September might just be one of the most exciting months to fish Long Island.
The crowds of summer begin to thin, the water slowly starts cooling, and huge schools of baitfish begin gathering in our bays, harbors and along the beaches. For anglers, that can mean one thing: some of the best fishing of the year is just getting started.
And September 2026 is already giving Long Island anglers plenty of options.
Current fishing reports around Montauk and the East End are reporting improved fluke fishing, steady sea bass and porgy action, plenty of bluefish and some resident striped bass becoming more active. Bonito have also begun showing, while anglers are watching closely for the arrival of false albacore.
At the same time, the pieces of the fall striped bass migration are beginning to come together.
So whether you’re fishing from a boat, casting from a Long Island beach or working one of our local bays and inlets, September is a month when it pays to keep your fishing gear ready.
Here’s what’s biting around Long Island this September — and how to catch it.
Why September Fishing on Long Island Can Be So Good
September is a transition month.
As summer begins giving way to fall, young-of-the-year baitfish such as peanut bunker begin gathering into larger, more noticeable schools in bays, creeks and harbors.
Those bait schools can attract striped bass, bluefish and weakfish and create some incredible light-tackle fishing opportunities.
The basic September strategy is simple:
Find the bait and you may find the fish.
Watch for:
- nervous or rippling water
- diving gulls and ternsbait spraying from the surface
- birds hovering repeatedly over one area
- sudden surface explosions
- schools of small bunker near beaches, inlets and harbor mouths
Keep binoculars handy when fishing from a boat because birds working in the distance can reveal feeding fish long before you can see the actual blitz.
Gear Pick: A compact pair of waterproof marine binoculars can be extremely useful for locating working birds and bait from a distance.
1. Striped Bass — The Fall Run Is Beginning
Striped bass are the fish many Long Island anglers are waiting for once September arrives.
The full fall run doesn’t happen everywhere on Long Island at exactly the same time. Water temperature, bait movement, weather and location all influence when the action really turns on.
But the transition is beginning.
Current September fishing coverage reports that Long Island’s fall migration typically begins building first around Montauk and the North Fork before progressing west toward areas such as Captree, Freeport and eventually western Long Island.
As of the end of August, East End reports were already noting resident striped bass becoming more active inside Shinnecock Inlet, although the major Montauk striper bite had not yet fully materialized.
That’s an important distinction.
Early September isn’t necessarily peak fall-run striped bass fishing yet — it’s the beginning of the transition.
And that’s exactly why anglers should start paying attention now.
Where to Look for September Stripers
Focus on areas where moving water and bait come together:
- inlets
- harbor mouths
- points
- rips
- bridges
- rocky shoreline
- current seams
- beaches holding schools of bait
Low-light periods around sunrise and sunset can be especially productive, but tide and bait movement can be even more important than the clock.
What to Throw for Fall Stripers
Your lure choice should generally resemble whatever forage the bass are feeding on.
Good options to keep in your September tackle bag include:
- bucktail jigs
- diamond jigs
- soft-plastic bait fish imitations
- topwater plugs
- swimming plugs
- pencil poppers
- metal casting jigs
Diamond jigs are particularly useful because they can be cast from the beach or jigged vertically from a boat and are effective for both striped bass and bluefish.
A white bucktail is another Long Island staple worth keeping in the bag.
When bass are visibly attacking bait on the surface, a topwater plug can make for some of the most exciting fishing of the entire season.
2. Bluefish — Follow the Bait
Don’t overlook bluefish in September.
Current reports from Montauk have shown plenty of bluefish action, including larger fish mixing with smaller cocktails around the Point and along the north side. Popping plugs and tins have been producing fish.
September’s increasing concentrations of peanut bunker can also attract hungry blues into bays, inlets and along the beaches.
When a bluefish blitz erupts, the fishing can go from quiet to chaotic in seconds.
