Fire Island Reef, NY
The Fire Island Ocean Reef, located southeast of Fire Island Inlet, sits approximately two nautical miles due south of the Fire Island Lighthouse at N40 35.835 / W73 12.480. According to Capt. Rob Andresen of the party boat Captree Princess (www.captreeprincess.com), the northwest end features a few rock piles in 65 feet of water. The reef then runs approximately 1.5 miles eastward, and consists of a 100-foot steel barge, three armored personnel vehicles and a wooden dry dock, which lies in 70-feet of water. In between are several additional rock piles, scuttled clam boats, debris from the Meadowbrook Bridge construction, sailboats and several barges.
During the May and June anglers can expect to catch sea bass, porgies, ling, blackfish and in recent years, an increasing number of codfish. Rob recommends using a typical hi-lo rig with either fresh skimmer clams or squid. As summer settles in, the reef continues to deliver sea bass and porgies, but doormat fluke also settle in along the edges of wrecks and low profile rock piles. Whole squid work well on the bigger flatties, along with large smelt or Peruvian spearing. Fluke balls dresses with a large spearing and strip bait will also take their share of big fluke. From late summer into the fall, you will still be able to catch sea bass, porgies, stripers, blues, and an occasional triggerfish.
Cooler days and nights in October mark the last of the porgy and sea bass action, but herald some good opportunities for blackfish. Blackfish are normally firmly established on the reef by Halloween, according to Capt. Rob. The skipper believes that many anglers underestimate the blackfish potential of South Shore reefs and wrecks when it comes to blackfish. Those who know the reef and take the time to learn how to fish it properly, pull some very large ‘tog from its structure, particularly during November and until the season closes in December. It is not uncommon to see teen class blacks taken here by patient anglers using green or hermit crabs.
The key for sea bass and porgies here is to first locate the fish, then use a little chum to keep them coming. The skipper has seen many days with non-stop porgy and sea bass action that lasted for hours.
When fishing the Fire Island Reef, do not overlook the chance to tangle with a hefty striper or chopper blue. Bass and blues will roam the edges of the reef seeking out an easy meal. Sea bass, porgies and blackfish rank very high on the menu of big stripers, and the abundance of these species makes for easy feeding. If you are looking to tangle with a trophy striper, try a live legal size porgy fished on a single 7/0 hook with an egg sinker. Keep the egg sinker as light as possible so you do not get hung up. For blues, bunker chunks floated over the reef day or night can be deadly.
Conventional tackle is better suited to fishing the reef than spinning. A rod and reel combo rated for 15 to 30-pound test is the way to go. For the bottom dwellers, I like to use Sufix 832 braid in 30-pound test. The sensitivity makes the bite feel like it is at your rod tip, rather than 60 plus away. For stripers, I prefer 25-pound test Sufix mono. I like a bit of stretch when live lining, and with mono, I feel you will not pull a hook as easy. Any standard conventional reel will do fine, but make sure your drag is in top shape.
Private boaters and party boat anglers can reap the benefits of the Fire Island Reef. At 744 acres, spanning 3,000 yards by 1200 yards, there is ample room for all to enjoy the reef’s bounty.
