[johnmlodynia]

irrelevant wrote:
I myself have never been BUT (<-negates everything before it) the guy can fish wherever he wants to fish whether you want him there or not.
The problem: this kind of single minded thinking! If your going to try a new spot do yourself a favor and be courteous to OTHER PEOPLE. If you don't know what you are doing go in the daytime (though, the fishing will most likely be bad). Scout the area. Watch how others are fishing. Take a seat and watch what everyone is doing (plugs, rods, reels, lines, leaders, gear (are they wearing korkers, belts, tops?). Maybe talk to someone who's out of the water and not seriously fishing-get some advice. But god help you if you show up under the light with the blitz on with sandles and a snoppy rod because this is NOT COOL. You will ruin the fishing for the experienced and prepared. This applies for all spots especially deep back bay, oceanfront and INLET. I forgot to add cast in sync-guys down current first.

This post edited by johnmlodynia 03:13 PM 09/01/2008

 

[Stoneguy77]

I was thinking about Montauk just today, but honestly it is a bit intimidating to a newbie;ie me. I would think this is something you would prepare for with research. I plan on going this spring, some might say this is excessive but I would want the best experience possible on my first go so the more info the better.

 

[eisey]

Montauk...sample wear

What they wear at Montauk. PLEASE NOTE, ALL THE ROCKS ARE WET AND MOSS COVERED, WHETHER UNDER THE LIGHT OR ON THE BEACH.

This post edited by eisey 04:38 PM 09/01/2008

 

[willyyoung]

Best to start at one of the many coves,shagwong or the sand beachs
Willie

 

[johnmlodynia]

Stoneguy77 wrote:
I was thinking about Montauk just today, but honestly it is a bit intimidating to a newbie;ie me. I would think this is something you would prepare for with research. I plan on going this spring, some might say this is excessive but I would want the best experience possible on my first go so the more info the better.
Cheers to you for using some common sense you will be better off in the end. Willy and Eisey both make great suggestions. Keep the no BS new spot tips coming.

This post edited by johnmlodynia 06:43 PM 09/01/2008

 

[SurfaceStrike]

Montauk, slow and steady wins.

No place on Long Island offers more variable fishing terrain then Montauk. From the deep south side to the North side there are many varying degrees of difficulty. Much like a ski area with beginner intermediate and expert trails. Montauk fishing is the same, some areas are flat sand beaches and other beaches require the balance of a billy goat. However at Montauk there are no trail signs. My advise is to go out there in broad daylight at low tide and hike your but off from Camp hero on the south side to Shagawong on the north side. Do it again at high tide. Bring your rod with you because you never know whats lurking out there.

This post edited by SurfaceStrike 06:52 PM 09/01/2008

 

[johnmlodynia]

SurfaceStrike wrote:
My advise is to go out there in broad daylight at low tide and hike your but off from Camp hero on the south side to Shagawong on the north side. Do it again at high tide.
Have you ever done that? Thats like the walk to demo several times over with terrain like the moon.

 

[ChrisDens]

Excellent advice.

I've never fished Montauk before, but want to go Oct.4 for the 4X4 buggy up. So what did I do?
I went to Montauk last week in the morning to check it out and to see what I need. Actual fishing was not a priority. Only went down by the Lighthouse and Camp Hero (I think)
I walked to Caswells Point from Camp Hero.(If that sounds right)
Only one guy fishing right below the Lighthouse hooking up. Then another guy showed up and told me to go with him, but I said no this is my first time and I'm not prepared. It was a spur of the moment thing so I didn't even have korkers. Went to the bait and tackle shop to purchase a pair, but they wouldn't fit over my boot. I knew (was adviced in the past) you must have korkers. That's a definite.
Got to speaking with a Montauk veteran who adviced me Get The Best Gear, waders ok in the day, wetsuit at night amongst other things.Saw the same guy later with his friend. I mentioned I needed to buy korkers and he said we didn't wear korkers when he fished (years ago) I chcukled to myself. That didn't impress me. I could fish without korkers too, but I want to be as safe as I can be.

