June offers consistent shorebound opportunity to intercept these stripers during their nightly feeding runs.
As the last colors of dusk drain from the sky and the stars begin to burn through the salt haze, a transformation takes place along the shorelines of Long Island. The beaches, inlets, and rocky outcrops that were busy with beachgoers and daytime anglers grow quiet. But for a dedicated group of surfcasters, the night is just beginning. June is prime time for these anglers – when the tide, moon, bait, and bass align, night tides can explode with the kind of action that keeps surfcasters returning season after season.
From Montauk to the back bays of the South Shore and entire North Shore Stretch, Long Island is a striper-rich landscape come June, and the nighttime bite is often when the biggest bass are caught. Whether you’re fishing the shifting sands of the outer beaches or picking your way across jetty rocks with a headlamp, surfcasting after dark requires a different mindset, a heightened level of preparation, and a willingness to embrace solitude and darkness. But for those who commit, the rewards can be unforgettable.
Why June Nights Matter
By June, migratory striped bass have fully returned to the waters of Long Island. The post-spawn fish from the Hudson and Chesapeake are on the move, feeding aggressively as they track bait like sand eels, bunker, and spearing along the beaches and inlets. Water temperatures have stabilized in the high 50s to low 60s, making it comfortable for both fish and fishermen. More importantly, the big cows – those 30, 40, and even 50-pound-class fish tend to favor the cover of darkness.
Striped bass are naturally nocturnal predators. Their eyesight is keen in low-light conditions, and they often move into the shallows under cover of darkness to ambush prey. Nighttime offers cooler water, reduced boat traffic, and minimal disturbance – conditions under which these big fish feel safe enough to come in tight. For surfcasters, June offers a consistent opportunity to intercept these fish during their nightly feeding runs.
After Hours Hotspots
Long Island offers a diverse array of terrain that lights up at night in June. Each zone requires a different approach, but all share one thing: when the sun goes down, the bass come in.
Montauk Point: Known as the surfcasting capital of the world, Montauk’s nighttime bite can be explosive in June. The North Bar, False Bar, and the lighthouse rocks all produce after dark. Wetsuiting is common here – especially during the midnight tides – as surfcasters push beyond the breakers to reach deeper water where stripers prowl.
South Shore Inlets: Fire Island, Jones, Moriches, and Shinnecock Inlets are classic June destinations. Stripers move through these chokepoints during outgoing tides, feeding heavily on outgoing bait. Casting from the jetties or tucked just inside the bayside points can produce strong results. June nights with a good moon tide and a west wind often bring the fish right in close to those jetty rocks.
North Shore Rocky Points: The boulder-strewn shorelines from Port Jefferson to Orient become striper ambush zones after dark. These waters tend to be deeper close to shore, which allows big bass to cruise the rocks even during lower tides. Casting swimmers bucktails and eels into the blackness around prominent points, boulders, and tide rips can pay off handsomely.
Back Bay Marshes and Creeks: For those seeking a quieter and more intimate night bite, the back bays of the entire South Shore come alive with smaller fish and occasional trophy stripers. The outgoing tide after a hot June day can flush shrimp, crabs, and spearing, and bass follow these forage species into the cuts and channels.
Gear Up For The Darkness
Fishing at night demands thoughtful preparation. You want to minimize noise and light while maximizing performance and safety. Your gear should be dialed in well before sunset.
A 10- to 11-foot surf rod paired with a sealed spinning reel (like a Van Staal, Penn Spinfisher VI, or Shimano Saragosa) spooled with 30- to 40-pound braided line is the standard setup. Leaders should be 40- to 60-pound fluorocarbon for abrasion resistance around rocks and structure.
At night, stripers rely heavily on vibration, silhouette, and scent. Top choices include: Darters and Bottles – the Super Strike Darter and Bottle Plug move water and dig deep, ideal for fast-moving tides near structure. Needlefish plugs are deadly when the bite is subtle and fish are hanging on the outskirts. Fish them slow and steady. For soft plastics on jigheads or weighted swimshads picks like Slug-Go’s or Al Gag’s Whip-It Fish, NLBNs, and Tsunami shads offer excellent options. If you want to go with a more natural option live or rigged eels are nighttime royalty. Their scent and sinuous motion are hard to beat – especially if you are targeting a memorable fish. Bucktails are always a staple, especially white or chartreuse tipped with pork rind or Fat Cow strips.
