Use weather to guide outdoor activities
Shelter Island Kayak Tours, Route 114 at Duvall, Shelter Island: This business rents kayaks and supplies a "marine trail map" for exploring the shoreline of Shelter Island. Prices are $30 single kayak (two hours) or $45 for half-day; $50 tandem kayak ($70 half-day). Open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Mid April-October. Credit: Newsday / Erica Marcus
Like many local outdoorsmen, I have a love-hate relationship with late October. With the fall run reaching its peak for stripers, bluefish and blackfish, the fishing possibilities are always enticing. At the same time, bow season is getting under way, there is pressure to squeeze in one last kayak trip, and time must be made for hiking among the fall foliage extravaganza.
If you are feeling the same pressures, keep in mind that being flexible in your approach and matching your outdoors activities to the weather can help you cover most of the bases. Calm days with a little warmth, for example, are ideal for fishing, boating and kayaking. Windy days are better for hiking as they'll keep the bugs away while you trek over wooded trails. The first cold snap or a daylong drizzle should prompt hunters to hit the woods. Go ahead and make plans, schedule time off and follow through with your initial intentions but don't be glued to any one activity. Make adjustments based on the weather to maximize your time afield.
Fishing action still hot
If you plan to concentrate on fishing this weekend, there are several good scenarios to explore. Blackfishing in the middle and western Long Island Sound is solid right now, according to Captain Ken Tokar of the Angler Fleet in Port Washington. North Shore anglers have also been catching big bluefish and a few stripers at the edge of boulder fields off Port Jefferson and Huntington Harbors. Surf fishing along the North Fork, however, has been very quiet.
Along the South Shore, surf fishing and near shore boat action with stripers and bluefish continue strong between Jones and Shinnecock inlets with pencil poppers, diamond jigs and clam chum producing on outgoing tides. Mark Keller at Bay Park Fishing Station said his shop regulars are jigging and trolling bass in 50 feet of water off Breezy Point while the Oceanside charter boat No Time jigged bass to 33 pounds west of Debs Inlet on Tuesday.
Striper catches also remain solid at the Robert Moses and Ponquogue bridges. There is also no shortage of stripers at Montauk, or blackfish out of Greenport, Mattituck and Orient Point.
"We had good action offshore, too," said Steve Kearney of the Point Lookout open boat Super Hawk. "Monday's overnight trip to the tuna grounds saw 14 anglers deck 21 tuna and eight swordfish. At least 20 big tuna were lost. Jimmy Markesinis, 17, from Queens, drilled three tuna to 80 pounds and a 100-pound swordfish. Frank Stoutenburgh of Riverhead hauled up a 135-pound bigeye."
The Super Hawk is planning at least two more overnight offshore tuna trips, departing Monday and Friday. Visit superhawkfishing.com for information.
Trout Unlimited event
Long Island Trout Unlimited will be holding a Comedy for Conservation Fundraiser at Governor's Comedy Club in Levittown Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and all the money goes to protect and restore local rivers, lakes and streams. Call 516-221-5599 for tickets.
Email: outdoortom@
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