As the sun sets on summer and the summer crowd dissolves, a new crowd emerges in the waters off Montauk. The fall action is approaching fast! The false albacore and green bonito have arrived and have been fired up around the point rips, the southside, and even as close as Gin Beach just to the east of the jetty. These fish are similar in appearance and belong to the mackerel/tuna family. They are a blast on light tackle! The striped bass continue to roam the southwest ledge off Block Island. We are expecting the stripers to arrive at Montauk point within the next week or two, especially after the moon phase. The bluefish have thinned out off the lighthouse and have been spread out as of late, but a good amount are staying close to the inlet with the schools of mackerel, pushing the bait along the jetties and sandbars. Jumbo seabass are starting to become more commonly seen as the summer winds down, although more borderline/shorts are being caught. The fluking has been steady at the usual south spots (Cartwright and the Frisbees.) Remember, a big key to bottom fishing is reading the wind and tide to set up an ideal drift and proper bait presentation!

 

After a week of epic action in the Veatch and Atlantis Canyons, the deep dwelling fish have finally spread out. Most crews use the trolling method during the day then resort to chunk baits at night. The night time chunking bait can produce some of the most exciting and unexpected bites possible out there! Anglers have been hooking into massive blue marlin, swordfish, giant tuna, massive sharks, and even giant manta rays at night. There is no fishing like canyon fishing! Moving closer to shore the school class bluefin have still been around, between 15-25 miles offshore. The giants have been mixed in but not as plentiful. Remember, recreational harvesting of bluefin tuna is prohibited. The mahi have also continued to be plentiful in that same range, schooling around floating debris, sea turtles, and commercial high flyers. We are expecting the mahi to start migrating south within the next week or two. As the water gets cooler, these prized pelagic fish venture south in search of warmer tropical waters. We are expecting an action packed fall season both inshore and offshore!

 

Fair winds and following seas!

-Ben