Montauk fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. I have fished a lot of fall runs at Montauk, and this is the week things really start to heat up. The water is cooling, the bait is pouring out of the bays, and the fish are stacking up around the Point. With the full moon on Saturday, the rips are going to be ripping.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, striped bass are stacking up in the rips off the Point, and the surfcasters are getting into fish on the rocks. False albacore are working around the Point and along the North and South sides. Bluefish are crashing bait from the lighthouse to the South Side, and bonito are still around. Sea bass and porgies are on the wrecks, and blackfish anglers are gearing up.
Where to Find Them
Stripers are in the rips off Montauk Point, especially on the outgoing tide, and along the rocks under the lighthouse. Albies are around the Point and along the North Side beaches. Bluefish are everywhere, from the Point to the South Side. Sea bass and porgies are on the wrecks and rock piles.
Tides & Conditions
With the full moon on Saturday, the tides are strong, and the rips are going to be intense. Be careful when fishing the rips, and know your boat’s limits. Water temperatures are in the upper 60s and dropping.
Tackle & Tactics
For stripers in the rips, drift a bucktail with a pork rind or soft plastic trailer through the current, or cast plugs. Surfcasters should throw bucktails, swimming plugs, and darters. For albies, small metal jigs or epoxy flies. For bluefish, poppers and metal lures. Use a wire or heavy mono leader for the blues.
Surfcasters should plan on the night tides this week. The full moon will make the rocks bright enough to see, and the bigger bass tend to feed after dark on the dropping tide, especially on the South Side beaches west of the lighthouse. A darter or needlefish plug swum slowly through the white water has produced some quality fish in the past week.
Local Intel This Week
Montauk Point State Park provides access to the rocks under the lighthouse, and Camp Hero State Park also offers access to the surf. The Montauk Harbor has a public boat ramp. Surfcasters should be cautious on the slippery rocks and wear appropriate footwear. Fish are concentrating in the rips and around the Point. Check current New York State DEC marine regulations, size limits, and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
When fishing the rips for stripers, drift your bait or lure with the current. Keep it near the bottom and work it through the rips, where the bass wait for bait to be swept to them.
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