I got out on the refuge beach on the evening of Thurs 10/16 with just one bite to show for my efforts after dunking worms and casting plugs and jigs for a few hours. I was disappointed as the conditions seemed right — close to a new moon, dusk into early nighttime, dropping temps and a fresh and strengthening onshore wind. But nada. I’m pretty sure I was THE only angler on the entire beach — didn’t see another vehicle or walk-on, and no other 4WDs were signed in.
There had been reports of some fish from the Plum Island beaches the two previous days, but ’twas not to be for me. The day wasn’t a total writeoff, however — that morning I went skiing. Yes, skiing in mid-October, up at Sunday River in Maine. Earliest I’ve ever hit the slopes, by nearly a month.
But I digress. Now with water temps in the low 50s in this area, it may be time to shift focus southward. Reports indicate the fall run is kicking into high gear on the South Shore of Long Island; could be prime time for R.I./Block Island and Montauk. I will get out fishing tomorrow but it’ll be offshore for cod.