Gardiners

[Glory]

Circumnavigated Gardiner's yesterday at 10:00 and didn't see any signs of birds, bait or fish. Deadsville. A couple local guides were equally befuddled. I'm now convinced that fishing this area in an East wind is a waste of time.

[Northfork]

I was there in the afternoon with the same results. Stopped at the Sluiceway and Plum Gut on the way home and didn't see anything happening in the limited time I spent at each.

[Glory]

Joined a group of about 15 boats at Eastern Plains Point around 10:30. Conditions were sunny and calm seas. Within 5 minutes of arriving the sky darkened, the wind quickened considerably, and the seas immediately jumped to 2-3 feet. Very freaky. I hit some big nasty waves SW of Gardiners on my way home. Never seen conditions change so precipitously.

Oh.. the fishing. One of the captains said some Albies were popping up here and there. But with so many boats in such a small area I'm sure the Albies would have been put down anyway.

[Rokus]

same story around the light and south side yesterday (Sunday) morning. Got up early and was heading out of the harbor at 5:30am to find no action whatsoever despite good tides. Stayed out until 11am but them had to head back. Slowest day ever - cant wait for the temperature to drop a little more to finally get the day-bite going.

[venture]

Took a nice day drive to Montauk for dinner Saturday. Brought my old surf rod with me thinking that it would be good to throw a few plugs from under the lighthouse. Haven't done that for many years. Got there in late afternoon and fished almost to dusk. Didn't see one fish......not even a blue. Thought for sure there would at least be some BF action. Nada. Nice to throw the plug again. The "ole" Luxor still cranking well.

[AndyF]

I went out for a few hours Saturday and didn't see a ripple. Went up to the point and saw boats but no fish. Then went back to Gardiners and it was obvious the fish were taking the day off. I actually went out in the slop Sunday late afternoon as the wind died down a bit, but it was big seas and no fish. --124-3

[Wes]

Went to the Point early Saturday, saw nothing in an hour so we worked our way back inside. Found them pretty quickly, lot's of them, but scattered in small pods. Managed a couple while there were just us and two other boats others drifting through. Albies were pretty picky as we had quite a few shots with some slashes/follows. Within an hour the fleet showed up and fishing was over.

[fmw]

I had a terrible trip on Saturday afternoon. Worst fishing I've had out there since early August and absolutely pathetic for the first weekend in October.

It looks like there might be a coastal storm/noreaster this coming weekend. I hate to say it, but I think we need one. Somebody's got to tell the fish that its fall.

[Northfork]

Fished yesterday at Gardiners around 11 AM. Complete wash out with the east wind. While I was there - very short time - saw some fish breaking but it was not conducive to flyfishing and very uncomfortable in the rips.
Earlier in the week there were albies coming up over a wide area but not long enough to connect unless you were in a spot where they surfaced. Saw some of the better-known Montauk and Conn. guides there but I didn't see anyone connect.
Today took a ride with the wife to Montauk and watched from the bluffs on both the north and south sides - didn't see any fish activity. Nice day out there and a beautiful sunset as we took the ferry from North Haven to Shelter Island on our way home.

[Albiemanmike]

Well just to echo everyone elses experience I went over to the point on Saturday about 8:30 am. due to a phone call of fish on top. Got there about 20-25 min. later from the Sluiceway. Found nothing! Went to the North Bar area where there were quite a few boats huddled together. Saw a few scattered micro pods which would come up for about 3 nano seconds and then disappear. The guides had to be dying a slow death out there as all I saw were unhappy faces and lots of despair. I made my way around to the south side and went up as far as the first point (can't remember the name) in the fog. Found nothing again. I had some live shad from earlier in the morning still kicking in the livewell so I said what the heck and swam one all the way back to the point. That is one LONGGGG drift without so much as a bluefish mauling. This warm weather has got to end before we can even think about any kind of fishing, I am taking a break until there is a break in the weather as it is just a waste of time and gas at this point. Forgot to mention went over to Gardiners and it was like a funeral home didn't even see a fish splash, marked a bunch of something at the Ruins but couldn't get whatever it was to eat a fly. Very depressing to say the least.

