Big Bluefish Blitzes

The large swells spawned by this week's passing northeaster seemed to be just what the big bluefish have been waiting for to help them herd the baitfish shoreward. Surfcasters report the kind of bluefish blitzes that were missing before the storm.

Freddie's Bait and Tackle in Montauk reported good surf-fishing on Sunday whenever casters could find a perch safe from the waves. The south-facing beaches on Monday morning saw blues in the 8 to 10-pound range joining with the waves to drive bait onto the beach.

The Full Moon Striped Bass Tournament held annually from the Montauk Marine Basin took place over the weekend. It proved there are big bass feeding in the rips.

Bass Tourneys

The boat angler division was won by Jim Katsaros of Mount Sinai. He caught a 361/2-pound bass. Donald Delbora placed second and third with fish weighing 36 pounds even. The Blue Fin IV charter boat won all three places with bass weighing 37.8 pounds, 35.8 pounds, and 34.6 pounds.

The leader board has not changed in the Montauk Locals bass tournament, as the bigger bass remained out of casting range despite what appeared to be ideal, big-surf conditions brought on by the passing storm.

While the small boats were kept off the Point by the big waves, Harvey Bennett of the Tackle Shop in Springs says he found a school or two "knotting up" off Goff Point.

Off Gerard Drive

Mr. Bennett also reports a surfcaster, who stayed away from the crowd at the Point, catching fluke from the beach at Gerard Drive in Springs.

And, in keeping with the reported big bluefish blitz on the south-facing beaches, he spoke of a 27-pound bass being pulled from the surf at Georgica in East Hampton.

Altenkirch's Precision Outfitters of Hampton Bays reports that small bass have been hitting the beaches in the area of the Shinnecock Inlet, but not big ones, and the bluefish are still scarce up that way.