Even though I land a fair amount of fish, lobsters, clams, scallops, and oysters in the four seasons of the year on the water, I have always loved visiting seafood markets. I just can't stop, especially as my Rock Water still sits on dry land awaiting her final repairs.
And even when she's in the water, I usually don't come home with a bountiful catch. That's why we have our many well-regarded seafood markets. You can't eat steak every night, right?
I've been to the Louvre in Paris and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg; they are majestic and inspirational. But put me in a fish market, and I could be hooked for hours on end asking questions and examining the various products in the display case. They're like a museum for this fishing scribe.
I traveled rather extensively in my professional career before retirement, especially outside the United States. As time allowed, I always made it a point to visit tackle stores, buy local fishing magazines, and frequent various seafood stores and markets. It was a part-time hobby for me.
This winter, I received several emails from readers querying me on my favorite seafood shops here on the East End. Most people asked similar questions: Who has the freshest fish? Who has the best prices? Who do you trust? And the answers were never cemented in concrete. There were no clear and obvious favorites. Pretty much all establishments have their attributes and their somewhat perceived weaknesses.
Over all, I will say that I've always advocated that it's best to purchase fish and shellfish that are locally captured and in season here. Consumers need to be smart if they truly desire freshness. Our local waters supply some of the best seafood in the world. Stay local and buy local is my advice
Buying mahimahi in the middle of January here is a hard no. They are a warm-water fish. It's the same with tuna, bluefish, and striped bass. These fish are not local at that time of year, but there are many other species still to be enjoyed.
Also, establish and begin a trusted relationship with your local fishmongers. They will never steer you wrong; the last thing they want is to lose a customer.
On a side note, branzino, which has reached the pearly perch of a most favorite fish on many restaurant menus today, is primarily farm-raised in huge, commercial ponds. Trust me, it was probably not flown in yesterday from Greece for your table.
But I get it, image is everything. A good bit of creative marketing certainly helps push the product. Kudos to branzino. But think of our locally caught white-fleshed porgy or blowfish before you consider that branzino. Trust me, it's so much better.
Porgies continue to rule on the local fishing scene. Whether it's from the western Peconics or all the way east to Montauk, the silver-sided scup have provided many smiles to anglers lining the rails of boats of late. The fishing has been solid, with fish up to three pounds landed.
Striped-bass fishing has been equally solid. The Peconic Bay waters remain plentiful with bass running thick in the various rips and eddies, but Montauk has also seen significant increase of the linesiders of late. Whether trolling wire line with umbrella rigs or bucktails, or casting diamond jigs and various flies, the action has been excellent. The bite is on.
"Man, the weather doesn't get any nicer than it was," said Capt. Dan Giunta of the Double D, a Montauk charter boat, when he headed out this past weekend. Until then, the winds had been a severe bane for those wanting to wet a line.
"It was a literal sheet of glass out there," he said. "More and more oversized striped bass are showing up, but we are still putting enough slots in the boat to make people happy." Note that anglers are allowed to retain one striped bass between 28 and 31 inches per day.
Giunta added that "fluke fishing has picked up big time. And porgies are filtering in now as well. Come on out before the real summer craziness starts!"
Capt. Hugh Chancey of Chancey Charters out of Montauk concurred with Giunta. "We had a great trip on Sunday," he said. "The crew jigged up a bunch of bass, with the biggest in the high 30-pound class. They kept a boat limit of slots and released the rest. Adding to the catch were a few blues and porgies."
Over at Tight Lines Tackle in Southampton and Sag Harbor, the owner Ken Morse was enthused about what he's heard on the local fishing scene.
"The fishing for weakfish has been great, especially in the deeper waters, with many large fish caught. Plus, there are many striped bass up to 56 pounds landed of late." Morse added that Plum Gut is overloaded with striped bass and he confirmed that that Montauk is loaded with stripers and bluefish.
Want blowfish? Long Beach in Noyac is the spot, he added. The tasty puffers are there in great numbers.
At Mrs. Sam's Bait and Tackle in East Hampton, the owner, Sebastian Gorgone, was also happy with the fishing this past week. Like Morse, he pointed to Plum gut for striped bass and said, "The porgy bite here locally has been terrific too. The weather has calmed down and the fishing has been great."
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Fishing tips, observations, and photographs can be sent to [email protected].