Long Island, Metro NY - North Shore Fishing Reports

Mike at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck reports a good start with blackfish this week at all the lighthouses, the shallow rocky shorelines and on the Connecticut side with green crabs being the top choice of bait and tog jigs. The striped bass fishing has been excellent by the bridges and both the East and Hudson Rivers with live eels producing best. Manhasset Bay has also been producing well at night on live eels. Porgies are still doing well in Oyster Bay and the Bayville Reef on worms and clams. Snappers are done for the year.

Capt. Pat Barrett of the Shamrock Charterboat in New Rochelle reports porgy and black sea bass fishing remains very good, however, as of Wednesday October 21st, the Shamrock will begin sailing open boat blackfish trips on October 21, 23, 28, 29, 30 along with November 5, 6,11,14 and 15 sailing at 8 a.m. and returning 3 p.m. Reservations are an absolute must. Please note that these dates are subject to change. 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 very good blackfish action with some very nice fish coming in to be weighed. Green crabs are the bait of choice and are available for the same price as last year. As for striped bass fishing, the action has been exceptional inside the East River with bass of all sizes sucking down live eels. There are porgies and black sea bass at some of the deeper ledges chewing up worms and clam baits. On the offshore scene, tuna fishing has been a bit scrambled due to the strong winds and cold water breaks. Nuno did have a 60-inch bluefin on Thursday south of Montauk. Once the winds die down fishing should improve dramatically offshore. At Tyalure 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 a lot of action with blackfish; however, most are short with a few keepers coming over the rail each day. There are still plenty of porgies and weakfish available for anyone who would like to fill a pail. The boat sails daily weather permitting at 8 a.m.

Blaise from Duffy’s Bait and Tackle in Glenwood Landing reports excellent blackfish action all week with some quality fish mixing in with loads of short fish. The blackfish are in shallow water with all the rockpiles and beaches producing on tog jigs tipped with a piece of green crab or Asian crab. On Wednesday Drake came in and weighed a 5.34-pound tog and Mike Knoll weighed in a 7.95-pound tog on Thursday. Porgies and sea bass are still holding up strong at buoy 28 C, Green Ledge and Anchors Reef with worms and clams doing the honors on the bottom dwellers. The beaches continue to hold strong populations of scup and blackfish as well. Stripers are also in the picture both in Manhasset Bay and Hempstead Harbor with swim shads and Bass Assassins duping the bass. Snappers and fluke are all but gone.

On Cold Spring Charters in Cold Spring Harbor, Capt. Herb Hahn reports blackfish are off to a good start with some impressive black sea bass and porgies hitting the ice as well. The blackfish have reached 6-1/2 pounds and sea bass to 3-1/2 pounds. Capt. Herb still has openings available through the rest of the blackfish season. 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 stripers are crushing artificial lures inside Huntington and Northport Bay’s. Storm Shads, Zoom Twister Tails and Pencil Poppers are doing the job where there is bird activity. There are bass also in Cold Spring Harbor and outside off Eaton’s Neck with Epoxy Jigs intended for false albacore also catching the attention of the bass. There are no bluefish or false albacore in the area to speak of. Blackfish, black sea bass and porgy catches have all been positive from Norwalk Connecticut and buoy 11 B. Please note that Campsite does not sell live or frozen baits.

Rob at Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports a good pick of quality blackfish being taken this week from both sides of the Sound with Marshall Field, Caumsett, buoy 11 B and the Green Ledge all producing tog to 7-1/2 pounds. Some hefty sea bass are also in the mix. Porgy fishing remains good at buoy 28 C, the Brush Pile and the Obstruction Buoy with worm and clams getting the job done. There still some striped bass being caught in the bays and harbors on Storm Swim Shads and plugs. The snappers are gone from the docks.

Mark DeJong of the Celtic Quest Fleet in Port Jefferson reports that the Celtic Grace is fishing from their fall season port in Mattituck chasing blackfish and finding a decent pick when the weather allows with blackfish to 6-3/4 pounds, short fish, porgies and sea bass keeping the rods bent during prime tides. At the home base in Port Jefferson, the Celtic Quest has been targeting porgies and doing a fine job filling buckets with scup to 2-1/2 pounds along with a good showing of quality sea bass and the occasional weakfish. For as long as the porgies stick around and keep chewing, the Celtic Quest will stay with them before making the switch to blackfish. Whether you prefer tasty porgies from Port Jeff or tautog from East End Mattituck, you can reserve your spot at the rail by visiting the Celtic Quest fishing website.

Chris of Port Tackle in Port Jefferson reports the blackfish bite is off to a good start in the shallow rocky areas as well as the Middle Grounds, Cranes Neck and Old Field Point. Green crabs does the catching on both jigs and rigs. Several fish came in to be weighed this week with an 8-1/2-pounder being top weight thus far. False albacore has been sporadic with here today gone tomorrow. If they do pop up in front of you, Epoxy Jigs will catch the speedsters Bottom fishing for porgies and black sea bass remains consistent for anglers employing worms and clams at the Middle Grounds. Striped bass can be found nailing Storm Shads and diamond jigs inside Port Jefferson Harbor and off buoy 11. Snapper fishing is over until next summer.

