October 19, 2026 - 10:03:09
Ken from Tight Lines Tackle on the South Fork reported excellent striped bass fishing along the ocean beaches from East Hampton west toward the eastern side of Shinnecock Inlet. SP Minnows, Super Strike bottle plugs and darters have been among the most productive nighttime offerings, with reports of some truly impressive stripers reaching the 55-inch mark. During daylight hours, anglers are finding success with Bar Breaker lures, which provide the casting distance needed to reach fish feeding farther off the beach. Ken also reported consistent blackfish action from the rocks on the eastern side of Shinnecock Inlet, where anglers are finding fish around the local structure. Farther east in Montauk, false albacore have been reported around the shoreline beneath the lighthouse, with tins and epoxy jigs producing when the fish come within range. Between the strong striper bite, blackfish action and continued appearances of albies, the South Fork is offering some of the most diverse surf and shoreline fishing opportunities of the fall season.
October 19, 2026 - 10:02:55
Kenny from Tight Lines Tackle in Southampton reported that striped bass are still being caught inside Shinnecock Inlet, particularly when anglers time their efforts around the right tides. False albacore continue to provide opportunities farther east around Montauk, while blackfish have begun showing on the Shinnecock Reef following the season opener. Kenny also mentioned that the shop is running a buy-one-get-one special on most frozen baits, with additional December specials coming soon. Be sure to keep an eye out for those deals.
October 12, 2026 - 10:37:54
Ken over at Tight Lines Tackle on the South Fork reported another excellent week of surfcasting, with striped bass action stretching from Bridgehampton westward. The beaches around Sagaponack have been especially productive around sunset, when anglers have been finding good concentrations of feeding fish moving within casting range. There have also been some solid shots of bass along the county beach east of Shinnecock Inlet, where anglers have been connecting with both slot-sized fish and larger stripers exceeding the legal retention limit. The combination of migrating bait and increasingly active bass has made this one of the better stretches of fall surf fishing so far, with plenty of opportunity for anglers willing to move around and locate feeding fish.
October 12, 2026 - 10:37:32
Kenny from Tight Lines Tackle in Southampton reported that striped bass fishing around Montauk has been somewhat slow and inconsistent, although false albacore remain available for anglers targeting them. Block Island's Gut, on the other hand, has been loaded with striped bass, providing some excellent action for boats fishing the area. Kenny also mentioned that a friend of his recently won the Billy's on the Bay Bass Tournament with a 43-inch striped bass that was safely released. There was also a report of a giant bluefin tuna off Montauk, adding to the excitement surrounding the recent arrival of larger tuna close to the beaches. Closer to home, Jessup's Neck saw a shot of striped bass, giving anglers another location to keep an eye on. Kenny noted that green crabs remain in short supply, which could make bait availability a challenge for anglers preparing for the opening of blackfish season.
