September is one of the most exciting months to fish the South Shore of Long Island. Summer crowds begin to disappear, water temperatures remain comfortable, and a variety of species move through the bays, inlets, nearshore waters, and offshore grounds. As the month progresses, September can provide everything from excellent fluke and black sea bass fishing to hard-charging striped bass, false albacore, bluefish, and offshore tuna.
Inshore, the early part of September can still feel like summer. Fluke remain a popular target around the South Shore bays, channels, flats, and deeper holes. Drifting with bucktails, teasers, tipped with gulp, spearing or squid can produce fish, particularly when concentrating on areas where current funnels bait and creates feeding opportunities. As the month progresses, cooling water and changing bait patterns can cause fluke to become more mobile, making current and tide especially important.
Black sea bass are another excellent target. Wrecks, reefs, rock piles, and artificial reefs can hold good numbers of fish. Fresh bait, jigs, and small bucktails can all be effective. Sea bass often provide steady action while anglers wait for the tide to set up for other species, and the deeper water can be very productive later in the month.
One of the biggest attractions of September is the return of striped bass. As water temperatures begin to fall, bass become increasingly active along the South Shore. Baitfish such as bunker, sand eels, spearing, and mullet can bring hungry stripers into the bays, inlets, and along the beaches. Early mornings, evenings, and periods of moving water are prime times to fish. With the hot summer we had, fall run lights out bass fishing may have to wait until October, but don’t be shy in looking around or fishing at night close to inlets.
Surfcasters should concentrate on first and last light. September can produce some of the best opportunities of early fall in throwing plugs, swimmers, tins, and soft plastics. When schools of bait are pushed tight to the beach, striped bass can become aggressive and provide spectacular topwater action. Bluefish may also be mixed in, adding another hard-fighting species to the equation
The South Shore inlets can be especially productive in September. Strong currents concentrate baitfish and create ambush points for stripers and blues. Anglers fishing from boats can work the edges of the current with live bait, drifting baits, or bucktails. From shore, casting around bridges, jetties, and deep channels during the outgoing tide can be highly effective.
September also brings one of Long Island’s most exciting nearshore opportunities: false albacore. These speedsters often arrive with schools of small baitfish and can turn an otherwise quiet stretch of water into a frenzy. Small metal jigs, epoxy jigs, tins like deadly dicks, and compact plugs are excellent choices. Light tackle and fly fishing make the battle even more exciting, but anglers should be prepared for blistering runs and sudden changes of direction.
Bluefish can also provide fast action throughout the month. Schools may be found in the bays and nearshore ocean, especially when bait is abundant. Their aggressiveness makes them willing to attack just about anything that looks like prey, although anglers should use appropriate leaders because bluefish can easily cut standard fishing line.
For offshore anglers, September can be a productive time to chase tuna. Bluefin tuna may still be available on offshore grounds, while the presence of schools of bait can attract tuna closer to shore. Finding life is the key: birds, whales, dolphins, bunker schools, temperature breaks, and surface activity can all provide important clues. Trolling, chunking, and casting to surface-feeding fish can all produce depending on conditions.
The biggest advantage of September may be the variety. Leaving the dock before sunrise for striped bass, switch to false albacore during the morning, and finish the day mid to offshore looking for tuna. Another option is to spend the day working fluke and sea bass before heading back toward the inlet to look for stripers at dusk.
September rewards anglers who pay attention to conditions. Tides, water temperature, wind direction, bait concentration, and bird activity can change the fishing quickly. Those willing to change locations and techniques rather than sticking with one plan will have a great preview to the soon approaching fall run.