Hey there, fellow anglers! Salty Sal here with your comprehensive Long Island Sound fishing intelligence for September 26, 2025. After 47 years working these waters from the Throgs Neck all the way out to Orient Point, I've got the inside scoop on what's happening across our entire Sound.
**OVERALL SOUND CONDITIONS & ASSESSMENT**
The Sound is showing classic late September patterns right now, and I'm seeing some of the best mixed-bag fishing we've had all season. Water temps are holding steady in the mid-60s, which is keeping both the summer holdovers and early fall arrivals active. My buddy at Tight Lines Tackle tells me they're moving more variety of baits this week than they have since spring - always a good sign that the fish are cooperating.
Had a great conversation with Captain Mike from City Island yesterday, and he's seeing the same thing I am - the baitfish are thick, the water clarity is excellent, and we've got that perfect combination of cooling temps and active feeding that makes this time of year so special.
**WESTERN SOUND WATERS**
**1. Throgs Neck Bridge Area**
The western gateway to our Sound is fishing surprisingly well for this time of year. I've been working the deeper channels on both the Bronx and Queens sides, and the striped bass action has been consistent. Yesterday morning, I pulled three keeper stripers between 28 and 32 inches using live bunker in the 25-30 foot depths. The key is getting your baits down into that cooler water column where the fish are holding.
The fluke bite here is winding down but still producing. I'm finding the better fish on the edges of the shipping channel, particularly on the incoming tide. Bucktails with Gulp! trailers in white or chartreuse are getting the job done. Don't overlook the blackfish potential here either - the structure around the bridge supports is holding some nice tog, though you'll need to be patient and use green crabs.
**2. City Island Waters**
This has been my home base for decades, and I can tell you the fishing around City Island is as good as I've seen it in years. The harbor area is loaded with snapper blues - perfect for getting the kids excited about fishing. I'm seeing schools of them from the marina all the way out to the breakwater.
For the serious anglers, the striped bass fishing has been exceptional. I've been launching from Consolidated Yachts and working the deeper water off the eastern shore. Live eels fished on the bottom during the evening hours have been producing bass in the 30-40 inch range consistently. The guys at City Island Bait are telling me they can't keep live eels in stock - that should tell you something about how good this bite is.
**CENTRAL SOUND EXCELLENCE**
**3. Oyster Bay Region**
The protected waters of Oyster Bay continue to be one of my favorite spots for consistent action. The back bay areas are holding incredible numbers of weakfish right now - something we haven't seen in years. I'm using light tackle with small jigs and having a blast with these cooperative fish.
The fluke fishing in the bay mouth has been outstanding. I've been working the 15-20 foot depths with drift rigs, and the fish are responding well to fresh killies and squid strips. Had a memorable morning last week where I boated eight keeper fluke, including a beautiful 22-incher that made my day.
**4. Port Jefferson Harbor**
Port Jeff has been a real surprise this season. The harbor area is holding massive schools of snapper blues, and I mean massive. I watched a charter boat yesterday pull in over 100 snappers in just a couple hours using small metal jigs. It's that kind of action that reminds you why we love this sport.
The striped bass fishing outside the harbor has been world-class. I've been trolling umbrella rigs with surgical tubes in the 40-60 foot depths and connecting with fish regularly. The key is staying mobile and covering water until you find the active schools.
**EASTERN SOUND PARADISE**
**5. Mattituck Waters**
The North Fork area around Mattituck has been producing some of the most consistent fishing I've experienced all season. The combination of structure, current, and baitfish makes this area a real hotspot. I've been working the deeper channels and finding excellent mixed-bag action.
**6. Orient Point - The Eastern Gateway**
Orient Point continues to be the crown jewel of Long Island Sound fishing. The combination of deep water, strong currents, and abundant baitfish creates fishing opportunities that are simply unmatched anywhere else in the Sound.
The striped bass fishing here has been absolutely incredible. I've been working the rips and drop-offs with live bunker and connecting with fish that are both large and numerous. Yesterday morning, I hooked into a bass that I'm confident was over 40 inches - unfortunately, she threw the hook at the boat, but that's fishing.
**SPECIES INTELLIGENCE & REGIONAL ANALYSIS**
**Striped Bass:** The Sound-wide striper bite is the best I've seen in years. Fish are showing up in all size classes from schoolies to genuine trophies. Live bait is king right now - bunker, eels, and herring are all producing.
**Summer Flounder (Fluke):** While the season is winding down, the quality of fish available right now is exceptional. I'm seeing more keeper-sized fish than I have all summer.
**Blackfish (Tautog):** The tog bite is just getting started, and early reports are very encouraging. The fish are moving into their fall feeding patterns.
**Weakfish:** This has been the surprise species of the season. After years of poor fishing, the weakfish are showing up in numbers I haven't seen since the 1990s.
**EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUE RECOMMENDATIONS**
For the current conditions, I'm recommending medium to medium-heavy spinning tackle for most applications. A 7-foot rod with a quality spinning reel spooled with 20-30 pound braid provides the versatility needed for the mixed-bag fishing we're experiencing.
Live bait continues to be the most effective approach for striped bass. Bunker, eels, and herring are all producing, but presentation is critical.
**FINAL ANALYSIS & PREDICTIONS**
After 47 years of fishing Long Island Sound, I can tell you that what we're experiencing right now is special. The combination of excellent water conditions, abundant baitfish, and cooperative fish makes this one of the best late September periods I can remember.
Looking ahead, I expect the fishing to remain excellent through October. The striped bass will continue to feed heavily as they prepare for their southern migration, and the blackfish bite will only improve as we move deeper into fall.
My advice to fellow anglers is simple: get out there and take advantage of what the Sound is offering right now. These are the conditions we wait for all season, and they won't last forever.
