UTERBigeye tuna fishing in Long Island Sound and Montauk
In Long Island Sound and Montauk, bigeye tuna peak August–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Bigeye in the Hudson and Block canyons.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Bigeye tuna in Long Island Sound and Montauk, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArriving
- AugustPeakBigeye in the Hudson and Block canyons.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish bigeye tuna near Sheepshead Bay, Freeport, Captree
New York Harbor, Jamaica Bay and the lower Hudson; Long Island's south shore surf and inlets backed by Great South Bay and the Moriches and Shinnecock bays; the Peconic and Gardiners bays between the forks; Montauk Point's boulder fields and rips; and Long Island Sound — rocky reefs, harbors and the Connecticut river mouths on the north side, the Race at the east end. Offshore to the Hudson and Block canyons.
What to use for bigeye tuna
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- Flying fishRigged whole on a trolling rig for tuna and marlin, or a strip on a skirted lure.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 60–78°F water, best at 64–74°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch bigeye tuna in Long Island Sound and Montauk?
Peak season is August–September. Bigeye tuna are in Long Island Sound and Montauk July–October. August: Bigeye in the Hudson and Block canyons.
Where do bigeye tuna hold in Long Island Sound and Montauk?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Sheepshead Bay, Freeport, Captree, Port Jefferson, Montauk, Orient.
What is the best bait for bigeye tuna in Long Island Sound and Montauk?
Live bait: blue runners (hardtails), flying fish. Blue runners (hardtails): Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
Fish Scouter scores bigeye tuna for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about bigeye tuna · Long Island & the Sound, the whole year