Fishing for Striped Bass at Montauk

As we drove into the town of Montauk, we stopped at both Johnnys and Paulie's Tackle shops. We learned that on the previous day, blitzes had occurred at the Montauk Point starting at about 3 p.m. and lasting until dark. Similar activity was expected this day.

Turtle Cove

We arrived on the shoreline at the south side of the light house at what is known as "Turtle Cove." We could see blitzing fish about 200 yards out in front of the light house. Boats were circling the feeding frenzy. We were told that some were jigging diamond jigs and bucktails. Many were fly fishing. All were catching fish.

A kayak was trying to join the party, but he had to stand off a little to avoid getting swamped by the boats.

Soon the blitzes started occurring closer to the shore line, and in range of the surf fishermen. There was quite a crowd, but everyone was polite and friendly, and all got
a chance to fish.

Blitzes occurred to our left, and then to our right; then right in front of us. At one point the fish came so close that the bait they were chasing came right out of the water at our feet. The bait was Spearing. However Peanut Bunker were also around.

We caught stripers on every lure we tried; including large poppers and swimmers. The lure most fishermen were using, and the one catching the most fish, was a white bucktail with a red and white pork rind trailer. Although a soft plastic curly tail trailer also worked, the fishermen were using pork rind because it was more durable and it did not need changing between fish, even when they caught a bluefish. There were blues mixed in with the stripers. I caught a bluefish on a rebel windcheater plug.

Most surf fishermen were using 10 foot
rods so that they could cast far enough to reach the blitzes at maximum range. But sometimes the stripers were so close to the shore we could see their stripes.

Fishermen were catching many stripers, but they were releasing almost all of them.

Browns

On the second day we parked at Camp Hero which is a little south of Turtle Cove, and fished the area called Browns.

As we arrived, birds were working, and blitzes were occurring at the southern part of the beach which was very rocky. Many fishermen had managed to position themselves out among the rocks, closer to the blitz, and were hooking up. These fishermen were all wearing Korkers (which have titanium spikes strapped to the bottom) to aid in keeping their footing among the rocks.

Boats were joining the fray, fishing the blitz from the ocean side.

Soon the blitz moved our way and both Bo and I hooked up. Bo had switched to a white bucktail with red and white porkrind trailer, and was having success with that. I was catching stripers on my trusty yellow megabite plug. I also caught stripers on a green pencil popper and a Rebel Windcheater plug.

A fisherman to our left caught more than 10 stripers; one after the other as we watched. He was using a white bucktail with a red and white porkrind trailer. The bucktail is a single-hook lure, and you can hold it by the lead jighead, twist it and quickly release the striper. Then cast out and catch another, without losing your position.

Later back at the tackle shops, fishermen were buying yellow pencil poppers, claiming these were best for catching stripers.

North Side

The next morning we checked out the North side of the lighthouse. No birds, no blitzes.

Some fishermen had waded out among the rocks. They were catching stripers. A couple of hundred yards further north are False Bar and North Bar. These are also great spots to catch stripers.

The scene at Montaulk in the fall is a sight
to behold. The striper migration and it's accompanying blitzes is a wonder of nature. Montauk is one of the best places to witness it, and to catch some striped bass.

Follow UP

The fishing trip described above took place over a 3 day period in October 2006. We went back at the same time in October 2007. This time we were not so lucky. We caught no fish in 3 days of trying.

Both Kathy at Johnnys, and Paulie Paulie's, bait and tackle shops said that the surf fishing was slow, most probably because the water was too warm. The water temperature was about 70 degrees.