surf reports 2008

My Fishing Reports from Long Island.

Surf Reports 2001 Surf Reports 2002 Surf Reports 2003 Surf Reports 2005 Surf Reports 2006 Surf Reports 2007

Links to the best Long Island Surf Fishing Reports: Noreast.com

Report # 70 December 30, Robert Moses #2, 4 pm

Last 10 cast of 2008 surf fishing season:

165 stripers (only 11 keepers 28-33")

20 bluefish (10 choppers 26-34")

Report # 69 December 25, Robert Moses #5, 4 pm

NW 15-19kts wind, 2-3' surf, brown water.

Filed 3 and 4 closed, filed 2 and 4x4 access still open with permit for next 6 days.

No signs of life. Happy Holidays!

Report # 68 December 21, Robert Moses #5, 4 pm

Cabin fever drives me to the beach at sunset.

Report # 67 December 14, Gilgo and Robert Moses 4x4, 2:30pm-5:00pm, low tide 2:53pm

Conditions: SW 20-25 kts wind, 3-4' surf.

Went to Gilgo, Sore Thumb and Robert Moses 4WD access.

Fished bucktails and tins without any luck. Enjoyed good weather and nice sunset.

Report # 66 December 13, Robert Moses #4, 3:30pm-4:30pm, high tide 7:40pm

Conditions: NW 15-10 kts wind, 2-3' surf.

Catch of the day: fresh air and cabin fever medicine. No bumps, no fish.

Bad day of fishing is better them good day of Christmas shopping.

Report # 65 December 6, Robert Moses #3, 4:00pm-5:00pm, low tide 7:42pm

Conditions: SW 12-8 kts wind, 0-1' surf.

Walked from field 3 to 4, cast lures, not a sign of life.

Report # 64 December 5, Robert Moses #3, 6:50am-8:00am, low tide 6:03am

Conditions: NNW 10-17 kts wind, 0-1' surf, water temp in surf 46.9F.

Quick stop before work. Walked from field 3 to 2 and cast lures similar to herrings.

No bumps, no fish, no life, nice to be on beach at sunrise again. Did see only 2 surfcasters west of me.

Report # 63 December 4, Robert Moses #4, 8:30am-9:30am, high tide 11:14am

Conditions: SW 20-30 kts wind, 4-5' surf, water temp 51.3F at NDBC44025, 48.9F in surf.

Rough surf with a lot of white, clean water and strong east sweep.

Walked from field 4 to 5 and cast heavy metal and bucktails.

No luck today.

Report # 62 November 29, Robert Moses #4, 4:00pm-5:00pm, high tide 8:14pm

Conditions: NW 10-0 kts wind, 0-2' surf, water temp 52.0F at NDBC44025, 47.9F in surf.

Catch: none

Enjoyed warm temp and exceptional sunset.

Report # 61 November 28, Robert Moses #3, 4:00pm-5:00pm, high tide 7:34pm

Conditions: WNW 15-10 kts wind, 3-4' surf, water temp 52.7F at NDBC44025

Catch: one very short striper ~17"

Nice white surf with clean water, but no life.

Measured water temp in surf at 49.0F ( 46.8F at 11am ).

Report # 60 November 26, Robert Moses #4, 3:50pm-4:50pm, high tide 6:15pm

Conditions: WSW 15-5 kts wind, 3-5' surf, water temp 52.9F

No birds, no fish, nice surf and sunset.

Report # 59 November 22, Robert Moses #4, 4:10pm-5:00pm, high tide 3:02pm

Conditions: NNW 15-30 kts wind, 0-1' surf, water temp 54.5F

Cold and windy, no fish.

Report # 58 November 21, Robert Moses #4, 6:30am-7:30am, low tide 8:24am

Conditions: N 8 kts wind, flat surf, water temp 55.2F

Catch: none

Quick stop before work, nice sunrise, birds diving 1 mile from shore.

