Montauk is at the spring striper peak this week. The fish have arrived in numbers at the Point rips, fluke (summer flounder) season is open and the bay fishing is producing, and the offshore season is starting to ramp. Several windy days from southwest cut into trip count but the productive mornings produced.
The Point — Striper Peak
The Montauk Point striper fishery is at its annual spring peak. The Southwest Ledge, the Elbow, and the deeper structure off the lighthouse are holding fish on the moving tides. The classic trolling pattern — wire-line with parachute jigs (white or chartreuse, 5-9 oz) drifted through the rip lines — is producing keeper-class and over-slot fish daily.
Live-line fishing with eels at the rips during slack tide has produced the biggest fish of the week. Anchored boats setting eels into the rip with light current produce the trophy-class catches (40+ inches).
The diamond-jig fishery on the rips during peak current has been productive on the schoolie-to-keeper class fish. AA17 and AA27 diamonds in chrome or chartreuse are the standard.
ASMFC slot regulations apply (28-31 inches, one fish per angler) — verify current NY DEC rules. Use circle hooks with bait. Pinch barbs. Release oversized breeders.
Surf — Spring Push
The Montauk surf is producing daily on the dawn tides. The North Bar, the Light House Beach, and the Ditch Plains area have been the consistent producers. Pencil poppers, white SP Minnows, and bucktail jigs are the standard. The fish are following sand eels and the migrating menhaden close to the beach.
Several big-fish surf catches this week — 40+ inch fish coming on bucktails and live eels worked from the rocks.
Inshore — Fluke Open, Bluefish Build
Summer flounder (fluke) season opened in NY waters May 4, 2026 (verify NY DEC current minimum size and bag limit). The Block Island Sound back bay, the Napeague area, and the Gardiner’s Bay channels are producing fluke this week. Standard rigs — bucktail jigs (1-2 oz) tipped with Gulp! 4-inch Swimming Mullet in white, chartreuse, or pink. Drifted along the channel edges.
Bluefish are building. Schools of 8-12 lb choppers are pushing through the bays. Cast diamond jigs, white bucktails, and Got-Cha plugs.
Offshore — Bluefin Season Approaching
The early bluefin tuna season is starting. A handful of school-class fish (60-180 lbs) have been caught on the 30-fathom water trolling ballyhoo and cedar plugs. Numbers will build through June.
Sharks have arrived on the inshore canyon water. Mako, blue, and the occasional thresher are being released. Trolled or chum-fished mackerel is the standard.
A few yellowfin tuna are starting to show on the deeper water. The season is approaching.
What’s Ahead
The summer pattern is settling in. Water temperatures climbing through the upper 50s and into the 60s. The bluefin tuna season will build through June. The fluke fishery will dominate through August.
For this weekend: Point stripers on the morning tides, fluke in the bays mid-day, bluefish wherever they appear.
Tight lines.