
CURRENT FISHING SCENE AT MONTAUK, NEW YORK
·
4/9/04 The codfishing this season is the
best in 5 years. Many trips are producing
limits (10 per angler.) Yesterday
we had 50 cod up to 20 lbs. A
limit for 3 anglers plus the crew.
If you have never had a good days codfishing, or want another good day,
now’s the time.
4/11/04
This week, 4 charters had a total of 228
codfish up to 20 lbs. Many
undersize fish were returned. The
action is super!
4/20/04 Codfishing is still lingering. Last weekend saw as many as a 70 cod limit for 5 anglers plus crew, to 20 pounds were reeled in for the Joe Zimmerman party. Today 6 anglers managed 26 cod to 25 lbs.
· 5/17 The fluke season opened up with a bang. The Cataldo party had the limit plus at least 30 more keeper size fluke that were returned. The largest was an 8 pounder. The average fluke weighed 4 pounds. We only had one bass. On Monday we had 11 bass to 24 lbs, plus 15 fluke to 8 lbs. for the Wilson party.
5/18 Big Bass are here already! The Joe Ferme party had a limit of
bass, the largest being 42 and 37 lbs, and left them biting. They rounded out the day with a limit
of fluke to 5 lbs. Fluke was also
red hot.
We went the rest of the year without a
report due to website problems.
Hopefully all that is past.
The rest of June ’04 was good for bass. Sizes changed daily but most trips showed bass of 20 to 30
lbs. The largest, 40 lbs.
Bass fishing was good all year.
Some slow spots in mid July but after that it went wild. The year before only a few of us were
using live porgies for bait. It
ended up this year, with the entire fleet doing it. Drifting with the live porgies was about as exciting as it
can get. Everyday the biggest bass
were at least 30 lbs. Some days
over 40 . Limits were easy and many extra big bass were
returned. All this on only a l/2
day. The live porgy action ended
sometime in October. The bite still remained good on trolling and diamond
jigging.
Fluke fishing slowed down after the madness
of May. It took more time to make
a catch. The late run of fluke
never matured. During the month of
May, right from opening day of the season, it was a limit of fluke for every
charter. The fluke averaged 4 to 5
lbs. With 8 lb. fish, all this
plus a bass limit on full day trips.
Shark fishing was exceptional early in the
season. Many makos and threshers
were taken. As for myself, I only
managed a few small makos and blue shark.
Tuna was a disappointment, although a huge school of small bluefin tuna
stayed all season, they were too small.
Most of the tuna were below the size limit of 27 inches. Plus you could only keep 1 legal
size. Fishing the canyons edge on
the long day trip was also fruitless.
Except for a couple of trips I talked my tuna parties into bass
fishing. Why catch a 10 pound tuna
when you can catch a 30 lb. bass? The charter boats that stayed with the local
bluefin tuna were using light spin tackle instead of the normal tuna gear. Dogfish were a serious problem all
season. It seamed that once you
entered depths of 60 to 70 feet you ran into dogfish. This created a problem for deep water fluke fishing and
mostly the seabass fishing.
Seabass was spotty, for most of the
season. In early November I had a
couple of super days in the Block Island area. On Nov. 10 Mark and Peter, plus the mate and I, accounted
for 5 bushels of bottom fish. One
and a half bushels of blackfish, ½ bushel of porgies and the rest were seabass
to 4 lbs. On Nov. 4, I had similar
seabass action. I was unable to
return to the spot until Nov. 17th, by then the fish had moved.
Blackfish was not bad in the spring. Unfortunately the run of blackfish seen
in the fall of 2003 did not happen in 2004. Everyone with a boat was a blackfish sharpie in 2003. In 2004 the knowledgeable captains were
able to produce a good catch in spots that are not commonly known. As early as October 9, my book shows
blackfish limits. Four more full
day charters also caught the
blackfish limit. This would be up
to 80 blacks. Generally a 3 to 4
lb. average with many fish over 5 and up to 10 lbs. Keep in mind that these trips, most days, also had the bass limit. Blackfishing can be hampered by weather
which can make poor conditions resulting in a lesser catch.
