Montauk Seasonal Fishing Calendar

Month Top Species Peak Technique Conditions & Notes
January Tautog, Cod Crab on Point rocks, offshore cod Tautog on the Montauk Point rockpiles; cod on offshore wrecks
February Tautog Green crabs on rocky structure Peak winter tautog; offshore cod still viable
March Striped Bass (early), Tautog Soft plastics in the rips, crab First bass of the season reported at the Point
April Striped Bass, Sea Bass Plugs in the rips, sea bass on structure Bass building at the Point; sea bass season opens
May Striped Bass, Fluke Live eels, fluke drift fishing Bass season at full stride; fluke opens — excellent at Shagwong Reef
June Striped Bass, Bluefin Tuna (school) Live eels/bunker, popping/jigging tuna First school bluefin at Race Point; bass excellent at the Point rips
July Bluefin Tuna, Mahi, Sharks Popping/jigging bluefin, shark chunking Peak offshore — all four tuna species + mako/thresher sharks
August Bluefin Tuna, False Albacore Offshore tuna, cast metals to albies Albies arrive late August; bluefin at Race Point spectacular
September False Albacore, Striped Bass Cast metals, topwater — fast action Albie peak; fall bass migration arrives — building excitement
October Striped Bass (PEAK), Bluefish Topwater at The Lighthouse, bunker chunks PEAK fall run — biggest fish of year; 40-60 lb bass possible
November Striped Bass, Giant Bluefin Surf and boat bass, giant tuna offshore Trophy stripers continue; giant bluefin at Race Point/The Fingers
December Tautog, Late Stripers Structure fishing, jigging Tautog returns; final bass of the season before closing