On Friday morning after grabbing a cup of coffee, I drove down to the marina to check on Rock Water. It’s a frequent routine.
My 30-foot lobster-style boat of 25 years has occupied the same slip since day one after I had her built up in Nova Scotia. Other than a variety of recent mechanical and maintenance issues due to her advanced age, over all, she’s been a fine, reliable craft.
But instead of going down to the dock, I drove on the dirt and gravel strewn path in back of the marina to where the boats are stored and mummified in white plastic, shrink-wrapped for their winter slumber.
Unfortunately, that’s where Rock Water has been for the past two weeks, and the next time she will return to her slip will be sometime in the spring.
Normally, I keep my boat in the water until Thanksgiving. Hunting down blackfish and dredging for bay scallops usually occupies my time as the weather allows.
It’s also my favorite time of the year to be on the water. Long gone is the armada of boats of summer with their nonstop wakes that mimic waves crashing on the ocean beach, water clarity that’s more akin to a muddy river. Nothing is finer than taking the boat out on a cool, crisp morning. But that’s not happening.
Some much-needed heart surgery in Manhattan is on the menu later this week for yours truly. Basically, my plumbing needs a total overhaul.
The heart is like an engine for a boat; you’re sunk if it’s in disrepair. Unfortunately, mine has nearly conked out a few times.
I frequently tell my friends that I should have signed up for the extended warranty when I was born. Next time I’ll know better.
While I will miss being on the water, health is more important than fishing. The blackfish can wait. It’s the same for Rock Water. Sleep well, my friend. I look forward to a fresh start in 2027.
In other news, Squid-heads rejoice! The tasty cephalopods are providing nonstop action on many nights, only a scant mile or two from Montauk. On some trips, anglers are walking off party boats with as much as 200 pieces up to a monster-size 20 inches in length. Now that’s a helluva lot of squid in any book.
“The squid harvest is in full force,” smiled Capt. Anthony D’Arrigo of the Ebb Tide Princess. “From newbies to experts, all are filling up pails with fresh Montauk squid.”
The Viking Starlight is also doing equally well on its trips.
Check out their respective websites to confirm sailing schedules and to make a reservation.
While I love a cold or grilled calamari salad in a lemon vinaigrette, deep-fried squid is at the top of my list. Point Judith-style — crispy squid with a few hot banana peppers — especially melts my heart. Just don’t tell my cardiologist.
As the weather window continues to narrow, the Viking Star returned last weekend with a fine catch of yellowfin tuna and some other deepwater fish.
Conditions were not great, but anglers found a variety of bottom species including golden and blueline tilefish, pollack, hake, cusk, and rosefish.
The tuna portion of the trip was especially productive, with many anglers ending up with a limit of yellowfins. In addition, three swordfish were landed, including a whopper of a broadbill that tipped the scale at 220 pounds. A rod-bending bigeye tuna of 201 pounds was also gaffed aboard.
False albacore, a distant cousin of yellowfins, are still roaming around Montauk, much to the delight of light-tackle aficionados. “Fishing has been off the hook,” reports Capt. Savio Mizzi of Fishooker Charters. “It’s been a great fall so far.”
On Sunday, the season for blackfish opened in Long Island Sound. Despite the blustery rainy conditions, at the end of the day good catches were reported back at the docks.
“Strong east wind in Gardiner’s Bay made for a really sloppy, long ride out,” said Joel Fisher of Sag Harbor. “We tucked in on the north side of Plum and pulled five keepers and about a dozen shorts, plus some bonus sea bass. Then the rain came and the tide turned. With wind against tide building in Plum Gut, we decided to call it and head back.”
Anglers fishing in the Sound are allowed to retain three blackfish over 16 inches. Elsewhere, the blackfish season opens today. The limit in those waters is four fish.
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Fishing tips, observations, and photographs can be sent to [email protected].