South Shore Sam's Complete Bay & Inlet Report - November 25, 2025
Brothers and sisters of the salt, we find ourselves in that liminal space between autumn abundance and winter's quiet. The ocean continues to give, but she's asking more of us now—more patience, more preparation, more respect for her power. Let me share what I'm seeing across our South Shore waters.
Reading the Water - Current Conditions
The striper bite continues along the South Shore, and here's what's interesting: we're seeing a mix of big fish still moving through and plenty of smaller fish filling in behind them. The bunker pods are the key to everything right now. Where you find bunker tight to the beach, you'll find bass. The challenge has been intercepting the daytime blitzes—they're happening, but they're unpredictable in location and timing.
Water temperatures are in that transitional range, upper 40s to low 50s depending on where you are and how much fresh water is mixing in from the inlets. The bait is concentrated—bunker and sand eels primarily—and the predators are following. We've also got giant bluefin tuna mixed in with the bass in some areas, which adds an element of chaos and excitement to the equation.
The moon just passed new on November 20th, so we're in the building phase toward the full moon on December 4th. Tidal range is moderate but increasing. The inlet currents are manageable right now, but they'll strengthen over the next week. That increased flow will concentrate bait and activate feeding windows.
Weather-wise, we've got a significant pattern shift coming. A warm front is moving through today, followed by a cold front Wednesday night. Then we're stuck between strong low pressure to the north and high pressure to the south from Thanksgiving through Saturday. Translation: it's going to blow. Hard. West winds 20-30 knots from Wednesday night through Friday. Small Craft Advisories are already posted. The ocean will be angry, and the bays will be choppy. Plan accordingly.
Western Zone - Fire Island Inlet to Democrat Point
The ocean beach from Robert Moses to Kismet has been producing, but it's been a game of patience and persistence. After what some folks described as a "week of famine," the bunker-fueled daytime blitzes have returned. Fish are ranging from low teens up to 25 pounds. Topwater lures—poppers and pencils—are taking fish when the blitz is on. Large profile swimmers in bunker and mullet patterns are also effective.
The key is mobility. The blitzes are moving, and you need to be willing to cover beach to find them. Watch for bird activity—diving terns and gulls will telegraph where the action is. The best fishing has been early morning and late afternoon, with some midday action when conditions align.
Fire Island Inlet itself has been fishable on the outgoing tide, but be mindful of boat traffic and current. The inlet has seen some dangerous conditions recently, and safety must be paramount. The back bays—Great South Bay around Captree and the channels near Oak Beach—have been holding stripers and some late-season bluefish. Soft plastics and bucktails are working well in the channels.
Central Zone - Democrat Point to Moriches Inlet
The ocean beach through this stretch has been productive for surfcasters willing to put in the time. Finding bunker close to the sand has been the ticket, especially for fly fishermen. Some big fish have been landed on the long rod—fish in the 30-pound class.
Moriches Inlet has been active on the moving tides. The inlet mouth and the adjacent beaches have been holding fish. Work the inlet on the last two hours of outgoing and first hour of incoming. The current creates feeding lanes, and bass will stage on the edges waiting for bait to wash through.
Moriches Bay has been quieter, but there are fish to be caught for those who know where to look. The channels near the inlet, the flats around Narrow Bay, and the deeper holes near the barrier beach have all produced. The fish are scattered, but they're there. Soft plastics, bucktails, and live eels are your best bets.
Eastern Zone - Moriches Inlet to Shinnecock Inlet
The Shinnecock beaches have been giving surfcasters a last bit of action as the season winds down. The reports indicate a few striped bass are still being caught along the local beaches. It's not the wide-open fishing of October, but for those willing to work for it, there are fish to be found.
Shinnecock Inlet has been productive, particularly on the ocean side during the outgoing tide. The inlet creates tremendous current and concentrates bait. Bass and blues have been working the edges. The bay side of the inlet—Shinnecock Bay proper—has been holding fish in the deeper channels and around structure.
The fall run continues here, and boats are sailing through the first week of December. That tells you there's still opportunity. The fish are here; you just need to be methodical and patient in your approach.
