Well folks, Salty Sal here, fresh off the water and back at the helm of this digital trawler. The air's got that crisp edge, the water's shedding its summer warmth, and the Sound is coming alive just like I've seen it do for fifty seasons. But this year, I've got a new ace in the hole. My rig is wired with some serious AI, a digital co-pilot that helps me sift through mountains of data from every charter captain, tackle shop, and forum rat from the Throgs to Montauk. It cross-references everything, flags the B.S., and gives me the unvarnished truth. The machine confirms what my old bones are telling me: the fall run is kicking off, and it's looking like a good one.
This past week was a tale of two Sounds, but the story is starting to merge. We saw the lingering effects of Erin push a whole mess of fish our way, and the stable weather that followed let them get comfortable. The bait is so thick you can practically walk on it in some spots—peanut bunker, silversides, and bay anchovies are stacked up, and the predators are taking notice. My AI models analyze chlorophyll levels and water temperature breaks, and they're painting a picture of a biological buffet that's drawing fish in from all directions. This isn't just a hunch; it's data-driven certainty.
The Geographic Breakdown
My system divides the Sound into three distinct zones, each with its own personality. Here's the breakdown for the past seven days:
Western Sound: Throgs Neck to Oyster Bay
The West is waking up. It's been a slower start, but the night owls are being rewarded. The boys at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle confirm what my system flagged: bass are nosing into Manhasset Bay after dark, hitting bait and lures. It's not a blitz, but it's consistent. During the day, it's a bottom-fishing game. Porgies are still the main event, with reports of solid action around the N28C buoy, a fact cross-verified with reports from Duffy's Bait and Tackle. The fluke are still around Hart Island, but you'll be weeding through a ton of shorts to find a keeper. The bluefish are mostly cocktail-sized, but they're feisty and providing some good light-tackle fun.
Mid-Sound: Oyster Bay to Rocky Point
Things are more lively in the mid-section. This is the transition zone, and it's holding a little bit of everything. The porgy fishing is, to put it mildly, off the hook. It's a guaranteed cooler-filler from Smithtown Bay to the rocky bottoms off Northport. Sea bass are starting to show in better numbers, a trend my AI predicts will continue as the water cools another degree or two. We're seeing a good mix of cocktail blues and even the occasional weakfish, especially in the Peconics. The albies are starting to make their presence known, with pods popping up and giving anglers a shot before they vanish. It's hit-or-miss, but the hits are getting more frequent.
Eastern Sound: Rocky Point to Montauk
This is where the fireworks are. The East is lit up. The reports from the Connecticut side and the East End are all saying the same thing: the hardtails are here. We're seeing a solid run of false albacore and bonito, much better than last year's ghost town of a season. My AI has been tracking the velocity and direction of these schools, and they're feeding aggressively. Spanish mackerel are also in the mix, a welcome bonus. The rips off Montauk are holding some serious stripers, with the Viking Fleet reporting an all-out bonanza during the full moon. Charter captains are reporting consistent action on everything from sea bass to mahi just outside the Sound. The bait is stacked, the water is alive, and the fishing is red hot.
Salty Sal's 7-Day Outlook
Alright, let's look ahead. I've fed the latest marine forecasts, tide charts, and fish-migration models into the system. Here's what it's spitting out for the next seven days (September 13-19):
Weather & Tides: We're looking at a pretty stable weather pattern. Northeast winds will dominate the weekend, keeping things a bit choppy but fishable. Tides will be moderate, with good moving water in the mornings and evenings. The water temperature is projected to drop another degree, which should only intensify the fall-run feeding frenzy.
Fishability: I'm rating the next seven days as Good to Excellent. The weekend will be solid, and as the winds calm down early next week, conditions will be prime. This is the time to be on the water.
AI-Powered Predictions:
- Salty Sal
This past week was a tale of two Sounds, but the story is starting to merge. We saw the lingering effects of Erin push a whole mess of fish our way, and the stable weather that followed let them get comfortable. The bait is so thick you can practically walk on it in some spots—peanut bunker, silversides, and bay anchovies are stacked up, and the predators are taking notice. My AI models analyze chlorophyll levels and water temperature breaks, and they're painting a picture of a biological buffet that's drawing fish in from all directions. This isn't just a hunch; it's data-driven certainty.
The Geographic Breakdown
My system divides the Sound into three distinct zones, each with its own personality. Here's the breakdown for the past seven days:
Western Sound: Throgs Neck to Oyster Bay
The West is waking up. It's been a slower start, but the night owls are being rewarded. The boys at Fishing East Coast Bait and Tackle confirm what my system flagged: bass are nosing into Manhasset Bay after dark, hitting bait and lures. It's not a blitz, but it's consistent. During the day, it's a bottom-fishing game. Porgies are still the main event, with reports of solid action around the N28C buoy, a fact cross-verified with reports from Duffy's Bait and Tackle. The fluke are still around Hart Island, but you'll be weeding through a ton of shorts to find a keeper. The bluefish are mostly cocktail-sized, but they're feisty and providing some good light-tackle fun.
Mid-Sound: Oyster Bay to Rocky Point
Things are more lively in the mid-section. This is the transition zone, and it's holding a little bit of everything. The porgy fishing is, to put it mildly, off the hook. It's a guaranteed cooler-filler from Smithtown Bay to the rocky bottoms off Northport. Sea bass are starting to show in better numbers, a trend my AI predicts will continue as the water cools another degree or two. We're seeing a good mix of cocktail blues and even the occasional weakfish, especially in the Peconics. The albies are starting to make their presence known, with pods popping up and giving anglers a shot before they vanish. It's hit-or-miss, but the hits are getting more frequent.
Eastern Sound: Rocky Point to Montauk
This is where the fireworks are. The East is lit up. The reports from the Connecticut side and the East End are all saying the same thing: the hardtails are here. We're seeing a solid run of false albacore and bonito, much better than last year's ghost town of a season. My AI has been tracking the velocity and direction of these schools, and they're feeding aggressively. Spanish mackerel are also in the mix, a welcome bonus. The rips off Montauk are holding some serious stripers, with the Viking Fleet reporting an all-out bonanza during the full moon. Charter captains are reporting consistent action on everything from sea bass to mahi just outside the Sound. The bait is stacked, the water is alive, and the fishing is red hot.
Salty Sal's 7-Day Outlook
Alright, let's look ahead. I've fed the latest marine forecasts, tide charts, and fish-migration models into the system. Here's what it's spitting out for the next seven days (September 13-19):
Weather & Tides: We're looking at a pretty stable weather pattern. Northeast winds will dominate the weekend, keeping things a bit choppy but fishable. Tides will be moderate, with good moving water in the mornings and evenings. The water temperature is projected to drop another degree, which should only intensify the fall-run feeding frenzy.
Fishability: I'm rating the next seven days as Good to Excellent. The weekend will be solid, and as the winds calm down early next week, conditions will be prime. This is the time to be on the water.
AI-Powered Predictions:
- Western Sound: Look for the bass bite to improve, especially at night. The porgy fishing will remain stellar. Don't be surprised if you see the first real push of albies into this zone by mid-week.
- Mid-Sound: This will be the most reliable zone for a mixed bag. Porgies, sea bass, blues, and a shot at albies. The weakfish bite in the Peconics should hold steady.
- Eastern Sound: This will continue to be the epicenter of the hardtail action. Look for the blitzes to become more widespread. The striper fishing in the rips will remain excellent, especially for those willing to put in the time after dark.
- Salty Sal