Porgies were the best in years, like old
times, but very few people care to take any home. What a shame.
They are fun to catch and make a good meal (with no more bones than any
other fish.) Here in Montauk 2
pound porgies are common. Some
even larger. This year they made great bass
bait. In the end of the porgy run
we used 2 lb. porgies as bait and hoped for a 50 pound and over bass to take
the bait. (The largest bass taken
on a live porgy at Montauk this year was a fish over 60 lbs.) Eels did not perform well as bass bait
this year.
2005. The codfish began with the promise of good
fishing. On March 13 the Cataldo
group took 36 nice size cod up to 20 lbs. On March 17 the same group had to settle for 2 legal size cod. The 2 best days of the season, Saturday
March 19 and Sunday the 20th, I cancelled because of a bad weather
forecast and sluggish fishing. The
fish blitzed those two days with sizes to 40 lbs. On Monday it went back to nothing. The rest of the cod season saw huge amounts of small
cod. Catch 100 and maybe have 6
legal size fish. Such as with Bob
Bergamini and 2 friends who caught over 100 - that resulted in a bushel of keepers.
As of this writing, May 1st, the fluke have not taken hold yet. The water is still very cold at present, 45 degrees. Also
don’t expect bass until the middle of the month, with luck maybe a big earlier. Stay tuned.
5/16/05. On Friday and Saturday the 13th and 14th,
the Dennis Cataldo party accounted for a total of 75 nice size keeper fluke up
to 7 lbs. Once again the spring
run of large fluke is hot. This
year we are allowed a bag limit of 5 fish at 17 ½ inches. On Sunday the fluking slowed down (very
weak tides) but made up for in size.
Jim Carrigan of the Pete Pennise party landed a large fluke of 9.2 lbs.
Out of 20 kept and some bass action also.
5/20/05 The fluke blitz continues. The Cataldo group (fluke addicts) came back again accounted
for 35 fluke to 7 lbs. Plus 4 blackfish and two striped bass.
On Saturday the Mike Gatto party had to make a half day because of
strong North East winds. On Sunday
Chris Yanke and friends accounted for 30 fluke to 6 lbs. Plus 6 bass of a 10
lb. average. Monday the 23rd
the Pettersen party had 25 fluke, 15 blackfish and 4 seabass. Tuesday Bruce Rupp and a party of 4
accounted for 25 fluke to 5 lbs. Also 6 striped bass, all this in the face of
an oncoming Northeaster.
5/27 Bass fishing has improved. Paul Grippa and friends had approximately
30 bass to 15 lbs. on a half day trip.
5/39
On a half day – 9 bass to 25 lbs. on diamond jigs – then 8 more
trolling.
6/4
Tried for seabass, no good!
Took a limit of bass to 25 lbs. and 12 large fluke for an all day.
6/5
A 3 man, ½ day charter diamond jigged bass and blues ‘till their arms
grew weary, also 10 fluke to 8 lbs.
Not bad for a half days fishing!
Bass and blues continue to bite all through June.
6/14
The Bruce Rupp party of 5 had a super day on large fluke. A total of 26 fluke were caught. Four fluke went from 8 to 9 lbs. The rest had a 4 lb. average. They also caught 6 bass to 28 lbs. Most of the bass taken have been
small. It seems the big bass are
just arriving.
6/20 Frank Daniele and family had a great
afternoon. They had the limit of
12 bass to 30 pounds, plus some extras.
They enjoyed it so much they came back on the 23rd for
more. This time they had the limit
to 40 lbs. The largest bass of the
season so far.
6/27
Bass fishing was poor for me over the weekend. On Monday the 27th it bounced back. Phil Rice and 5 friends found fishing
slow all morning ‘till 9 o’clock.
By 11.30 we caught a limit of 12 bass, of a 20 pound average. The largest was 36 pounds. On a twilight trip the same day, Pete
Farrara and friends caught another 12 bass of a 20 lb. average. All the fish were caught trolling, in a
thick fog I might add – that lasted all day.