Report # 57 November 16, Robert Moses #4, 9:30am-10:30am, high tide 9:03am

Conditions: WNW 29-36 kts wind, 6-7' surf, water temp 57.4F

Catch: 3 short stripers

Went late to catch beginning of outgoing tide and have less sea weeds in water.

Surf like giant washing machine and beach reminiscent of sand blasting machine.

Tough condition to fish, but if you can go to bottom, the fish were waiting. Left them biting.

Report # 56 November 15, Nissy river, 1:00am-2:30pm, high tide 12:05pm

Conditions: SSE 23-27 kts wind, 0' surf, clean water at temp 56.3F, rain/sun/rain.

Catch: 5 small stripers

Went to North Shore for change, looked for clean water and cover from wind.

Walked from Sunken Meadow State Park field 3 to the Nissy, found fish on outgoing tide in the river.

Dredging equipment across from Bluff Park - not operating yet.

Report # 55 November 15, Robert Moses #5, 7:00am-8:00am, high tide 8:06am

Conditions: SE 15 kts wind, 3-4' surf, water temp 57.7F, fog, on and off rain.

Catch: fresh air

Scouting field 5, eel grass and salad made fishing difficult.

No nude girls on beach today.......

..... due to beach erosion.

Report # 54 November 14, Robert Moses #4, 7:00am-7:45am, high tide 7:15am

Conditions: S 5 kts wind, 3-5' surf, water temp 57.6F

Catch: 2 short stripers and one bluefish ~4 lbs

Surf with a lot of white water, but some eel grass and salad.

Scouting trip before work.

Report # 53 November 13, Montauk Point, 6:0am-3:00pm, overcast, some rain

Conditions: SE 0-20 kts wind, 0-7' sea, water temp 57.4F

Charter trip with friends on Capt. Mark

Catch: (for 6 people) 24 blackfish 4-7lbs, limited out, 1 cod 24", 6 stripers 30-37", 20 bluefish 4-10lbs.

My catch: ~7 blackfish 4-6 lbs, 1 striper 30", 3 bluefish 7-9 lbs.

Blackfish a one codfish.

The 39' custom charter boat.

Stripers and bluefish.

Baby blackfish about 6" (all short fish and over limit released)

Report # 52 November 11, Robert Moses #4, 6:15am-8:15am, high tide 4:55am

Conditions: NW 15 kts wind, 0-1' surf, clean water at temp 57.7F

Catch: 9 bluefish 28-32" (8-10lbs)

November 11 - the "annual magic day at Robert Moses".

Big bluefish tested my fishing gears to the limits, nice fights. All released.

Report # 51 November 9, Robert Moses #3, 4:40pm-6:30pm, high tide 3:36pm

Conditions: WNW 18-20 kts wind, 1-2' surf

Catch: one small striper

First stop at crowded RM5. Moved to RM3. Used big lures in attempt to stay away from small bass.

Eel grass and salad still in water.

Report # 50 November 9, Robert Moses #4, 6:am-7:00am, low tide 9:59am

Conditions: W 15-17 kts wind, 1-2' surf, water temp 58.5F.

Catch: 5short stripers, 20"-26"

Comments: Some eel grass and green salad in water. Small blitz at sunrise,

short size bass flipping tails in casting range, birds assisting them.

Surfcaster pulling double header of small bass.

Report # 49 November 8, Gilgo/RM2 4x4, 2:00pm-5:00pm, high tide 2:40pm

Conditions: S 15 kts wind, 2-3' surf, rain

Catch: 3 miniature stripers at Gilgo

Comments: scouting Gilgo and RM2 by car, fished both places, noting on RM2.

Gilgo

Report # 48 November 7, Robert Moses #4, 7:00pm-9:30pm, low tide 8:37pm

Conditions: SE 5 kts wind, 3-5' surf

Catch: 13 small stripers, 20"-26"

Comments: fished with big lures after dark, made an effort to stay away from short bass.

