Salty Sal's Long Island Sound Report - October 31, 2025
Well folks, we're sitting in the middle of a gale warning this morning with west winds howling 25 to 40 knots and seas building offshore, but don't let that discourage you. This blow is going to settle down by Saturday afternoon, and Sunday looks absolutely primo with light northwest winds around 10 knots and calm seas. That's your window, and with the full moon coming November 5th, we're entering the sweet spot of fall fishing. The exaggerated tides around the full moon create stronger currents that push baitfish around like leaves in the wind, and that's when the predators feed aggressively. Water temperatures have dropped below 60 degrees across the Sound, which is the magic number that fires up the blackfish and signals the striped bass to start their migration in earnest.
Western Sound - Port Washington to Northport
The blackfish bite has absolutely exploded this week, and it's only going to get better as we move deeper into November. The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington has been putting clients on steady action with no shortage of fish and plenty of solid keepers mixed in. We're talking fish to 6 pounds coming over the rails, and the colder water temperatures are making them chew with authority. The bite is transitioning from shallow water to deeper structure, which is typical for this time of year. If you've been fishing 20 to 30 feet, it's time to start exploring the 40 to 60 foot range where the bigger fish are setting up for winter. Traditional rigs with green crabs are outperforming jigs right now, though both will produce. Make sure you're using enough weight to hold bottom in the current, and don't be shy about bringing extra crabs because you're going to go through them.
Striped bass are still around in decent numbers, though they're definitely thinning out compared to a few weeks ago. The topwater bite remains strong at sunrise and sunset, particularly in the harbors and around structure. Fish are ranging from schoolies up to 33 inches, with the occasional bigger fish mixed in. Spooks and pencil poppers are the go-to lures, and you want to work them with an aggressive walk-the-dog retrieve. The bass are feeding on a mix of bait right now, but they're not being particularly selective. If you're seeing surface activity, throw something and throw it fast.
The bonito run continues to surprise everyone. Multiple captains are calling this the best bonito run in years, and there are still fish to be found in the central Sound. Cocktail bluefish are mixed in with the hardtails, providing some variety and keeping things interesting. The albies have largely moved on from this area, with most reports indicating they're either gone or way east of us.
Central Sound - Mount Sinai to Port Jefferson
Captain Skippy out of Mount Sinai is reporting another great week of fall fishing in the central Sound. The bonito action remains exceptional, and while the albies have been sparse, there's still the occasional fish to be caught. The striped bass topwater bite is holding strong with fish hammering spooks and pencil poppers in the harbors at first and last light. Fish are running from schoolies to 33 inches, and they're not being shy about eating.
The blackfish bite has really picked up with the colder weather, and it's been nonstop action with fish to 6 pounds. The porgies and small sea bass are starting to move out, which means the crabs you're using for bait are going to the target species instead of being picked clean by bait stealers. The shallow water bite is still productive, but as I mentioned earlier, the fish are starting to move deeper. If you're not finding them where you caught them last week, don't be afraid to move out and try deeper structure.
Eastern Sound - Orient to Fishers Island
The eastern Sound has been absolutely firing with schoolie striped bass blitzing on bay anchovies. This is ideal fly fishing territory right now, with acres of bait and fish feeding aggressively on the surface. Multiple guides are reporting excellent action once you get past the shad and mackerel, with bass up to 30 pounds mixed in with the smaller fish. If you're looking for quantity over quality, heading into the bays has been producing a lot of fish, albeit smaller ones.
The albie bite has been sparse following the last nor'easter, but the bass bite has more than made up for it. Between big fish singling out and crashing on larger bait, to great shoreline blitzes on anchovies, there are fish of all sizes being caught on both fly and spin gear. The key is finding the bait concentrations and matching the hatch. Bay anchovies are the dominant forage right now, and if you can get your presentation under the bait and work it slowly, you're going to get bit.
Marine Forecast & Fishing Outlook
Friday (Today): Gale warning in effect. West winds 25-35 knots with gusts to 40 knots. Seas 3-7 feet. Not a day to be on the water unless you're a glutton for punishment.