7/9
Bass fishing remains tricky, but not without some surprise rewards. On a twilight trip on Wednesday, Mark
Fisher, his wife Karen and friends Paul and Peter had 12 bass keeping the limit
of 8. Four of the bass went from
30 to 40 lbs. All the big fish
were taken on “diamond Jigs.” Karen had the biggest.
The following morning Ed Victors and friends
landed about 15 bass, keeping the limit of 12. Once again the four largest went from 30 to 40 lbs, these
were caught trolling. The wind
blew hard from the northeast, creating a rough ocean. Saturday afternoon, two surgeons from Beth Israel hospital
in New York, Alan, Michael and family took 9 bass, the largest a 50 pounder,
once again trolling. The fish hit, and ran off 50 feet of line before we
stopped him, ten minutes later he was in the boat.
7/11 My homemade large tubes are working
now. This week large bass of a 20
lb. average have been hitting the tube as I slowly troll it over the
bottom. All week long, half day
charters are catching bass from 20 to 30 lbs. on average with an occasional 36
or 40 pounder. Also, the fluke
fishing has improved with at least 24 taken along with the bass on full day
trips. No giant fluke, but fish up
to 6 pounds and an average size of 31/2 lbs.
9/5 Sorry to be behind on the reports. Between having a busy month of August, and daughter and two
grandchildren visiting for three weeks I never seemed to find the time. The following is a general summary of
what took place from 7/11 to present.
As previously stated my large homemade tubes
are now. Everyday, limits on
bass were taken with the largest fish in the mid thirties. Most trips saw an average fish catch of
20 to 25 lbs. I must admit the
fishing was uneven. On some ½ day
trips I not only had my limit, plus a few more. On others I was unable to get the limit, but “made the day”
with big bass.
From 7/11 to this writing, at least 8 bass
from 40 to 46 lbs. were caught, mostly all on the slow trolled tube,. At times we diamond jigged a few
also. On 8/26 on a ½ day morning
trip for Neil Jester, we diamond jigged bass to 44 lbs. and trolled more to 40
lbs.
I tried the live porgy bait fishing for a
few days, with mixed results. On
7/21 we had 7 bass to 41 lbs. needed 4.
The following morning trip we had 10 bass to 37 lbs. need 12 for a
limit. On 7/23 on an all day we
only had 7 bass. On 7/24 I went
back to trolling and had the 6 man limit for 2 half day charters.
Fluke fishing on full day charters was “not
bad” up until the end of August, then went dead. Don’t ask me why!
Also, the end of August gave uneven results in the bass fishing, such as
8/21 my worst trip, on a ½ day morning – we never caught a bass. On the afternoon trip I caught 7 large
bass up to 32 lbs. I needed six
for the limit. On two shark trips
we first caught 5 or 6 bass before going for shark. Each day saw several blue shark and two small mako landed. The porgy fishing has been steady, but
the seabass fishing is behind, this may be because of the warm waters now
engulfing Montauk. As the water
chills, I believe the action will perk up for all the species. One more item, the tuna has given
uneven catches for a 40 to 50 mile ride, still it has been better than last
season, giving hope to those anglers trying. Also, in a one week period a number of blue marlin were hooked – I believe all were
released.
10/12/05 In September the bass fishing was more consistent. At times I failed to make the limit,
but got by on large size bass. On
9/1 I had 12 bass to 44 pounds, then tried for seabass with poor results. On 9/2 I had 6 bass on a morning trip
that included 2 bass of 30 lbs. each, we needed 10 for a limit. That same days p.m. trip gave up 5
bass, once again with a couple of 30 pounders, we needed 10. From then on it was mostly all limits,
I also began using live porgies for bait.
All through September bass up to 30 pounds, some over 40 lbs, were taken
each day.
9/22 On a long tuna trip ride we trolled 7
tuna in the 40 lb. class. 10/3 The
Griesner party had 12 bass on bait to 43 pounds in the morning, then struck out
on blackfish (too early.) We
trolled bass in the afternoon for another 12. On 10/4 we trolled 11 large bass to 36 pounds, then tried
tuna inshore without a bite.
