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10/5/09
This may have been the final straw that gets a lot of New York’s recreational anglers to start treating the fishery regs the same as 55 mph on the LIE. The feds closed seabass in their waters starting today for six months. Most states, including New York have decided not to go along with them, although they did close the commercial fishing. This means that you will no longer be able to fish for seabass outside of Frisbies to the south, east of the west end of the main Midway Rip, roughly 14639, or at North Grounds or Pocketbook to the north. Most of the seabass grounds of Block Island are OK, except for parts of Southwest Ledge. But, here is the kicker. Party and charterboats are required to have federal permits to fish in federal waters (private boats don’t need them, nor do they want them), and by having those permits, they need to abide by the federal regulations, even in state waters. That is going to put a huge hole in the pocket of a lot of guys trying to make a living as the season dies down.
Apparently the saltwater license reciprocity has a caveat as applied to New York and Connecticut. It only applies in common waters, namely Long Island Sound. That means that any Connecticut boat that comes over to the Montauk area to fish will need to have everyone onboard with a non-resident New York license.
I think everyone will agree that this summer the weather was lousy. However, what has been just as bad or worse is that the weather forecasts have been especially crappy as well, often predicting winds that never get here causing fishing trips to be canceled unnecessarily. This became more evident to me on Saturday night, which happened to be the full moon. A weekend in October with a full moon, but with a forecast of 15-20 plus gusts. The Point should have been swarming with boats, but there was only the Viking and four boats, us included, all out commercially fishing.
As far as the fishing is concerned, the bass fishing couldn’t be much better, with plenty of fish and some very nice ones, like the 58 pounder that Frank Schultz caught on the HERLS GIRL. They are being caught trolling with the ‘chutes or on live eels, with some bluefish around but not enough to be a big problem.
The head boats are still catching some fluke, but a lot more seabass are being caught, which starting tomorrow will be off limits. And, the porgie season closes next week.
If you would like to get these reports sent to you directly, drop me a line at captaingene@montauksportfishing.com and I’ll put you on the list.
Thanks for the report.
I was out last night off Montauk and (I smile as I say this) caught nada.
I've been a Hulltruth guy for a while now but that doesn't make make me a good fisherman. Anyway, I'm new to fishing off Montauk and we had the eels but just didn't have the rig I guess.
Caught some huge blues before sunset but not one bite on the bass.
__________________ Triton 27 WA with twin 200 yami
Thanks for the report.
I was out last night off Montauk and (I smile as I say this) caught nada.
I've been a Hulltruth guy for a while now but that doesn't make make me a good fisherman. Anyway, I'm new to fishing off Montauk and we had the eels but just didn't have the rig I guess.
Caught some huge blues before sunset but not one bite on the bass.
Brames the outgoing in am has been good last few days. Take some eels, follow the pros, drop to bottom and take 5 cranks to avoid getting hung up. Fish are right on the rips. Follow the fleet you should catch nice fish.
Brames the outgoing in am has been good last few days. Take some eels, follow the pros, drop to bottom and take 5 cranks to avoid getting hung up. Fish are right on the rips. Follow the fleet you should catch nice fish.
Thanks a bunch.
I think I am going to use a 3-way swivel, hvy sinker and either a circle hook and eel or jig and pork rind. I used to use this rig when I lived on the north fork but left everything in another tackle bag.
I appreciate it and I'll put a little more work into it and get one. Hopefully before Christmas
Thanks James Schachtel
__________________ Triton 27 WA with twin 200 yami
Brames - the fish generally eat when the current is running. Thus, a fishfinder or 3 way rig will act the same. Use flourocarbon (why not) if nothing else has more abrasion resistance. Tie up a few rigs beforehand as often the fish eat on only a Part of the tide so if hung up, can get back to it immediately. Use a live eel, slowed down by ice bath, grabbed by dry paper towel, and you will catch fish.
Fishfinder rig with a 6 - 8 foot leader is the way to fish eels through the rips. you gotta beat the eel senseless too otherwise he'll twist up the leader. i learned this from night fishing with stevie sekora in the late 80's early 90's aboard the Duke (al urban's old boat) we always came back with healthy fish. stevie is da man! i miss the old dog, haha. i wonder how many fish he's murdering on the left coast.
I was out there among what seemed to be an armada of fishing boats.
I caught one short striper and a few blues, using the eels rigged on a 3-way off the bottom.
I actually caught the fish on a silver jig.
Will try again in two weeks, my pride needs some rebuilding
__________________ Triton 27 WA with twin 200 yami
Do you fish the eels on a closed bail? or do you let them run?
We had our eels chopped a bunch of times and lost a lot of fish. Finally, I fished an open bail and let run..finally I caught a nice 22lb bass. I always thought I was supposed to fish eels locked up. But I guess I may have been wrong?
After we ran out of eels, continued to fish the Eastern by trolling umbrellas...but only caugh smaller fish up to 29"
Everyone else at the marina loaded up on big fish..I can only wonder what I was doing wrong.
It's called a slump...
Diamond leaguers get em, golfers get em, and fisherman get em.
In two weeks I'm headed back out, from sun rise to sun set if I have to, but I will use bait or artificials to catch stripers.
plus I'm ditchin the guy that goes with me, he's bad luck.
James
__________________ Triton 27 WA with twin 200 yami
Since when did the LIE lower the speed limit to 55? I know that the police have not yet been informed yet of this major reduction. Anyone else hear of this change?
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Montauk Sportfishing Report 10/5/09 
