Despite last week’s nor’easter stirring up the bays and surf, the South Shore bite is bouncing back fast — and just in time for the South Shore Striper Cup. The fall run has officially kicked into high gear, with big bass pushing west, blackfish season open, and solid inshore action across Fire Island, Moriches, and Jones Inlets.
🌊 Weather & Conditions
The nor’easter reset the board this week, dropping water temperatures and flushing new bait schools into the inlets. Surfcasters found the white water productive for those willing to brave the wind, and by midweek, calmer conditions brought the bait back in thick — peanuts, sand eels, and bunker are now stacked in the bays and just outside the surfline.
Expect moderate northwest winds through the weekend and improving visibility — perfect conditions for stripers and tog along the rock piles.
🐟 Striped Bass – The Fall Run Is On
The main body of migrating stripers has arrived along the South Shore, with fish to 45 inches reported from Moriches to Jones.
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Fire Island Inlet: Consistent action for boaters and surfcasters alike. Fish are taking live bunker, spot, and eels, with a growing bite on diamond jigs and bottle plugs in the evenings.
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Moriches Bay & Inlet: Oversized bass are crushing live spot, and even albies have joined the mix. The inlet is loaded with bait, and early-morning tides have produced multiple fish over 30 pounds this week.
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Jones Inlet West: The push of large bass from Debs Inlet to the Rockaways has begun. Fly anglers using white Beast Hollow flies and poppers are reporting surface feeds in rough water.
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Shirley to Smith Point: Great surf action on the open beach with bass ranging from slot size to well over the slot. Try diamond jigs, darters, and Super Strike bottle plugs.
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Patchogue to Oakdale: Local anglers are reporting slot fish inside the bay, especially around the bridges and tidal creeks at first light.
Pro Tip: If you’re chasing bass this weekend, look for working birds and nervous water outside Fire Island Inlet around dawn. Troll a Mojo rig or cast a bucktail near bunker pods for your best shot at a trophy.
⚫ Blackfish (Tautog) – Season Opens Strong
The South Shore blackfish opener has been excellent so far, with limit catches coming from shallow wrecks and inlet rocks.
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Fish are stacked tight in 10 to 25 feet of water, and green crab jigs have been the top producer.
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Captree, Moriches, and Shinnecock fleets all reported steady action with fish up to 8 pounds.
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Many anglers are switching from fluke gear to tog setups, using 30-pound leader and stout rods to keep fish out of structure.
If you’re new to togging, check your rigs at J&J Sports in Patchogue or Bill Falco’s Chasing Tails Bait & Tackle in Oakdale — both are fully stocked for the season.
🟠 Other Inshore Action
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Bluefish: Plenty of cocktail blues remain in Great South Bay and around the inlet mouths.
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Porgies & Sea Bass: Solid action continues on the reefs and artificial structures offshore, great filler between bass bites.
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Albies: The pre-storm albie bite was phenomenal from Fire Island eastward. While the storm scattered schools, a few pods remain in 40–60 feet of water near Montauk and beyond.
📍 Spots to Try This Weekend
If you’re planning to wet a line, here are a few top South Shore targets:
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Fire Island Inlet: Big bass on live bunker and diamond jigs at sunrise.
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Moriches Inlet Rocks: Tog and stripers holding tight to structure — green crab jigs and spot baits are key.
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Sore Thumb Area (Ocean Beach): Calm-water striper action in the lee of the shoals during the outgoing tide.
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Patchogue River Mouth: Slot bass and blues on small tins and eels during evening tides.
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Jones Inlet to Rockaway: The migration corridor is loaded with bait and a fresh wave of large bass.
🏆 South Shore Striper Cup Preview
The Oakdale Yacht South Shore Striper Cup kicks off next week, and timing couldn’t be better.
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Striped bass activity is peaking, bait is abundant, and the weather looks favorable for strong fishing.
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Tournament anglers should focus on the incoming tides around Fire Island and Moriches Inlets, where most of this week’s big fish have been caught.
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Live spot, bunker, and diamond jigs remain top producers.
Register now at OakdaleYacht.com/StriperCup — prizes, raffles, and awards will follow at the Oakdale Yacht Club, where we’ll celebrate another season of great fishing.
⚓ Final Word
It finally feels like fall on Long Island’s South Shore. Cooler water, active bait, and a new wave of bass are setting up what could be one of the best late-October runs in years. Whether you’re drifting eels in the inlet or working a popper through the surf, now’s the time to get out there.