2002 Season Synopsis
Our fishing season started early out on the east
end of Long Island due to the unusually warm winter we had in 2002. With warmer
than normal water temperatures striped bass and bluefish moved into our waters
from Gardiners Bay to Montauk about ten days to two weeks earlier than we normally
see them. Very large bluefish were taken during mid May in the shallow waters
of Gardiners Bay. June into July produced good numbers of stripers sight cast
to on the flats surrounding Gardiners Island as well as the surrounding shallow
waters. Montauk produced some nice bass during this period into summer but many
old timers thought this early season in Montauk was not up to its normal numbers
of fish seen and caught in previous years. Late August brought the first decent
run of Atlantic bonito to Montauk in a few years. If you found yourself in the
right spot at the right time you had fly caught bonito. Although never even remotely
as plentiful as our false albacore run some anglers managed to put a half dozen
bonito in the boat on a good day.
The first week of September began our annual fall
run. The first few days of the month produced heavy rains but by the 5th of September
I had anglers putting numerous albies as well as striped bass to 17 lb in the
boat. The fall continued to produce right through the end of October with
the last week of September thru the first week of October being peak. Albies averaged
seven to nine pounds this year considerably bigger than the 2001 season. Most
guides had clients who put double digit albies on board this year. This fall season
also produced huge blitzes of bass starting in early Sept and continuing periodically
throughout the season. There were days the fish were so thick around the boat
I had to cut the engine for fear of killing fish. You could actually reach out
ant pet them at times! (Watch out for the spiky dorsal fin if you try it.) Most
anglers who experienced this phenomenon would at times put the rod down and watch
in amazement. Mid October brought some nasty nor'easters with winds that kept
all of us off the water for eight straight days. November saw some large bass
(20+lb) move in to eat bunker and herring but we did not see the great numbers
of striped bass like we did during the 2001season. Bad weather also limited time
on the water in November and December.
All in all it 2002 was a very good fishing season. Spectacular
fishing sessions mixed with bad weather, wonderful Indian summer days with
fish from dawn to sunset to days when we could not get out of the inlet because
of five foot seas. Of course, anything can happen.That's just the way it is at
Montauk Point in the fall. I hope to see you out here this coming season
- when the weather is great and the fish are hungry!