My latest fishing on 2 half trips on 10/9 –
we trolled a limit of 10 to 30 pounds.
The p.m. was even better with a limit of 10 fish from 10 to 39 lbs, once
again trolling. We left at 12 and
were back at the dock by 2.45.
The surrounding waters are still warm for
this time of the ear. Bottom fish
will not perk up until the waters begin to chill. Bass continue to be the best bet for your money and a ½ days
fishing is sufficient. I still
have 2 full day trips open in October along with 6 or so half day trips. November still has plenty of open time
at the moment. I tend to book
late, right now I am still getting calls for October. (631) 324-8820
10/17/05 This is the first day since 10/11 that I have been able to
fish. The Pete Ferra party, on a ½
day, had 24 bass – keeping the limit of 12. Several big bass were taken, the largest a 43.8 pounder,
that after the fish had been bled.
10/28
Following Monday 10/17, the bass went on a blitz. Two miles of wheeling an diving sea
birds hung over schools of bass on both tides. Tuesdays morning trip had more than needed to 36 pounds. On the afternoon trip, the Bettinelli
group had over 20 bass to 40 lbs. with as many blues. Wednesdays morning had at least 30 bass to 40 pounds
again. Also with bluefish. The afternoons trip had great fishing
again to 30 pounds. Thursday s 2
charters were a repeat. On Friday
the bite cooled down. During the
blitz the bass were munching on anchovies and the diamond jig fishing was
super. Diamond jigging bass is one
of the best ways to catch striped bass.
They fight a lot harder than they do on live baits. By the way during this hot fishing, the
live eels, that some anglers were using, were chewed up by the bluefish ending with poor
results. On 10/22 with an all day
group we had a limit of small bass and an 80 limit on blackfish of a 3 pound
average. Monday was a repeat for 5
anglers with 10 bass and 70 blackfish.
On both days I managed to catch the blackfish in calm waters avoiding
the oncoming “Wilma” fall out.
12/28
Black fishing was kind of hit
and miss at the end of October and through November. Severe weather made bottom fishing
difficult. Seabass fishing never
turned on during the late fall. On
one trip I did manage 100 lbs. of quality size seabass. Bass were poor from the end of October
to the end of November, at that time the herring showed up and the bass fishing
was super good, there too only one tide proved productive. The weather was an item this fall, it
turned cold and windy earlier than usual.
See you next season
6/4/2006
This spring got off to a poor start. Due to a fracture (or two) in my
foot, and installing a new engine, my first charter began May 17th. The Taglish group had a limit of bass
plus, with fish to 25 lbs. The
fluke fishing has been a disappointment this season. When fishing for fluke looked its best, the weather was at
its worst. Only during these past
few days has there been signs of improvement. Bass fishing
remains good. Most trips give up
limits with fish from 25 to 37 lbs.
A lot of bird activity, which usually offers a chance of diamond jig
fishing. My largest bass on a jig so far has been
35 lbs. On one combo trip, 5/29,
besides a bass limit of 12 to 37 lbs. we also managed a bushel of blackfish and
a few seabass for the Frank Krist party.
7/11/06 The weather continues to be wet and cool. Water temperatures are down. To-days inshore temperature was 63. Overall the bass fishing has been slow,
slow for what we normally catch.
On some half days my charters have managed a limit of bass, on others we
do not, full day charters catch their limit of striped bass. As of late, beginning 7/3 I have been
trolling my big homemade tubes.
These lures traditionally take larger bass. In the past 2 weeks I have had bass to 40 lbs, with at least
10 fish in the 30 lb. class. The
tube caught bass have been averaging around 20 lb. Using live porgies for bait is not the answer this
year. Porgies are not available in
the usual areas close to the bass fishing, making it difficult to gather the
bait and still fish in a half days charter. Barring that, catching the bass on live porgies isn’t any
easier than trolling. Fluke
fishing is behind, we have fluke a plenty, but not at 18 inches. Also the south side of Montauk, known
for big fluke is overrun by dogfish and fishing has been confined to rip areas
to avoid the dogfish. What has
impressed me is a superior angler, Doug Mercer, who has booked me for several
FLY LINE SHARK CHARTERS. In four
days of shark fishing we have had a total of 12 on the fly line. Two of the sharks were mako. One of 125 lbs. and one of 100
lbs. All this with a 30 lb.test
tippet. I find this to be an
exciting way to fish for sharks.
