s is well stocked with bait, tackle and essentials for targeting blackfish this season.

On Cold Spring Charters in Cold Spring Harbor, Capt. Herb Hahn reports he is now accepting charters for blackfish season which should produce some first class action. Therefore to avoid disappointment be sure to give the good veteran captain a call and book a great day on the water by calling (516) 641-3401.

The guys at Campsite Sport Shop in Huntington reports good fishing in the Huntington Bay area this week. Striped bass and bluefish are slamming Storm Shads, Bass Assassins and Epoxy Jigs. Porgies and black sea bass are sucking down Berkley Gulp Baits and jigs. A few fluke remain south of buoy 13 with high/low rigs and Berkley Gulp nailing a few keeper fluke and weakfish. The store is carrying all the rods, reels and essentials for blackfish season; however, the store does not carry live crabs or any natural baits.

Rob at Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports very good fishing for all the usual species this week in between wind storms. Porgies and sea bass are still going strong by buoy 28 C and buoy 13 by Eaton’s Neck. Plenty of larger keeper black sea bass moved into those two areas this week along with plenty of jumbo porgies. Worms, clams and Gulp Baits are all producing good catches of the duo with some nice weakfish mixing in. Striped bass and cocktail blues are in Huntington Bay crushing swim shads and shiny jigs, while out at the Obstruction Buoy and buoy 15, larger slot size stripers are slamming diamond jigs and flutter spoons. Blackfish are off to a good start off Marshall Field, Target Rock and buoy 11 B all on green crabs. The shop is fully loaded with blackfish baits and supplies for a great season ahead.

Mark DeJong of the Celtic Quest Fleet in Port Jefferson reports that the Celtic Grace is now situated in Mattituck and is sailing for blackfish, sea bass and porgies every day weather permitting at 7 a.m. to 2 pm. This past Saturday was the first trip of the fall season with excellent fishing for jumbo porgies and knot head black sea bass. On Sunday, the first day of blackfish season, it was plenty more porgies and sea bass along with a fair showing of blackfish. The water temperature is still in the sixties which needs to cool down a bit more for primetime togging. Back in the home base of Port Jefferson, the Celtic Quest continues their assault on the current porgy and black sea bass population. There are loads of fish on every drop the Celtic Quest made this week. At times, the scup played hard to get while other times it was lock and load. It should be an exciting fall run at both locations. With that said, be sure to make your reservations online at the Celtic Quest Fishing website and enjoy some fantastic bottom fishing.

Matt of Port Tackle in Port Jefferson reports follow the birds and you should find false albacore, green bonito, striped bass and bluefish. Epoxy Jigs, Crippled Herring, Deadly Dicks and Hopkins Jigs are all getting the job done when it is not blowing 30 knots. Black sea bass fishing has been excellent with many large keepers around mixing in with sporadic porgy fishing. There are plenty of porgies around but at times they suffer from lockjaw, while other times its lock and load. Worms, clams and Gulp Baits are all accounting for black sea bass to 4-1/2 pounds and porgies to 2-1/2 pounds. Striped bass can be found anywhere from buoy 11 to buoy 9 with drifting live eels or trolling Mojo’s both producing many slot size keepers as well as over size bass. Blackfish season has arrived and Port Tackle has or can order just about any type of crab you desire and all the blackfish jigs and rigs to nail your limit with white chins.

Jim Flora of Miller Place Bait and Tackle reports excellent fishing between wind storms with black sea bass and porgies filling coolers at the Middle Grounds, Cranes Neck, Old Field Point and outside Mount Sinai Harbor with some weakfish sprinkling in. Sandworms, clams and squid and clam chum has been best for the fall mix bag. There have been reports of false albacore and green bonito feeding under the birds. Epoxy Jigs has been the artificial of choice for the speedsters. Bluefish and stripers can be found feeding under the birds as well with diamond jigs and Kastmasters producing well when conditions prevail. Blackfish season is now in session and the shop is fully stocked with crabs, blackfish jigs and rigs and all the essentials needed for a great blackfish season.

Capt. Brian of Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai reports loads of mixed size striped bass coming over the gunnel while trolling, using light tackle and live bait, preferably live eels. Charters are catching their limit of slot size fish easily. Captain Skippy Charters continues to collaborate with Gray Fish Tag which gives anglers the opportunity to tag, name and release oversize stripers in the name of science. This weeks shout out goes to Mike and his crew who caught, tagged and released a bass they named Capt. Skippy for Capt. Brian. Porgy fishing remains excellent with the black sea bass exploding this week with many jumbos going into the box. Capt. Skippy Charters is now running half day charters targeting blackfish unless his charters prefer to fish for something else like stripers, porgies and sea bass. To arrange a quality trip to four passengers, please call Capt. Brian at (631) 252-6536.

