The Surf in Winter: When the Beach Goes Silent
The surf fishing season on Long Island is officially over. The striped bass season closed on December 15th, water temperatures have dropped into the low 40s, and the winter storm rolling through this weekend is bringing snow, northeast winds gusting to 25 knots, and seas building to 4-6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. The bait has moved out, the gamefish have migrated offshore or south, and the beaches from Robert Moses to Montauk are empty of both fish and fishermen.
As we head into the new year, this is the reality of surf fishing in the Northeast. December through March is the off-season, a time when the ocean rests and anglers turn their attention to tackle maintenance, fly tying, and dreaming about the spring run. There's no shame in admitting that right now, there's simply nothing worth targeting from the beach.
Current Surf Conditions & Marine Forecast
As of Thursday morning, December 26th, we're looking at active weather across the entire Long Island coastline. A small craft advisory is in effect through this morning for the Moriches Inlet to Montauk Point zone, with north winds 15-20 knots gusting to 25, becoming northeast 5-10 this afternoon. Seas are running 3-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet with wave detail showing west 3 feet at 4 seconds and northeast 3 feet at 4 seconds.
Tonight brings snow with visibility dropping below a mile at times, and east winds increasing to 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 after midnight. Seas will build to 2-4 feet occasionally to 5 feet with wave detail showing east 4 feet at 5 seconds. Saturday continues the challenging pattern with northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25 and seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet, with a chance of snow and rain in the morning.
Water temperatures along the entire South Shore are holding at 42-45°F, which is cold enough to shut down most surf fishing opportunities. The baitfish that were present in November and early December have either migrated south or moved offshore to deeper, warmer water. Without bait, there are no gamefish in the surf zone.
Sunday offers a brief respite with northwest winds 5-10 knots and seas dropping to 2-3 feet, though rain is possible in the afternoon. Monday and Tuesday bring severe conditions with southwest winds building to 25-30 knots Monday, then west winds 30-40 knots Monday night and Tuesday with seas 5-8 feet building to 8-11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. These are dangerous conditions that no surf angler should be on the beach for.
Western Beaches: Robert Moses to Jones Beach
The western beaches are completely shut down. Robert Moses State Park, Gilgo Beach, Cedar Beach, and Jones Beach are all showing the same pattern: cold water, no bait, no fish. The inlets at Fire Island and Jones are running strong current, but with the striped bass season closed and no other target species present, there's no reason to be fishing them right now.
The jetties at Fire Island Inlet and Jones Inlet, which can be productive for blackfish during the season, are now closed as the tautog season ended on December 15th. Even if you wanted to target them catch and release, the cold water has pushed them into deeper structure where they're essentially dormant until spring.
The surf itself is showing typical winter patterns with long-period swells from the northeast and occasional storm surf from nor'easters. While the waves might look appealing to surfers, there's nothing in the wash for fishermen. The sand eels that provide late-season striper action in some years have not materialized, and the water is simply too cold to hold baitfish.
Central Beaches: Tobay to Moriches Inlet
The central beach zone from Tobay Beach through Captree, Oak Beach, and up to Moriches Inlet is equally quiet. The party boats out of Captree are down to one vessel still sailing, running 13-hour deep-water trips for giant sea bass and porgies. Their last trip for the season is scheduled for December 31st. This is offshore fishing, not surf fishing, and it's the only real action happening in this region right now.
Moriches Inlet itself is running strong current with the tide changes, but there's nothing to target. The inlet was productive for stripers in November during the late fall run, but that window has closed. The blackfish that were on the inlet jetties in October and November are done for the season.
The ocean beaches from Oak Beach to Westhampton are empty. There are no birds working, no bait visible, and no signs of fish activity. This is typical for late December and will continue through February at minimum.
Eastern Beaches: Shinnecock to Montauk
The eastern beaches from Shinnecock Inlet to Montauk Point are showing the same winter patterns. Shinnecock Inlet, which can produce excellent striper fishing during the fall run, is now closed for bass and offers no surf fishing opportunities. The inlet jetties that held blackfish earlier in the season are done.
