Local captains are focusing on blackfish and sea bass. Striped bass are noticeably absent at a time that would usually represent one of the high points in the season. The consensus on the dock is this is an anomaly, probably due to bait movement. (Bass fishing has been very good on the south shore.) Nobody panic!
Dennis Tinnin says the Peconic Star Fleet in Greenport is still fishing for sea bass and porgies, but they will be looking to switch over to blackfish by early November.
Dan Buckley of The Orient Star IV in Orient Point reports blackfishing has been pretty good on some drops. The fish tend to be smaller, but tog to seven pounds have been landed. Sea bass are still around and fishing has been good. Captain Dan will be sailing an open by reservation trip on October 31. Call to reserve a spot.
This past weekend, the Brooklyn Girl out of Orient Point was also out on the tog. Captain Ken reports fish to eight pounds with some sea bass caught incidentally. Many caught their limits.
I was fortunate enough to get out on the Fishy Business in Orient Point on Thursday. Captain Phil Kess put us on some tough bottom, but that is where the tautog live. We caught a ton of fish, but we had to cull out the smaller ones. Most from our group limited out with fish to six pounds. Though the wind was a little tough, it was a great day to play hooky. Thanks to Captain Phil and first mate, Derek, for an awesome day on the water.
Reports from the beaches on the North Fork are the only place I am hearing about stripers being caught. False albacore were also plentiful as of last weekend, in the area of Horton’s Point and Rocky Point.
Moon stage: Full Moon October 27
High Tides:
Mattituck Inlet
October 24 9:09 am and 9:38 pm
October 25 10:01 am and 10:32 pm
Greenport
October 24 8:06 am and 8:28 pm
October 25 8:54 and 9:17 pm
Tight lines!
Brian Nigro is a lifelong avid fisherman and former charter boat captain. He’s fished from Alaska to Mexico and lots of places in between, but his favorite place to fish is right here on the East End.
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