Stripers Firing from Eastern Sound to Montauk in Early June
Per On The Water's June 4 report, the striper bite is firing from the Eastern Sound to Montauk, with fluke fishing showing signs of improvement around NYC and bluefish action remaining spotty across the island. That momentum has been building for weeks: On The Water's May 21 dispatch flagged a strong push of big bass and bunker into Western Long Island Sound, with the North Fork and Montauk heating up noticeably. The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) observed in late May that as some bass push north, more fish from the south continue to fill the void — a classic early-summer rotation that keeps Long Island waters well-supplied through June. As of June 9, OTW Saltwater's striper migration report confirms bunker, mackerel, sea herring, and sand eels are fueling improving action northward through southern New England. No buoy readings are available to confirm current water temperature, but the pattern across multiple sources is consistent: this is a productive early-June striper window for Long Island anglers.
Current Conditions
- Moon
- Waning Crescent
- Weather
- Check local forecast before heading out.
New to these readings? What do water temp, cfs, tide, and moon phase actually mean for fishing?
What's Biting
Striped Bass
live bunker or topwater plugs at dawn and dusk on rip lines
Fluke
bucktail and Gulp strip on a drifting tide
Bluefish
watch for surface blitz near bait schools at Montauk Point
Black Sea Bass
structure and wreck fishing; verify 2026 NY DEC bag limits before targeting
What's Next
The June 9 OTW Saltwater migration report places shortfin squid in southern New England alongside bunker, mackerel, sea herring, and sand eels — the same bait pipeline that has been driving the Long Island striper bite documented by On The Water throughout late May and into June. With that bait diversity remaining strong and the waning crescent moon phase bringing lower tidal amplitude and mellower night conditions, the next several days should favor focused feeding windows at first and last light rather than sustained all-night blitzes.
**Striped bass** remain the clear headliner. The Eastern Sound to Montauk corridor described as "firing" in On The Water's June 4 report aligns with the broad bait front OTW Saltwater confirmed days later. Expect rip lines, inlet edges, and rocky structure around Montauk to continue producing. Live bunker remains a go-to offering when the bass are keyed on the schools; large swimbaits and topwater plugs at dawn and dusk are the logical surface-fishing play. The waning moon window typically concentrates fish near structure during low-light periods rather than spreading them across open water, so precision positioning around tide changes will pay off more than roaming.
**Fluke (Summer Flounder)** showed signs of improvement around NYC as of June 4 per On The Water, recovering from a weather-related setback the prior weekend. NY DEC's recreational summer flounder season is open — confirm current size and bag limits before heading out. With conditions settling heading into mid-June, the drift-fishing bite on the Sound side and South Shore inlets should tighten up further. Bucktails tipped with Gulp or fresh squid strips on a moving tide remain the most reliable approach when fish are holding on bottom structure.
**Bluefish** have been described as spotty as recently as June 4 by On The Water, though they were showing in stronger numbers by late May. Blues typically consolidate into a more predictable bite once they lock onto bait schools; watch for surface blitz activity around Montauk Point and the Eastern Sound rips, particularly when bunker or mackerel are visibly being pushed up. That is usually the trigger that converts a scattered bite into reliable action.
Context
By early June, Long Island's saltwater fishery is historically in full swing. Striped bass have typically completed the bulk of their northward migration by this point, fluke are moving into nearshore structure and inlets, and bluefish are working the bait schools with increasing regularity as water temperatures climb. This year's striper run appears to be tracking on or slightly ahead of a typical schedule. On The Water reported big bass and bunker pushing into Western Long Island Sound as early as May 21, and by June 4 the bite was described as actively "firing" from the Eastern Sound to Montauk — a progression consistent with historical spring migration timelines for the region.
The Saltwater Edge Blog (RI) captured the regional dynamic well in late May: "As some of our bass will keep moving north, there are more coming from the south to fill their void." That staggered push is a reliable feature of the early-summer Northeast fishery and suggests Long Island waters remain well-stocked even as the leading edge of the run moves toward Cape Cod and beyond.
The fluke bite dipping after weather events in late May is also seasonally typical — summer flounder are sensitive to post-storm turbidity and pressure swings in nearshore and back-bay zones, but recovery usually comes within a few days of conditions settling, which the June 4 On The Water report appeared to begin reflecting.
No direct year-over-year comparisons are available from the current source feeds, but the overall tone across On The Water and OTW Saltwater points to a healthy, well-paced 2026 season for the Long Island region. NY DEC's regulatory updates for black sea bass, bluefish, and summer flounder are in effect — always verify current rules before targeting any species.
This report is synthesized by Hooked Fisherman from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Source names are cited inline where they appear. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.