**Salty Sal's Long Island Sound Report - September 25, 2025**
Alright, fellow anglers, Salty Sal here with the latest intel from the Long Island Sound. The fall run is heating up, and there's plenty of action to be had for those willing to put in the time and know-how.
**Striped Bass & Bluefish**
Good numbers of striped bass and bluefish are still holding in the Sound. Northport Charters reports consistent catches on live bait and topwater plugs, which is exactly what we like to hear for some aggressive topwater action. Captain Dave Flanagan of North Island Fly notes that bass are keyed in on peanut bunker, while small bluefish are crushing rain bait. Larger blues are found in deeper water and rip lines – perfect for those looking to jig or live-line some bigger specimens. Marc Achtziger confirms stripers are smashing topwater plugs at low slack in the boulders, proving that those old, reliable spots still produce. Sean Conway also found schoolie to teen-size bass blowing up on bait in the back bays at first light, feeding on bay anchovies, spearing, and peanuts. This indicates a strong bait presence, which is crucial for advanced techniques like live-lining or targeting specific feeding patterns.
**Porgies & Blackfish**
Porgies continue to be productive, with The Angler Fleet reporting consistent action. This is great news for those looking for some steady bottom fishing. More importantly, scouting for blackfish has been excellent, with some surprise bass mixed in. Blackfish season officially kicks off October 11th, so get those trips booked, especially if you're eyeing private charters for some serious tog action. Andrew Bernat even mentioned catching blackfish as porgy bycatch, which bodes well for the upcoming season. Sean Conway also observed porgies aggressively feeding on spearing and bay anchovies in the back bays, even beaching themselves in pursuit – a clear sign of their abundance and aggressive feeding behavior.
**Other Species & Conditions**
While the fluke bite on the North Shore is slowing down, there's still plenty of other action. Bonito and Spanish mackerel have been making a strong showing, with Captain Dave Flanagan reporting excellent bonito fishing since August. Luke Fritz and his son Jake had a steady 45 minutes of consistent bonito feeding action on the North Shore, using 3/4-ounce jigs in silver, blue, or pink with a medium/fast retrieve. The bonito are spread as far west as the Nassau/Suffolk border and along the CT shoreline, particularly around the Norwalk Islands. Water temperatures are still a bit warm (70-72 degrees), but a cool down should really ignite the fall run, bringing in more albies to feast on the tremendous amount of bait. The presence of peanut bunker, rain bait, bay anchovies, and spearing indicates a healthy ecosystem and ample feeding opportunities. Keep an eye on those currents and water temps; they'll be the key to unlocking the best bites as we move deeper into fall.
Alright, fellow anglers, Salty Sal here with the latest intel from the Long Island Sound. The fall run is heating up, and there's plenty of action to be had for those willing to put in the time and know-how.
**Striped Bass & Bluefish**
Good numbers of striped bass and bluefish are still holding in the Sound. Northport Charters reports consistent catches on live bait and topwater plugs, which is exactly what we like to hear for some aggressive topwater action. Captain Dave Flanagan of North Island Fly notes that bass are keyed in on peanut bunker, while small bluefish are crushing rain bait. Larger blues are found in deeper water and rip lines – perfect for those looking to jig or live-line some bigger specimens. Marc Achtziger confirms stripers are smashing topwater plugs at low slack in the boulders, proving that those old, reliable spots still produce. Sean Conway also found schoolie to teen-size bass blowing up on bait in the back bays at first light, feeding on bay anchovies, spearing, and peanuts. This indicates a strong bait presence, which is crucial for advanced techniques like live-lining or targeting specific feeding patterns.
**Porgies & Blackfish**
Porgies continue to be productive, with The Angler Fleet reporting consistent action. This is great news for those looking for some steady bottom fishing. More importantly, scouting for blackfish has been excellent, with some surprise bass mixed in. Blackfish season officially kicks off October 11th, so get those trips booked, especially if you're eyeing private charters for some serious tog action. Andrew Bernat even mentioned catching blackfish as porgy bycatch, which bodes well for the upcoming season. Sean Conway also observed porgies aggressively feeding on spearing and bay anchovies in the back bays, even beaching themselves in pursuit – a clear sign of their abundance and aggressive feeding behavior.
**Other Species & Conditions**
While the fluke bite on the North Shore is slowing down, there's still plenty of other action. Bonito and Spanish mackerel have been making a strong showing, with Captain Dave Flanagan reporting excellent bonito fishing since August. Luke Fritz and his son Jake had a steady 45 minutes of consistent bonito feeding action on the North Shore, using 3/4-ounce jigs in silver, blue, or pink with a medium/fast retrieve. The bonito are spread as far west as the Nassau/Suffolk border and along the CT shoreline, particularly around the Norwalk Islands. Water temperatures are still a bit warm (70-72 degrees), but a cool down should really ignite the fall run, bringing in more albies to feast on the tremendous amount of bait. The presence of peanut bunker, rain bait, bay anchovies, and spearing indicates a healthy ecosystem and ample feeding opportunities. Keep an eye on those currents and water temps; they'll be the key to unlocking the best bites as we move deeper into fall.
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