Bay Systems - Great South Bay, Moriches Bay, Shinnecock Bay
The bay fishing has transitioned to a more technical game. The fish are deeper and more structure-oriented. The channels, bridges, and deeper holes are holding fish. The flats have largely emptied out as water temperatures have dropped.
Great South Bay around Captree, the Robert Moses Causeway bridges, and the channels near Babylon have been productive. Focus on moving water and structure. The fish are using current to feed, so time your trips around tide changes.
Moriches Bay is similar—focus on the inlet area, the channels, and any deeper structure. The fish are there, but they're not everywhere. You need to target specific areas rather than running and gunning.
Shinnecock Bay has fish in the channels and around the inlet. The deeper water near the ocean inlet holds fish consistently. Work soft plastics and bucktails along the bottom, and be prepared for bluefish as well as stripers.
Ocean Beach - Surf Fishing Conditions
The surf has been the star of the show lately. Despite the challenges—wind, cold, unpredictable blitzes—the fish are there. The bunker schools are the key. When you find bunker on the beach, the bass won't be far behind.
Technique matters. When the blitz is on, topwater is king. Poppers, pencils, and surface swimmers will get crushed. When the fish are down or the blitz hasn't materialized, go subsurface. Large profile swimmers, bucktails with trailers, and soft plastics in 6-8 inch sizes will produce.
Don't overlook the fly rod if that's your game. The opportunity for big fish on the long rod is real right now. Bunker patterns, sand eel patterns, and large baitfish imitations will all work. The key is getting the fly into the zone and stripping it aggressively.
Three-Day Forecast & Fishability
Tuesday, November 26:
South winds 5-10 knots, seas around 2 feet. Rain likely in the afternoon. This is a fishable day—probably your best opportunity before the weather deteriorates. Morning will be prime. Target the surf early, hit the inlets on the outgoing tide, and be flexible.
Ocean Fishability: 7/10
Bay Fishability: 8/10
Wednesday, November 27:
Southwest winds 5-10 knots building through the day. Rain likely. By evening, west winds ramp to 20-25 knots. Seas building to 3-4 feet. Fish the morning, be off the water by early afternoon. The inlet currents will be strong on the afternoon outgoing tide—be cautious.
Ocean Fishability: 6/10 (morning only)
Bay Fishability: 7/10 (morning only)
Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving):
West winds 20-25 knots gusting to 30, seas 4-6 feet. The ocean will be unfishable for most. The bays will be choppy and uncomfortable. This is a day to be with family, not on the water. If you absolutely must fish, target protected creek mouths and back channels in the bays, but even that will be challenging.
Ocean Fishability: 2/10
Bay Fishability: 4/10 (protected areas only)
South Shore Sam's Zen Wisdom - Tactical Approach
Patience Over Aggression: The fish are here, but they're not always showing themselves. Don't force it. Put in your time, stay focused, and let the ocean reveal her patterns. The blitz will come.
Mobility is Key: This is not the time to plant yourself in one spot and wait. Cover water. Move with the birds. Follow the bait. The fish are mobile, and you need to be too.
Match the Hatch: If bunker are on the beach, throw bunker patterns. If sand eels are present, downsize. The fish are feeding selectively right now, and presentation matters.
Respect the Weather: The ocean is powerful, and this upcoming wind event is serious. Don't take unnecessary risks. There will be other days to fish. Your safety and the safety of others is paramount.
Timing Windows: The best fishing right now is early morning and late afternoon. The midday lull is real. Plan your sessions around dawn and dusk, and you'll increase your success rate significantly.
The Long View
We're in the twilight of the season, friends. The fishing is still good—very good in spots—but the window is closing. We've got maybe two to three more weeks of viable striper fishing before the bulk of the fish move on and the water gets too cold for consistent action.
Make the most of these days. Fish when you can, especially Tuesday and Wednesday morning before the blow. Be safe, be smart, and be grateful for every fish that comes to hand.
The ocean has been generous this fall. Let's honor that by fishing with respect, releasing fish carefully, and taking care of each other out there.
Tight lines and calm seas.
