Your first trip to Montauk will be a special one.
As I drove down the hill into town and saw the “Welcome to Montauk” sign, I couldn’t hide my excitement. I was going to fish Montauk, “the Mecca, and the surfcasting capitol of the world!” A place I had only read about, or heard other anglers speak of. A place with a legendary, if not mythical history! There I was with my rubber Hodgeman waders and my $59.99 Sports Authority “Extreme surf fishing combo” ready to battle the best Montauk had to offer. My plug bag consisted of a plastic bag with a couple beat up bucktails, swim shads and old Bombers, I had read enough to know that you have to have some Super Strikes so I picked up a grand total of one darter and one needle. Which after a cast each I thought to myself, these things have no action and quickly switched back to my trusty Bomber. I was in no way prepared for what Montauk had in store for me, not in the slightest. I left with my tail between my legs, telling myself this place isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It would be years before I returned, this time with a few more tides under my belt, ready to be humbled once again.
As I have gained some experience through my trips out to Montauk, I regularly reminisce about my earlier experiences and think of what I could have done differently, not quite so much in the fishing, because that just comes down to putting in the time. But where I really came up short was access (specifically finding somewhere I was allowed to fish legally) and my gear, not only what I did and didn’t have but also how and where I had equipment set up.
Montauk Fishing Access
Let’s start with access to get that out of the way. Montauk has State and County Parks as well as town beaches and plenty of private property. On top of that, depending on whether you have a 4X4 or are parking and walking will factor in as well. Either way you’re going to want a NYS permit, 4X4 or night fishing, these will be good for fishing in the vicinity of the lighthouse and north towards Jones’s Reef, False Bar, North Bar and into Oyster Pond Cove. These permits will also give you access to Hither Hills and Napeague State Parks. I also buy the Camp Hero pass from NYS, if you plan on fishing the south side you’ll be glad you picked it up. For access from Montauk harbor to Shagwong, you’ll need either the Suffolk County night fishing permit or the outer beach 4X4 access permit. That wraps it up as far as permits I get for access in and around Montauk. East Hampton Township also offers resident and non-resident parking and “drive on” permits that will give you access to a few more locations.
Recommended Gear
Montauk truly is a unique surfcasting destination, you don’t have to push out and fish from on top of a rock, there’s plenty of spots you can fish from the shoreline or a step or two into the water, but there’s nothing else in fishing that I have experienced that compares to getting out and fishing from on top of a rock at Montauk. That being said, you need quality gear to make your trip to the outer rocks as smooth as it can possible be. A wetsuit is not a must, but it will give you some peace of mind when the water starts creeping up towards your chest and neck. If you do decide to wear waders, make sure you have a quality surf top and a good surf or dive belt. Studded footwear is a must out in Montauk, I prefer the strap on Korkers but have also used the studded inserts. On your belt, you’ll want a quality pair of pliers – there’s plenty of quality pliers that are designed for the harsh saltwater environment. You’ll also want some type of fish gripper or Boga style scale, this will assist in landing fish with a mouth full of treble hooks in the middle of the night, out on a rock with waves crashing into you. Additionally, I carry a spare dive light, blunt nose dive knife, Manley pliers, a leader wallet and a water bottle pouch or D-ring. For my normal light I’ll use a quality headlamp, that has a red light setting and again can hold up in the saltwater. I know some people will use a neck light, but it comes down to preference and what’s comfortable for you. Lastly, you’ll want a quality plug bag, preferably with good drainage, and inner side flaps as well as the main closure flap, I opted for the Gear Up 3 tube, but there’s plenty of great bags to choose from.
Montauk Plug Picks
Since my first trip out to Montauk it’s become quite apparent that you should carry a lot more than just two Super Strike lures. Nowadays my plug bag is filled with at least 75% Super Strikes. I’ll carry mostly darters and needles, usually in white, yellow, black or blurple, parrot and maybe bone or neon yellow. With the needles I’ll carry the 6-3/8 and 7-1/4-inch models primarily. For good measure I usually bring along a couple wood darters and needles, usually made by beach master or afterhours. Rounding out my normal bag are bucktails from 3/4 to 2 ounces and some swimming plugs, a couple Bombers or SP Minnows and a metal lip or two. When conditionals are a little snotty, I’ll add in a few Super Strike bottles and heavy needles, as well as a few Northbar bottle darters and a couple bucktails up to 3 ounces. All that’s left now is to fish!
General Rules Of Thumb
Like I said before, no amount of reading or research will ever replace time out in the surf under different conditions. But as a very general rule of thumb the south side is considered more of an incoming spot with the north side fishing better on the outgoing tide. On the south side I like to push out to the outer rocks with the water down and move in with the tide only as needed. Eventually finding my way back to the shoreline where I’ll fish the edges of the many reefs where the reef often times meets up with an adjacent cove.
| PREP IS IMPORTANT |
| When setting up your gear, whether you plan on fishing from a rock or not it’s a good habit to assume you’ll be working in very tight quarters in rougher than normal conditions. You’re not fishing an open sand beach where you have plenty of room to bring a fish up away from the crashing surf. I keep my leader wallet towards the front of my belt, with single leaders in clearly marked bags so I know what size and material leader I’m tying on. My Boga is positioned on my left side so that once I lip a fish I can transfer my rod under my left arm to grab my pliers that are located on my right side. Again this process is often times done at night out on a rock, so it’s vital to be organized and know exactly where all your gear is located. |
On the north side you may have to wait for the tide to drop a bit before pushing out onto the bars or reefs. And a lot of times out of ease I’ll start further west and work my way east back towards the point as the tide drops. Again these are more general rules, so don’t be afraid to venture out and experiment a bit. Just make sure you keep a detailed log of forecasted weather as well as actual weather conditions, because we all know the weatherman is always wrong! Include moon phase, what time it rises and sets, tide information and duration. Make note of any bait present, and of course any fish caught and how, specifically any variations in retrieve or presentation.
Montauk can be not only an intimidating place to fish but also downright dangerous at times. But once you’ve put in some time and figured out some reliable patterns and bites, it is arguably the most rewarding surfcasting you’ll ever experience. So hopefully you’ve gotten enough info to get you started and most of all keep you safe. Now get out there and earn that bass of a lifetime!
