Surf's up, and so is the bite! Steve here, and the fall run is delivering some serious action along the suds. If you're a sand-and-spikes angler, this is your time to shine.
The Scene on the Sand
The name of the game right now is sand eels. The beaches are loaded with them, and the stripers are hot on their tails. The schools of bass are moving fast, so you need to be ready to make your casts count. One minute it's a full-on blitz, the next it's quiet. But the fish are there, and they're hungry.
The night tides have been producing the bigger fish, with some real cows in the 40-inch class being reported. The new moon really kicked things into gear, bringing in a fresh wave of fish from slots to solid keepers. It's been a grind, but the rewards are there for those who are willing to put in the time.
Lure & Location
During the day, you can't go wrong with diamond jigs, Joe Baggs Swarters, and Tsunami Sand Eels. Anything that imitates a sand eel is going to get bit. After the sun goes down, it's time to break out the needlefish, darters, and Scabelly gliders. The bigger fish are less wary in the dark, and they'll come in close to feed.
From Robert Moses all the way to Southampton, the beaches are holding fish. The key is to find the structure – the cuts, the bars, the points. The fish will be holding in those areas, waiting to ambush the bait. Don't be afraid to move around until you find them.
Steve's Take
This is classic fall-run surfcasting. The fish are here, the bait is thick, and the action is hot. It doesn't get much better than this. So grab your gear, head to the beach, and get in on the action. And remember to leave the beach cleaner than you found it. Tight lines!
The Scene on the Sand
The name of the game right now is sand eels. The beaches are loaded with them, and the stripers are hot on their tails. The schools of bass are moving fast, so you need to be ready to make your casts count. One minute it's a full-on blitz, the next it's quiet. But the fish are there, and they're hungry.
The night tides have been producing the bigger fish, with some real cows in the 40-inch class being reported. The new moon really kicked things into gear, bringing in a fresh wave of fish from slots to solid keepers. It's been a grind, but the rewards are there for those who are willing to put in the time.
Lure & Location
During the day, you can't go wrong with diamond jigs, Joe Baggs Swarters, and Tsunami Sand Eels. Anything that imitates a sand eel is going to get bit. After the sun goes down, it's time to break out the needlefish, darters, and Scabelly gliders. The bigger fish are less wary in the dark, and they'll come in close to feed.
From Robert Moses all the way to Southampton, the beaches are holding fish. The key is to find the structure – the cuts, the bars, the points. The fish will be holding in those areas, waiting to ambush the bait. Don't be afraid to move around until you find them.
Steve's Take
This is classic fall-run surfcasting. The fish are here, the bait is thick, and the action is hot. It doesn't get much better than this. So grab your gear, head to the beach, and get in on the action. And remember to leave the beach cleaner than you found it. Tight lines!
