"Fall Fishing in Montauk"
Fisherman II - Capt. Paul Giangreco
November 12, 1999
Holy mackerel, no holy smokes! Incredible, unbelievable. Okay, put this in your pipe and smoke it. Jumbo sea bass up to 4 lbs. and mostly 3 lbs. to 2 lbs. Jumbo porgies, we're talking the humpback of Notre Dame. And if this is not enough to get your car going, how about some nice blackfish. No, I'm not talking some wanna be, there are 6 lbs. and better weight watchers. And for dessert, cod fish in the teens and fluke, that's right. Oh, I forgot bluefish and stripers...all on one trip!
No, you say, Dave must be on medication again, hitting the bottle, off the wagon. Let me get this out of the way...if you love bottom fishing, smaller crowds, less traffic and a full menu, go for it this week. Move, move now...off the moon's revenge tide. Water temp is just right, ahhhhh. Bring your own bait, if you think the boat may not have your cup of tea. Fresh squid can be purchased at any local fish market. Nice long strips, don't go cheap on me now. The best part of the squid is from the eye down. Cut, leaving the the tenticles together, they move naturally from the current.
This is a sea bass filet mignon...hold the mushroom sauce. For blackfish fresh crabs work great...try to find the smaller ones, not the jumbo green crabs. Salted down clams work well for everything...they're tougher and hang on a lot better than unsalted clams. Fresh clams are the best by far, but you have to shuck them yourself--your choice. Hey, when fishing depends on your own goods, a little extra work to prepare makes for a cooler of great eating later.
Braided line is the best way to go. To feel those hits and hook setting. Remember leader line of at least 8 feet, on the end of 30 lbs. test to get out of rocks and sticky bottoms. You can use a flourocarbon leaders and go to 40 lbs. test. But don't go under 20, please. You'll be busting lines left and right when you get stuck. Don't cast if you are on heavy structure, you're asking to get snapped straight up and down. Use weight appropriate to the current. Go to Al Goldberg's article "Fall Blackfish Primer" for more details on rigs. Sounds like a lot of work, it's not , maybe an hour of running around to get what you need to slam those pups.
There are some great days of fishing right now. Pictures don't lie. They're not from last year or a month ago, they're two days ago. Check the weather, pick the day and move your butt. The tide is just right for bottom fishing. Check my site for Montauk 6 packs and party boats depending on pocket change. May the fishing force be with you child, and God bless all.