Saturday: Winds diminishing to 15-20 knots from the west. Seas subsiding to 2-4 feet by afternoon. Fishable conditions returning, especially in protected areas.
Sunday: Light northwest winds around 10 knots. Seas 2-3 feet. This is your prime day to get out there. Calm conditions, good visibility, and hungry fish.
Monday: South winds 10-15 knots increasing through the day. Seas 2-3 feet. Chance of showers. Get your fishing in early before the weather deteriorates.
Looking Ahead - The Full Moon Window
The full moon on November 5th is going to be the catalyst for the next wave of fall fishing. The three days before and after the full moon are historically the most productive because the exaggerated tides create stronger currents that move baitfish and trigger aggressive feeding. For blackfish, this means they'll be feeding heavily to build reserves for winter. For striped bass, this is when the main biomass of migrating fish will be moving through the Sound.
If you're targeting bass, focus on areas with current and structure during the moving tides. The fish will be positioned to ambush bait being swept along by the current. For blackfish, focus on rocky structure in 40 to 60 feet of water, and fish the tide changes when they're most active.
Tackle Recommendations
For blackfish, you want a rod with a sensitive tip to feel the bite but enough backbone to pull them out of the rocks. 20 to 40 pound braid to a 30 pound fluorocarbon leader. Size 4 to 6 blackfish hooks depending on the size of your crabs. Bring twice as many crabs as you think you'll need.
For striped bass, if you're throwing topwater, a 7 to 8 foot medium-heavy rod with 20 to 30 pound braid. Leaders aren't as critical for topwater, but if you're getting short strikes, try adding a 2 to 3 foot fluorocarbon leader. For fly fishing the eastern Sound blitzes, an 8 or 9 weight rod with a floating line and small baitfish patterns in white or chartreuse.
The fishing is good right now, and it's about to get better. Don't let this gale keep you off the water all weekend. Sunday is going to be beautiful, and the fish are going to be hungry after being locked down during the blow. Get out there and catch 'em up.
Tight lines,
Salty Sal
Well folks, we're sitting in the middle of a gale warning this morning with west winds howling 25 to 40 knots and seas building offshore, but don't let that discourage you. This blow is going to settle down by Saturday afternoon, and Sunday looks absolutely primo with light northwest winds around 10 knots and calm seas. That's your window, and with the full moon coming November 5th, we're entering the sweet spot of fall fishing. The exaggerated tides around the full moon create stronger currents that push baitfish around like leaves in the wind, and that's when the predators feed aggressively. Water temperatures have dropped below 60 degrees across the Sound, which is the magic number that fires up the blackfish and signals the striped bass to start their migration in earnest.
Western Sound - Port Washington to Northport
The blackfish bite has absolutely exploded this week, and it's only going to get better as we move deeper into November. The Angler Fleet out of Port Washington has been putting clients on steady action with no shortage of fish and plenty of solid keepers mixed in. We're talking fish to 6 pounds coming over the rails, and the colder water temperatures are making them chew with authority. The bite is transitioning from shallow water to deeper structure, which is typical for this time of year. If you've been fishing 20 to 30 feet, it's time to start exploring the 40 to 60 foot range where the bigger fish are setting up for winter. Traditional rigs with green crabs are outperforming jigs right now, though both will produce. Make sure you're using enough weight to hold bottom in the current, and don't be shy about bringing extra crabs because you're going to go through them.
Striped bass are still around in decent numbers, though they're definitely thinning out compared to a few weeks ago. The topwater bite remains strong at sunrise and sunset, particularly in the harbors and around structure. Fish are ranging from schoolies up to 33 inches, with the occasional bigger fish mixed in. Spooks and pencil poppers are the go-to lures, and you want to work them with an aggressive walk-the-dog retrieve. The bass are feeding on a mix of bait right now, but they're not being particularly selective. If you're seeing surface activity, throw something and throw it fast.
