Long Island, Metro NY - North Shore Fishing Reports

Mike at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle in Little Neck reports loads of blackfish on both the Long Island and Connecticut side of the Sound with the 15 to 25 foot depths producing the best action. Some areas see a keeper ratio of one in 20 blackfish, while other areas sees one out of 10 being keepers. Green crabs and tog jigs still carries an advantage over traditional style rigs. Some black sea bass and big porgies are mixing in with the tog. Striped bass are inside Manhasset Bay and along all the rips and eddies created by the large rocks along the tip of the peninsula’s. Trolling, casting and jigging have all been responsive concerning the bass. Squid have moved in with the night bite under the lights with jigs best inside most of the bays and harbors.

Capt. Pat Barrett of the Shamrock Charterboat in New Rochelle reports very good fishing for blackfish on just about every trip they have sailed on. The Shamrock is now sailing open boat blackfish trips on October 28, 29, 30 along with November 5, 6,11,14 and 15 sailing at 8 am and returning 3 pm. 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 striped bass fishing remains excellent inside the East River with drifting live eels being the best tactic right now. Trolling bunker spoons has also been effective however feeding the bass live eels by far has been best. Blackfish are chewing down green crabs on tog jigs and traditional rigs in 15 to 25 feet of water on both the Long Island and Connecticut sides. Night squid fishing has begun with jigs accounting for good action in most bays and harbors. As for the offshore scene, weather has been a relevant factor of getting tuna. With that said, it seems as the best fishing has been at the canyons and the 30 Fathom Curve. 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. The store is open every day from 7 am to 7 pm.

Aboard the open boat the Rip Tide III in City Island Capt. Carl reports plenty of bottom action with blackfish for patrons sticking with crab bait, while patrons employing clams are still catching extra-large porgies, a few black sea bass and some small tautog. There is plenty of short life with the blackfish with most anglers nailing a keeper or two, while the proficient anglers nailing their limits. Weather permitting, the boat sails every day at 8 a.m.

Blaise from Duffy’s Bait and Tackle in Glenwood Landing reports good fishing early and later in the week before the hard blow came into town. There are plenty of blackfish keeping rods bent around Matinecock Point and just about every rockpile you can find with tog jigs and green crabs being the ticket. There are still some good porgy fishing at Cables Reef and buoy 28 C on worms and clams. Doling out frozen clam logs are helping out big time for a cooler full of big chunky porgies. Black sea bass continues to provide good fishing at Green Ledge as well as all the other rock bottoms in the area with clams, Berkley Gulp and diamond jigs all producing successfully. Striped bass are inside the back of the harbor crushing plastic shad baits, while the larger bass can still be found along the beaches and outside of the harbor by the Breakwater and by Execution Rock. The squid have moved in with big numbers being taken under the lights from the docks or from the boats during the dark hours.

On Cold Spring Charters in Cold Spring Harbor, Capt. Herb Hahn reports excellent action with blackfish and black sea bass. Some porgies continue to mix in as well. 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 good fishing in between wind storms with blackfish leading the way with fish to 8 pounds being reported from the Brush Pile, Caumsett and Marshall Field. Plenty of small sea bass are mixing in with the tog with some keepers surprising anglers. Striped bass are still being caught around the Triangle while trolling Mojo’s and umbrella rigs. Porgies are still hanging around in good numbers but are one cold front away from moving out into deeper water. Squid have moved into the bays and harbors hitting jigs under the lights.

Rob at Hi-Hook Bait and Tackle in Huntington reports excellent fishing for blackfish with Marshall Field, buoy 11 B, the Obstruction Buoy and the Brush Pile all producing fast-paced action on green crabs worked on tog jigs. Ken Stroboly weighed in a blackfish of 6.10 pounds. Clams has also been effective, which are also nailing extra large porgies and some quality black sea bass. Porgies continues to provide good action by buoy 28 C, Target Rock and Anchors Reef on both worms and clams. Black sea bass has also been providing excellent fishing at Green Ledge and inside the Triangle. Speaking of the Triangle, striped bass has again come alive in the range of area with trolling Mojo’s producing well with many undersize and slot size fish. Plugs and diamond jigs are also slamming the bass when they are chasing bait to the surface. There are smaller school size stripers in the back of the bays and harbors favoring Storm Shads and similar shads that are peanut bunker imitations. Squid have arrived right on schedule and are being taken under the lights on squid jigs.

