East End Fishing Report: July 10, 2026 — Heat Breaks, Bass Stay Hot, Canyons Fire Up

The furnace finally shut off. That brutal heat-and-humidity stretch had a lot of us hiding on the couch instead of on the water, but the rain and cooler air that rolled in Monday knocked the back off it. Now the deck is comfortable again — and the fishing never really slowed down.

Striped Bass — Still the Headline

Striped bass remain the story from the Montauk rips to the bays, and it's been that way for weeks. Daytime crews are working diamond jigs and bucktails in and around the Lighthouse, while trollers pulling umbrella rigs and parachute jigs are scoring just as well. Remember the slot: one fish per angler, 28 to 31 inches. Plenty of the bass being landed and released blow well past that.

Light-tackle ace Capt. Savio Mizzi of Fishooker Charters, sailing out of Westlake Marina, has been calling it flat-out epic — fish caught and released to 50 pounds. The night bite in the bays has been the real gut-check, with anglers reporting personal bests and double-digit landings of fish in the 30-to-40-pound class and up. Capt. Anthony D'Arrigo's Ebb Tide Princess party boat has been putting fares on those big after-dark cows, and mixing in bass and fluke on the daytime trips.

Don't sleep on the Gut and the Race either — bass and blues are stacked there too. Three-way bucktail rigs and diamond jigs have been the ticket during daylight.

Bluefish

Bluefish are running strong right alongside the bass. At Montauk the stripers tend to be up top while the blues hang closer to the bottom, so adjust accordingly. Casters have been picking up choppers off Gerard Drive, and there are fish scattered through the bays for anyone who wants to brine a few fillets for the smoker.

Fluke & Sea Bass

The sinker-bouncing crowd is grinding it out. Fluke action has been a picky pick — improving on the calmer days, tougher when the wind's up — with a mix of shorts and keepers coming over the rail. Sea bass results remain spotty on the inshore grounds. Nothing red hot here, but a steady drift on the right tide will put dinner in the cooler.

Bays — Porgy & Blowfish

Porgy fishing has rebounded nicely. Cherry Harbor on the southwest side of Gardiners Island has been holding good numbers of jumbo scup when conditions let boats anchor up, and casters have been picking them off Gerard Drive too. A few tasty blowfish have shown in Three Mile Harbor — worth a shot if you want a change of pace. Sebastian Gorgone at Mrs. Sam's Bait and Tackle in East Hampton reports business has been brisk with bluefish, bass, porgies, and some fluke keeping everyone busy.

Offshore — Canyons Heating Up

The tuna scene is coming alive at the right time. Yellowfin are leading the charge with bluefin and bigeye in the mix as more boats connect. That timing lines up with the Montauk Canyon Challenge, running July 10 through 18 — last year drew over 80 boats and prize money pushing a million bucks. A big body of squid and sand eels has piled into the nearby ocean, and that buffet is drawing everything from tuna to whales and dolphins out beyond the beach.

Conditions & Tactics

Water's still on the cool side for mid-July — those lingering squid are a tell — but it's warming. With the heat spell broken, plan your bass trips around the tide rather than around staying out of the sun. For daytime Montauk bass, keep the diamond jigs and bucktails handy; at night, the bays are where the giants live. Sinker bouncers should chase the calm windows for fluke.

On the Calendar

• Montauk Canyon Challenge — July 10–18, offshore tuna tournament out of Montauk.
• Montauk Grand Slam — July 18–19 at Uihlein's Marina, the inshore charity event chasing fluke, sea bass, bluefish, and porgy. This year's Montauk Fishing Legend honor goes to Capt. Tom Herlihy of Herl's Girl — well earned.

Tight lines and stay hydrated out there.