Montauk

Montauk Point and Lighthouse

The Montauk Lighthouse and Turtle Cove

Montauk is at the easternmost tip of Long Island and juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. It is close to the Gulf Stream, which has a great and favorable influence on the local climate. Montauk is generally cooler in the summer and 10 degrees warmer in winter.

Montauk is surrounded by water on three sides. The outgoing tides from the bays and Block Island Sound funnel baitfish past the point and its historic lighthouse, and down the beach. During their fall migration, striped bass are waiting to intercept them. Montauk is one of the finest places in the world to fish for striped bass. During the fall striped-bass migration, there are blitzes like no other place on earth.

The action begins in late September and extends right through October and into early November.

Fishing right at the point is excellent, but a little too steep and rocky to be attempted by most anglers. More friendly terrain, that also provides great fishing, can be found just south of the lighthouse at Turtle Cove and Browns. A little further south, the Sewer Pipe, Kings Point, Caswells, Ditch Plains
and the beach down by Gurney's Inn are
also good.

Fishing is also good on the north side of the lighthouse at Scotts Hole, the Bluffs, False Bar and North Bar, but be prepared for tough walking on fist size stones and pebbles in some of these places.

Boat fishermen seem to favor the waters right off the point and down to Ditch Plains on the south side.

White bucktails with red and white pork rind trailers are the most used lures at Montauk, with yellow pencil poppers a close second.

For the non-fishing boating enthusiasts, whale-watching trips provide opportunities for close encounters with the whales that abound in the pristine waters off Montauk Point. For the hiker, horseback rider, and naturalist, there are miles of scenic and unspoiled trails in Montauk.

Montauk derives its name from the Montaukett Native Americans who previously lived on Long Island. Some of the members of this tribe were later exiled to Missouri. The first white settler to set foot on Montauk was the Dutch explorer Adrian Block who sailed east along the coast of Long Island to Montauk.

the lighthouse erected. At that time he predicted that the lighthouse would stand for 200 years. Originally, the lighthouse stood 297 feet from the shore. Now the lighthouse stands quite close to the edge of the sea.

With its captivating coastlines and pristine beaches on the Atlantic Ocean and Block Island Sound, there are over 70 hotels, motels, B&Bs and guest houses from which to choose. Montauk boasts more than 20 marinas and over 400 charter/party fishing boats; many of which have reeled-in world record and prize-winning catches of tuna, shark, striped bass and fluke. It is most famous, however, for surfcasting for striped bass.

There are two tackle shops in the town of Montauk, Johnny's and Paulie's. Both are helpful and carry the gear that you might need.

To see more about fishing for striped bass at Montauk follow this Link:
Striper Fishing at Montauk.

Google Earth Image of Montauk Point

Montauk Point, NY

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