Best Lures for September Bluefish
Keep a few durable lures ready:
- diamond jigs
- metal casting spoons
- poppers
- pencil poppers
- swimming plugs
One reason metal lures are so useful is simple: bluefish have serious teeth.
They can quickly destroy expensive soft plastics.
A quality pair of fishing pliers is another piece of equipment I wouldn’t fish for blues without.
3. Fluke — September Isn’t Over Yet
Don’t put away the fluke gear just because summer vacation is ending.
September can still produce excellent fluke fishing.
Recent Montauk reports showed improved fishing around the Point, including reported fish reaching 10 and 11 pounds. Cartwright, Frisbees and Shagwong have also been producing fish.
Other recent Long Island reports have suggested productive fluke fishing could continue through September when weather and conditions cooperate.
What to Use for September Fluke
Productive presentations include:
- bucktail jigs
- Gulp-style scented soft plastics
- squid
- spearing
- strip baits
- teaser rigs
Large Gulp-style plastics and bucktails are particularly useful when you’re trying to tempt a better-quality fish rather than simply catching shorts.
Concentrate on structure, channels, drop-offs, reefs and areas where bait is present.
4. False Albacore — Get Ready for the Speedsters
Few fish create September excitement quite like false albacore.
When albies show up, you’ll know why fishermen become obsessed with them.
They’re incredibly fast, can appear and disappear without warning and are famous for screaming runs on light tackle.
The Fisherman’s September 2026 Long Island issue is already calling it false albacore time, although the August 31 East End report noted that there had not yet been a strong local showing and anglers were still waiting for them to arrive in better numbers.
That’s actually useful information if you’re planning a September trip:
Have the albie rod rigged and ready before the fish appear.
You often don’t have much time to change tackle once a school pops up.
Best Lures for False Albacore
Small baitfish profiles are often the ticket.
Try:
- epoxy jigs
- small metals
- slender casting jigs
- small soft plastics
- baitfish flies
Long casting distance can be extremely important.
5. Porgies & Black Sea Bass — Don’t Ignore the Bottom
If stripers or albies aren’t cooperating, September still offers excellent bottom-fishing opportunities.
Current East End reports continue to show good catches of porgies and sea bass, including productive fishing around Montauk-area structure.
Across Long Island Sound, recent reports have also described scup fishing as consistently productive around structure, while black sea bass continue to hold around deeper structure.
For families and anglers who simply want steady action, porgy fishing can be one of the easiest ways to enjoy a September day on the water.
Try fishing:
- rocky bottom
- reefs
- wrecks
- ledges
- other hard structure
Clams are a classic bait choice for porgies.
6. Bonito — Another September Surprise
Bonito are another fast-moving pelagic species worth watching for this month.
Late-August East End reports indicated bonito were beginning to show as anglers waited for false albacore to become more established.
Like albies, bonito often feed on relatively small baitfish, so small metals and epoxy-style jigs can be excellent choices.
The key is being prepared.
If you see birds suddenly working over fast-moving fish, don’t spend five minutes digging through your tackle bag looking for the right lure.
Have a rod rigged and ready.
North Shore vs. South Shore Fishing in September
One of the best things about fishing Long Island is that conditions can be completely different depending on which side of the Island you fish.
Long Island North Shore
The Long Island Sound offers:
- striped bass
- bluefish
- porgies
- black sea bass
- fluke
- occasional hardtail opportunities farther east
Recent Sound reports have shown surface-feeding striped bass on bait including juvenile butterfish and peanut bunker, along with strong scup fishing and sea bass on deeper structure.
Look for rocky points, harbor mouths, current, rips and bait.
Long Island South Shore
September opportunities can include:
- fluke
- striped bass
- bluefish
- bonito
- false albacore
- sea bass
- offshore tuna and mahi opportunities
South Shore inlets and beaches become increasingly interesting as fall bait movement develops.
And don’t overlook bridges.
The September 2026 issue of The Fisherman specifically highlights seven South Shore bridges from Fire Island to Shinnecock that can offer opportunities for stripers, blues, fluke and other species.
