Hey there, Sound rats! Salty Sal here with your Monday morning intelligence briefing. December's knocking on the door, but don't pack away those rods just yet—the Sound's still got some fight left in her.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The blackfish bite remains the star of the show, with quality tog holding in deeper water as we push into winter. School stripers are still hanging around harbors and the East River, offering light-tackle entertainment for those willing to brave the cold. The western Sound continues to outperform expectations for this time of year, with multiple fisheries producing consistent action.
WESTERN SOUND - RYE TO PORT WASHINGTON
The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington reports the blackfish bite is still hot, with anglers putting plenty of fresh tog on the table just in time for the holidays. The season's winding down, so if you're looking to get in on the action, now's the time. The western Sound tog bite is holding up nicely as we head into the final weeks of the fall blackfish season.
Tyalure Professional Tackle & Gear in Rye confirms schoolie stripers remain active in the East River, with eels scoring the better-quality fish. The western Sound blackfish bite has stayed decent on deep structures. Green crabs are producing steady limits on wreck edges and ledges in 40 to 50 feet of water.
CENTRAL SOUND - NORTHPORT TO MILLER PLACE
Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports schoolie stripers still holding inside the harbor, with squid making occasional showings as well. Blackfish continue to bite on the deeper rockpiles around the Triangle, with deeper structures producing consistent tog action.
Miller Place Bait and Tackle says blackfish are still biting in the deeper stretches of the Sound, especially on tide turns. A few small stripers are also hanging around the back of Mt. Sinai Harbor. The key pattern here is targeting those tide changes—that's when the tog really turn on.
BRIDGE FISHING & NIGHTTIME ACTION
The bridges remain the main attraction for quality stripers after dark. Moving water is everything—the bite shuts down the instant slack tide sets in. Successful anglers are leaning on 10- to 15-inch soft plastics, with JoeBaggs 14.5-inch Block Island Eels in black or pink showing a clear edge in productivity when rigged on 1- to 1.5-ounce jigheads to maintain bottom contact in the sweep.
Use light braid (15-20 lb) to detect those subtle hits. The pattern is simple: stay in the current, work tight to the structure, and be ready—big fish have been feeding on the tide. Mid-20-pound fish are being caught on bridges with this technique.
INSIDE BAYS & HARBORS
School-size striped bass are actively working over pods of peanut bunker inside the bays. These fish are readily taking soft plastics, especially during high tide when bait is pushed tight to the banks. On calm mornings, brief topwater feeds erupt as bass trap bait on the surface—short windows, but fast-paced action when it happens.
On the warmer nights, docks and well-lit marinas are holding solid numbers of squid. Light-tackle anglers swinging small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone are putting together steady catches, adding a fun bonus fall fishery and providing bait for upcoming trips or fresh calamari for the table.
BLACKFISH TACTICS & PATTERNS
The blackfish bite shows no signs of slowing down, with a stable and reliable chew in deeper water. Most productive pieces have been wreck edges and ledges in 40 to 50 feet of water where anglers soaking green crabs are steadily filling limits. As temperatures plummet, expect these fish to continue their gradual slide toward even deeper structure.
Tide turns are critical for success. The fish are feeding aggressively on moving water, and the bite often dies completely at slack. Plan your trips around the tide changes, and focus on those deeper structures where the big fish are staging.
WATER CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Water temperatures are dropping steadily as we push into December, driving fish into their winter patterns. The deeper water is holding more stable temperatures, which is why the tog bite is concentrating in 40-70 foot depths. Stripers are becoming more lethargic in the shallows, but the deeper bridge structures with current are still producing quality fish.
Bait concentrations are shifting, with peanut bunker still present in the bays but beginning to thin out. Squid are making their presence known around docks and marinas, providing both a fishing opportunity and a bait source for those targeting stripers.
SAL'S TACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
For blackfish: Focus on depths of 40-70 feet, target tide changes, use green crabs, and work wreck edges and rocky ledges. Jigs are outperforming rigs on most days, so don't be afraid to switch up your presentation.
For striped bass: Hit the bridges after dark during moving water. Use 10-15 inch soft plastics in black or pink, rig them on 1-1.5 ounce jigheads, and work tight to structure. Inside the bays, focus on high tide when bait is pushed to the banks, and be ready for brief topwater feeds on calm mornings.
For squid: Target well-lit docks and marinas on warmer nights. Swing small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone for steady catches.
THE WEEK AHEAD
We're in the final weeks before things go dormant for winter. The blackfish season is winding down, so get after those tog while you can. The striper bite will continue as long as we have moving water and bait, but expect fish to become more selective as temperatures drop.
There are only a few weeks left before the Sound goes quiet. Get after it while you can, and make the most of these late-season opportunities. The fish are still biting, the patterns are established, and the conditions are fishable—no excuses, just get out there.
SAL'S FINAL WORD
The Sound's still got life in her, boys. The tog are biting, the stripers are feeding, and the squid are showing up. This is the time of year that separates the fair-weather anglers from the true Sound rats. Bundle up, hit the tide changes, and put some fish on the deck before winter shuts it all down.