[Rokus]

Just got back from the point (mon, 8pm) and it is starting to get really frustrating. I had one brief encounter with an albie at the top of the incoming but otherwise nothing. This week will bring colder temperatures which should trigger it.

Look at it as the calm before the storm. Its gonna get so good.

[MarkZ]

Wow, glad i didn't make the hike yesterday!:eek:

[AndyF]

Well I stayed out Monday and after doing some work the wind finally died down. I was tied up but took advantage of an opportunity to take a very short late afternoon/early evening run just for the hell of it. It was dead, but when I got back to the dock (it was dark) heard that the albies were back strong just before I arrived by the green can on the NE side of Gardiners. Guess it is all in the timing, and Frank's probably right that a good storm might liven things up again. During the day, I was walking along Napeague Harbor and saw a huge bluefish blitz. It was too windy to even think of getting on the boat.

Although I didn't so much as see a fish, it's great being out by Gardiners as the sun comes down. (Even better after some good fishing.)

[b.clancy]

My experience mirrored previous comments. I fished (actually it would be more accurate to say I drove the boat) from Sluice to Gardners late Fri. afternoon and didn't see 1 fish. On Sat. I fished the Point and Gardners. Fishing was futile on the south side due to the dense fog, which resulted in way too many boats getting concentrated on too few fish around the Point. My buddy took 1 big albie there, but the small number of pods breaking translated into precious few shots and not much fun. Mid-afternoon we fished around Gardners. A few pods were showing, but they were skittish and tough to approach in the calm conditions. There were hardly any boats, and we got some decent shots, but the fish had lockjaw. The fishing was noticeably slower than the previous weekend. I sure hope the fish haven't already started leaving.
Bob

[ArthurB]

The water temperature makes partial sense for why the bass feed is so weak inshore. It doesn't explain why the albie bite died and why even bluefish blitzes are absent. These fish don't mind water at 67 degrees. Perhaps the high temps are just a symptom and the real culprit is the lack of small bait /bait balls typically concentrated at Montauk at this time. I am suspicious that these winds from the West and SW have brought the warmth and also blown bait off. It reminded me a lot of the nearshore bite off Chatham this July. Without east winds, the bait was in the EEZ with the bass.
The solution at Montauk should be some snotty weather from the north. I couldn't wait any longer and left Montauk yesterday. I ran out of tee shirts and suntan lotion. Best of luck to the rest of you.

[MarkZ]

If I recall the FA bite this year at M was already alot better than last year. It is usually dying down or almost dead by this time. Irregardless, the bass fishing should certainly get hot, but the FA bite may never pick back up.

[Glory]

Two weeks ago there were a gazillion Albies in the Newport and Narragansett areas. With still warm water tempertaures maybe the bulk of them haven't moved down to us. Who's to say the bass bite will be any better?

[MarkZ]

Two weeks ago there were a gazillion Albies in the Newport and Narragansett areas. With still warm water tempertaures maybe the bulk of them haven't moved down to us. Who's to say the bass bite will be any better?

FA's don't migrate like Stripers. On the way back down to the SE states and the Carribean it's pretty much a speedy offshore event . Stripers often migrate right off the beach along with the offshore migration, both occuring at a much slower pace. So as I said the bass fishing "should" pick up as the temps cool, and there is certainly a higher probability of this than the FA activity having any meaningful upswing in M (other than a flukey day or two). On the bass front, not only would it be strange if there was no onshore fall run and no herring run later, but resident fish are presently here in reasonable #'s, just aren't aggresive due to the temps. -Z

[wally gator]

I too, like the much of this board, had thin pickings on Saturday morning. After reading the posts I feel lucky to have taken one decent fish on an albiewhore at about 9:00 at Eastern Plains Pt. Nada after that as there were very few fish surfacing. Also ran into another Sag Harborite who moves his boat to Montuak in October and actually ran to Gardiners because the fishing has been so poor in Montauk after the strong initial showing in September. Perhaps the most exciting thing of the weekend was what I saw up at Westport, MA. I dined at the great Back Eddy in Wesport on the water. After dinner I walked out on the dock to check out some of the boats and was surprised to see 20-30 small stripers all lined up in the light in-between the moored boats. All had their noses pointed into the outgoing tide just waiting for the next meal to swim by. Some of the fish were even snug against the boat hulls to make it easier to hang in the current. They chased and fought over the small fish coming their way. Sometimes breaking the surface, other times just inhaling the fish as they helplessly swam near a hungry stripers mouth. Very cool.