The crew from Ralphs Fishing Station in Mt. Sinai reports blackfish are off to a good start for anglers fishing by Cranes Neck and Old Field Point with a solid pick of porgies and a few black sea bass all chewing or sucking down Asian and green crabs. The Middle grounds continues to produce stripers and bluefish, along with plenty of big porgies, black sea bass and some small blackfish all consuming worms, clams and crabs. The stripers and bluefish are opting for live bait or trolling Mojo’s. The Cedar Beach Pier and along the beach continues to produce good porgy catches with worms and clams.

Luke of Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports the fall run is underway with good action inside the bay when the wind is blowing and outside in the Sound when the winds are at rest. Stripers, blues, porgies and black sea bass are all responding to natural and artificial baits depending on the species being pursued. There has also been some good shots with weakfish in Centerport Channel along with very good porgy fishing. Small striped bass and even smaller bluefish are ganging up on the massive amount of peanut bunker inside Northport and Huntington Bay’s Outside in the Sound there are tons of spearing out there which has the sea bass and porgies once again in the shallow waters. Eaton’s Neck buoy 13 has been red hot for the duo along with some keeper fluke. Fluke season closes on October 15; therefore, if you want a chance at a big fall fluke, the Triangle proves to be your best chance for an oversize flattie. Several anglers purchased crabs this week and gave preseason blackfish a try with outstanding results which bodes well for the blackfish season now underway. Please note that Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle is fully stocked with blackfish bait, rigs, jigs and essentials.

Capt. Stu of Northport Charters Northport reports a very fine week with large porgies and big sea bass; however, the time to target blackfish and black sea bass is here with some dates still available through October and November. With 21 years of fishing the waters inside and outside of Long Island Sound, Capt. Stu knows very well where the big blackfish and sea bass live. To book your trips, please give Capt. Stu a call or text at (631) 707-3266 or go to Northportcharter.com.

Capt. Sean Crean of Port of Call Charters in Northport now the 32 foot Molly Gale K 3, reports that both the Molly Gale K 2 and 3 has been enjoying a great black sea bass and porgy season, however, the time to fish for blackfish and black sea bass has come which all points to an excellent tog and sea bass season ahead. For reservations to get in on the action along with further info, please give Capt. Sean a call at (631) 896-6709 or visit their website.

Capt. Ken of Angler Fleet in Port Washington reports Angler Fleet will begin sailing every day for blackfish, departing the dock at 7 am and returning at 2 pm. The boats are also available for blackfish charters as well as nighttime cruises. For more info give Capt. Kenny a call at (718) 659-8181 or visit their website and social media platforms.

Craig from WeGo Bait and Tackle in Southold reports excellent fishing inside and outside the bay. Porgies continue to hold the fort around Shelter Island with the Green Lawns producing porgies, blowfish, kingfish and some nice black sea bass for those anglers employing worms, clam and squid. There are still some small weakfish being taken by Roses Grove, east of Jessup Neck and in Noyack Bay with squid strips and sandworms catching the weakies on high/low rigs. Fishing in Gardiners Bay and Block Island Sound has been producing some good fishing for jumbo porgies and knot head black sea bass using jigs and baited high/low rigs with clams. False albacore and green bonito have also been popping up under the birds at times with olive Epoxy Jigs nabbing the duo. Striped bass and bluefish are being taken in the Plum Gut, Sluiceway and the Race on bucktails and diamond jigs. Blackfish should be off to a good start along the shallow waters north of Plum Island on green crabs.

Capt. Paul Ripperger and Captain Rachel Jannace Johnson of the Tide Hustle in Greenport has been slamming the socks off of jumbo porgies and black sea bass; however, the time has come to make the switch to blackfish on a daily basis for the remainder of the season. This Sunday saw patrons slugging it with the togs for an easy boat limit along with a sprinkling of jumbo scup and black 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 pm 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.

Adam at North Country Gas Bait and Tackle in St. James reports Johanna from Commack had a blast wrestling big stripers with her and husband keeping their two slot size bass fishing Huntington Harbor. Chuck from Rocky Point had a great day nailing his limit with scup and jumbo black sea bass using clams. Chuck was fishing in 40 feet of water off Rocky Point.