Best Times & Seasons to Fish Montauk, New York (Full Guide)

Montauk is one of the most popular and best fishing spots on the eastern coastline. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Montauk can make a huge difference for your fishing success.

The best fishing season near Montauk is from May through October for bluefish, striped bass, marlin, mahi mahi, tuna, sharks, Atlantic cod, and flounder. The worst time to fish near Montauk is winter through early spring.

Fish Species	Best Seasons to Fish Near Montauk, NY
Bluefish	The best fishing season is from May through November.
Striped Bass	May through October is the best season.
Marlin	July through September is the best season.
Mahi Mahi	July through October is the best season.
Flounder	April through September is the prime flounder season near Montauk.
Weakfish	May through August is the prime weakfish season near Montauk.
Sharks	May through October is the best season.
Atlantic Cod	The best fishing season is from May through November.

If you are a serious angler, then Montauk is the place to be. This seaside town is located 100 miles from Manhattan and offers great opportunities year-round. Whether you are looking for a small or large fish, Montauk offers a variety of fishing opportunities. 

Although the seasons are very short, fishing in Montauk is an incredible experience. You can expect to see many large Bluefin in the early summer months. Then, in July, all four species of tuna start to show up. In August, bluefin migrate north and return in September. During this time, you can experience the infamous big game bite of Montauk.

During spring, striped bass and bluefish are abundant. By early fall, sea bass and fluke are plentiful. June is the time to target mako sharks and bluefin tuna. In mid-October, you can catch the big eye and white marlin, while sailfish and dorado are common year-round fish.

Fish Species in Montauk (Best Times to Fish)

Sharks

The shark fishing season in Montauk begins in June and lasts until the middle of October. The waters of Montauk are teeming with mako, blue, and thresher sharks. On rare occasions, hammerhead, brown, tiger, and even great white sharks can be seen, although Great Whites are strictly protected. 

Tuna

Bluefin, Yellowfin, Albacore, and even Bigeye Tuna are abundant in the waters off of Montauk. Montauk tuna season begins in early July and usually lasts until the beginning of October. Tuna are primarily obtained by trolling plastic lures in the early season (July-August), trolling is your best hope this will increase your chances of reeling in a once-in-a-lifetime giant. 

Striped Bass

The locals say the fall striper blitz is the best time to catch these fish. The waters are packed with New England stripers during all the fall months, and the saltwater begins to boil with these fish by September. If you’re looking to land a giant striper, September is your best chance. Daytime fishing using Dimond jigs between 6 and 8-ounce works best. When fishing for stripers at night try baiting with eels or clams to get the job done.

For beginners, there’s nothing like the exhilaration of casting into the roaring froth and, reeling in their first striper is a thrilling experience. It’s worth mentioning how tasty striped Bass are? It’s no surprise that they’re the most popular fish in America. 

Fluke

Fluke, known to the locals as doormats or summer flounder is common in these parts. The season starts in May, if you want a shot at the record September’s when the monsters are biting. Most anglers prefer to fish for fluke with squid on a light tackle setup. 

Montauk also has winter flounder and yellowtail flounder, in addition to summer flounder. These guys aren’t nearly as big or popular as the fluke, but they do tag them out when the water gets cold. 

Dorado (Mahi-Mahi)

Known for a fierce fight to get them on the boat. The best months for dorado start early July through late September, mid-August is when the dorado fishing really picks up. Ballyhoo and chopped fish of various kinds have been the most successful baits for catching mahi-mahi across the region. 

The dorado is a delicacy in many of the local restaurants, prized for their delicate sweet lean meat.

Wahoo

The famous wahoo can be found in these waters alongside the dorado, mid-August is when their numbers peak. Wahoos are known for their power and speed. Wahoo has been known to go after bait moving 25 knots. Trolling high-speed 15 to 20 knots with bright color lures provides the most success.

Marlin

Mid-July through the end of September is the optimal window for Marlin. Trolling with squid, ballyhoo, and other baitfish can provide results. Water temperature is critical, try to target 72 to78 degrees F. 

The record-all tackle blue marlin was caught off of Montauk, weighing in at 1,174 pounds in 1986 it took almost 5 hours to reel in the monster marlin. The fish was hooked over Deep Canyon 80 miles south of Montauk Marina

Porgy

Known to the locals as scup, the porgy season starts in May through early Fall. With your best chances in October, this delectable fish can be found in abundance in the waters off of Montauk. Mind you, it won’t always be a Scup at the end of your line. Depending on when you go, chances are you will land some black seabass, tautog (blackfish) too when bottom fishing in Montauk. Unlikely you leave hungry. 

Bluefish

Montauk offers a great bluefish season from May through October with June and September providing the most abundant fisheries.  Shore casting with squid on a light tackle setup is among the most popular choices to pull in a bluefish.

Blackfish

Blackfish or as the locals refer to them, tautog can be extremely elusive, hard-fighting, and difficult-to-hook bottom dwellers. It’s almost a given that you’ll need to anchor the boat. Your best baits are green crab, calico crab, and hermit crabs. Trim the crab’s legs and claws, and don’t hook the bait too deep, as you’ll only get two bumps. If you don’t swing on the second bump, your bait will be gone.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Montauk

These Montauk-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charter	Type of Fishing Offered
Captain Al’s Fishing Charters	Wrecks, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore
Crunch Time Sport Fishing	Wrecks, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore
November Rain Charters	Wrecks, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore
Push The Limit Sportfishing	Wrecks, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore
Bitchin Fishin Charters	Inshore & Offshore
Captain Chris Fishing Charters	Inshore

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish NYC, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Nantucket, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Long Island, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the Hamptons, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Ocean City (NJ), please check out this helpful guide.