Report # 47 November 7, Robert Moses #4, 6:20am-8:30am, low tide 8:04am

Conditions: NE 5 kts wind, 3-5' surf, water temp 58.3F.

Catch: 14 short stripers, 22"-26"

Comments: Again quick stop before work, rough surf, light brown water with some eel grass.

Fishable with bucktails and single hook lures. Water is cleaning nicely with incoming tide.

Left them biting. Can be very good fishing tonight.

Report # 46 November 4, Robert Moses #4, 6:15am-7:30am, low tide 4:41am

Conditions: ENE 7 kts wind, 2-3' surf in swells, water temp 59.0F.

Catch: 3 short stripers, 22",23" & 26"

Comments: quick stop before work, some eel grass in water, did see striper striking my lure in wave.

Found fish in shallow white water, left them biting.

Report # 45 November 2, Robert Moses RM2, 5:00pm-6:30pm, low tide 4:13pm

Conditions: E 10 kts wind, 1-2' surf, water temp 59.0F.

Catch: 3 small stripers

Comments: short trip to take sunset pictures and scout new places at #2.

Report # 44 November 1, Robert Moses RM4, 6:00pm-7:30pm, high tide 9:19pm

Conditions: W 4 kts wind, 2-3' surf, water temp 60.3F.

Catch: 12 short stripers 22"-26"

Comments: Left them biting and walked away from hot spot. Searched for bigger fish

in deeper water without luck. Single hook lure worked well to release all fish in perfect shape.

Report # 43 November 1, Robert Moses RM4, 7:00am-8:30am, high tide 8:50am

Conditions: W 12 kts wind, 1-2' surf, water temp 59.4F.

Catch: 2 short stripers

Comments: nice sunrise.

Report # 42 October 30, Robert Moses RM2-RM3, 7:00pm-8:30pm, high tide 8:36pm

Conditions: WSW 12-17 kts wind, 2-3' surf, water temp 59.5F.

Catch: 4 short stripers

Comments: worked hard to find some fish.

Report # 41 October 30, Robert Moses RM4, 5:45pm-7:30pm, high tide 7:56pm

Conditions: NW 15 kts wind, flat surf, water temp 59.7F.

Catch: 5 short stripers

Comments: quick stop after work, and again I left beach before big fish show time.

Report # 40 October 26, Robert Moses RM4, 5:45pm-7:00pm, high tide 5:57pm

Conditions: WSW 15 kts wind, 6-7' surf, water temp 61.3F.

Comments: forceful surf with plenty of white water, one strike, zero fish landed.

0-12

Report # 39 October 26, Robert Moses RM4, 9:15am-11:30am, low tide 11:25am

Conditions: NW 13 kts wind, 3-5' surf, a lot of white water

Catch: 21 stripers most 22"-26", only one at edge of 28"

Comments: arrived very late with plan to do beach scouting. Saw two shorts and one keeper caught.

Went walking and casting to find hole full of hungry stripers. Fish almost every cast for one hour.

Report # 38 October 25, Robert Moses RM4, 5:00pm-6:30pm, high tide 5:25pm

Conditions: SE 25-35 kts wind, 5-7' surf, water temp 61.5F.

Comments: big surf, a lot of white water, crazy fishing,..... too dangerous to fish after dark.

Report # 37 October 25, Robert Moses RM4, 7:00am-8:30am, high tide 5:10am

Conditions: SE 10 kts wind, 3' surf,

Catch: none, had one fish on backtail, but only for short time.

Comments: arrived to late.

Report # 36 October 24, Robert Moses RM4, 6:00pm-8:00pm, high tide 4:31pm

Conditions: S 21 kts wind, 1-2' surf, water temp 61.5F.

Catch: 6 short stripers, all after dark

Comments: bait guys did well today, saw nice fish 20-25 lbs. on beach.