Mark DeJong of the Celtic Quest Fleet in Port Jefferson reports the Celtic Grace out of Mattituck has been hammering blackfish, sea bass and porgies, however starting this week, the boat will be strictly targeting blackfish for the remainder of the season. From Port Jefferson, the Celtic Quest will also be targeting blackfish every day sailing at 9 am and returning around 2 pm. The season is winding down and with splendid weather forecasted for this week, now is the time to reserve your spot at the rail at celticquestfishing.com.

Jim Flora of Miller Place Bait and Tackle reports that anglers came out on the weekend with some nice weigh-ins. Paul came in and put a 6.1 pound blackfish on the scale. Very nice fish Paul, but Dan continues to lead in the Blackfish Derby with an 8.4 pound beauty. The fishing has been good at Cranes Neck, Old Field Point and especially at the Middle Grounds on green crabs and clam. Striped bass is on the move sucking down peanut bunker, spearing and squid. Plugs, jigs and live eels are all working well for the bass.

Capt. Brian of Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai reports losing the week to the wind, however by the weekend it was back to business with excellent fishing for both tog and black sea bass. For anyone who still wants scup, there is plenty at the Middle Grounds in 40 feet of water. Nevertheless, Capt. Skippy Charters still has a few dates available for the next few weeks of the season. To book a charter, give Capt. Brian a call at (631) 252-6536.

The crew from Ralphs Fishing Station in Mt. Sinai reports no boats got out until the weekend where all those who went to the Middle Grounds were rewarded with blackfish, black sea bass and porgies with green crabs enticing all three species. If green crabs weren’t available clams did the trick quite well. Unfortunately, there was no report of stripers, bluefish or false albacore as all attention has been primarily for the tautog. There are some squid in the harbor.

Shawn of Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports excellent fishing this past weekend with blackfish showing a much better ratio of keepers to 9 pounds. The Brush Pile, buoy 11 B, and the Connecticut side all producing well on green crabs. Black Sea bass are still in good supply at the Green Ledge, while porgies are still available at Cables Reef, all on worms and clams. The squid are in the bays and harbors and can be had at night under the lights employing squid jigs.

Capt. Stu of Northport Charters Northport reports a solid showing of keeper tog and jumbo black sea bass on Friday and the rest of the weekend. His charters enjoyed blackfish to 7-1/2 pounds and black sea bass to 4-1/2 pounds. 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. Now is the time to join Capt. Sean for some solid action. 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 steady and consistent blackfish catches when the weather cooperates. Many anglers are catching 2 to 4 keepers apiece along with plenty of short life keeping rods bent. A few keeper black sea bass and jumbo porgies fatten up the catches, 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 with all the wind this week, few anglers got out until this past weekend with reports of blackfish coming from a wide range of area. Several boats headed to Connecticut while several fished closer to home and enjoyed good fishing around Plum Island. Green crabs did the damage with fish to 8-3/4 pounds. There still some porgies and lots of small sea bass all over the place. The nighttime squid bite has been good on jigs off the Railroad Dock at Greenport.

Capt. Paul Ripperger and Captain Rachel Jannace Johnson of the Tide Hustle in Greenport gave me a call this weekend to report boat limits of blackfish to 6-1/2 pounds, and many keepers of black sea bass on both days with approximately 400 shorts each day. On Saturday, the boat was heading back to the dock with a boat full of happy smiling faces. On Sunday Capt. Paul’s daughter Veronica Ripperger was aboard scoring with a limit of blackfish and releasing 30 shorts. With the weather forecast calling for light winds and calm seas this entire week, I strongly suggest jumping on the Tide Hustle where Captain’s Paul and Rachel will bring you right where the blackfish live. 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 striped bass inside the Nissequogue River as Joe and Laura used blue colored Atom Poppers for a bunch of schoolies as well as a pair of slot fish for the table. Paul and Jessie fished in 40 feet of water at the Middle Grounds for several black sea bass and bunch of porgies all caught on clam bait.