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Photo by Capt. Sloan Gurney, Black Rock Fishing (

Aboard the Peconic Star III out of Greenport on Tuesday afternoon, Captain Dave Brennan called the porgy fishing “terrific” with fish sized “large to huge.” Some of the biggest scup are over 2-3/4 pounds! The porgies are scattered through different depths at various locations-from 30 feet out to 100. Captain Dave promises to stay on the porgies as long as the hot fishing lasts, but he’s wary of any upcoming, long lasting westerly blows, which could hasten the departure of the big schools.

At the Mattituck Fishing Station on Mattituck Creek, Liz Caraftis seemed frustrated by weather after two weekends of blow-outs. Columbus Day was slow, but there are some good-sized scup still in the area, fish to 16 inches and 2-1/2 pounds. Keeper sea bass can be caught along with the porgies, and tautog action is just starting. Off Hortons Point, anglers who get out will find some big blues and stripers to 20 pounds. The Caraftises expect to keep the station open well into November, and they still have plenty of bait.

At Jamesport Bait and Tackle in Mattituck, Bill Czech also liked the scup action all over the area: Mulford Point, Rocky Point (East Marion), the firing range off Mattituck, and north of Plum Island. He’s surprised that, despite nine days of wind, mostly from an easterly quarter, the porgies are still around. This also obtains in the Peconics, with scup to 14 inches near Robins Island at the time of writing. Stan Hentschel at the Rocky Point Fishing Stop explained the beaches had slowed since last Wednesday after some exceptional action early last week. Fortunately, those boaters who get out will catch scup quite well, and there are blackfish showing right off the beach in eight to 10 feet of water.

Captain Scott Jeffrey at the East End Bait and Tackle shop in Hampton Bays described a quiet week for many boaters because of rough conditions. Clam chumming west of the Ponquogue Bridge produced an occasional keeper bass, while there were some stripers caught on AVA jigs outside the inlet. These jigs in two and four ounce sizes also produce off the beach near the bridge in high, sweeping surf. East and west of the inlet, anglers have a pick of blues and bass on various lures. Friday evening produced a bite of bass and blues in the inlet, but a pick in the dark on tipped bucktails. The Shinnecock Canal has been quiet so far.

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