Long Island, Metro NY - West End Fishing Reports

Jay and Logan from Capitol Tackle in Freeport told me the bass have shown up on the beaches from Rockaway to Shinnecock. They are mostly scattered around. Fluke slowed quite a bit. The season has been difficult for many anglers. In the canyon, a group of anglers landed one swordfish and had four or five bites. This was daytime fishing with whole squid for bait. Capitol Tackle can meet your needs. Visit at 495 Guy Lombardo Avenue, Freeport, NY.

Capt. Mike Danon of the Capt. Lou Fleet in Freeport informed me they start bass fishing on Monday. Tuna showed up in the area, and there is a trip scheduled for Saturday. Sea bass offshore and blackfish trips are starting now. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays will be sailing at 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. for striped bass. Check out the website at www.captloufleet.com.

Captain Doug from Corazon Fishing Charters out of Freeport reported that striped bass fishing continues to gain steam. The big girls are in – Doug had a true 49-1/2 inch fish this week. Fishing live bait seems to be the preference over the last week. They are focusing on bass until the giant bluefin show up. You can call Doug at 917-566-9345.

Freeport Bait and Tackle had mentioned the weekend was good. Stripers were at the bridges like the Meadowbrook. Various shads like the Tsunami golden bunker, Storm shad, and Zoom baby bass have been working well. Colors like white, electric chicken and chartreuse have produced. On the surf, needlefish in blurple and black and chartreuse, as well as diamond jigs in the two to three ounce range with red and green tubes caught bass. Fishermen have seen bunker at Jones inlet. Believe it or not, there are good sized fluke on the inside and outside. The shop received a big delivery of Super Strike swimmers, poppers, bullets and more. Bucktails and trailers are also well stocked. Fresh bunker is back in too. Anglers are trolling umbrella shads, mojos, and spoons. Blackfish jigs and rigs are stocked. Eels and green crabs are readily available at the shop. White crabs will be available in the next few weeks. Freeport B&T is also taking orders on custom rods. You can call at 516-378-4988.

Captain Paul Paris and Captain AJ Coleman of Keel Hauler charters in Freeport had Craig and friends out for a full day wreck trip and were rewarded with a decent amount of scup and a couple keeper sea bass each. A few blues and a bonito also made an appearance, making for another excellent mixed bag wreck trip. Several wreck-athon trips are open. October 13 and 14 will be targeting wrecks, and October 15 will target blackfish. All trips are limited to six persons. For more your next fishing adventure, give Captain Paul a dial or text him at 631-827-5269.

Capt. Bob of Sea Rogue Charters in Freeport let me know he got in on the striper bite outside of Jones inlet. There was lots of bait, but the bass were finnicky biting in short bursts. Anglers landed a few big overslot fish on jigs. Bob noted this was early to see the bass outside the inlet which means an early start to the fall run. Fluke were pretty much done in the bay with only a few shorts hanging around. There is still plenty of mixed bag life on the reefs – sea bass, scup, and triggerfish. Fish are starting to move to the depths at 90 feet and deeper. Bob also did some scouting, and the blackfish are around. He will be targeting them on the 15th. Check the Facebook page for updated dates and information. Dial Captain Bob at 516-551-2177.

Captain Steve Kearney from the Super Hawk in Pt. Lookout said the fishing was very good this week with loads of jumbo porgies and a lot of nice sea bass mixed in. Big triggerfish along with bonito and bonita also made an appearance. They are not done sailing their half day trips and they will be concentrating on special 6 a.m. offshore wreck trips for more jumbo sea bass, big porgies, and more. These trips will sail every day in October with the exception of the days they will be sailing at 6 a.m. for jumbo blackfish. At the moment, the dates for these blackfish trips will be on October 15, 19, 21, 26, and 28. November and December schedules will be out shortly. The Super Hawk departs from 1501 Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout, NY. Reservations are recommended by giving a dial at 516-607-3004 and people can always check the Facebook page or the website at www.superhawkfishing.com.

