CURRENT FISHING SCENE AT MONTAUK, NEW YORK

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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. 17^th, 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 20^th, 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 1^st, 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 13^th and 14^th, 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 23^rd 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 23^rd 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 27^th 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 17^th. 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 13^th, 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 14^th 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 17^th 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 18^th and 19^th. 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 23^rd 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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