Long Island fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall on Long Island means the striper run, and it is starting to build. The bait is moving, the water is cooling, and the fish are feeding along the beaches, the inlets, and the North Shore. October is a great month to be on the water.
What’s Hitting
This week on the water, stripers are building on the fall run along both shores, with fish showing in the surf, the inlets, and the bays. False albacore are blitzing off the beaches, especially on the South Shore and the East End. Blackfish (tautog) season is underway, and the fish are on the rocks and wrecks. Bluefish are in the surf and the bays. Porgies are on the structure in Long Island Sound.
Where to Find Them
For stripers, fish the South Shore inlets like Jones and Fire Island, the beaches along Robert Moses, and the North Shore harbors. For false albacore, the beaches off Shinnecock and the East End. For blackfish, the rock piles, the jetties, and the wrecks in Long Island Sound and off the South Shore. For porgies, the structure in the Sound.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are moderating with the last quarter moon this weekend. Water temperatures are in the mid 60s and dropping. Northeast winds become more common in October and can make the South Shore rough. Watch the forecast and the tropics before planning a trip.
Tackle & Tactics
For stripers, a soft plastic swimbait, a bucktail, or a popper in the surf, and a live bunker or eel in the bays. For false albacore, a small metal jig or epoxy jig retrieved fast. For blackfish, a green crab or a piece of clam on a tog jig, fished tight to the rocks. For porgies, a hi-lo rig with clams or squid.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Jones Beach area ramps, the Captree State Park boat basin, and the Shinnecock Canal area. Shore anglers have good access at Jones Beach, Robert Moses State Park, and the Shinnecock Inlet jetties. Fish are concentrated at the inlets and along the beaches for stripers and albies and on the rocks for blackfish. Check current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
Blackfish are notoriously tough to hook. When you feel the first tap, do not set the hook. Wait for the second, heavier tap, then set it hard. Setting on the first tap usually means a bare hook and a smart fish.
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