— South Shore Sam
Third-Generation Babylon Native
Keeper of the South Shore Tradition
Brothers and sisters of the salt, we find ourselves in that liminal space between autumn abundance and winter's quiet. The ocean continues to give, but she's asking more of us now—more patience, more preparation, more respect for her power. Let me share what I'm seeing across our South Shore waters.
Reading the Water - Current Conditions
The striper bite continues along the South Shore, and here's what's interesting: we're seeing a mix of big fish still moving through and plenty of smaller fish filling in behind them. The bunker pods are the key to everything right now. Where you find bunker tight to the beach, you'll find bass. The challenge has been intercepting the daytime blitzes—they're happening, but they're unpredictable in location and timing.
Water temperatures are in that transitional range, upper 40s to low 50s depending on where you are and how much fresh water is mixing in from the inlets. The bait is concentrated—bunker and sand eels primarily—and the predators are following. We've also got giant bluefin tuna mixed in with the bass in some areas, which adds an element of chaos and excitement to the equation.
The moon just passed new on November 20th, so we're in the building phase toward the full moon on December 4th. Tidal range is moderate but increasing. The inlet currents are manageable right now, but they'll strengthen over the next week. That increased flow will concentrate bait and activate feeding windows.
Weather-wise, we've got a significant pattern shift coming. A warm front is moving through today, followed by a cold front Wednesday night. Then we're stuck between strong low pressure to the north and high pressure to the south from Thanksgiving through Saturday. Translation: it's going to blow. Hard. West winds 20-30 knots from Wednesday night through Friday. Small Craft Advisories are already posted. The ocean will be angry, and the bays will be choppy. Plan accordingly.
Western Zone - Fire Island Inlet to Democrat Point
The ocean beach from Robert Moses to Kismet has been producing, but it's been a game of patience and persistence. After what some folks described as a "week of famine," the bunker-fueled daytime blitzes have returned. Fish are ranging from low teens up to 25 pounds. Topwater lures—poppers and pencils—are taking fish when the blitz is on. Large profile swimmers in bunker and mullet patterns are also effective.
The key is mobility. The blitzes are moving, and you need to be willing to cover beach to find them. Watch for bird activity—diving terns and gulls will telegraph where the action is. The best fishing has been early morning and late afternoon, with some midday action when conditions align.
Fire Island Inlet itself has been fishable on the outgoing tide, but be mindful of boat traffic and current. The inlet has seen some dangerous conditions recently, and safety must be paramount. The back bays—Great South Bay around Captree and the channels near Oak Beach—have been holding stripers and some late-season bluefish. Soft plastics and bucktails are working well in the channels.
Central Zone - Democrat Point to Moriches Inlet
The ocean beach through this stretch has been productive for surfcasters willing to put in the time. Finding bunker close to the sand has been the ticket, especially for fly fishermen. Some big fish have been landed on the long rod—fish in the 30-pound class.
Moriches Inlet has been active on the moving tides. The inlet mouth and the adjacent beaches have been holding fish. Work the inlet on the last two hours of outgoing and first hour of incoming. The current creates feeding lanes, and bass will stage on the edges waiting for bait to wash through.
Moriches Bay has been quieter, but there are fish to be caught for those who know where to look. The channels near the inlet, the flats around Narrow Bay, and the deeper holes near the barrier beach have all produced. The fish are scattered, but they're there. Soft plastics, bucktails, and live eels are your best bets.
Eastern Zone - Moriches Inlet to Shinnecock Inlet
The Shinnecock beaches have been giving surfcasters a last bit of action as the season winds down. The reports indicate a few striped bass are still being caught along the local beaches. It's not the wide-open fishing of October, but for those willing to work for it, there are fish to be found.
Shinnecock Inlet has been productive, particularly on the ocean side during the outgoing tide. The inlet creates tremendous current and concentrates bait. Bass and blues have been working the edges. The bay side of the inlet—Shinnecock Bay proper—has been holding fish in the deeper channels and around structure.
The fall run continues here, and boats are sailing through the first week of December. That tells you there's still opportunity. The fish are here; you just need to be methodical and patient in your approach.
