Well folks, Salty Sal here, and the fall run is in full swing across the Sound. The water's cooling down, the bait is thick, and the fish are chewing. It's the time of year we live for, so get out there and get in on the action.
The Lowdown
The big news is the striped bass bite. The fall run is on, and we're seeing fish from schoolies all the way up to some solid 20-pounders. The bass are keyed in on the massive schools of bait that have flooded the Sound. We're talking sand eels, peanut bunker, spearing, and bay anchovies – a veritable buffet for a hungry striper. The topwater action has been fantastic, with spooks and pencil poppers getting hammered. After dark, it's all about the plugs and live eels.
While the albie and bonito bite has tapered off a bit, they're being replaced by bass, which is a trade-off I'll take any day. The blackfish season got off to a roaring start last week. The shallow-water bite has been on fire, with plenty of fish in the 10 to 15-foot range. You'll have to pick through some shorts, but there are solid keepers up to 8 pounds to be had. And if that's not enough, the sea bass and porgy bite remains absolutely phenomenal.
From the Shops and Captains
The word from the docks is consistent. The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington is reporting steady tog action with some quality 5 to 7-pound fish hitting the deck. Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai is calling it the best bonito and hardtail run in years, and they're seeing a strong topwater bass bite. Over at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport, Mark says the tog bite is hot in the shallows, and the sea bass are getting crushed in the Triangle.
Salty Sal's Advice
My advice is simple: go fishing. The conditions are prime, and the fish are cooperating. If you're targeting bass, have a variety of lures to match the bait. If you're after tog, get out there now while the shallow bite is hot. This is what we wait for all year, so don't miss out. Get out there, be safe, and tight lines!
The Lowdown
The big news is the striped bass bite. The fall run is on, and we're seeing fish from schoolies all the way up to some solid 20-pounders. The bass are keyed in on the massive schools of bait that have flooded the Sound. We're talking sand eels, peanut bunker, spearing, and bay anchovies – a veritable buffet for a hungry striper. The topwater action has been fantastic, with spooks and pencil poppers getting hammered. After dark, it's all about the plugs and live eels.
While the albie and bonito bite has tapered off a bit, they're being replaced by bass, which is a trade-off I'll take any day. The blackfish season got off to a roaring start last week. The shallow-water bite has been on fire, with plenty of fish in the 10 to 15-foot range. You'll have to pick through some shorts, but there are solid keepers up to 8 pounds to be had. And if that's not enough, the sea bass and porgy bite remains absolutely phenomenal.
From the Shops and Captains
The word from the docks is consistent. The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington is reporting steady tog action with some quality 5 to 7-pound fish hitting the deck. Captain Skippy Charters in Mount Sinai is calling it the best bonito and hardtail run in years, and they're seeing a strong topwater bass bite. Over at Cow Harbor Bait and Tackle in Northport, Mark says the tog bite is hot in the shallows, and the sea bass are getting crushed in the Triangle.
Salty Sal's Advice
My advice is simple: go fishing. The conditions are prime, and the fish are cooperating. If you're targeting bass, have a variety of lures to match the bait. If you're after tog, get out there now while the shallow bite is hot. This is what we wait for all year, so don't miss out. Get out there, be safe, and tight lines!
