Winding Down

The weather continues to be a roller coaster as December moves toward Christmas. We fluctuate, from air temps in the 50s down to the 30s. This is a typical winter, with plenty of wind and some rain thrown in.

As the holiday season nears, the fishing season is winding down. The key to the end is how many fishable days are available. As of late, there have not been very many.

There are still blackfish in the sound, but you will have to find some deep water structure as the water temps continue to drop. Fish to 10 pounds are finding their way into the anglers’ buckets. Most of the action is around Fishers Island, with still a few sea bass mixing in.

The Montauk boats are still catching blackfish, sea bass, porgies and a few cod. The blackfish are being caught around Block Island. Green crabs and white crabs are both working for fish to 12 pounds. Larger sea bass are in deep water, mixing with porgies. There are a handful of cod also taking the green crabs.

You don’t have much time left to get those last fishing trips in. The blackfish season ends in the sound on December 9. For the rest of the area waters, it ends on December 22. For you diehard sea bass fishermen, the season ends on December 31.

There are still some small stripers being caught along the ocean beaches as the fish move to the west.

There are a handful of boats scalloping in the bay, with mediocre results at best. It looks like there are fewer juvenile scallops in the bays. Baymen in the East Hampton Town waters are finding a few more scallops. A day’s effort produces two or three bushels. If you can find them for sale, they are in the $60-per-pound range.

If you were thinking about clams for the holidays, there have been some good low tides. Hard clams are available, but soft clams remain scarce.

And, yes, it is birdwatching time. Get those binoculars out and spend some time looking at the waterfowl and birds of prey. Daily eagle sightings have been common.