Been a while since I've seen a fall run this electric. The bays and inlets are just alive with fish, a real testament to the health of our waters. It's a good time to be an angler on the South Shore.
The striped bass fishing has been nothing short of spectacular. We're seeing a great mix of sizes, from schoolies to some real heavyweights. The bait is thick, with sand eels, peanut bunker, and even some adult bunker making an appearance. It doesn't matter what you throw at them; shads, jigs, live bait - they're hitting everything with aggression. The inlets, from Fire Island to Jones, have been particularly productive, with reports of 40-pounders not uncommon.
Blackfish action has also been stellar. The wrecks and reefs are holding some real quality fish, and I'm hearing about a lot of limit catches. It's that classic drop-and-stick fishing that we all love. The Captree fleet is reporting tog up to 7 pounds, which is a good sign for the health of the fishery.
The surf guys are getting in on the action too. The last full moon brought a good push of big fish onto the beaches, and while the bite has slowed a bit, there are still plenty of fish to be had. Bucktails and diamond jigs are the go-to, as always. The new moon this weekend should bring another wave of big fish into the surf, so be ready.
It's a special time of year on the South Shore. The air is crisp, the crowds are gone, and the fish are biting. Get out there and enjoy it.
The striped bass fishing has been nothing short of spectacular. We're seeing a great mix of sizes, from schoolies to some real heavyweights. The bait is thick, with sand eels, peanut bunker, and even some adult bunker making an appearance. It doesn't matter what you throw at them; shads, jigs, live bait - they're hitting everything with aggression. The inlets, from Fire Island to Jones, have been particularly productive, with reports of 40-pounders not uncommon.
Blackfish action has also been stellar. The wrecks and reefs are holding some real quality fish, and I'm hearing about a lot of limit catches. It's that classic drop-and-stick fishing that we all love. The Captree fleet is reporting tog up to 7 pounds, which is a good sign for the health of the fishery.
The surf guys are getting in on the action too. The last full moon brought a good push of big fish onto the beaches, and while the bite has slowed a bit, there are still plenty of fish to be had. Bucktails and diamond jigs are the go-to, as always. The new moon this weekend should bring another wave of big fish into the surf, so be ready.
It's a special time of year on the South Shore. The air is crisp, the crowds are gone, and the fish are biting. Get out there and enjoy it.
