New York · Long Island
STRIPED BASS FISHING
IN MONTAUK
Montauk is an outstanding destination for striped bass fishing, with peak season in May, June, September and good catches in April, July, August. Book a charter and target striped bass with local experts.
About Striped Bass Fishing in Montauk
The iconic striper is the most sought-after gamefish on the Atlantic coast. These powerful, line-ripping fish migrate from the Chesapeake Bay to New England each spring and fall, creating legendary fishing opportunities from Virginia to Massachusetts.
Striped Bass — called "stripers" or "rockfish" in the Chesapeake — are the most iconic gamefish of the Atlantic coast. Their silver body with bold black horizontal stripes, powerful build, and aggressive feeding make them a favorite from Virginia to Massachusetts. The spring and fall migrations create legendary fishing runs as massive schools move along the coast. Stripers are found in both salt and fresh water, and the Chesapeake Bay serves as the primary nursery for the Atlantic population. They are excellent eating, with firm, white, mildly flavored flesh.
Scientific name: Morone saxatilis
Striped Bass Seasonal Calendar — Montauk
Month-by-month availability for striped bass in Montauk, NY.
How to Catch Striped Bass in Montauk
Techniques & Bait
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
Recommended Tackle
Medium to medium-heavy spinning rod (7-9 ft), 4000-6000 reel, 20-40 lb braid, 30-40 lb fluorocarbon leader. For surf casting: 10-11 ft surf rod, 6000+ reel, 50 lb braid. Fly: 9-10 weight rod with intermediate line.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Montauk
Top spots where local captains target striped bass and other inshore species.
Montauk Point Lighthouse Rocks
The rocky shoreline beneath Montauk Point Lighthouse is the most iconic surf-fishing location in the northeastern United States, where striped bass congregate in enormous numbers during spring and fall migrations. Anglers cast plugs, eels, and bucktails from the boulder-strewn shore into rips and current seams created by the point's underwater rock structure. Trophy striped bass over 50 pounds are caught here every season, earning Montauk Point its legendary status among surfcasters.
Fort Pond Bay
Fort Pond Bay is a sheltered embayment on the north side of Montauk, providing calm inshore waters that hold fluke, striped bass, weakfish, and porgy throughout the warmer months. The bay's sandy bottom and moderate depths create ideal habitat for summer flounder, which concentrate here during their annual inshore migration. Small boats and kayak anglers work Fort Pond Bay for consistent inshore action without the rough ocean conditions found on Montauk's south side.
Lake Montauk
Lake Montauk is a large tidal lake connected to Block Island Sound that serves as Montauk's main harbor, with its channel and basin holding striped bass, fluke, and weakfish around dock pilings and moored vessels. The lake's connection to the open sound brings tidal flushing that maintains water quality and attracts baitfish, which in turn draw gamefish into the harbor. Fishing the entrance channel on outgoing tides produces consistent catches of striped bass feeding on bait swept from the lake.
Napeague Harbor
Napeague Harbor lies along the north side of the narrow Napeague stretch between Amagansett and Montauk, its shallow waters and marsh edges holding striped bass, fluke, and weakfish in a quiet inshore setting. The harbor's eelgrass beds and sand flats provide nursery habitat for juvenile fish and feeding grounds for larger predators during tidal movements. Kayak anglers and light-tackle enthusiasts find excellent sight-fishing opportunities in Napeague Harbor's clear, shallow water.
Other Species in Montauk
More fish you can target while visiting Montauk.
Striped Bass Fishing in Montauk — FAQ
The peak months for Striped Bass fishing in Montauk are May, June, September, October, November. During these months, Striped Bass are most active and abundant in the Montauk area.
Striped Bass fishing charters in Montauk are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Live bait (bunker/menhaden, eels, mackerel) fished on a fishfinder rig or chunk rig near structure, rip currents, and drop-offs is the most consistent technique. Trolling umbrella rigs and tube-and-worm behind planer boards covers water during migrations. Casting topwater plugs (Pencil Poppers, Atom Poppers) into blitzing schools on the surface at dawn/dusk is the most exciting striper fishing. Fly fishing with Deceiver, Clouser, and Grocery Fly patterns during the fall run is world-class. Live eels drifted at night around rocky structure is the go-to for trophy fish.
No — when you book a charter in Montauk, your captain provides all required New York fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Striped Bass regulations in New York include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Striped Bass in Montauk, you may also catch Tautog, Bluefish, Fluke, False Albacore, Black Sea Bass. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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