Ditch Plains in Montauk, one of the most famous surf fishing spots on the East Coast, is empty. The fall blitzes of stripers and albies are a distant memory, and the winter water temperatures have pushed everything offshore or south. Montauk Point itself is being battered by northeast winds and building seas, making it both unproductive and dangerous to fish.
The beaches from Montauk to Southampton are equally quiet. There were some late-season opportunities in early December before the closure, with sand eels occasionally bringing stripers into the wash, but those windows have passed. The next real surf fishing opportunities won't come until April when the water temperatures start climbing back into the 50s and the spring migration begins.
Why the Surf is Dead Right Now
For those new to surf fishing or wondering why the beach is so unproductive right now, here's the biological reality. Striped bass are migratory fish that follow bait and temperature gradients. In the fall, they migrate south along the coast, feeding heavily on baitfish like bunker, sand eels, and mullet. By December, the majority of the striper population has moved offshore to their winter grounds or continued south to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.
The baitfish follow similar patterns. Sand eels, which are a primary forage species for late-season stripers, move offshore to deeper water when temperatures drop. Bunker schools have migrated south. Mullet are gone. Without bait in the surf zone, there's no reason for gamefish to be there.
Water temperature is the other critical factor. At 42-45°F, the water is cold enough to significantly slow fish metabolism. Stripers can tolerate these temperatures, but they won't actively feed in the surf when they can find warmer water offshore. The energy expenditure of fighting surf and current isn't worth it when food is scarce.
What Surf Anglers Should Be Doing Now
This is the time of year to focus on preparation, not fishing. Here's what I recommend for the next few months:
Tackle Maintenance: Clean and service your reels. Inspect your rods for damage. Replace worn guides, clean cork handles, and make sure everything is ready for spring. Reels that have been in saltwater all season need to be disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated.
Rig Preparation: Tie leaders, build rigs, and organize your tackle. Make sure you have a full selection of plugs, metals, soft plastics, and terminal tackle ready to go. The spring run comes fast, and you don't want to be scrambling to tie rigs when the fish show up.
Fly Tying: If you're into fly fishing for stripers, winter is the time to stock your boxes. Five-inch Deceivers, hollow flies, and sand eel patterns are all productive striper patterns. Tie them now so you're ready when the season opens.
Education: Read fishing reports from past seasons, watch videos, and learn new techniques. There are excellent resources online, including fly tying tutorials and surf fishing strategy videos. Use this downtime to become a better angler.
Alternative Fishing: If you need to fish, focus on freshwater. The stocked trout rivers like the Connetquot and Nissequogue are providing excellent action on fly gear. White perch in the tidal creeks are active throughout winter. These aren't surf fishing, but they'll keep your skills sharp and your line wet.
Three-Day Surf Forecast
Friday, December 27: Poor conditions. Northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25, seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet, chance of snow and rain. No fishing opportunities. Stay home.
Saturday, December 28: Marginal improvement. North winds 10-15 gusting to 20 diminishing to 5-10 after midnight, seas 3-4 feet occasionally to 5 feet. Still no fishing opportunities, but conditions are safer if you want to scout the beach.
Sunday, December 29: Best day of the weekend. Northwest winds 5-10 becoming west, seas 2-3 feet. Calm enough to walk the beach and check for any signs of life, but don't expect to catch anything.
The Bottom Line
The surf fishing season is over. The water is cold, the bait is gone, and the fish have left. There's no shame in admitting this and focusing your energy elsewhere. The ocean will still be here in April when the water warms and the spring run begins. Until then, take care of your gear, prepare for the season ahead, and stay safe.
For those who absolutely need to fish, look to the tidal rivers for white perch, the stocked trout streams for fly fishing, or the party boats for deep-water sea bass. But the surf itself offers nothing right now, and it won't until spring.
Stay warm, stay safe, and I'll see you back on the beach in April when the stripers return.