Luckily I've met alot of people from this site who I can talk to and who will be willing to give me good advice. I would have asked some people beforehand, but it was a spur of the moment trip out. It's definitely a must to go out there in the day to get a feel for the place and to see what you need as far as gear goes and proper equipment!! And it's going to take more than a couple of trips.
I'll go again with what I think is the right gear and try it out again and make the necessary adjustments as needed.

In summary, it's a totally different ballgame fishing on those rocks. Preparation and getting advice from experienced Montauk surfcasters should be your number one priority before ever making your first cast.
Definitely not for everyone.
And you should be courteous to other people in all aspects of your life. Not just fishing at Montauk.

P.S. Tide was going out and water was calm as could be which was a good thing for a first timer to check it out. That was good advice from SurfaceStrike. Actually caught one bass.

 

[Stoneguy77]

This is turning out to be a great thread, even though this started ( or so it appeared) as a rant on naive anglers tackling Montauk for the first time you guys have been great. I've got a word document building as we speak for this trip next year already. I will try to read up as much as I can on Shagwong.

Is it safe to assume that if you looked at the montauk surf as a clock it is increasingly more difficult as you go clockwise or are there just simply pockets of difficulty overlapping themselves?

 

[johnmlodynia]

I've never seen a rock in any spot that was below the mean high water mark that wasn't slippery. Never. Montauk isn't rocket science but people like to go there thinking its the same as field 5 rm just they hear of a lot more fish being caught there.

A good convo I heard in the lot:

Husband: "Honey I'm taking the kids down to the lighthouse to go fish."
Wife: "No don't do that, do you actually think your going to catch something?!!"
Husband (enranged, throws arms towards the heavens): "But babeeeee this is Montauk, this is the place!"

Now this is a grown man we are talking about here, and he had probably never had been on any rock anywhere near the water at the light (probably never fished in his life), taking your kid there if you don't know what the heck your doing is extremely dangerous and if you do go down there and attempt to fish you will most likely not know the proper etiquette for fishing such a place and you will not be welcome.

Another tip: if you don't know what your doing don't go anywhere near the point with bait, besides eels (which are basically a plug and you gotta know what your doing to fish one around them rocks). There is only ONE very specific spot that I have ever heard of where bait was the preferred method (not in the fall), but for everyone else's sake stick to plugs. If you gotta deadstick a 10 year old frozen bunker head go behind town.

*I started this thread because someone posted that you can go fish wherever you want whenever you want no matter what who cares ME ME ME ME ME. And that is IMHO, respectfully, whatever, is BS.

This post edited by johnmlodynia 10:00 PM 09/01/2008

 

[BennyBass]

Hi guy's cool lil thread . I would like to add that I am no Montauk expert by any stretch of the imagination. Yes I've been there many times and yes have had great days and not so great days. I was first there about 12 years ago (41 now) with no more that a rod and a nap sack

. I watched and studdied all that was going on every time I went and geared up more and more each time. Thank God I didn't have to learn the hard way by thinking I know it all and getting hurt. SAFETY FIRST >>>>>>PERIOD.
A Mecca experience is what you make it, ya don't have to be all gung ho but careful yes. I wish I never experienced Mecca because I sold my boat and gear and stuck to being a SURF CASTER EVER SINCE. For those of you that have never been your in for a real treat. DONT FORGET YOUR CREEPERS

.>>>>>>>>>>>>mARTIN

 

[eisey]

Also bring

Especially for the new guys going to Montauk, bring a camera. You will experience sights and scenery you never thought existed on Long Island. Enjoy your first experience for many years.

 

[BennyBass]

MECCA

As John M stated bait has a place and under the light is not it. There are plenty of places on the North side and behind town that ya can throw 10 year old frozen bunker LOL

. And yes a camera is a nice tHing to bring as pictures of the light never get old

.>>>>Martin

 

[bassman909]

To follow up on the Ski Mountain theme, I hope this helps:

Town Beaches from Hither Hills to Ditch Plains - Beginner, Waders only, no korkers needed, and this is a place where you can fish bait.

North Side of the lighthouse (shagwong to false bar) - Intermediate, KORKERS ARE A MUST, even the small rocks there can be dangerous.