Best Times to Fish Montauk

Weather in & Seasons in Montauk

Summers in Montauk are hot and humid; winters are bitterly cold, wet, and windy; and the weather is partially cloudy all year. The temperature normally ranges from 28°F to 79°F throughout the year, with temperatures rarely falling below 15°F or rising over 86°F. The best time to visit Montauk for warm-weather activities, according to Tourism, is from mid-June through late September. 

The deep-sea fishing season in Montauk begins in late June when the first huge Bluefin tuna arrive. All four tuna species, as well as Montauk’s notorious sharks, are making tier way into Montauk’s waters by July. Bluefin tuna migrate north in August but return in September for a second wave. This is when Montauk’s big game bite is at its peak. 

Even in the middle of winter, Montauk isn’t completely dead. Groundfish such as cod will be best caught during the winter months. In December, you can also watch the tail-end of the Tautog season, though most charter boats close up shop or head south by this time, Inshore the situation is similar.

Striper blitzes are most common in September and October, which is also the only season you can charter for Scup. But it’s not all fun and games in the fall. There’s a brief spring Striper run, and Bluefish and Fluke are plentiful from spring throughout the summer.

Night Fishing Montauk

You can expect to have a successful trip under the stars throughout the season off the coast of Montauk. Bottom fishing at night for Stripers can be very eventful. The locals recommend baiting with eel and keeping the bait in the feeding lane about 10 feet off the bottom in shallow inshore areas. 

Altho any evening can be great for any angler in these waters, fishing under a full moon can be a truly unique experience.  Montauks full moon fishing is arguably one of the best inshore fishing opportunities in the Northeast.

Anyone privileged enough to have fished these waters at night under the moonlight at Montauk is likely to set a lot of personal bests because of it. Fishermen, their gear, and captains will all be put to the test at times. Dress accordingly, any time of the year the temperature can change dramatically, but in the Northeast, it can get particularly nasty.  

Best Fishing Spots Near Montauk (Best Times to Fish)

Fishing from a boat in Montauk

Montauk has the largest charter fleet in New York for a reason. So it’s no surprise fishing from a boat can make the most of your trip. It is, in fact, the only way to catch species like tuna and sharks. You can also bring a lot more gear with you. But it isn’t all smooth sailing.

The seas off the coast of Montauk are among the most treacherous in the Northeast. Strong currents, concealed shoals, and large waves are all possibilities.

 It’s better if the captain is a seasoned local. As a result, the majority of anglers join charters or party boats. If you are brave enough to pilot the boat yourself, always do so with someone familiar with the area. 

Montauk The “Surf Fishing Capital of the World” that’s all there is to it. The town is home to some of the most stunning beaches in the world. Big boulder fields dot the surf just beyond the sand, providing cover for fish and limitless entertainment for fishermen. 

Stripers are the main attraction in the surf, but if you time your trip correctly, you can also catch Bluefish and False Albacore. During peak season finding a parking spot in Montauk might be difficult, beaches are clogged with fishermen or throngs of beachgoers.

Your fishing gear will take a battering from the rough waters, that’s if you can find room on the beach to toss your line in. When replacements or fresh gear are necessary Paulie’s Tackle a Mecca to the local surf fishing community should be your first stop.

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Atlantic City, please check out this helpful guide.

Best Fishing Spots from the Beach

Montauk Lighthouse:

Looking for Albacore Tuna or Striped Bass? The Montauk Lighthouse area will be a great place to start. Turtle cove by the Lighthouse Is the best place for surfcasting for Stripers, altho tends to be a little overcrowded.

Browns:

Browns, just south of the lighthouse has another rocky outcropping. Park at Camp Hero and walk south. This area can be crowded at peak times but the fishing here is worth battling the crowds. Browns has some of the best shore casting in the area.

Shagwong Beach:

Shagwong Beach is a superb striper area on the northside, especially when the outgoing tide brings fish close to the beach. To drive here, you’ll need a special permit tho.

Ditch Plains: 

Ditch Plains Beach can get packed with like-minded anglers, so head east down the shore until you find a spot to throw. 

Camp Hero:

Local Anglers say Camp Hero is the finest place to go if you want a good fight. Striped bass and bluefish are biting in the area. 

Montauk Marine Basin:

Try the Montauk Marine Basin between May and December, you will have a great chance of hooking a Black Sea Bass, Tautog, or Striped Sea Bass.

Best Boat Fishing

The Elbow at Montauk Point:

Go to The Elbow at Montauk Point. Bluefin Tuna and Striped Bass are eager to join you in the water. Just keep an eye out for the riptides.

Block Canyon:

Head to Block Canyon, sometimes known as The Fishtails, If you’re searching for some adventure, Sharks will give you a run for your money in the waters around here.

The Frisbees: 

The Frisbees Located a few miles off Ditch Plains, The Frisbees is one of Montauk’s top Fluke fishing sites. Flatfish of prized sizes can be found here, as well as an abundance of Black Seabass. 

Butterfish Hole:

Butterfish Hole is just 20 miles south of Montauk, a classic Shark and Tuna site. Although the fish aren’t as big as they are elsewhere, you beat the crowds without going very far.