Any fly line buffs can
reach me at 631-324-8820 for more information.
7/26
The bass fishing has improved immensely. My slow trolled large tubes have been finding quality size
bass for two weeks now. On July 13th,
Keith Lighe and three friends, on an all day charter kept their limit of 8 big
bass, the largest being 47 and 38 lbs.
Several other bass were released and 15 blues were also taken. On Friday the 14th July,
Bruce Rupp and friends took 7
large bass to 28 lbs. on a full
day. They also had 22 keeper size
fluke of a 3 pound average. Four
of the fluke weighed 5 lbs. The
same day saw the Bush family (no not George) catch 5 large bass, the largest 30
lbs. on a twilight trip. Sean Gittes booked a late full day
charter and caught the limit of 10 quality size bass. Judd York and family clobbered the bass on Monday the 17th
on a morning trip. They trolled up
13 bass of a 20 lb. average. The
largest weighed 30 lbs. They kept
the limit of 8.
Doug Mercer (the flyline shark maven)
managed 2 blue sharks that were tagged and released on the 18th and
19th. Once again, any
fly line enthusiast that would like to take a shark on a fly line, phone me at
631-324-8820. Thursday afternoons
½ day had the Ray Bentenalli group catch 7 bass to 39 lbs. The party had to deal with the passing
tropical storm that provided a large groundswell and intermitten tropical
downpour. All day Saturday ended
with 12 big bass, average size at approx. 18 to 20 lbs, the largest 30 lb. Judd York came back again on the 23rd
for a morning trip, they kept another 8 out of 13 caught. The average bass weighed 25 lbs. the largest was a healthy 40 pounder. Monday afternoon a family of 3 took a
bass limit of 6 in the 20 pound class and also caught 8 nice fluke along with
some porgies and seabass. Mondays
one man ½ day charger was unbelievable.
Rob reeled in approx. 20 big bass.
Every fish was at least 20 lbs.
A legal limit of 2 was
kept. All the other fish were
released unharmed, the two kept went 38 and 36 lbs. We had a slow start but things have improved, even the
porgies are now more readily available, making a ½ days live bait fishing
charter, for those who insist, more practical. The dog fish have backed off somewhat and the fluking has
improved. See you soon.
7/25
Rob a one man ½ day charter reeled in 18 bass, all over 20 pounds
keeping the legal limit of 2 of 36 and 38 lbs.
7/28 Andy had an 8 bass limit from 20 to 41
lbs. on a half day trip.
7/29 8 bass up to 35 lbs. (2 short of a
limit on a ½ day.)
7/30 10 keeper bass for a limit on a full
day. A 20 pound average, plus 12
nice size fluke.
7/31 Pete Ferrara on a twilight trip managed
12 bass which included three 30 pounders
8/4 10 limit to 28 lbs. on a ½ day.
8/5 The a.m. trip had 2 large bass. The p.m. trip had 3 large bass to
37 lbs.
8/6 On a full day trip of codfishing the
result was 42 cod of an 8 pound average.
We fought our way through dogfish to catch the cod.
8/8
10 bass, kept 4 of a 30 lb. average on an a.m. trip
8/9 For Joel Dalessio, 10 bass of a 25 lb.
average – kept 6.
8/10 Another 10 bass fo an a.m. trip to 30
lbs. kept 6 again.
8/11
Two bass in the a.m., came in early due to weather. In the p.m. trip we had 8 bass
that included 3 of approx. 40 lbs. each.
We were short of the limit by 2 bass, but with fish that size who cares?
