Dan's Papers - November 16, 2007 -

This is the last column for the season. Ocean waters have quickly cooled, so offshore fishing has slowed down but blackfishing between Fishers Island and Orient Point has been great. Several boats from the Montauk charter and party fleets have been catching blackfish up to seven pounds each. The Striper Viper landed more than 30 fish last Sunday, and the Viking Star's clients also reeled up many blackfish. Susan at Paulie's Tackle Shop in Montauk says there were loads of small striped bass and bluefish on the ocean beaches from the Lighthouse heading west.

Linda at Jamesport Bait & Tackle in Mattituck reported big blackfish being caught off the beach and by boat from Mattituck to Orient Point and from Orient Point on to Block Island. The fish were biting on green crabs (available in her shop).

Ken Morse of Tight Lines Tackle in Sag Harbor said anglers are catching large bluefish in the surf from East Hampton's Main Beach to Sagaponack beaches. He thinks the Mecox cut to the ocean should be opened by the Southampton Town Trustees this week. If it is, bluefish and striped bass should be attracted to the baitfish washing out from Mecox Bay into the ocean. (Tight Lines is having a sale from now until Christmas.)

The Shinnecock Star, a party boat out of Shinnecock, reported a good bite on blackfish last Sunday with eight keepers up to six pounds each. Scott of East End Bait and Tackle, Hampton Bays, said it's still quiet at the reefs and wrecks off Shinnecock inlet but clients heading to Orient Point and beyond towards Fishers Island caught good-sized blackfish with green crabs. There are still bluefish and striped bass just off the beaches from Shinnecock to Sagaponack. (East End Bait & Tackle is well-stocked with tackle and clothing for holiday gifts.)

The New York City boat show will run from December 29 to January 6 at the Javits Convention Center. Tickets are available online at www.NYBoatshow.com. This is a good place to see the latest in marine electronics and new boat design.

For hunters, the small game season opened November 1 on Long Island. Eligible animals are rabbits, squirrels and pheasants. The most popular game species are the pheasants, which are stocked at the state-managed cooperative lands in Brookhaven, Riverhead, Southampton and East Hampton. Hunting licenses are required and there are daily bag limits on game just as there are for fish. For further information, call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's hunter check-in station at Ridge (631-924-3156) or visit www.dec.ny.gov.

I would like to thank all the local tackle shops, bait stations, captains and readers who have shared their fishing information for this column. You have made my research more enjoyable, and I look forward to returning with fishing news around Memorial Day.