Tight lines,
Surf City Steve
The surf fishing season on Long Island is officially over. The striped bass season closed on December 15th, water temperatures have dropped into the low 40s, and the winter storm rolling through this weekend is bringing snow, northeast winds gusting to 25 knots, and seas building to 4-6 feet occasionally to 8 feet. The bait has moved out, the gamefish have migrated offshore or south, and the beaches from Robert Moses to Montauk are empty of both fish and fishermen.
As we head into the new year, this is the reality of surf fishing in the Northeast. December through March is the off-season, a time when the ocean rests and anglers turn their attention to tackle maintenance, fly tying, and dreaming about the spring run. There's no shame in admitting that right now, there's simply nothing worth targeting from the beach.
Current Surf Conditions & Marine Forecast
As of Thursday morning, December 26th, we're looking at active weather across the entire Long Island coastline. A small craft advisory is in effect through this morning for the Moriches Inlet to Montauk Point zone, with north winds 15-20 knots gusting to 25, becoming northeast 5-10 this afternoon. Seas are running 3-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet with wave detail showing west 3 feet at 4 seconds and northeast 3 feet at 4 seconds.
Tonight brings snow with visibility dropping below a mile at times, and east winds increasing to 15-20 knots with gusts to 25 after midnight. Seas will build to 2-4 feet occasionally to 5 feet with wave detail showing east 4 feet at 5 seconds. Saturday continues the challenging pattern with northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25 and seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet, with a chance of snow and rain in the morning.
Water temperatures along the entire South Shore are holding at 42-45°F, which is cold enough to shut down most surf fishing opportunities. The baitfish that were present in November and early December have either migrated south or moved offshore to deeper, warmer water. Without bait, there are no gamefish in the surf zone.
Sunday offers a brief respite with northwest winds 5-10 knots and seas dropping to 2-3 feet, though rain is possible in the afternoon. Monday and Tuesday bring severe conditions with southwest winds building to 25-30 knots Monday, then west winds 30-40 knots Monday night and Tuesday with seas 5-8 feet building to 8-11 feet occasionally to 14 feet. These are dangerous conditions that no surf angler should be on the beach for.
Western Beaches: Robert Moses to Jones Beach
The western beaches are completely shut down. Robert Moses State Park, Gilgo Beach, Cedar Beach, and Jones Beach are all showing the same pattern: cold water, no bait, no fish. The inlets at Fire Island and Jones are running strong current, but with the striped bass season closed and no other target species present, there's no reason to be fishing them right now.
The jetties at Fire Island Inlet and Jones Inlet, which can be productive for blackfish during the season, are now closed as the tautog season ended on December 15th. Even if you wanted to target them catch and release, the cold water has pushed them into deeper structure where they're essentially dormant until spring.
The surf itself is showing typical winter patterns with long-period swells from the northeast and occasional storm surf from nor'easters. While the waves might look appealing to surfers, there's nothing in the wash for fishermen. The sand eels that provide late-season striper action in some years have not materialized, and the water is simply too cold to hold baitfish.
Central Beaches: Tobay to Moriches Inlet
The central beach zone from Tobay Beach through Captree, Oak Beach, and up to Moriches Inlet is equally quiet. The party boats out of Captree are down to one vessel still sailing, running 13-hour deep-water trips for giant sea bass and porgies. Their last trip for the season is scheduled for December 31st. This is offshore fishing, not surf fishing, and it's the only real action happening in this region right now.
Moriches Inlet itself is running strong current with the tide changes, but there's nothing to target. The inlet was productive for stripers in November during the late fall run, but that window has closed. The blackfish that were on the inlet jetties in October and November are done for the season.
The ocean beaches from Oak Beach to Westhampton are empty. There are no birds working, no bait visible, and no signs of fish activity. This is typical for late December and will continue through February at minimum.
Eastern Beaches: Shinnecock to Montauk
The eastern beaches from Shinnecock Inlet to Montauk Point are showing the same winter patterns. Shinnecock Inlet, which can produce excellent striper fishing during the fall run, is now closed for bass and offers no surf fishing opportunities. The inlet jetties that held blackfish earlier in the season are done.