Report # 35 October 23, Robert Moses, 6:00pm-6:30pm

Conditions: NE 9 kts wind, water temp 61.3F.

Comments: scouting beaches and taking sunset pictures. Flat surf and crowd of fisherman.

Looks like Friday night can be a good fishing with change of wind.

Report # 34 October 22, Robert Moses RM4, 6:00pm-7:00pm, low tide 9:31pm

Conditions: N 20 kts wind, flat surf, water temp 61.9F.

Catch: 2 short stripers, and 2 more hits.

Comments: Quick stop after work to find a lot of cars on parking lot, crowd gone with approaching darkness. Left beach before show time for big fish.

Report # 33 October 21, Robert Moses RM4, 7:00am-8:45am, low tide 7:17am

Conditions: WSW - 5-15 kts wind, 3-4' surf

Catch: 6 stripers, just one keeper at 31"

Comments: quick stop before work, bite ended with sun light.

Report # 32 October 20, Robert Moses RM4, 6:00pm-8:00pm, low tide 7:15pm

Conditions: WNW - 9 kts wind, 4-6' surf, water temp 62.6F.

Catch: 9 stripers: five shorts and four keepers from 28" to 33"

Comments: Rough and dangerous surf conditions with a lot of white water.

Fish hitting very hard specially after dark,.... left them biting.

The best fishing trip of this season so far.

Report # 31 October 18, Robert Moses RM4, 6:00pm-7:30pm, low tide 5:11pm

Conditions: NE - 15-20 kts wind, 3-4' surf, water temp 64.0F.

Catch: one short fat striper, lost another in wash.

Comments: went out again for sunset fishing.

Report # 30 October 18, Robert Moses RM4, 6:15am-8:00am, high tide 10:14am

Conditions: NE - 23 kts wind, 1-2' surf, water temp 64.2F.

Catch: five short stripers, one bluefish 32"

Comments: got cut off by large bluefish, Demo is close, but park opens Field#2 for 4x4 access.

Report # 29 October 17, Robert Moses RM4, 5:45pm-7:30pm, high tide 9:58pm

Conditions: NE - 6 kts wind, 2-3' surf in swells, water temp 64.4F.

Catch: six stripers, 4 shorts and two keepers 28" & 29".

Comments: saw a lot of bluefish caught on bait, escaped crowded part of the beach to find

school of hungry stripers. Had fun after dark for about 40 minutes.

Report # 28 October 15, Robert Moses RM4, 8:00pm-10:00pm, high tide 8:17pm

Conditions: S - 5 kts wind, 3-4' surf in swells.

Catch: one striper 27", missed two more strikes.

Comments: nighttime fishing with a lot of moonlight (full moon 10/14)

Report # 27, October 13, Robert Moses RM4, 5:00pm-7:15pm, high tide 6:49 pm

Conditions: N - 6 kts wind, 0-1' surf, water temp 64.8F

Catch: none, ...... fresh air, ....nice sunset,..... summer like weather.

Comments: had just two strikes on one cast after dark.

Report # 26, October 13, Robert Moses RM4, 6:15am-8:00am, high tide 6:29am

Conditions: WSW -15 kts wind, 1-2' surf

Catch: one small bluefish

Comments: black cloud of working birds 1-2 miles off shore, no baitfish in surf.

Went to check Demo, but access road is still closed.

Report # 25, October 12, Robert Moses RM3, 5:30pm-7:30pm, high tide 6:05 pm

Conditions: S - 7 kts wind, 1' surf, water temp 65.1F

Catch: one sea robin

Comments: lost nice fish in wash after short fight.

Report # 24, October 12, Robert Moses RM4, 6:30am-8:00am, high tide 5:47 am

Conditions: NE -10 kts wind, flat surf

Catch: one short striper

Comments: did see good size bluefish caught on bait.

Report # 23, October 11, Robert Moses RM4, 5:30pm-7:00pm, high tide 5:18 pm

Conditions: SSE - 6 kts wind, 1-2' surf

Catch: none

Comments: schools of 6-8" bunker going in West direction.

