South Shore Sam's Bay & Inlet Report - October 21, 2025
The ocean has a way of teaching patience, and this October has been a masterclass. We weathered a solid nor'easter mid-month, and now the South Shore is waking up in a big way. The fall run is here, the bait is thick, and the fishing is entering that magical window we wait all year for.
Western Zone - Fire Island to Democrat Point
The big news out west is simple: the bass have arrived. We're talking legitimate fall-run fish - 40 to 45 inches - pushing into the zone from Fire Island Inlet west through the Rockaways and into Raritan Bay. These aren't the schoolies we've been playing with all summer. These are the fish.
The nor'easter brought them in. Guys who braved the white water during the blow were rewarded with excellent action on bottle plugs, darters, and bucktails. One angler I know pulled a 45-inch fish on an A27 diamond jig in the building surf just before the storm hit. He said it fought different than any bass he'd hooked before - controlled, powerful, and absolutely relentless.
The post-storm bite has been slower than expected in the calm water, but that's typical. The bait needs to regroup, the water needs to clear, and patterns need to develop. Give it a few days of stable conditions and we should see things settle into a rhythm.
Fire Island Inlet has been producing well for boat anglers ripping through on the outgoing tide. Live bunker is deadly right now, but lures are catching fish too. The key is covering water and finding where the fish are staged.
Central Zone - Democrat Point to Moriches Inlet
The Great South Bay is in transition. We've got massive schools of peanut bunker throughout the system, and they're just waiting to get flushed out onto the ocean beaches. When that happens - and it will - the surf is going to light up.
Right now, the inlet fishing has been the most consistent. Moriches Inlet is holding good numbers of bass, and the blackfish season opened October 15th in the NY Bight with solid results. Opening day saw limits of tog with fish pushing over 8 pounds. The shallow structure, wreck edges, and boulder fields are holding fish, and they're feeding aggressively.
The bay itself is fishing a bit slow for bass, but that's going to change as the water cools and bait gets pushed around. Patience. The pieces are all in place.
Eastern Zone - Moriches to Shinnecock
Shinnecock has been the hot spot. The inlet is loaded with bunker pods tight to the beach, and that's fueling a strong striper bite for boat anglers. We're seeing fish in the slot and above, with some legitimate cows mixed in. One angler recently landed a 31-pound bass near Jessups Neck - a true trophy fish.
The bay systems - both Moriches and Shinnecock - are holding bait and fish. It's not wide-open yet, but the signs are all there. The water temperature is dropping, the bait is abundant, and the fish are moving.
Shinnecock Inlet has also been producing blackfish since the season opened. The structure around the inlet, Shelter Island, and Plum Island is holding keeper tog, and the bite should only improve as we move deeper into fall.
Ocean Beach - Surf Fishing Report
The surf has been a grind, but that's fall fishing. You put in the time, you move around, and you find the fish. The nor'easter brought a wave of big bass through, and guys who were willing to fish in the slop were rewarded. Bottle plugs and darters were the top producers, with some anglers throwing needles and getting lucky as well.
The post-storm surf has been slower, which is typical. The water needs to settle, the bait needs to regroup, and the fish need to establish patterns. But make no mistake - the migration is on. More fish are coming, and the best fishing is still ahead of us.
Right now, focus on specific tides relative to your location. The fish are moving through in waves, and timing is everything. First light and last light remain the prime windows, but don't be afraid to fish the middle of the day if conditions look right.
Lure selection matters. I've been having success with the 7-inch olive Swarter, and diamond jigs like the A27 in green tube have been producing. Bucktails worked through the wash are also catching fish. Match your presentation to the conditions - rough water calls for bigger profiles, calm water requires more finesse.
Blackfish Update
The NY Bight blackfish season opened October 15th and runs through December 22nd. The early returns have been excellent. We're seeing limits of keeper fish with some true trophies in the mix. An 8-pound tog came over the rails on opening day, and there have been multiple reports of fish in the 6 to 7-pound range.
The key right now is fresh bait - green crabs are the standard, but don't overlook clams and sand crabs if you can get them. Fish tight to structure, use just enough weight to hold bottom, and stay patient. These fish don't always eat aggressively, and you need to feel the difference between a bite and the structure.
Bait Situation
The bait situation is excellent. Jamaica Bay is absolutely loaded with peanut bunker, and they're ready to flush out onto the ocean beaches with the right wind and tide. Adult bunker are tight to the beach in many areas, and that's fueling the big bass bite.
Live bait is available too. Live spot can be found around the marinas, and live eels are always a solid option for trophy bass. If you're fishing from a boat, having access to live bunker is a huge advantage right now.
Water and Weather Outlook
Water temperatures are in the low 60s and dropping. That's the magic range for fall fishing - cool enough to trigger the migration, but warm enough that the fish are still feeding aggressively.
The weather for the next 72 hours looks excellent. Light winds, calming seas, and stable barometric pressure. This is the window we've been waiting for. Get out there, put in the time, and trust the process.
The ocean gives and the ocean takes. Right now, it's giving. Make the most of it.
