Montauk fishing report for the week of October 1, 2026. Fall at Montauk is one of the great fishing seasons on the East Coast. I have fished the Montauk striper run for years, and early October is when it starts to build. The bait is moving, the fish are feeding, and the rips are coming alive.
What’s Hitting
What’s hot this week: stripers are feeding in the rips off Montauk Point and along the north side. False albacore are blitzing bait along the beaches and off the point, and they are drawing a crowd. Bluefish are in the surf and in the rips. Tautog are on the rocks, and there are still some fluke on the deeper structure, though the season has wound down.
Where to Find Them
For stripers, the rips off Montauk Point, the north side near Shagwong, and the south side beaches. For false albacore, the beaches off the point and along the south side, from Ditch Plains to Napeague. For bluefish, the surf along the south side and the rips. For tautog, the rocky shorelines and structure around the point.
Tides & Conditions
Tides are moderating with the last quarter moon this weekend. The rips are strong regardless, so time your fishing around the moving water. Water temperatures are in the mid 60s and dropping. Northeast winds become more common in October and can make the point rough, so watch the forecast before running around it.
Tackle & Tactics
For stripers in the rips, a bucktail with a pork rind or a soft plastic trailer, or a diamond jig. For false albacore, a small metal jig or an epoxy jig retrieved fast. For bluefish, a metal lure or a popper with a wire leader. For tautog, a green crab on a tog jig. In the surf, a 10-foot rod with 30-pound braid is the standard Montauk setup.
Local Intel This Week
Public launches include the Montauk Harbor area ramps, the Lake Montauk area, and the Napeague Harbor area. Shore anglers have good access at Montauk Point State Park, the Camp Hero area, and the beaches along the south side. Fish are concentrated in the rips and along the beaches. Check current New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulations and seasons before keeping fish, including striped bass slot rules.
This Week’s Tip
The rips at Montauk hold fish on the moving tide, and the best fishing is often on the edges where the fast water meets the slow water. Drift through the rip, let your bucktail bounce along the bottom, and be ready for a hit at the edge of the current.
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