The bonito run continues to surprise everyone. Multiple captains are calling this the best bonito run in years, and there are still fish to be found in the central Sound. Cocktail bluefish are mixed in with the hardtails, providing some variety and keeping things interesting. The albies have largely moved on from this area, with most reports indicating they're either gone or way east of us.
Central Sound - Mount Sinai to Port Jefferson
Captain Skippy out of Mount Sinai is reporting another great week of fall fishing in the central Sound. The bonito action remains exceptional, and while the albies have been sparse, there's still the occasional fish to be caught. The striped bass topwater bite is holding strong with fish hammering spooks and pencil poppers in the harbors at first and last light. Fish are running from schoolies to 33 inches, and they're not being shy about eating.
The blackfish bite has really picked up with the colder weather, and it's been nonstop action with fish to 6 pounds. The porgies and small sea bass are starting to move out, which means the crabs you're using for bait are going to the target species instead of being picked clean by bait stealers. The shallow water bite is still productive, but as I mentioned earlier, the fish are starting to move deeper. If you're not finding them where you caught them last week, don't be afraid to move out and try deeper structure.
Eastern Sound - Orient to Fishers Island
The eastern Sound has been absolutely firing with schoolie striped bass blitzing on bay anchovies. This is ideal fly fishing territory right now, with acres of bait and fish feeding aggressively on the surface. Multiple guides are reporting excellent action once you get past the shad and mackerel, with bass up to 30 pounds mixed in with the smaller fish. If you're looking for quantity over quality, heading into the bays has been producing a lot of fish, albeit smaller ones.
The albie bite has been sparse following the last nor'easter, but the bass bite has more than made up for it. Between big fish singling out and crashing on larger bait, to great shoreline blitzes on anchovies, there are fish of all sizes being caught on both fly and spin gear. The key is finding the bait concentrations and matching the hatch. Bay anchovies are the dominant forage right now, and if you can get your presentation under the bait and work it slowly, you're going to get bit.
Marine Forecast & Fishing Outlook
Friday (Today): Gale warning in effect. West winds 25-35 knots with gusts to 40 knots. Seas 3-7 feet. Not a day to be on the water unless you're a glutton for punishment.
Saturday: Winds diminishing to 15-20 knots from the west. Seas subsiding to 2-4 feet by afternoon. Fishable conditions returning, especially in protected areas.
Sunday: Light northwest winds around 10 knots. Seas 2-3 feet. This is your prime day to get out there. Calm conditions, good visibility, and hungry fish.
Monday: South winds 10-15 knots increasing through the day. Seas 2-3 feet. Chance of showers. Get your fishing in early before the weather deteriorates.
Looking Ahead - The Full Moon Window
The full moon on November 5th is going to be the catalyst for the next wave of fall fishing. The three days before and after the full moon are historically the most productive because the exaggerated tides create stronger currents that move baitfish and trigger aggressive feeding. For blackfish, this means they'll be feeding heavily to build reserves for winter. For striped bass, this is when the main biomass of migrating fish will be moving through the Sound.
If you're targeting bass, focus on areas with current and structure during the moving tides. The fish will be positioned to ambush bait being swept along by the current. For blackfish, focus on rocky structure in 40 to 60 feet of water, and fish the tide changes when they're most active.
Tackle Recommendations
For blackfish, you want a rod with a sensitive tip to feel the bite but enough backbone to pull them out of the rocks. 20 to 40 pound braid to a 30 pound fluorocarbon leader. Size 4 to 6 blackfish hooks depending on the size of your crabs. Bring twice as many crabs as you think you'll need.
For striped bass, if you're throwing topwater, a 7 to 8 foot medium-heavy rod with 20 to 30 pound braid. Leaders aren't as critical for topwater, but if you're getting short strikes, try adding a 2 to 3 foot fluorocarbon leader. For fly fishing the eastern Sound blitzes, an 8 or 9 weight rod with a floating line and small baitfish patterns in white or chartreuse.
The fishing is good right now, and it's about to get better. Don't let this gale keep you off the water all weekend. Sunday is going to be beautiful, and the fish are going to be hungry after being locked down during the blow. Get out there and catch 'em up.
Tight lines,
Salty Sal