Paul from River Bay Outfitters in Baldwin reported that the fall fishing is heating up around Long Island, and it’s time to get serious about stripers! As bait begins moving along the beaches, inlets, and back bays, keep an eye out for birds, breaking fish, and nervous water. Early mornings, evenings, and after dark are prime times to hunt bigger bass. Work the North and South Shore surf with flatwings, deceivers, and sand eel patterns, and don’t be afraid to fish a sinking line when bass are holding deeper. Back bays and marsh edges are worth exploring as migrating bait draws predators into shallow water. Small bluefish are still a blast on the fly, while snappers offer great action on light tackle. Keep moving, watch the tides, and match your fly to the bait. Stop by River Bay Outfitters for the latest local intel, proven fall striper patterns, and the right lines and leaders for your next trip. Sign up for our newsletter at riverbayoutfitters.com to stay up to date on fishing reports, upcoming meetups, and shop events. Fall doesn’t last forever—get out there and fish!

Bay Park Fishing in Oceanside reported bass fishing has been pretty good. Fish to 45 pounds were caught from shore on plugs. All bass were overslots. Bridges have been producing with bunker in the daytime and eels at night. A good amount of bunker out in various sizes like peanuts were all over the beach on Friday. The shop has green crabs and snafu rigs ready for the opener blackfish season on the South Shore. Come by Bay Park Fishing Station for more information and visit the Instagram page @bayparkfishingstation.

Capt. Nick Savene of No Time Charters in Oceanside had a catch and release tog trip resulting in plenty of blackfish to 8 pounds for Joe C. Jason and crew had plenty of sea bass with a few keepers in the mix. He also had a few big triggerfish and porgies, and many blackfish which were released unharmed. He will start his bass and tog trips this week and is taking reservations for the season. Call Captain Nick at 516-662-6519.

Capt. Dave Paris of the Captain Dave III in Sheepshead Bay went bass fishing on Saturday night. Anglers caught five overslot fish, and a bunch of underslot fish for eight people on in the evening drifting eels. On his fluke trips, he has been seeing a lot of short sea bass and some porgies. Trips continue to be daily with fluke running from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. He targets striped bass Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Give Captain Dave a dial at 917-251-2628 or book online with Fare Harbor.

Captain Tom at Black Bottom Charters in Seaford will begin fishing for blackfish on October 17 and is taking reservations for full and open boat trips. The encloser has been installed and the boat is ready for the winter fishing and fully heated. You can call Tommy to book a charter at 516-661-2770.

South Shore Marine in Massapequa reported that it has been seven Sundays in a row where there has been rain. Boats have been going out in better weather, and anglers did see some striped bass activity on a mix of bunker or sand eels depending on where they are on the South Shore. Anglers did have slot fish on the ocean side. They believe that nor’easter drove them down from the north. The shop does have crab traps for sale. Green crabs have been hard come by this season. Visit the store at 4108 Merrick Road, Massapequa, NY.

Bill Witchey from Combs Bait and Tackle in Amityville let me know the striped bass have been responding well on the outside. Saturday had stellar weather and bunker all over the place. 50-pound bass were caught under the schools feeding on a good amount of bunker for the first time all year. Anglers snagged bunker and transferred to them to 8/0 circle hooks. Bill said the majority of fish are overslots, with many in the 40-pound range. Further east off Cherry Grove and Ocean Beach, the bass bite was different. Sand eels were the primary forage fish and as a result, fishing a diamond or slim profile jig produced better. Some anglers have brought live bunker to fish in the bay and livelined them around the bridges catching bass up to 40 pounds. There were not many slots. If looking to put something on the table, trolling umbrella rigs may cull out the larger ones. White shads seem to have an edge. Umbrella rigs are being trolled from 30 to 35 feet of water. Joe from Amityville trolled a white shad rig in the State Channel, and caught a 27-inch fluke on a shad rig for a buzzer beater to the end of fluke season. In short, try fishing diamond jigs to the east, and bunker towards the west towards Tobay. Bass are not the only fish on the bunker: thresher sharks, whales, and porpoises met their target as well. It seems the Long Island Aquarium got the memo that the bunker was on the move. In the bay, a tremendous blowfish run is still ongoing. Boats reported 30 to 40 big blowfish. Clams in the chum pot helped and many kids had fun. Word on the kingfish has been quiet so far. The blackfish opener looks very appealing. Bill has green crabs in stock, and the barometers are indicating a good start to the blackfish. The store is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Saturdays and Sundays the store is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., respectively. Visit the store at 34 Merrick Road, Amityville, NY.

Scott at the LI Outdoorsman said the bass are here, but spotty. Big bunker have been around. Anglers fishing for blackfish have had luck before the season opener, safely releasing them. Fluke reports have been tough. The shop has eels in stock. Stop on in at 434 Sunrise Highway, Rockville Centre, NY.