Dan's Papers - September 26, 2008

Porgy fishing this season, which ends today, September 26, has been very good. Large porgies, up to three pounds each, were caught by anglers off Montauk and Orient Point in Block Island Sound this past week, and slightly smaller porgies were caught in the Peconic bays. The blackfish season opens October 1 and minimum keeper size is 14 inches.

For local freshwater fly fishermen, there is some sad news. The Connetquot River State Park trout hatchery is closing for five years due to a fish-borne virus, pancreatic necrosis. This is the only way the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation says the virus can be eradicated. This virus does not affect people. Anglers can still fish for brook, brown and rainbow trout in the Connetquot River. There are conservation and fishing groups for and against this decision.

The 2008 Montauk Classic Surf Fishing Tournament starts at noon today through noon Sunday, September 28. Cash and equipment prizes will be awarded for the five largest bluefish and striped bass hooked and landed from the beach, surf, jetty, bank or pier from the western top of Napeague State Park to the tip of Montauk. The entry fee is $15. Call 631-321-3510 for applications and additional information.

The fall boat shows are starting. The largest on Long Island, Tobay Beach In-Water Boat Show, is this weekend and next Friday through Sunday. The Tobay Beach Marina is on Ocean Parkway, four miles east of the Jones Beach Tower. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and no charge for children 12 and under. More than 500 boats will be on display and there's a large tent featuring marine electronics and accessories. For more information, call 631-691-7050.

Boat owners and prospective owners are reminded marine gasoline that is 10 percent ethanol (E-10) is damaging to fiberglass fuel tanks. The state of Oregon recently passed legislation mandating gasoline sold for use in boats, aircraft, ATVs, power tools and classic cars will be exempt from containing ethanol starting January 1, 2009. We hope other states will follow Oregon's legislation.

The local fishing scene is good. Surf fishing slowed up a bit last weekend, but the Montauk charter and party boat anglers did very well. The Lazy Bones brought in striped bass up to 20 pounds, and the Flying Cloud had stripers, bluefish, porgies and sea bass. Mike Ambrose, of Southampton, on the Flying Cloud, reeled in a 32-inch striped bass caught with clams while fishing for porgies on light tackle - quite a feat! The Viking fleet's clients brought in a load of porgies and sea bass last weekend. Chris Bruckman, on the Elizabeth, caught a striped bass of 42 pounds, and the charter boat Breakaway had a 117-pound tuna last Sunday.

Harvey Bennett, of Amagansett's Tackle Shop, tells us a client brought in two keeper-sized striped bass caught in the ocean surf in Napeague near the White Sands Motel. Ken Morse, of Tight Lines Tackle, Sag Harbor, reports the cut from Mecox Bay to the ocean is still open at the beginning of the week, and anglers catching false albacore in Shinnecock using tins and teasers.

Linda, at Jamesport Bait and Tackle, reports good porgy fishing in the Peconics and Long Island Sound, and kingfish showing up in the Peconic bays. Striped bass are biting on eels at Plum Gut. The Orient Star, fishing the ebbtide at the Gut, brought in large porgies. Continuing on to Gardiner's Island, their clients caught many large blues in the 10 to 12 pound range, with one of 13 pounds.

Scott, at East End Bait and Tackle, Hampton Bays, says clam chummers are catching striped bass while anchored up at the Ponquogue Bridge, and some keeper-sized stripers are being caught in the Shinnecock Bay inlet using live eels, bunker and sand worms. Capt. Don Kaye, a Shinnecock guide, tells us while fishing in the ocean outside Shinnecock last Sunday, he observed about "five miles of bait pods with bluefish, bonita and, later, false albacore churning the surface to a froth." His clients had lots of hook-ups on both light spin tackle lures as well as flies.