8/12
Tom Lynch and friends spent all day bass fishing retaining an 8 bass
limit. The three largest fish were
40, 42 and 45 lbs. And so forth
and so forth.
That’s how it’s been Some slow days, but mostly
terrific bass fishing. All the fish mentioned above were
caught trolling the large home made tubes. Using porgies for live bait is not worth the effort. The trolled lure is boss, which has
eliminated a good deal of private boat traffic. Trolling is difficult and requires experience in the areas
being fished. See you in Sept.
September: Using porgies as bass bait is now in fashion.
9/3-a half day saw 7 bass to 32 lbs.
9/4 11 bass for a full day, half on bait, half trolling, to 38 lbs.
9/6 – a half day – 10 bass to 32 lbs.
9/7 – 12 bass on a half day, and that’s how September went by, same
seabass and same fluke also.
9/12 – 28 bass for an afternoon trip. And so on .
October. It began like September, most trips saw bag limits on
bass. Blackfishing and seabass
action was slow yet.
Claudio, a long
time customer took a 49.2 lb. bass on a trolled line. This fish won the fall charter boat contest. Claudio received a check for $1,500
(strange that the largest bass taken every year is on a lure.)
10/4 Jeff Sherer,
on a nighttime casting trip (bait casters and bucktails) accounted for
approximately 60 bass and 30 bluefish, all in four hours. It was a fish every cast! I helped out and was aching all over by
the end of the blitz. Casting for
bass is my favourite method of bass fishing. All the fish were schoolies. The largest 20 lbs
November.
Jeff
was back again for another moonlight 5 hour casting trip. This time we managed 28 bass with a 12
lb. average, and back at the dock by 11 p.m. If you’re a fan of casting call me about a moonlight trip.
11/4 First catch of blacks came here. One and a half bushels. Still slow, but a start, along with 6
bass
11/6
One bushel of blacks and ½ bushel
of seabass to 6½ lbs. Also 12 bass
on eels.
11/9
39 blacks at the rae, (big groundswell on ocean) also 3 bass.
11/16
A limit catch of blackfish. (80 fish) about 3 bushels. Weather still bad at point, 1 bass.
11/18
A bushel of seabass same jumbo porgies and a 40 blackfish limit.
Just when it looked as if the seabass
fishing was picking up, it died off.
As it turned out, due to warm water, seabass fishing was better in late
December and January. Also the
bass fishing slowed down in late November even with live herring bait. A confusing season, Global warming?
2007 – I began with a few codfish
trips. One day saw 2 dozen cod
landed, the other trips had to settle for some blackfish action.
5/17
My first catch of bass.
Approximately 40 bass on diamond jigs for a ½ day.
5/23
Two half days had more diamond jig bass.
Perhaps a total of 50 bass plus many blues. Bass to 22 lbs.
5/24
More bass and blues plus 7 fluke to 7 lbs.
So begins another season. Please telephone
me for charter information. If you
are alone and unable to make up a party for a trip, give me a call and I can
put you in touch with other fishermen in a similar situation. 631-324-8820.
6/17 – To-day was my first catch of bass,
using live bait. An all day
pursuit yielded 11 bass from 25 to 35 lbs.
6/19 – 10 bass, all big from 20 to 25 lbs.,
plus 6 fluke and some seabass for an all day.
6/20 – 9 bass from 25 to 32 lbs. Once again, as last year, the bass are
big, but not in numbers. There
are, however, exceptions.
6/28 – A half day for Bruce Rupp and friends
yielded 18 bass, all over 20 lbs. kept
8 to 35 lbs.
7/2 – On the morning half – 6 bass to 32
lbs., the afternoon 9 bass to 25 lbs.
7/3 -
4 bass to 40 lbs. in the a.m. trip. Another 4 big bass to 35 lbs. in the p.m.
7/4 – 8 bass to 35 lbs. for 3 in the
a.m. 6 bass to 25 lbs. in the p.m.
7/6 – 10 blue sharks of a 200 lb. average
for an all day shark trip.
7/7 – 12 keeper bass to 25 lbs., plus 2
bushel of large to jumbo porgies, for an all day.
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