41.05.100 / 72.26.700
Frequently referred to as the “Land of the Giants” for the big fluke taken here during the spring and summer, there are many more opportunities here that are overlooked by those just targeting fluke.
Located approximately 6 miles east of Mattituck Inlet on Long Island’s North Fork, the rocky waters surrounding Horton’s Point were legendary for producing monster fluke during May and June for over three decades. And while the infamous point continues to occasionally produce a double digit flattie from time to time, focusing attention on the striped bass that come to life on night tides in May and June, and then again during the day and evening hours of October and November, provides a better shot at a monster striper than a monster fluke.
In recent years we have seen plenty of cow bass assaulting bunker schools on both shores of Long Island. Some of these big female bass settle into areas that provide abundant forage aside from the roaming bunker schools. Hortons is one of those areas and when it comes to surrendering stripers, this area has yielded numerous bass from 15 to 30 pounds to drifted eels in the rips on ebbing night tides. Later, in the fall, good topwater action awaits daytime casters as the fish migrate from west to east, providing exciting light-tackle and fly-fishing opportunities. False albacore also show in the rips here during September and October, responding enthusiastically to epoxy flies or thin-profile tins. Bluefish are also present during the daylight hours, especially during the early morning hours when you are just about guaranteed to encounter these yellow eyed eating machines.
During June and July, sinker bouncers enjoy good action with porgies and sea bass to 3 pounds lurking among the large boulders right out in front of the point. Use your sonar to isolate a cluster of rocks and then anchor slightly up-tide and employ a pot of frozen clam chum to bring them to the boat. Clam and squid strips or sandworms on a basic porgy/sea bass rig should put you into the action.
Anglers working the surf at Hortons enjoy solid action during October and November with school bass, and the occasional quality bass by working among the boulders with plugs, swim shads and tins during the day, and swimming plugs, metal-lipped swimmers and bucktails after dark. Sinker bouncers on the hunt for porgies and blackfish score well from shore here, too, but bring along plenty of terminal tackle as the bottom here can be very unforgiving. Shore fishermen should also be aware that access to Hortons Point requires a Southold Town Beach Permit, however, during the off-season (October and November), residency parking requirements are often relaxed at beaches like Kenneys and McCabes which are within walking distance of the point. Also, the parking at Hortons proper is not handicapped accessible as there is a very long, steep stairway leading down the bluff to the Sound.