[JDR]

I have been following this thread closely and appreciate the advice/commentary. I fish Montauk 2-3 time a year but have not been over yet due to work. Managed to arrange to use a friend's house for 5 days starting Thursday. I have several friends flying in and the plan is to take the boat over from CT Thursday morning, fish Th, Fr, Sat, Sun and half of Monday and then head back to CT. Getting nervous looking at NOAA calling for an east wind and 3-5 footers the entire time. We can always hit the beach with surf and fly rods but would much rather be out. Any predictions for second half of the week/weekend...either weather or quality of the fishing if we get a nor'easter?

Appreciate any thoughts.

Jeff

[Rokus]

keep the reports coming guys. I'm stuck in the city working but expect things to change any day now with the foul weather. I wouldnso be out there right now!

[JGH]

I fished Montauk by boat Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 8 and 9). It was the worst 2 consecutive days of fly fishing I can recall. Some of the fly-guides resorted to bait fishing. We ran all over, from Gardiner's Island to Ditch Plains and points in between. It was barren.

We saw ONE (yes, ONE) pod of albies pop for a nanosecond off Gardiners on Monday. Zero bass blitzes. Weather yesterday was tough, and seas sloppy, especially in the morning, but we still fished. Final tally: one 4 lb. bluefish off Shagwong yesterday afternoon. --124-3

Brutal, just brutal. It almost HAS to get better -- I sure hope so....I go back out next week for a day. (#$119)

[brushfly]

This little front should help as it sounds like it can't get any worse. Funny 'cause if I had to fish one day out in Montauk on the fly, I probably would go with Colombus Day as far as the calander is concerned. Tight lines as we move forward.

[fmw]

Huh. Very interesting how bad it is now. Kind of crazy because its not like its been a bad albie season . . . its actually been very good up until the last week. I would guess that for some reason the bay anchovies have kind of tailed off or moved offshore. Let's see whether any of this weather pushes them back inside. Good fishing will return to Montauk eventually, just will be interesting to see whether that happens before the peanut bunker start to migrate in November.

[venture]

Hey Bob, How's the fishing been like in your local waters?

[Rokus]

any one been out on Wednesday?

[Glory]

Out on Wed? Now there's an optimistic fisherman!:)

[brushfly]

Howie,

Mezza, Mezz as my Grandfather use to say. See my post uner NY forum.
Enjoy the fall.

Bob

[MD770]

Any reports from this week? Wondering if the fishing has picked back up out there.

[JGH]

I'm told it hasn't picked up.

[Glory]

It's gray, windy and drizzling in East Hampton this morning. Sun is just peeking through. Only good news is that the wind is not from the east. Local paper said there were some bonito around Goff Point early in the week but since Harvey Bennett is the source I'm a little skepical.

[Perch]

I was out there Wed. Also checked out Hither Hills, Fort Pond Bay, the point, south side, Petty's Bight, the Sluice, the Race, Fisher's Island, Thames, Bartlett's. Dead. Dead. Dead. First time ever I didn't see a splash all day. Was going to overnight at the Yacht Club but bagged it. How depressing, esp. when I looked at the figure on the gas pump.

[joev]

I was out there Wed. Also checked out Hither Hills, Fort Pond Bay, the point, south side, Petty's Bight, the Sluice, the Race, Fisher's Island, Thames, Bartlett's. Dead. Dead. Dead. First time ever I didn't see a splash all day. Was going to overnight at the Yacht Club but bagged it. How depressing, esp. when I looked at the figure on the gas pump.

Wow that was a good ride.
Thanks for the heads up.