Tight lines and good fishing!
Salty Sal
**OVERALL SOUND CONDITIONS & ASSESSMENT**
The Sound is showing classic late September patterns right now, and I'm seeing some of the best mixed-bag fishing we've had all season. Water temps are holding steady in the mid-60s, which is keeping both the summer holdovers and early fall arrivals active. My buddy at Tight Lines Tackle tells me they're moving more variety of baits this week than they have since spring - always a good sign that the fish are cooperating.
Had a great conversation with Captain Mike from City Island yesterday, and he's seeing the same thing I am - the baitfish are thick, the water clarity is excellent, and we've got that perfect combination of cooling temps and active feeding that makes this time of year so special.
**WESTERN SOUND WATERS**
**1. Throgs Neck Bridge Area**
The western gateway to our Sound is fishing surprisingly well for this time of year. I've been working the deeper channels on both the Bronx and Queens sides, and the striped bass action has been consistent. Yesterday morning, I pulled three keeper stripers between 28 and 32 inches using live bunker in the 25-30 foot depths. The key is getting your baits down into that cooler water column where the fish are holding.
The fluke bite here is winding down but still producing. I'm finding the better fish on the edges of the shipping channel, particularly on the incoming tide. Bucktails with Gulp! trailers in white or chartreuse are getting the job done. Don't overlook the blackfish potential here either - the structure around the bridge supports is holding some nice tog, though you'll need to be patient and use green crabs.
**2. City Island Waters**
This has been my home base for decades, and I can tell you the fishing around City Island is as good as I've seen it in years. The harbor area is loaded with snapper blues - perfect for getting the kids excited about fishing. I'm seeing schools of them from the marina all the way out to the breakwater.
For the serious anglers, the striped bass fishing has been exceptional. I've been launching from Consolidated Yachts and working the deeper water off the eastern shore. Live eels fished on the bottom during the evening hours have been producing bass in the 30-40 inch range consistently. The guys at City Island Bait are telling me they can't keep live eels in stock - that should tell you something about how good this bite is.
**CENTRAL SOUND EXCELLENCE**
**3. Oyster Bay Region**
The protected waters of Oyster Bay continue to be one of my favorite spots for consistent action. The back bay areas are holding incredible numbers of weakfish right now - something we haven't seen in years. I'm using light tackle with small jigs and having a blast with these cooperative fish.
The fluke fishing in the bay mouth has been outstanding. I've been working the 15-20 foot depths with drift rigs, and the fish are responding well to fresh killies and squid strips. Had a memorable morning last week where I boated eight keeper fluke, including a beautiful 22-incher that made my day.
**4. Port Jefferson Harbor**
Port Jeff has been a real surprise this season. The harbor area is holding massive schools of snapper blues, and I mean massive. I watched a charter boat yesterday pull in over 100 snappers in just a couple hours using small metal jigs. It's that kind of action that reminds you why we love this sport.
The striped bass fishing outside the harbor has been world-class. I've been trolling umbrella rigs with surgical tubes in the 40-60 foot depths and connecting with fish regularly. The key is staying mobile and covering water until you find the active schools.
**EASTERN SOUND PARADISE**
**5. Mattituck Waters**
The North Fork area around Mattituck has been producing some of the most consistent fishing I've experienced all season. The combination of structure, current, and baitfish makes this area a real hotspot. I've been working the deeper channels and finding excellent mixed-bag action.
**6. Orient Point - The Eastern Gateway**
Orient Point continues to be the crown jewel of Long Island Sound fishing. The combination of deep water, strong currents, and abundant baitfish creates fishing opportunities that are simply unmatched anywhere else in the Sound.
The striped bass fishing here has been absolutely incredible. I've been working the rips and drop-offs with live bunker and connecting with fish that are both large and numerous. Yesterday morning, I hooked into a bass that I'm confident was over 40 inches - unfortunately, she threw the hook at the boat, but that's fishing.
**SPECIES INTELLIGENCE & REGIONAL ANALYSIS**
**Striped Bass:** The Sound-wide striper bite is the best I've seen in years. Fish are showing up in all size classes from schoolies to genuine trophies. Live bait is king right now - bunker, eels, and herring are all producing.
**Summer Flounder (Fluke):** While the season is winding down, the quality of fish available right now is exceptional. I'm seeing more keeper-sized fish than I have all summer.
**Blackfish (Tautog):** The tog bite is just getting started, and early reports are very encouraging. The fish are moving into their fall feeding patterns.
**Weakfish:** This has been the surprise species of the season. After years of poor fishing, the weakfish are showing up in numbers I haven't seen since the 1990s.
**EQUIPMENT & TECHNIQUE RECOMMENDATIONS**
For the current conditions, I'm recommending medium to medium-heavy spinning tackle for most applications. A 7-foot rod with a quality spinning reel spooled with 20-30 pound braid provides the versatility needed for the mixed-bag fishing we're experiencing.
Live bait continues to be the most effective approach for striped bass. Bunker, eels, and herring are all producing, but presentation is critical.
**FINAL ANALYSIS & PREDICTIONS**
After 47 years of fishing Long Island Sound, I can tell you that what we're experiencing right now is special. The combination of excellent water conditions, abundant baitfish, and cooperative fish makes this one of the best late September periods I can remember.
Looking ahead, I expect the fishing to remain excellent through October. The striped bass will continue to feed heavily as they prepare for their southern migration, and the blackfish bite will only improve as we move deeper into fall.
My advice to fellow anglers is simple: get out there and take advantage of what the Sound is offering right now. These are the conditions we wait for all season, and they won't last forever.
Tight lines and good fishing!
Salty Sal