Jim Flora of Miller Place Bait and Tackle reports a good showing of blackfish at all the early haunts that include Cranes Neck, Old Field Point, Cedar Beach and the Middle Grounds with green crabs producing good amounts of keepers. During the week Dan came in and put a 7- pounder on the scale, while Sam drilled out a 4.1-pound beauty and Chris nailed a tog of 3.9 pounds. Some anglers have been steaming to Connecticut with similar results. Anglers using worms, clams and squid are still catching plenty of porgies and black sea bass at the Middle Grounds and all the rocky lairs in 35 to 65 feet of water. School stripers can be found nailing soft body plastics such as swim shads and twister tails inside Port Jefferson and Mount Sinai Harbor’s. Larger slot and oversize stripers can be found slamming diamond jigs from buoy 11 to the Middle Grounds. The false albacore can be found under the birds between buoy 11 and buoy 9 hitting the Fat Cow Epoxy Jigs. Snappers have left the docks with some porgies still entertaining from the Cedar Beach Pier.

Capt. Brian of Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai reports the striped bass population has begun to thin out. With such an abundance of baitfish, there should be some bass sticking around until November. As the stripers leave the stage, the blackfish enter the picture with great action with shorts and enough keepers to 6-1/2 pounds to make it worthwhile. In addition, there have been a good mix of jumbo black sea bass and silver platter porgies to fill the box. Capt. Skippy Charters is now running 6 hour charters targeting blackfish for the remainder of the season. 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 a good start with blackfish off Cedar Beach, Old Field Point and the Middle Grounds on both jigs and rigs baited with green crab. Porgies and sea bass are also at the Middle Grounds with worms and clams nailing the bottom dwellers. Striped bass can be jigged up with a few bluefish near buoy 11 and buoy 9. Diamond jigs are producing well. A few porgies and small blackfish can be had at the Cedar Beach Pier, while the snappers are gone until next year.

Phil of Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports many boatmen have been steaming to the shallow shoals in Norwalk Connecticut for blackfish and scoring well with fish ranging from shorts to 8-1/2 pounds taken on green crabs in 15 to 25 feet of water. Closer to home, anglers fishing the Brush Pile and buoy 11 B are also doing well with assorted size tog. Porgies remain strong for anglers doling out chum and employing worms and clams at buoy 28 C and also at the Brush Pile in 35 to 45 feet of water. Black sea bass are hitting clams and diamond jigs tipped with Gulp at the Green Ledge and Anchors Reef. Striper fishing has been sporadic at the Triangle with more consistency in the back of the bays and harbors on soft body plastics. The snappers are gone until next summer.

Capt. Stu of Northport Charters Northport reports an excellent start with blackfish from day one. On opening day, his charter had a blackfish limit by 10 am with a pair of 6-1/2 pounders going into the box. In addition, some big black sea bass has also been hitting the icebox. Please note that there are still some open dates available for the remainder of October and into 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 visit the Northportcharter.com website.

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 very good blackfish action with a healthy showing of keeper black sea bass. The fishing should only get better as the water cools. For reservations and 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 an excellent week of togging with some nice keepers and plenty of action with shorts. The boats are sailing for blackfish every day, departing the dock at 7 a.m. and returning at 2 p.m. 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 that the blackfish season is off to a good start, especially in shallow water. The north side of Plum Island has been hot using jigs baited with green crab. Porgy fishing remains good out in Long Island Sound while black sea bass has been very good at the natural reefs in Block Island Sound. There is also good sea bass fishing east of Gardiners Island and at Pidgeon’s Rip on slack tide. Clams and jigs work on the sea bass, while worms and clams slam the porgies. Inside the bays the scup and weakfish are beginning their departure until next May. Striped bass fishing remains consistent from the Plum Gut to the Race with bucktails and skirts producing fish to 40 inches on 3x3 rigs. Bluefishing has also been good with some choppers in the mid-teens being taken on diamond jigs. False albacore and a few green bonito have been showing up around Gardiners Bay, especially at the long rip line off the Ruins. Snappers are gone for the year.

Capt. Paul Ripperger and Captain Rachel Jannace Johnson of the Tide Hustle in Greenport reports a blackfish bonanza this week with most trips seeing fares nailing two to 4 quality keepers apiece to 7-1/2 pounds with plenty of quality black sea bass also in the mix. Unless specified, the boat will be fishing for blackfish for the remainder of the season. 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.

Adam at North Country Gas Bait and Tackle in St. James reports a bottom fishing bonanza for Dan and Melody, aboard their boat “Stills and Nash” where the duo fished a rockpile off Rocky Point in 50 feet of water for a cooler full of humpback porgies and jumbo black sea bass using clam for bait. On the other end of town, John and Louis George blasted the striped bass using diamond jigs at the Middle Grounds keeping their two slot fish and releasing many more.