Fishing in Full Swing

October has ended, and we are getting a break from the wind and rain, with a couple of nice days in between. It seems that Mother Nature has really turned upside down, with lilacs and forsythia blooming.

The fall fishing is in full swing now. On the nice days, there are plenty of boats on the water, and the surf fishermen are also catching fish.

Locally, things are quiet, but there are blackfish around any rocks or bulkheads. Kayak fishermen are catching keeper blackfish under the Sag Harbor bridge. Blackfish seem to be almost everywhere. High numbers of undersized fish are being caught, which looks good for the future. Limits are coming from around Plum Island and points to the east, with even some porgies and triggerfish in the mix.

Boats are finding larger sea bass while blackfishing in the Sound. There are bluefish and striped bass in the Gut and Race taking bucktails and diamond jigs. Some albacore are along the north shore.

Montauk has great fishing for striped bass, huge bluefish and a mix of bottom fish. Striped bass are available, with many in the slot size limit around the Point. You may have to search a little, but sea bass limits have been the norm, and you will have to fish through the shorts. Large porgies are still around, and there are codfish showing up east of Block Island.

The full Hunter’s Moon on October 28 saw good striped bass fishing. The surfcasters are enjoying some good fishing from Shinnecock to Montauk. Fish are being caught during the day and night on plugs and bucktails. It’s a good time to put some hours in fishing.

There still is no good news on the scalloping scene. For those who have tried, very few scallops were found. We will have to wait and see.

I did see a lone osprey this week on his trek south.