Report # 22, October 11, Robert Moses RM4, 6:00am-8:00am, high tide 5:01 am

Conditions: NNE -12 kts wind, flat surf

Catch: one bluefish and one short striper

Comments: a lot bunker and other baitfish in water, but nothing on them.

Report # 21, October 9, Robert Moses RM2, 6:00pm-7:00pm, high tide 3:33pm

Conditions: SSW -10 kts wind, 3-4' surf

Catch: none

Comments: quick stop after work again, nice white water, but no action.

Report # 20, October 8, Robert Moses RM3, 6:00pm-7:00pm, low tide 9:36pm

Conditions: SSW -17-20 kts wind, 3-5' surf

Catch: one bluefish ~5 lbs

Comments: a lot surfcasters with bend rods by good size bluefish, ended after sunset.

Report # 19, October 7, Robert Moses, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Conditions: NNW -8 kts wind, low tide at 8:37 pm, WT 65F

Catch: none

Comments: very flat surf, no visible life in water.

Report # 19, October 5, Robert Moses, 6:00pm-7:45pm

Conditions: NNE -10 kts wind, flat surf, low tide at 6:29 pm,

Lures: rubber shads

Catch: 3 short stripers

Comments: fish show up after dark.

Report # 18, October 5, Robert Moses, 6:00am-8:00am

Conditions: NE -6-10 kts wind, flat surf, low tide at 5:31 am,

Lures: rubber shads, swimmers

Catch: 10 stripers: nearly all shorts 27"-20" with one keeper at 28"

Comments: all fish safely released, rain on and off.

Report # 17, October 4, 6:15pm -7:45pm, Robert Moses

Conditions: WSW 6 kts wind, 1-2' surf, low tide at 5:41 pm, water temp 65.5F

Lures: rubber shad

Catch: 5 stripers: 30", 28" , 26", 26", 25", and one bluefish 34".

Cle="word-spacing: 0; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"> Comments: found spot with baitfish (~3-4" size) in water, all fish caught on 5" shad.

Report # 16, September 28, 8 am, Robert Moses

Conditions: NE 4 kts wind, 5-7' surf, high tide at 7:06 am, water temp 66.4F

Comments: scouting trip to see what the last storm done,

a lot beach erosion, in some places beach is completely gone.

Report # 15, September 22, 6:15pm -7:30pm, Robert Moses

Conditions: NE 17 kts wind, flat surf, low tide at 8:44 pm.

Lures: rubber shads, poppers, metal

Catch: one small snapper, no baitfish in water.

Comments: quick stop after work on beach at first day of Fall.

Report # 14, September 21, 5:30am -7:30pm, Democrat Point

Conditions: SSW 8 kts wind, 2-3' surf, low tide at 7:28 pm

Lures: rubber shads, poppers, metal

Catch: one short striper, lost another fish when hook broke off from popper.

Comments: saw two big bluefish caught on bait and one on lure.

Report # 13, September 21, 5:45am -7:30am, Robert Moses

Conditions: WNW 5 kts wind, 5-6' surf, low tide at 6:13 am, water temp 67.8F.

Lures: rubber shads, bucktails, metal

Catch: none, the same story

Comments: nice sunrise, perfect surf conditions, baitfish in water, no stripers or bluefish.

Report # 12, September 20, 5:30pm -7:30pm, Robert Moses

Conditions: E 5-6 kts wind, 4-5' surf, low tide at 6:18 pm, water temp 67.8F.

Lures: rubber shads, bucktails, metal

Catch: none, one strike on bucktail

Comments: found a lot of baitfish but no stripers, clean water today.

Report # 11, September 19, 6:00pm -7:30pm, Robert Moses

Conditions: E 15-20 kts wind, 5-7' surf, low tide at 5:21 pm, water temp 68F.

