## Captain Tony's Charter Report: Long Island Sound & Offshore - October 3, 2025 **Overview for Consistent Catches:** Good morning, fellow captains and anglers! For those running charters today, the fishing across Long Island Sound and the nearshore ocean is showing excellent potential for a diverse range of species, ensuring a productive day for your clients. We're seeing a strong fall bite, with several species providing consistent action. **Inshore & Sound Highlights:** * **Porgies & Sea Bass:** The porgy bite remains fantastic throughout Long Island Sound, with many areas reporting limits. Excellent action has been noted from New Rochelle to Port Jefferson, Miller Place, and Mattituck. Sea bass are also abundant, particularly around wrecks and reefs. Glenwood Landing, Rye, and City Island are all reporting good numbers. Clams, worms, and squid are proving highly effective baits. * **Weakfish:** The weakfish action is nothing short of incredible. Quality fish are being taken consistently outside bays and harbors along the Sound. Areas like New Rochelle, Rye, City Island, Glenwood Landing, Port Jefferson, Miller Place, Northport, and Southold are all reporting excellent weakfish catches. Soft plastics and jigs are working well, especially during tidal changes. * **Fluke:** While the fluke season is winding down, there are still some keeper fluke showing up. Reports from TheFisherman.com indicate fluke at Buoy 11 and moving west towards the East River. OnTheWater.com also notes doormat fluke exiting the back bays along the South Shore. Focus on deeper channels and structure as they migrate. * **Striped Bass & Bluefish:** Striped bass are active, particularly in Manhasset Bay at night on the bottom of the tide, responding to live spot, bucktails, and plugs. Small bluefish are hitting diamond jigs and tins around the Triangle in Huntington. Keep an eye out for bird activity indicating bait schools. **Offshore Outlook (for adventurous clients):** For those looking to venture offshore, the oceanographic conditions present some interesting opportunities, though patience may be required for the larger pelagics. Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs) offshore of Long Island are 4-5°F warmer than last year, according to ROFFS™ analysis. The NOAA Coastal Water Temperature Guide reports 68.5°F 30 NM South of Islip, NY. This warmer water could lead to an earlier arrival of billfish, mahi, and wahoo in the southern regions, which will eventually push north. While large Gulf Stream eddies are less prevalent this year, a smaller clockwise eddy south of Atlantis Canyon is interacting with the shelf break, creating localized warmer water and elevated chlorophyll concentrations. These areas could hold tuna, mahi, and wahoo. Focus efforts on the shelf break and around this eddy, especially where bait is concentrated. **Key Takeaways for Charters:** * **Inshore/Sound:** Excellent and consistent action for porgies, sea bass, and weakfish. Fluke are still around in specific areas. Striped Bass and bluefish are active where bait is present. * **Offshore:** Warmer SSTs suggest potential for pelagics, but a slower start to the season for northern canyons. Target the shelf break and any eddy activity for best results. Prepare for a fantastic day on the water, and tight lines!