Best September Fishing Lures to Keep in Your Tackle Bag
If I were putting together one versatile Long Island September tackle bag, these would be high on my list:
1. White Bucktail Jigs
Excellent multipurpose lures for striped bass and fluke.
2. Diamond Jigs
Useful for stripers, bluefish and other predators feeding on narrow baitfish.
3. Topwater Plug
Perfect for those unforgettable surface feeds.
4. Small Epoxy Jig
Have one ready for bonito and false albacore.
5. Gulp-Style Soft Plastics
A staple for late-season fluke.
6. Fishing Pliers
Especially important when bluefish are around.
7. Polarized Sunglasses
Useful for spotting bait, structure and surface activity.
8. Waterproof Tackle Bag
Keeping everything organized matters when fish suddenly start breaking.
September Fishing Tip: Follow the Bait, Not Yesterday’s Report
This might be the most important September fishing tip of all.
Fishing reports are extremely useful, but fall fishing changes quickly.
A beach that was loaded with fish yesterday can seem empty today.
Instead of simply fishing where someone caught fish the day before, look for the conditions that attracted those fish in the first place.
Look for:
BAIT + MOVING WATER + STRUCTURE + BIRDS = A PLACE WORTH FISHING
September peanut bunker can be particularly important. These small menhaden begin schooling more noticeably as fall approaches, potentially drawing stripers, bluefish and weakfish into feeding opportunities.
Learn to find the bait and you’ll become less dependent on chasing yesterday’s fishing report.
What Is the Best Time to Fish Long Island in September?
There’s no single perfect hour for every species.
Instead, pay attention to:
- moving tides
- sunrise
- sunset
- wind direction
- water temperature
- bait activity
- moon phase
- current
For striped bass in particular, dawn, dusk and nighttime can be excellent periods.
But don’t leave just because the sun comes up.
If bait is concentrated and predators are actively feeding, daytime fishing can be excellent too.
Check the Fishing Regulations Before You Go
Fishing regulations can change, so always check the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s current recreational saltwater fishing regulations before your trip.
Rules can include:
- open and closed seasons
- minimum and maximum sizes
- slot limits
- possession limits
- hook requirements
This is particularly important for species such as striped bass, fluke, black sea bass and scup.
New York also requires non-offset circle hooks when recreational anglers target striped bass with certain natural baits. Always verify the current DEC rules before fishing because regulations are subject to change.
September Is Just the Beginning of Long Island’s Fall Fishing
September is one of those months when you never quite know what you’re going to encounter on the water.
You could spend the morning drifting for fluke and suddenly see birds diving over feeding bluefish.
You might be casting a quiet beach at sunrise when striped bass begin pushing bait against the shoreline.
Or you could be waiting for stripers when a school of false albacore suddenly explodes within casting range.
That’s what makes September fishing on Long Island so much fun.
The fall run is beginning to take shape, baitfish are gathering, and some of the most exciting fishing of the year is still ahead.
Keep your tackle ready, watch the birds, find the bait and get out there.
And keep checking back — we’ll be following the Long Island fall fishing season as it develops.
Long Island September Fishing FAQs
September anglers can potentially encounter striped bass, bluefish, fluke, black sea bass, porgies, bonito, false albacore and other inshore and offshore species depending on location and conditions.
Yes. September marks the transition toward the fall striped bass migration. Early September may still be inconsistent in some areas, but fishing typically improves as water cools and bait begins moving.
Yes. Late-season fluke fishing can remain productive in September, particularly around reefs, channels and structure. Always check the current New York fishing season and size regulations before keeping fish.
The timing varies from year to year. Activity often begins building in September, with Montauk and the eastern portions of Long Island frequently seeing the migration develop before it progresses farther west.
A versatile September tackle bag might include bucktails, diamond jigs, topwater plugs, small casting metals, epoxy jigs, soft plastics, leader material, fishing pliers and a selection of rigs appropriate for the species you’re targeting.
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