The Word At Paulies

It's Unbelievable Out There

"What's happenin'?" Paulie asked, on Saturday, May 23rd, when the village was packed with over 10,000 people, most of who were at the Village Green for The Fine Arts Festival. It didn't take long, however, before Nick Apostolides returned to his father's shop with a 26lb bass he caught at the Bluffs on a yellow darter, and drew a crowd.

On Memorial Day surfcasters Ed and Jack set up the usual barbecue on Paulie's back patio for the gang. A few rock hoppers and jetty jockeys were fishing but all was pretty quiet. On Tuesday, May 26th, Warren Dennington hooked a 48.12 lb bass with a super strike bottle plug. "Holy cow," the guys yelled.

"You got that right," was the echo.

"Whole lot of fish this weekend; not enough players," announced Paulie.

The fish were there for sure, and on Friday May 29th Mark Foschi hooked his 48.2 pounder. A little later that day, George Jackman from Bayside who told his wife he was going fishing at Jones Beach, "But I made an impromptu decision and came to Montauk instead," came in with his whopping 57.50 lb cow he caught up front. "I'm thrilled," George said, "but I don't know about my wife."

It's the end of May and it's already a surfcaster's dream. NY Post outdoor columnist, Ken Moran wrote, "Fluke fishing off Montauk has not let up since opening day. Fishing the south side of Montauk Point, anglers are taking keeper fluke up to 10 pounds; stripers up to 30 pounds and there are lots of blues." He needs to catch up.

Jack Yee reported big mouth bass from 20-30 pounds at the Light and along the southside rocks. And a reminder that flounder season closed May 30th. News flash...noted Skisher Paul Melnyk who went skishing Saturday night for the first time this season and caught bass up to thirty pounds along the southside.

On the very last day of May the "Cow Hunter," Rick Girzadas, one of the gang, from Rocky Point, reeled in a beautiful 15 lb weak fish.

All sorts of "hookers" are part of the gang at Paulie's: hard, tough locals who fish hard and work hard, some retired local sharpies mentor the younger high school surfcasters like Mahopac Nick and "Nick Lacrosse," and regulars who have fished Montauk for years from all over the northeast, southeast and even abroad. All in all, these fishermen are a combination of many personalities, ages, and talents who know that Montauk is one of the very few places in the world that offers spectacular, unforgettable fishing.

The following is the Montauk Fishing Season Schedule compliments of 2nd generation, charismatic Charter Boat Captain, Michael Potts of the Blue Fin IV:

Inshore, Overall, Best Bet

Cod, All Year, March and April

Flounder, April-June, April and May

Striped Bass, May-December, May, June, October, November

Blue Fish, May-November, July-November

Green Bonito, July-November, September

Fluke, May-October, May and June

Porgies, July-October, September and October

Sea Bass, April-December, May and September-December

Mackeral, April, May, December, April, May, December

Blackfish, October-December, November and December

To all you anglers: "So much water......so little time."

You all catch 'em up! We'll catch you next week!

Eugenia Bartell

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