Montauk Sportfishing Report

[Captain Gene Kelly]

I’ve been a little negligent with these reports lately. The owner of the boat that I run has left for the year, so I’ve been spending most of my time on maintenance and putting it away for the season.

Last weekend was the first one that Mother Nature has screwed up on us for quite a while. Saturday only a couple of boats sailed. More sailed on Sunday, but many canceled, more based on the forecast than actual conditions, which were "fishable", which means you were unlikely to die, but were able to get out and catch some fish, even if it meant being miserable. I just checked the Montauk weather buoy, and it has been a steady 30 knots since late yesterday afternoon, and the forecast for the rest of the week is pretty grim.

I think it’s safe to say that not many boats will be going offshore for a while if at all for the rest of the year. The charter boats don’t like to book offshore trips this time of year because of the likelihood of being blown out and losing a day that they otherwise would be able to fish inshore. Plus, if they are able to squeeze in a trip, they don’t know where to go.

Inshore the striped bass fishing is great, just as it should be this time of year. Trolling is getting to be the best choice, if for no other reason that porgies are hard to catch when the weather is lousy. There are still bluefish to fill in the cracks between bass, but I don’t know that you will find many falsies around after this blow is done.

The surfcasters are probably loving this weather. Most of those guys are nuts, but the northeast winds do tend to bring the bass more into casting range.

The bottom fishing for porgies and seabass should stay pretty good for quite a while yet, although you will probably have to head over toward Block Island for the best of it.

I won’t be as regular in sending out these reports for the rest of the season, since I’ll be getting busier with booking the winter trips down in Latin America, so if you’re thinking of going somewhere warm to fish this winter, give me a call. I’ve got a lot of great options for you in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Lots of fish and no snow!

If you would like to have these reports sent to you directly, just drop me a note at CaptGene@MontaukSportfishing.com. And for more information about fishing in Montauk, you can give me a call at 800 280 5565 or check out http.//www.montauksportfishing.com.


Capt Gene Kelly
Montauk Sportfishing - 800 377 1197
Tropical Fishing Adventures - 800 280 5565
631 668 2019
FAX 631 668 2040