North Bluffs to Under the lighthouse - Black Diamond, KORKERS ARE A MUST!! (no bait either, as already mentioned). This area is not hard to fish, as long as you have korkers. Be prepared to get wet!!

South Side from Turtle Cove to Ditch Plains, Double Black Diamond. KORKERS ARE A MUST, and no bait. Daytime this area is a challenge, but doable, nighttime, don't do it until you've spent a LOT of time there, and then, don't do it alone! Be prepared to get wet!!

As far as tackle, bucktails, bucktails, big pencil poppers, big super strike little neck plugs, bucktails, tins and bucktails. 95% of the time that's all you need in you plug bag. I'm talking daylight fishing, nighttime is a different story. As for colors, white smillin' bill bucktails in around 1 1/2 oz's, with either red or white pork rinds. Chartruese will also work. You can also use rubber twister tails instead of pork rind.
For Plugs, White, Blue and Yellow. I always start with white and change from there.

Have a good top to keep you dry, and a belt is a must. Since you are just starting, I would look for the Grundens Pullover as it is a lot cheaper than the AquaSkins, which are awesome, but pricey.

Oh, btw, unless your in amzing shape like Jim SurfaceStrike, you don't need to make that hike, as long as you have the 4x4 permit, you can drive to the south side bluffs (camp hero) and scope it out, then drive close to the lighthouse, you'll need to walk a bit, but not too far. You can then drive west towards shagwong. Paulies tackle in town has a good map of the point. Stop in they have great stuff, and good reports.

Hope this helps.

This post edited by bassman909 02:24 PM 09/02/2008

 

[fattony12]

great thread ....this is something that newbies and sharpied should all read ....there should be a common courtesy among all fisherman ..i think this thread shows it can and will happen

 

[toyotaoffroad91]

you should have seen the amount of googs yesterday on the northside...im sure everyone here will be ok... but i have been suprised before..
just be smart...if you see a rock you want to get on make sure it wont affect anyone fishing a rip...also stare at that rock for a minute to watch and time the waves...some break before it some will break after it... this week the swell will increase.. i was watching waves break under the light last night with the white water going over the fence...its only gonna get worse before the weekend....in other words just be smart...this place can beat you up pretty quickly ...EVERYONE has to start somewhere. did i mention wetsuit,wetsuit,wetsuit?!

This post edited by toyotaoffroad91 03:45 PM 09/02/2008

 

[likeitreallyis]

and you don't have to fish rocks to catch fish there (hint hint)

quite the weekend, hope it holds up for the buggy up. Early run with the cool summer..

 

[Stoneguy77]

toyotaoffroad91 wrote:
you should have seen the amount of googs yesterday on the northside...im sure everyone here will be ok... but i have been suprised before..
just be smart...if you see a rock you want to get on make sure it wont affect anyone fishing a rip...also stare at that rock for a minute to watch and time the waves...some break before it some will break after it... this week the swell will increase.. i was watching waves break under the light last night with the white water going over the fence...its only gonna get worse before the weekend....in other words just be smart...this place can beat you up pretty quickly ...EVERYONE has to start somewhere. did i mention wetsuit,wetsuit,wetsuit?!

Chest high waders sufficient?

 

[mikeyreef]

CHEST HIGH WADERS ARE FINE BUT YOU DO NEED A TOP AND A GOOD WADER BELT
MONTAUK WILL KICK YOUR ASS
THATS PART OF THE FUN
YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT
DONT GO UNDER PREPARED BRING EXTRA CLOTHES
YOULL BE GLAD YOU DID
MIKEYREEF

 

[eisey]

Newguys...Listen Up.

I am a little hesitant about posting this picture. I don't want the new M visitors not to heed all the warnings about safety that has been given in this topic. However, I also do not want them to be discouraged from going to one of the greatest places on earth. Saying that, keep in mind this picture is from about two years ago, taken on a very calm late summer day, at Turtles Cove just south of the lighthouse.

Even though the fishermen are a little more "relaxed" in their equipment, there are times when it still can be enjoyed.

But, be advised, if you go into the surf there, you will step on submerged rocks that are moss covered and you will go down.