Montauk, NY Fishing Seasons

Summer Flats Season.  This can be the most challenging and the most rewarding as we target striped bass and bluefish in the shallow, clear water flats of Gardiner’s Bay.   The ability to sight, cast to and catch these fish is as exciting as the scenery is beautiful.  This season runs from June through September.

The Fall Run: Starting in September and running to November all the fish that migrate along the eastern seaboard stop at Montauk to feed.  This is the time for multiple hook ups of striped bass, false albacore and bluefish.  Just watching the schools of fish feeding on the surface is an experience not to miss.

The “Herring Run:  Beginning in November, as the water cools down and the false albacore and smaller bass and blues move on, the herring move in.  Herring is the preferred food of trophy sized bass and blues.  Along with the herring come the gannets.  These large sea birds add to the excitement by diving in mass from great heights adding to the mayhem of the crashing fish on the surface.  The weather can be challenging but the “trophy” rewards can be great.

We Do Have A Fourth Season Worth Mentioning: During the summer and fall small Bluefin Tuna move inshore and can be targeted with flies or light tackle.  While not a regular event, when we can get to them they are as exciting to catch as any fish in the ocean.