Salty Sal here, and let me tell you, the Sound is alive and kicking! If you can find a window in this relentless wind, you're in for a treat. The water's holding at a perfect 55 degrees, and the fish are putting on the feedbags before they make their big move.
The Word on the Water
The big news is the squid. The harbors, especially around Northport, are absolutely loaded with them. And where there's squid, there are bass. We're seeing some real quality fish, up into the 20-pound class, chasing that calamari right up to the docks. If you've got pink and orange Yo-Zuri squid jigs, now is the time to use them. The bite is on fire at sunrise and sunset.
Out in the open Sound, it's a peanut bunker blitz. The schools are thick from Manhasset Bay all the way to the Connecticut side, and the birds are working them hard from dawn till dusk. The topwater action has been nothing short of electric. Spooks and pencil poppers are getting hammered in the surface chaos. If you want to tangle with a bigger fish, send a bucktail down below the surface frenzy. These bass are fat and healthy, and they are not shy about eating.
The eastern Sound is a bit of a different story. It's been a slower pick, with a ton of sand eels but a real lack of bunker. The bass are there, but they're more scattered and inconsistent on the beaches.
Blackfish Bonanza
The tog bite is still red hot. The shallow-water rockpiles that were so good in October are starting to cool off, and the more consistent action has moved out to the 20-to-35-foot depths. We're seeing plenty of keepers coming over the rail, with some nice fish up to 8 pounds. The season is in full swing, so get out there and get your limit. Remember, it's 4 fish per angler at 16 inches.
Sal's Summary
This is prime time, folks. The wind is a pain, but the fishing is well worth the effort. The bass are fired up on squid and peanuts, and the tog are chewing hard. Pick your days, watch the weather, and get out there. This kind of action won't last forever. Stay salty!
The Word on the Water
The big news is the squid. The harbors, especially around Northport, are absolutely loaded with them. And where there's squid, there are bass. We're seeing some real quality fish, up into the 20-pound class, chasing that calamari right up to the docks. If you've got pink and orange Yo-Zuri squid jigs, now is the time to use them. The bite is on fire at sunrise and sunset.
Out in the open Sound, it's a peanut bunker blitz. The schools are thick from Manhasset Bay all the way to the Connecticut side, and the birds are working them hard from dawn till dusk. The topwater action has been nothing short of electric. Spooks and pencil poppers are getting hammered in the surface chaos. If you want to tangle with a bigger fish, send a bucktail down below the surface frenzy. These bass are fat and healthy, and they are not shy about eating.
The eastern Sound is a bit of a different story. It's been a slower pick, with a ton of sand eels but a real lack of bunker. The bass are there, but they're more scattered and inconsistent on the beaches.
Blackfish Bonanza
The tog bite is still red hot. The shallow-water rockpiles that were so good in October are starting to cool off, and the more consistent action has moved out to the 20-to-35-foot depths. We're seeing plenty of keepers coming over the rail, with some nice fish up to 8 pounds. The season is in full swing, so get out there and get your limit. Remember, it's 4 fish per angler at 16 inches.
Sal's Summary
This is prime time, folks. The wind is a pain, but the fishing is well worth the effort. The bass are fired up on squid and peanuts, and the tog are chewing hard. Pick your days, watch the weather, and get out there. This kind of action won't last forever. Stay salty!