Ditch Plains in Montauk, one of the most famous surf fishing spots on the East Coast, is empty. The fall blitzes of stripers and albies are a distant memory, and the winter water temperatures have pushed everything offshore or south. Montauk Point itself is being battered by northeast winds and building seas, making it both unproductive and dangerous to fish.
The beaches from Montauk to Southampton are equally quiet. There were some late-season opportunities in early December before the closure, with sand eels occasionally bringing stripers into the wash, but those windows have passed. The next real surf fishing opportunities won't come until April when the water temperatures start climbing back into the 50s and the spring migration begins.
Why the Surf is Dead Right Now
For those new to surf fishing or wondering why the beach is so unproductive right now, here's the biological reality. Striped bass are migratory fish that follow bait and temperature gradients. In the fall, they migrate south along the coast, feeding heavily on baitfish like bunker, sand eels, and mullet. By December, the majority of the striper population has moved offshore to their winter grounds or continued south to the Chesapeake Bay and beyond.
The baitfish follow similar patterns. Sand eels, which are a primary forage species for late-season stripers, move offshore to deeper water when temperatures drop. Bunker schools have migrated south. Mullet are gone. Without bait in the surf zone, there's no reason for gamefish to be there.
Water temperature is the other critical factor. At 42-45°F, the water is cold enough to significantly slow fish metabolism. Stripers can tolerate these temperatures, but they won't actively feed in the surf when they can find warmer water offshore. The energy expenditure of fighting surf and current isn't worth it when food is scarce.
What Surf Anglers Should Be Doing Now
This is the time of year to focus on preparation, not fishing. Here's what I recommend for the next few months:
Tackle Maintenance: Clean and service your reels. Inspect your rods for damage. Replace worn guides, clean cork handles, and make sure everything is ready for spring. Reels that have been in saltwater all season need to be disassembled, cleaned, and lubricated.
Rig Preparation: Tie leaders, build rigs, and organize your tackle. Make sure you have a full selection of plugs, metals, soft plastics, and terminal tackle ready to go. The spring run comes fast, and you don't want to be scrambling to tie rigs when the fish show up.
Fly Tying: If you're into fly fishing for stripers, winter is the time to stock your boxes. Five-inch Deceivers, hollow flies, and sand eel patterns are all productive striper patterns. Tie them now so you're ready when the season opens.
Education: Read fishing reports from past seasons, watch videos, and learn new techniques. There are excellent resources online, including fly tying tutorials and surf fishing strategy videos. Use this downtime to become a better angler.
Alternative Fishing: If you need to fish, focus on freshwater. The stocked trout rivers like the Connetquot and Nissequogue are providing excellent action on fly gear. White perch in the tidal creeks are active throughout winter. These aren't surf fishing, but they'll keep your skills sharp and your line wet.
Three-Day Surf Forecast
Friday, December 27: Poor conditions. Northeast winds 15-20 gusting to 25, seas 4-5 feet occasionally to 6 feet, chance of snow and rain. No fishing opportunities. Stay home.
Saturday, December 28: Marginal improvement. North winds 10-15 gusting to 20 diminishing to 5-10 after midnight, seas 3-4 feet occasionally to 5 feet. Still no fishing opportunities, but conditions are safer if you want to scout the beach.
Sunday, December 29: Best day of the weekend. Northwest winds 5-10 becoming west, seas 2-3 feet. Calm enough to walk the beach and check for any signs of life, but don't expect to catch anything.
The Bottom Line
The surf fishing season is over. The water is cold, the bait is gone, and the fish have left. There's no shame in admitting this and focusing your energy elsewhere. The ocean will still be here in April when the water warms and the spring run begins. Until then, take care of your gear, prepare for the season ahead, and stay safe.
For those who absolutely need to fish, look to the tidal rivers for white perch, the stocked trout streams for fly fishing, or the party boats for deep-water sea bass. But the surf itself offers nothing right now, and it won't until spring.
Stay warm, stay safe, and I'll see you back on the beach in April when the stripers return.
Tight lines,
Surf City Steve
