Outdoor activities provide a little solace

The coastwide cleanup and damage assessment following the devastating one-two wallop delivered by superstorm Sandy and the nor'easter, Athena, continues. No doubt it will be some time before things get back to normal, especially along the hard hit West End and South Shore. That leaves fishing and hunting as understandably low on the priority list for many in these difficult times.

Still, I was surprised to hear about a fair number of anglers and hunters who have managed to get out on the water and in the woods in the days between the storms. Most eye-raising has been the request for fishing and hunting information from some of those who have been hardest hit. I've fielded several calls and emails from people devastated by the storms but who simply wanted -- or needed -- to take a few minutes to clear their heads and wet a line or see some game.

One thread that has rung true across these requests is the actual catching of fish or taking of game has had little to do with the desire to head afield. Far more important has been just finding a place or a boat that will make it possible to get out for a few hours to clear the mind or spend time with friends and loved ones. For more than a few, heading into the great outdoors is serving as a form of therapy. With a warming trend expected this weekend, there is a chance for others to savor the experience.

It's easy to dismiss fishing and other outdoor passions such as hunting, birding, hiking, kayaking, boating and such as trivial pursuits, especially given current circumstances. But for those of us in which the outdoors pulses through the veins, such activities can give comfort and normalcy during these difficult times.

If you are able to get out into the woods this week, you're timing is perfect. The whitetail rut is just starting and bow hunters are likely to see plenty of deer. Sit tight as the does pass bye and chances are a buck will soon follow. You best bet is to monitor a path well traveled by does entering or leaving bedding areas because that is where the bucks will be headed.

For anglers, there is some excellent blackfish and striper action. Call or check the website of your favorite party boat -- chances are they survived the shellacking and are still sailing (Captree will remain temporarily closed until Captree State Park is reopened).

In Long Island Sound, the blackfishing has been super in 40- to 50-foot depths with plenty of bulldogs taken out of Port Washington, Huntington and Port Jefferson. Greenport, Orient and Montauk Point have also been hot with the Orient Point charter vessel Prime Time III seeing consistent action with bulldogs to 11 pounds.

Stripers and blues can be found smacking diamond jigs in the deeper rips of Long Island Sound, especially off Port Washington, Huntington Harbor, Port Jefferson and Mattituck. There are also stripers in the rips off Montauk, along the North Fork beaches, and in the surf between Southampton and Montauk if you have the gas, means and time to get there. Sadly, not everyone does. Email: outdoortom@optonline.net