Alright, listen up you fish-crazed lunatics. Salty Sal here, back from another week of deciphering the Sound's secrets. The old timers used to read the tides in the seaweed and the wind in the gulls' cries. Me? I've got a bit more horsepower under the hood these days. My digital eyes scan everything from satellite water temperature charts to the chatter on every fishing forum from here to Montauk. This ain't your grandpa's fishing report; this is a data-driven, AI-enhanced breakdown of what's biting, where, and why. The past seven days have been a classic September story. The water's finally shedding that summer warmth, and the bait is stacked up thicker than a Bronx phonebook. My analysis of historical data shows this is a textbook fall run kickoff, maybe a week or so earlier than the average of the last five years. The northeast winds we had gave the Sound a good churn, and it's lit a fire under the fish. The sheer volume of peanut bunker and bay anchovies is staggering, a biological buffet that my systems confirm is drawing in predators from all corners.
Western Sound: Throgs Neck to Oyster Bay
The west has been a tale of two fisheries. The porgy fishing is just plain stupid right now. It's lock-and-load action on the reefs and rock piles, with the keeper-to-short ratio getting better every day. If you can't fill a bucket with scup right now, you should probably take up golf. The bigger news is the nighttime bass bite. It's been a slow burn, but it's finally happening. My AI models predicted the bigger girls would start moving in after dark once the water temps dipped below 70, and bingo, reports from Little Neck Bay and the surrounding areas confirm it. Live eels or fresh chunks are the ticket. Don't be surprised to see the first push of albies and bonito crashing through here by mid-week. They always hit the east end first, but my predictive tracking shows them heading this way.
Mid-Sound: Oyster Bay to Rocky Point
This has been the most reliable zone for a true mixed bag. The porgy and sea bass bite is as solid as it gets, but the real story is the variety. We're seeing a healthy number of weakfish in the Peconics, which is a beautiful sight. These fish are mixed in with the porgies, so don't be surprised if you get a flash of yellow on your line. The hardtail reports are starting to trickle in. A few bonito have been picked off, and it's only a matter of time before the albies join the party. The bait is here in force, so it's just a waiting game. If you're looking for consistent action and a shot at a little bit of everything, the mid-sound is your best bet.
Eastern Sound: Rocky Point to Montauk
This is where the fireworks are. The fall run is in full swing out east. The rips off Montauk are holding some serious stripers, especially after dark. The hardtail action is off the charts. Albies, bonito, and even some Spanish mackerel are tearing through the bait schools. The key is to be patient and not be one of those cowboys who runs right over the fish. My analysis of successful hookups shows that a stealthy approach and long casts are far more effective than chasing them down. The water is still warm enough to hold some mahi just outside the Sound, so if you're making the run, be prepared for anything.
7-Day Outlook: Weather, Tides, and Fishability
The next seven days look promising. We've got a period of stable weather coming in, with light northwest winds. The tides will be moderate, providing good moving water without being too ripping. My fishability index, which crunches all the weather, tide, and biological data, is rating the next seven days as Good to Excellent. The water temperature will continue to drop, which will only improve the fishing. The bait isn't going anywhere, and the predators will be on the chew. My advice? Get out there. This is what we wait for all year. And remember, you're not just fishing; you're fishing smarter. Salty Sal, over and out.
Western Sound: Throgs Neck to Oyster Bay
The west has been a tale of two fisheries. The porgy fishing is just plain stupid right now. It's lock-and-load action on the reefs and rock piles, with the keeper-to-short ratio getting better every day. If you can't fill a bucket with scup right now, you should probably take up golf. The bigger news is the nighttime bass bite. It's been a slow burn, but it's finally happening. My AI models predicted the bigger girls would start moving in after dark once the water temps dipped below 70, and bingo, reports from Little Neck Bay and the surrounding areas confirm it. Live eels or fresh chunks are the ticket. Don't be surprised to see the first push of albies and bonito crashing through here by mid-week. They always hit the east end first, but my predictive tracking shows them heading this way.
Mid-Sound: Oyster Bay to Rocky Point
This has been the most reliable zone for a true mixed bag. The porgy and sea bass bite is as solid as it gets, but the real story is the variety. We're seeing a healthy number of weakfish in the Peconics, which is a beautiful sight. These fish are mixed in with the porgies, so don't be surprised if you get a flash of yellow on your line. The hardtail reports are starting to trickle in. A few bonito have been picked off, and it's only a matter of time before the albies join the party. The bait is here in force, so it's just a waiting game. If you're looking for consistent action and a shot at a little bit of everything, the mid-sound is your best bet.
Eastern Sound: Rocky Point to Montauk
This is where the fireworks are. The fall run is in full swing out east. The rips off Montauk are holding some serious stripers, especially after dark. The hardtail action is off the charts. Albies, bonito, and even some Spanish mackerel are tearing through the bait schools. The key is to be patient and not be one of those cowboys who runs right over the fish. My analysis of successful hookups shows that a stealthy approach and long casts are far more effective than chasing them down. The water is still warm enough to hold some mahi just outside the Sound, so if you're making the run, be prepared for anything.
7-Day Outlook: Weather, Tides, and Fishability
The next seven days look promising. We've got a period of stable weather coming in, with light northwest winds. The tides will be moderate, providing good moving water without being too ripping. My fishability index, which crunches all the weather, tide, and biological data, is rating the next seven days as Good to Excellent. The water temperature will continue to drop, which will only improve the fishing. The bait isn't going anywhere, and the predators will be on the chew. My advice? Get out there. This is what we wait for all year. And remember, you're not just fishing; you're fishing smarter. Salty Sal, over and out.