Lighting: A red-beam headlamp is a must. It won’t blow out your night vision or spook fish. Keep it off as much as possible – use it only when necessary. Glow sticks on rod tips can help with visibility, and it’s wise to carry a waterproof flashlight in your surf bag for emergencies.
Wading Gear: Waders and cleats are essential, especially in Montauk or inlet jetties. Don’t cut corners on footwear; a slip on wet rock at night is a serious hazard. A surf belt, wading staff, and a flotation device like the NRS Chinook vest are smart additions.
Tides, Moon, And Wind
In June, striper patterns are often dictated by tidal stages and moon phases. The biggest bass tend to feed during the first two hours of tide stages, both incoming and outgoing. On new moon nights, stripers are more likely to move close to shore in total darkness. On full moon tides, they may stay slightly deeper but will still feed if bait is present.
Wind is also key. A light southwest wind on the South Shore or an east wind on the North Shore can push bait inshore and trigger feeds. Wind-driven whitewater creates cover and disorients prey, making it ideal for ambush predators like stripers.
Plan your trips around favorable tides and moon phases, but always scout beforehand. Look for signs: birds working late, nervous bait, or the telltale “pop” of a bass sipping bait from the surface.
Tactics For Success After Sundown
Surfcasting after dark is as much about rhythm and confidence as it is about location. Once you’ve selected your spot, approach quietly. Fish are often surprisingly close – within 10 to 30 feet of shore – and spooking them with a loud approach or bright light can kill a bite. This is particularly true for back bay situations.
| TACTICAL TIPS |
| “Fish the White Water”: Even after dark, white water equals cover. Bass will nose right into the foam line to pick off disoriented bait. Cast just beyond the wash and work your lure back through it.
Best Tides: Incoming to high slack is often best in June. If fishing a beach, aim for two hours before high to one hour after. In inlets, hit the turn of the tide with an eel or swim shad. Safety Reminder: Wear a wading belt, proper footwear (studded boots if rocks are involved) or wetsuit if need be and never turn your back on the surf – especially when jetty-hopping at night. |
Fan your casts, work your lures at different depths, and let your retrieve speed match the conditions. Let slow-sink plugs pause in the current; twitch soft plastics through eddies and rips. If you miss a hit, throw back immediately – a bass will often strike again if it missed the first time.
Avoid changing lures constantly. Pick two or three confidence baits and cycle through them patiently. Many experienced surfcasters say that night bass fishing rewards consistency more than experimentation.
If you are not getting any touches right away don’t be afraid to stick it out. Sometimes it’s a matter of waiting. These fish might be in front of you the entire time and will only feed on a certain tide window. If you don’t have a lure in the water for it, you even have a shot at them.
Mentality Of The Night Shift
Perhaps the most underrated element of surfcasting after dark is the mental game. You’ll often be alone, in remote areas, navigating rocks and surf with limited visibility. The solitude, combined with the possibility of hooking a fish of a lifetime, creates an intensity unlike any other type of fishing.
Some nights will be slow – dead tides, warm still water, or no bait movement. But other nights… those magic nights… the line tightens, your rod buckles, and a shadowy predator surges into the tide, peeling drag and vanishing into the blackness.
Those are the nights that make it all worth it. The ones you replay in your head driving home at 3 a.m. with wet boots, sore shoulders, and sand caked to your waders.
Final Thoughts
June on Long Island is a window into the prime time of the surfcasting season. With water temperatures hovering in the ideal range, bait flush along the coast, and bass feeding with purpose, there are few better months to fish. And when the sun dips below the horizon, those willing to embrace the dark are often rewarded with the biggest fish of the season.
So pack your bag, check the tides, and head out under the cover of darkness. Somewhere in the surf, a cow striper is cruising in shallow water, waiting for your cast. All you have to do is show up with confidence and trust your instincts sometimes.