Bay Systems - Great South Bay, Moriches Bay, Shinnecock Bay
The bay fishing has transitioned to a more technical game. The fish are deeper and more structure-oriented. The channels, bridges, and deeper holes are holding fish. The flats have largely emptied out as water temperatures have dropped.
Great South Bay around Captree, the Robert Moses Causeway bridges, and the channels near Babylon have been productive. Focus on moving water and structure. The fish are using current to feed, so time your trips around tide changes.
Moriches Bay is similar—focus on the inlet area, the channels, and any deeper structure. The fish are there, but they're not everywhere. You need to target specific areas rather than running and gunning.
Shinnecock Bay has fish in the channels and around the inlet. The deeper water near the ocean inlet holds fish consistently. Work soft plastics and bucktails along the bottom, and be prepared for bluefish as well as stripers.
Ocean Beach - Surf Fishing Conditions
The surf has been the star of the show lately. Despite the challenges—wind, cold, unpredictable blitzes—the fish are there. The bunker schools are the key. When you find bunker on the beach, the bass won't be far behind.
Technique matters. When the blitz is on, topwater is king. Poppers, pencils, and surface swimmers will get crushed. When the fish are down or the blitz hasn't materialized, go subsurface. Large profile swimmers, bucktails with trailers, and soft plastics in 6-8 inch sizes will produce.
Don't overlook the fly rod if that's your game. The opportunity for big fish on the long rod is real right now. Bunker patterns, sand eel patterns, and large baitfish imitations will all work. The key is getting the fly into the zone and stripping it aggressively.
Three-Day Forecast & Fishability
Tuesday, November 26:
South winds 5-10 knots, seas around 2 feet. Rain likely in the afternoon. This is a fishable day—probably your best opportunity before the weather deteriorates. Morning will be prime. Target the surf early, hit the inlets on the outgoing tide, and be flexible.
Ocean Fishability: 7/10
Bay Fishability: 8/10
Wednesday, November 27:
Southwest winds 5-10 knots building through the day. Rain likely. By evening, west winds ramp to 20-25 knots. Seas building to 3-4 feet. Fish the morning, be off the water by early afternoon. The inlet currents will be strong on the afternoon outgoing tide—be cautious.
Ocean Fishability: 6/10 (morning only)
Bay Fishability: 7/10 (morning only)
Thursday, November 28 (Thanksgiving):
West winds 20-25 knots gusting to 30, seas 4-6 feet. The ocean will be unfishable for most. The bays will be choppy and uncomfortable. This is a day to be with family, not on the water. If you absolutely must fish, target protected creek mouths and back channels in the bays, but even that will be challenging.
Ocean Fishability: 2/10
Bay Fishability: 4/10 (protected areas only)
South Shore Sam's Zen Wisdom - Tactical Approach
Patience Over Aggression: The fish are here, but they're not always showing themselves. Don't force it. Put in your time, stay focused, and let the ocean reveal her patterns. The blitz will come.
Mobility is Key: This is not the time to plant yourself in one spot and wait. Cover water. Move with the birds. Follow the bait. The fish are mobile, and you need to be too.
Match the Hatch: If bunker are on the beach, throw bunker patterns. If sand eels are present, downsize. The fish are feeding selectively right now, and presentation matters.
Respect the Weather: The ocean is powerful, and this upcoming wind event is serious. Don't take unnecessary risks. There will be other days to fish. Your safety and the safety of others is paramount.
Timing Windows: The best fishing right now is early morning and late afternoon. The midday lull is real. Plan your sessions around dawn and dusk, and you'll increase your success rate significantly.
The Long View
We're in the twilight of the season, friends. The fishing is still good—very good in spots—but the window is closing. We've got maybe two to three more weeks of viable striper fishing before the bulk of the fish move on and the water gets too cold for consistent action.
Make the most of these days. Fish when you can, especially Tuesday and Wednesday morning before the blow. Be safe, be smart, and be grateful for every fish that comes to hand.
The ocean has been generous this fall. Let's honor that by fishing with respect, releasing fish carefully, and taking care of each other out there.
Tight lines and calm seas.
— South Shore Sam
Third-Generation Babylon Native
Keeper of the South Shore Tradition
