Outdoors

Is Lake Montauk a "holdover" habitat for striped bass, an otherwise migratory species? The question was explored at a meeting of the East Hampton Town Trustees in July, and on Monday the trustees agreed to consider a donation toward the estimated $225,000 cost of a two-year study. While Lake Montauk is not under trustee jurisdiction, said Jim Grimes, "our interest in fisheries very much is."

I was all ready to shuck clams at the HarborFest contest in Sag Harbor on Saturday, but . . .

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Fisheries division has announced new regulations for the lobster and Jonah crab trap and pot fisheries in the Northeast to help save endangered North Atlantic right whales by reducing their risk of entanglement in fishing gear.

To the delight of many light-tackle enthusiasts, false albacore, also known as albies, have arrived in East End waters in recent days. 

The horrific tragedy that befell the open boat named the Pelican II, which took place 70 years ago this weekend, still resonates with many here who have firm roots in Montauk and beyond. 

There was none of the casual chitchat Friday morning as Tropical Storm Henri gained strength about 700 miles south of Long Island. 

It was readily apparent that the day ahead was going to be a hot one, even if the 72-degree water of the incoming tide outside the nearby breakwater seemed cool to the touch.

There seems to be a rush to move the seasons along more quickly than ever before, but I'm glad the fish in our local waters aren't following suit.

Bluefish are largely underappreciated, but the tide may be turning as people realize that not only are they one of the toughest fighting fish around but also a treat to eat, especially when smoked.

Lovers of the oceans and the life within them have just a few days left to experience "Science and the Sea," an exhibition of photographs by the marine scientist and explorer Gaelin Rosenwaks at the Montauk Lighthouse Oceans Institute that is but a glimpse into the life of an inveterate adventurer, an academic scientist turned storyteller whose career on a given day may see her swimming with blue sharks off Montauk, or hammerheads in the Bahamas, or 45-ton sperm whales off the island of Dominica.

I've had to be towed only in once in my life. It happened about 15 years ago when I broke down about two miles south of Orient Point in Gardiner's Bay.

We are getting close to August and it's clear that the fishing scene has shifted into full summer mode. The summer menu of fish includes everything from wahoo to swordfish, codfish to red hake, as well as dozens of other fish in between.