Lures: rubber shads, bucktails, metal

Catch: fresh air and sunset

Comments: angry sea, water lightly brown.

Report # 10, September 17, 6:00pm -8:00pm, Robert Moses

Conditions: ENE 5 kts wind, 2-3' swells, high tide at 9:22 pm, water temp 71F.

Lures: rubber shads, poppers, metal

Catch: 9 stripers 24"-26", all released in perfect shape

Comments: found birds working 2 casts away and a lot of rain bait close to shore.

Just after sundown I had stripers blitz for myself for about 45 minutes.

Report # 9, September 13, 6:15am -8:00am, Robert Moses

Conditions: NW 5kts wind, 3'-4' swells, high tide at 6:25 am

Lures: rubber shads, poppers

Catch: none,

Comments: 3 surfcasters and 3 bait guys on beach, no action, water lightly brown.

Report # 8, September 11, 6:15pm -7:45pm, Robert Moses

Conditions: SW 10 kts wind, 2'-3' surf, high tide at 5:11pm

Lures: metal, poppers, rubber shads

Catch: fresh air and nice sunset

Comments: scouting beach around sunset.

Report # 7, September 5, 11:00pm -1:00am, Fire Island Inlet

Conditions: Incoming current, high tide at 12:13am (9/6)

Lures: rubber shads and swimmers

Catch: none, two small bumps on soft plastics

Comments: went fishing before tropical storm Hanna will land on Long Island, rain on and off, dark,

very warm, SE 10kts. Found needlefish feeding on rain bait, but no stripers or weakfish.

Report # 6, August 28-29, 7pm -11pm and 4am-9am, Demo

Conditions: flat surf, no wind, high tide at 6:05pm and 6:40am.

Baits: bunker, squid, clams

Catch: 2 big stingrays (~20lbs), 2 short fluke, 1 short striper, 7 sea robins

Comments: annual overnight fishing beach trip with my son John.

He caught most of the fish including two huge rays. Good time, happy kid.

Whiptail Stingray

Sunrise 8-29-08

Report # 5, August 16, 9:00pm -11:00pm, Sore Thumb

Conditions: incoming current, high tide at 7:48pm

Lures: rubber shads and swimmers

Catch: short striper and 3 small bluefish

Comments: full moon, no wind, all fish released in perfect shape.

Report # 4, August 10, 7:00pm -9:00pm, Sore Thumb

Conditions: outgoing current, Low Tide at 10:00pm

Lures: rubber shads and swimmers

Catch: small bluefish and short striper ~24"

Comments: small bluefish chopping rubber shads, a lot of starfish and eelgrass.

After wind stopped, invasion of mosquitoes make my fishing trip short.

Report # 3, August 2-3, 6:00am -3:00pm, Fire Island Inlet

Lures: bucktails with dressing

Catch: 24" (5lbs) Fluke, ~4' shark, bluefish

Comments: fished from sailboat for two days close to inlet in 50'-70' water depth.

Had a lot of short flukes, and on second day a big fish spooled out my heavy duty 80lbs. fishing line,

Not even a chance, possibly a big shark - saw dark body with two fins jumped once at water surface.

sunrise 8-2-08

fluke 24", 5lbs

shark about 4'

shark, possibly dusky shark - released without removing from water

Report # 2, July 26, 10:00pm -4:00am, Robert Moses 4x4

Conditions: 3-5' waves, 12-17kts SSW wind, high tide at 2:31am

Bait: clams and fresh bunker

Catch: 2 short stripers (~26", 24") and a lot of dog fish

Comments: fished with friend from CT, very nice white water, good wave action.

All fish released in good shape.

Report # 1, July 05, 8:30pm -10:30pm, Fire Island Inlet, Sore Thumb

Conditions: Incoming current, High Tide at 10:02pm

Lures: rubber shads and dark swimmers

Catch: none, just one good strike

Comments: hunted for weakfish without luck.