Hitching Post, NY
For this week’s installment of the hot spot, we are heading back to the Wild West…well, not really. But we are heading to the western end of the State Channel near Diamond Shoals, to an area known to locals as the “Hitching Post.”
Many years ago when the Wantagh Sewer District ran a pipeline to the ocean, they cut through the marshes of the Black Banks and Diamond Shoals. After the work was completed, a solid piece of rebar close to one inch in diameter was left behind. This rebar formed, what looked like to most, an old-fashioned hitching post, and the name stuck. The Hitching Post is located near Pole 17, which is located in five feet of water on the southeast end of Diamond Shoals, in between Wansers Cut and the beginning of Zachs Bay.
According to Bill Witchey, Jr. at Comb’s Bait and Tackle, “What makes this area so special is the artesian wells that allow cooler water to enter the area. During the peak summer months, anglers can find water at least four degrees cooler than most areas.”
Although four degrees may not sound like much, believe me, it makes a difference. Baitfish are more prevalent in the area, and gamesters like fluke, bluefish, stripers and weakfish all home in on the area. Another bonus is all of the bait that gets flushed out of the marshes of Squaw Island, the Black Banks and Diamond Shoals as dropping tides drain the marshes of water.
The area holds a tremendous amount of fluke throughout the season, with solid catches in the summer months as well. Typical spearing and squid strips will account for action, with bucktails tipped with spearing also working very well. If you are looking for larger fluke, as soon as snappers begin to show, livelining one is the way to go.
Striped bass action is good in the spring for anglers dunking clam bellies, while as the year progresses, livelining bunker and other baits make for great action throughout the year. If you plan on livelining a bait, make sure you have an adequate livewell for your baits, and do not overlook baits like kingfish, legal size porgies, bergalls and spot. Anglers can also throw poppers into the shallow marsh areas, where stripers, blues and even some weakfish will crash their offering. Nothing beats the crash of a striper on top in the early a.m.
As the area is a mix of broken bottom and mussel beds, ranging in depths from nine to 25 feet, bottomfish will inhabit the area as well. Sea bass, blackfish and porgies will succumb to worm and clam baits, with the best action closer to the fall months. For the bottom species, utilize a two-hook tandem rig with piece of clam, crab or worm, depending on the species.
Another neat aspect if the area is that from Dentons Island to the bridges, it is a five mph zone, so passing boats will not rock you like crazy, making for an enjoyable day of fishing, even on the summer weekends.
Although it is about ten miles from the Captree Launch Ramp, it is an easy run to the area by way of the State Channel. If you are coming from points west, Sloop Channel will lead you right into the area.
The area can be mapped out using Capt. Segull’s Nautical Chart number SLI 107.
If you want to catch fluke in the summer, stripers throughout the season, or some bottom feeders for the dinner table, the “Hitching Post” should be added to your list of hot spots. Believe me, once you fish there once, it will become one of your favorite locations.
