My log book calls it the Miller Wreck, which lies in 120 to 130 feet of water approximately 15 miles south between Moriches and Shinnecock Inlets. The GPS Coordinates that will put you dead in the center of the wreck is 40.39.301/72.31.365. Frankly, the Miller Wreck should have been named the Mystery Wreck since this section of Davey’s Locker was never officially identified. Actually the navigator who had found the wreck wrote the Loran coordinates on a Miller Beer bottle which derived the name of this unknown piece of history.
Besides yearlong exceptional fishing, the wreck has been a scuba divers treasure with all types of brass and copper artifacts. To the experienced diver, the wrecks boilers, engine and copper clad hull are all easily recognizable. Still today, divers search successfully and return to the surface with some nice souvenirs consisting of non-ferrous metals. The location of the Miller is right along the edge of the 20-fathom curve and just a hop, skip and jump north of the first set of Fingers, which puts her smack in the migratory path of local and offshore species.
What is great about the location of the wreck is that from January to December there is always an abundance of life. Although a variety of groundfish and gamesters can be caught at specific months throughout the year, you can pretty much count on red hake, and at times so abundant, you can sink a boat with these extremely delicious table fare. Sizes do vary as at times we can only manage fingerlings then the next day it’s all pot belly giants ranging between 3 and 7 pounds. As for other species starting with January and right into May, aside from red hake, you can find good cod fishing from time to time. Since the wreck is close to the 20-fathom curve, you have schools or bodies of fish coming and going which keeps the wreck from becoming stale. I equate the wreck to a box of chocolates; you never know what you are going to get.
As the water warms by the end of April to early May, the wreck is loaded with medium size pregnant blackfish, which thankfully must be released. At about the same time medium to jumbo sea bass are abundant and must also be released.
June and July is pretty much sea bass and spawned out blackfish with jumbo porgies joining in the fun. August into October porgies, sea bass, triggerfish, bluefish, albacore and the past two seasons a good showing of Mahi and a few Spanish mackerel. November and December its blackfish ranging from shorts to 12 pounds. When it comes to tog be sure to anchor.
As for bait, green crabs work well while Asian crabs can be hit or miss meaning I don’t find the Asian crabs working as well on deep water wrecks than inshore rockpiles. Personally, I prefer bringing along a bushel of white crabs and fish them whole on a Snafu Rig. Be sure to lightly crack the shell using a 6-ounce bank sinker to allow the crab to excrete their fluid to allow the crab to be more appealing to the big tog. As for all the other groundfish through the season, hi/lo rigs baited with clam bellies will do simply fine. As for the gamesters and speedsters that are passing through, your favorite tactics you use inshore will suit simply fine around the wreck.
Lastly, beware of the dogfish especially if you are going to drift for cod or sea bass. At times they can be impossible and at times they may be away from the area. Should they be a problem, be sure to anchor a high piece of the wreck. Dogfish avoid the wreck itself usually just surrounding it. Just like most sharks, dogfish have no air bladder therefore they must always swim without stopping or they will drown. Nature tells the doggies to stay away from areas they can get trapped in. Therefore if you are anchored and catching dogfish then re-anchor because you are not on the wreck. This is quite a common problem among inexperienced boatmen.