Tight lines,
South Shore Sam
The ocean has a way of teaching patience, and this October has been a masterclass. We weathered a solid nor'easter mid-month, and now the South Shore is waking up in a big way. The fall run is here, the bait is thick, and the fishing is entering that magical window we wait all year for.
Western Zone - Fire Island to Democrat Point
The big news out west is simple: the bass have arrived. We're talking legitimate fall-run fish - 40 to 45 inches - pushing into the zone from Fire Island Inlet west through the Rockaways and into Raritan Bay. These aren't the schoolies we've been playing with all summer. These are the fish.
The nor'easter brought them in. Guys who braved the white water during the blow were rewarded with excellent action on bottle plugs, darters, and bucktails. One angler I know pulled a 45-inch fish on an A27 diamond jig in the building surf just before the storm hit. He said it fought different than any bass he'd hooked before - controlled, powerful, and absolutely relentless.
The post-storm bite has been slower than expected in the calm water, but that's typical. The bait needs to regroup, the water needs to clear, and patterns need to develop. Give it a few days of stable conditions and we should see things settle into a rhythm.
Fire Island Inlet has been producing well for boat anglers ripping through on the outgoing tide. Live bunker is deadly right now, but lures are catching fish too. The key is covering water and finding where the fish are staged.
Central Zone - Democrat Point to Moriches Inlet
The Great South Bay is in transition. We've got massive schools of peanut bunker throughout the system, and they're just waiting to get flushed out onto the ocean beaches. When that happens - and it will - the surf is going to light up.
Right now, the inlet fishing has been the most consistent. Moriches Inlet is holding good numbers of bass, and the blackfish season opened October 15th in the NY Bight with solid results. Opening day saw limits of tog with fish pushing over 8 pounds. The shallow structure, wreck edges, and boulder fields are holding fish, and they're feeding aggressively.
The bay itself is fishing a bit slow for bass, but that's going to change as the water cools and bait gets pushed around. Patience. The pieces are all in place.
Eastern Zone - Moriches to Shinnecock
Shinnecock has been the hot spot. The inlet is loaded with bunker pods tight to the beach, and that's fueling a strong striper bite for boat anglers. We're seeing fish in the slot and above, with some legitimate cows mixed in. One angler recently landed a 31-pound bass near Jessups Neck - a true trophy fish.
The bay systems - both Moriches and Shinnecock - are holding bait and fish. It's not wide-open yet, but the signs are all there. The water temperature is dropping, the bait is abundant, and the fish are moving.
Shinnecock Inlet has also been producing blackfish since the season opened. The structure around the inlet, Shelter Island, and Plum Island is holding keeper tog, and the bite should only improve as we move deeper into fall.
Ocean Beach - Surf Fishing Report
The surf has been a grind, but that's fall fishing. You put in the time, you move around, and you find the fish. The nor'easter brought a wave of big bass through, and guys who were willing to fish in the slop were rewarded. Bottle plugs and darters were the top producers, with some anglers throwing needles and getting lucky as well.
The post-storm surf has been slower, which is typical. The water needs to settle, the bait needs to regroup, and the fish need to establish patterns. But make no mistake - the migration is on. More fish are coming, and the best fishing is still ahead of us.
Right now, focus on specific tides relative to your location. The fish are moving through in waves, and timing is everything. First light and last light remain the prime windows, but don't be afraid to fish the middle of the day if conditions look right.
Lure selection matters. I've been having success with the 7-inch olive Swarter, and diamond jigs like the A27 in green tube have been producing. Bucktails worked through the wash are also catching fish. Match your presentation to the conditions - rough water calls for bigger profiles, calm water requires more finesse.
Blackfish Update
The NY Bight blackfish season opened October 15th and runs through December 22nd. The early returns have been excellent. We're seeing limits of keeper fish with some true trophies in the mix. An 8-pound tog came over the rails on opening day, and there have been multiple reports of fish in the 6 to 7-pound range.
The key right now is fresh bait - green crabs are the standard, but don't overlook clams and sand crabs if you can get them. Fish tight to structure, use just enough weight to hold bottom, and stay patient. These fish don't always eat aggressively, and you need to feel the difference between a bite and the structure.
Bait Situation
The bait situation is excellent. Jamaica Bay is absolutely loaded with peanut bunker, and they're ready to flush out onto the ocean beaches with the right wind and tide. Adult bunker are tight to the beach in many areas, and that's fueling the big bass bite.
Live bait is available too. Live spot can be found around the marinas, and live eels are always a solid option for trophy bass. If you're fishing from a boat, having access to live bunker is a huge advantage right now.
Water and Weather Outlook
Water temperatures are in the low 60s and dropping. That's the magic range for fall fishing - cool enough to trigger the migration, but warm enough that the fish are still feeding aggressively.
The weather for the next 72 hours looks excellent. Light winds, calming seas, and stable barometric pressure. This is the window we've been waiting for. Get out there, put in the time, and trust the process.
The ocean gives and the ocean takes. Right now, it's giving. Make the most of it.
Tight lines,
South Shore Sam
