Montauk NY Fishing Information
This area is the most well known surf fishing Mecca in the world. More giant stripers have been caught here than can be counted. It is the true beginning or end of the Long Island Sound in its’ eastern most territory. The Montauk lighthouse is New York’s oldest existing lighthouse and is iconic in seafaring images. The fishing shops are remarkable. The fishing? Perhaps the best in the world – certainly tied for first. On the Northern side the most skilled charter and party boat captains capture trophy Stripers, Blues, Fluke, Sea bass and Black fish. Fluke and flounder abound but are often times ignored due to larger game fish. Famous also for huge anchovy runs which attract Bonita and False Albacore in late summer, it also causes incredible Striper and Bluefish migrations around the point heading South and West to New Jersey. The Point itself is the surf fisherman’s’ Mecca. One for the bucket list in a fisherman’s’ life. From here charters can take you for shark, tuna, the bill fish that inhabit the ocean and don’t forget to whale watch while you’re out there. To the south are the sandy beaches that are world famous with more surf fishing that is world famous. The restaurants are fantastic, the fishing is crazy good, the views are unreal and experience is priceless; Montauk!

Fishing Calendar Depending on the time of year most Party Boats will fish for the following species: April - May: Winter Flounder, Fluke, Weakfish, Black Fish and Striped Bass June - September: Fluke, Bluefish, Striped Bass, Black Fish, Porgies, Sea Bass October-December: Fluke, Blue Fish, Striped Bass, False Albacore and Black Fish Many Charter Boats will fish for the same species as the Party Boats and will also fish offshore for Sharks from June - September and Tuna during August through early October.

Some Fishing Tips Surf Fishing is good along all the local beaches especially around jetties. Bluefish are fished all over the sound and will chase bunker up any river. Diving birds are a sure sign there are Bluefish in the area. When on the surface throwing surface poppers can’t be beat for excitement! The most popular way to fish for Blues is to anchor your boat chum with ground bunker to attract the fish while dropping back cut bunker. Make sure to use a heavy mono or wire leader since these fish a sharp teeth that will make short order of 10 - 15 lb mono. Night time is great for Bluefish as well. Blackfish is best done by a charter or party boat since you need knowledge and experience to locate and fish wrecks and rock piles. If you’re not in the rocks or on a wreck you’re not going to catch. Fluke fishing is excellent around the Spring Lake Hotel to the south and Elberon and Deal to the north. Drifting a combination of a strip of squid and a kellie is the most popular way to fish. Flounder fishing is best in the April and May time frame. Chumming is a necessity to improve your chances of catching a good number of fish. Anchoring is the usual fare dropping down either blood or sandworms. The bay and the river are popular spots but the bay is very shallow and is limiting during low tide. Striped Bass can be caught by using live bait - primarily bunker or river herring and eels are deadly at night and low light conditions. The world record Striper fell for a big free drifting eel with a 3/0 hook at night. Porgies and Sea Bass are bottom feeders usually willing to eat any kind of squid and clam bits offered. A 1/0 hook and a 1 to 2 ounce bank sinker rigged with a three way swivel could put some tasty fillets on the table for many. Porgies are right up there with Black fish as one of the tastiest fish in the sea! Bonita and False Albacore are in the tuna family and are incredible fighters! Bonita are great table fare but False Albacore are NOT! Incredible on the fly rod!!!! Tuna are targeted in the summer months offshore in the Canyons. Sharks are targeted all through the summer months and can be are usually be caught inshore of the canyons anywhere from 15 – 50 miles out. Please be responsible and only keep what you intend to eat and practice catch and release! Party Boating - Make sure to arrive early and get a good spot on the boat. You want to stay near the bow or the stern this way you can fish comfortably regardless of the direction the boat is drifting. Charter Boats - Book trips early and make sure you have a species in mind and have a back up spices in case the fish don't cooperate. Make sure and discuss it with the captain so they are prepared and are in agreement. In the case of fishing for Tuna, make sure you are aware of the captains rules as far as keeping fish. Some boats, especially when giant Tuna fishing, will keep most of what their charters catch.