Tight lines and bent rods,
Salty Sal
THE BOTTOM LINE
The blackfish bite remains the star of the show, with quality tog holding in deeper water as we push into winter. School stripers are still hanging around harbors and the East River, offering light-tackle entertainment for those willing to brave the cold. The western Sound continues to outperform expectations for this time of year, with multiple fisheries producing consistent action.
WESTERN SOUND - RYE TO PORT WASHINGTON
The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington reports the blackfish bite is still hot, with anglers putting plenty of fresh tog on the table just in time for the holidays. The season's winding down, so if you're looking to get in on the action, now's the time. The western Sound tog bite is holding up nicely as we head into the final weeks of the fall blackfish season.
Tyalure Professional Tackle & Gear in Rye confirms schoolie stripers remain active in the East River, with eels scoring the better-quality fish. The western Sound blackfish bite has stayed decent on deep structures. Green crabs are producing steady limits on wreck edges and ledges in 40 to 50 feet of water.
CENTRAL SOUND - NORTHPORT TO MILLER PLACE
Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport reports schoolie stripers still holding inside the harbor, with squid making occasional showings as well. Blackfish continue to bite on the deeper rockpiles around the Triangle, with deeper structures producing consistent tog action.
Miller Place Bait and Tackle says blackfish are still biting in the deeper stretches of the Sound, especially on tide turns. A few small stripers are also hanging around the back of Mt. Sinai Harbor. The key pattern here is targeting those tide changes—that's when the tog really turn on.
BRIDGE FISHING & NIGHTTIME ACTION
The bridges remain the main attraction for quality stripers after dark. Moving water is everything—the bite shuts down the instant slack tide sets in. Successful anglers are leaning on 10- to 15-inch soft plastics, with JoeBaggs 14.5-inch Block Island Eels in black or pink showing a clear edge in productivity when rigged on 1- to 1.5-ounce jigheads to maintain bottom contact in the sweep.
Use light braid (15-20 lb) to detect those subtle hits. The pattern is simple: stay in the current, work tight to the structure, and be ready—big fish have been feeding on the tide. Mid-20-pound fish are being caught on bridges with this technique.
INSIDE BAYS & HARBORS
School-size striped bass are actively working over pods of peanut bunker inside the bays. These fish are readily taking soft plastics, especially during high tide when bait is pushed tight to the banks. On calm mornings, brief topwater feeds erupt as bass trap bait on the surface—short windows, but fast-paced action when it happens.
On the warmer nights, docks and well-lit marinas are holding solid numbers of squid. Light-tackle anglers swinging small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone are putting together steady catches, adding a fun bonus fall fishery and providing bait for upcoming trips or fresh calamari for the table.
BLACKFISH TACTICS & PATTERNS
The blackfish bite shows no signs of slowing down, with a stable and reliable chew in deeper water. Most productive pieces have been wreck edges and ledges in 40 to 50 feet of water where anglers soaking green crabs are steadily filling limits. As temperatures plummet, expect these fish to continue their gradual slide toward even deeper structure.
Tide turns are critical for success. The fish are feeding aggressively on moving water, and the bite often dies completely at slack. Plan your trips around the tide changes, and focus on those deeper structures where the big fish are staging.
WATER CONDITIONS & ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Water temperatures are dropping steadily as we push into December, driving fish into their winter patterns. The deeper water is holding more stable temperatures, which is why the tog bite is concentrating in 40-70 foot depths. Stripers are becoming more lethargic in the shallows, but the deeper bridge structures with current are still producing quality fish.
Bait concentrations are shifting, with peanut bunker still present in the bays but beginning to thin out. Squid are making their presence known around docks and marinas, providing both a fishing opportunity and a bait source for those targeting stripers.
SAL'S TACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS
For blackfish: Focus on depths of 40-70 feet, target tide changes, use green crabs, and work wreck edges and rocky ledges. Jigs are outperforming rigs on most days, so don't be afraid to switch up your presentation.
For striped bass: Hit the bridges after dark during moving water. Use 10-15 inch soft plastics in black or pink, rig them on 1-1.5 ounce jigheads, and work tight to structure. Inside the bays, focus on high tide when bait is pushed to the banks, and be ready for brief topwater feeds on calm mornings.
For squid: Target well-lit docks and marinas on warmer nights. Swing small jigs around the outer edge of the light cone for steady catches.
THE WEEK AHEAD
We're in the final weeks before things go dormant for winter. The blackfish season is winding down, so get after those tog while you can. The striper bite will continue as long as we have moving water and bait, but expect fish to become more selective as temperatures drop.
There are only a few weeks left before the Sound goes quiet. Get after it while you can, and make the most of these late-season opportunities. The fish are still biting, the patterns are established, and the conditions are fishable—no excuses, just get out there.
SAL'S FINAL WORD
The Sound's still got life in her, boys. The tog are biting, the stripers are feeding, and the squid are showing up. This is the time of year that separates the fair-weather anglers from the true Sound rats. Bundle up, hit the tide changes, and put some fish on the deck before winter shuts it all down.
Tight lines and bent rods,
Salty Sal
