Fall run is on across Long Island as water settles
The fall run is the story on Long Island this week. On The Water's October 8 New York and Long Island report opens with "the fall run is on," and its October 1 edition noted that a weeklong nor'easter had scattered some fish while others woke up and started feeding. Across the Sound, Saltwater Edge (RI) says things are settling after the blow and fish are back on the feed, though the water may need a few more days to clean up in most spots. Our NOAA CO-OPS readings show surface water holding in the mid 60s: 64°F at station 8510560, 64.8°F at station 8516945 and 64.9°F at station 8518750. That is a comfortable fall range for the migration to keep moving through the region. Today is a new moon, so expect strong tidal movement and dark nights.
New to these readings? What water temp, tide, and moon phase mean for fishing →
What's next
Over the next two to three days, expect the water to keep clearing as the post-storm churn fades. Saltwater Edge flagged that clean-up time as the one lingering issue, so the first spots to turn on should be the ones that clear fastest. Open ocean beaches and inlets with good flushing generally recover first, while back bays and harbors can hold stained water longer.
On The Water's recent coverage of what fuels the fall blitzes points to bait as the key signal. Watch for birds working over inlets and along the beachfront, and for baitfish pushing out of the bays. When the bait moves, the feeding frenzies usually follow, so spend a few minutes scanning for diving birds before you commit to a stretch of shoreline.
Tide timing today, converted from the predicted times at the CO-OPS stations to local time. At Montauk (8510560) the next low is about 5:11 AM and the following high about 11:15 AM. Out west at Kings Point (8516945) the high lands around 1:44 AM and the next low about 7:46 AM. At The Battery (8518750) the low is near 4:27 AM and the high near 10:30 AM. A new moon brings larger tidal swings, so current will run harder around mid-tide. Fish the moving water at dawn or dusk, and use the slack periods to relocate.
The NY DEC's boating notice about an incoming nor'easter is a good reminder to watch the wind and barometric pressure before heading out. Autumn weather turns quickly, so use a marine radio, keep an eye on the forecast during your trip and be off the water before the next system arrives.
Context
Mid-October is peak season for the Northeast's fall migration, and Long Island sits right in the path as fish and bait move south and offshore. This year looks on schedule. The nor'easter disrupted the first week of October, but the feeding window has reopened as it passed. Water in the mid 60s is typical for this point in the calendar, and the cooling trend ahead is what keeps the run going. Cold snaps and northerly winds tend to push bait along the shoreline and sharpen the bite, while a stretch of warm, calm days can slow things. Late October into early November often brings the heaviest action before the run winds down.
Synthesized from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.
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