I got a call from a NJ kid going to Montauk this weekend with his Dad.

After I gave him some advice, I realized there was a thread I posted up somewhere else specifically dealing with Montauk fishin....

So here ya go, hope it helps some of ya's.









Montauk, the Myths VS Reality....
Stock up on bucktails, 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz, and porkrind. some 2 oz but not too many unless there is a big swell forecast. If you are fishing right you wlll lose a few.

If you want big bass you are better off with rigged eels at night. As it seems you have never been there, you might be advised to stick with the daytime and fish with bucktails and poppers. Bring small tins for the rainbait as well.

Montauk is a place that really needs to be experienced over time. My best advice for a first timer is to bring 2 pairs of korkers, extra sets of dry clothes, and lots of duct tape to tape the korkers on. The rocks are rounded and slippery there, prob nothing like you have ever seen. It's not a question of IF you will fall off and go "swimming", it's a question of WHEN.

Be respectful of the locals, don't cast over anyone's line, and pay attention to what the guys who are catching are doing.

Some are friendly up there, some aren't, get used to it.
Spend a lot of time at low tide looking at the water, how it starts to flow, and studying the rock formations if you want to catch fish other than in a blitz.

Realize that there are better times of tide to be on the N side, and other times to be on the S side. Put this all together and you might get a quality fish. I saw some 30's and 40's come in last year when gale force winds were blowing 40mph and not many were fishing.

As to monster fish, no offense but I cringe when I read posts describing monster fish at Montauk from the surf. It's just not representative of the reality that most will see up there. The average size has been shrinking each year as there are less of them. I monitor the official reports every day, and have a few hard core friends fishing there regularly. A 30lb bass is the new 50, as that is the size of the bigger bass most of the charters are getting.

"Most" of the fish off the beach are around 10#, that's the reality unless there is a huge blitz or you fish at night and know what you're doing.

Pay attention, take it all in, and be careful on the rocks.
Good luck, stop in Paulies when it's not busy (hard to do during prime season, buy some stuff, and maybe you'll learn some things).