JoeV

[Wild Bill]

Sure hope this change in weather brings a change in the fishing next week. I will fish Montauk Sun through Sat this coming week. I have never fished Montauk when it was as dead as Perch described.

[Rokus]

Montauk is going to explode tomorrow, Saturday. I feel it.

[MarkZ]

Sure hope this change in weather brings a change in the fishing next week. I will fish Montauk Sun through Sat this coming week. I have never fished Montauk when it was as dead as Perch described.

A different technique may help;) T-19:)

[Wild Bill]

OK, T-19. I will take my porgy rigs this trip and fill the live well.:eek:

Actually last trip during slow times we caught some nice bass diamond jigging. Many of the nicer bass took the dropper fly. Trolling the fly on a sinking line also took four different species when nothing seemed to be happening. I will move to almost any technique short of bait. I have nothing against bait and years ago used it regularly. I just find it more fun to use lures and flies now.

[Rokus]

Montauk is going to explode tomorrow, Saturday. I feel it.

I was right!

[AndyF]

Rokus - for those of us who were landlocked . . . tell us more . . . .

[Rokus]

ok, I arrived at the point at around 11am and there was a ton of bird activity. The fish weren't thick but we came across schools of bass, albies and lots of blues. It was nothing spectacular since the action was so wide spread and the fish somewhat finicky, but nonetheless we had blitzing action again all day.

Strong winds made it somewhat tough at times but still a great day out on the boat. Going out now and wil report...

[Albiemanmike]

Bill,
I too would rather catch everything on fly/artificial but in reality I am a fisherman first and will use any technique short of trolling to catch fish. That being said last weekend I was out at the Point and witnessed the funeral parlor like action, I had some live hickory shad from earlier in the morning in the live well. So I went out to the rips and tried three-waying them only to have on bluefish bite off. It was dismal! Yesterday I went out spur of the moment thinking the winds wouldn't be too bad and they definitely were down from the day before. I fished the CT. side around Niantic and Groton. Caught 1-rat blue and 1-rat bass for my efforts. I did see some scattered surface activity at Bartlett's Reef and found some very scattered nano pods of albies around Groton. Very SLOW. Packed it in at 12:30. I hope for you the action is better this coming week, please let us know if the fishing is back to normal as I may if conditions dictate take a day and come over.

[Sedotti]

Montauk was really good yesterday, Sunday. LOTS of blues and bass and mucho birds. Schools of fish. Windy though. I was out there with Captain Peter Chan. We caught a bunch of 8 - 14 lb. bass. I got a big one on a surface plug near shore later in the day that went 47 inches in length and was 40 lbs. on the Boga. Beautiful fish. Beautifully proportioned.

Heard that Steve Tiffenger got one on a fly this morning, Monday, with Capt. Tommy Cornicelli that was 36 pounds. Not bad. Today not as hot, fishing wise, as yesterday. There were albies up here and there in the rips off the light in the afternoon. Spread out and spooky though. Capt. Jim Levison's clients got four.

Things, I hear, are a lot better out here than they were last week. Good luck to all.

All My Best,
Mark

[AndyF]

Thanks for the report!

[MarkZ]

Montauk was really good yesterday, Sunday. LOTS of blues and bass and mucho birds. Schools of fish. Windy though. I was out there with Captain Peter Chan. We caught a bunch of 8 - 14 lb. bass. I got a big one on a surface plug near shore later in the day that went 47 inches in length and was 40 lbs. on the Boga. Beautiful fish. Beautifully proportioned.

Heard that Steve Tiffenger got one on a fly this morning, Monday, with Capt. Tommy Cornicelli that was 36 pounds. Not bad. Today not as hot, fishing wise, as yesterday. There were albies up here and there in the rips off the light in the afternoon. Spread out and spooky though. Capt. Jim Levison's clients got four.

Things, I hear, are a lot better out here than they were last week. Good luck to all.

All My Best,
Mark

Nice fish Mark! So much fun to watch them slam it...:eek:

[Glory]

Didn't see any Albies on my tour through Plum Gut and around Little Gull. Did find lots of big bluefish.