East End Fishing Report: June 19, 2026 — Montauk Bass Bonanza Rolls On, Blues and Fluke Filling In
The Headline: Montauk Stripers, Day and Night
If you've been waiting for a reason to point the bow east, this is it. Striped bass fishing at Montauk has been nothing short of a bonanza for weeks now, and the run shows no sign of slowing. Daytime crowds are loading up casting diamond jigs in and around the Lighthouse, while trollers pulling umbrella rigs, parachutes, and bucktails are putting just as many fish in the boat.
The numbers and sizes are the real story. Fish to 50 pounds have been landed and released from both boat and shore, and the night bite has been flat-out phenomenal — anglers reporting personal bests and double-digit nights with plenty of fish in the 30-to-40-pound class and bigger. The one catch: the slot. With one keeper per day between 28 and 31 inches, plenty of these slabs are swimming back, but nobody's complaining about that kind of problem.
One quirk worth noting this season — it's been mostly big fish. The usual parade of schoolies showing up first never really happened; the cold water seemed to skip the 12-to-20-inch class and bring the heavyweights right in. Ocean beaches from East Hampton all the way to Montauk have stayed productive, with clam-dunkers having the edge of late.
Charter & Party Boat Intel
The Ebb Tide Princess, the Montauk party boat run by Capt. Anthony D'Arrigo, has been cashing in on the night bass action with those big 30-to-40-pound fish, and their daytime trips are mixing in a solid spread of bass and a few fluke. Check their sailing schedule at ebbtidefishing.com.
Bluefish Are Filling In
The bluefish have finally shown up in numbers and are getting more consistent in eastern waters. At Montauk they've been holding closer to the bottom while the bass work the surface. Casters off Gerard Drive have been picking at smaller blues, with some bigger choppers starting to mix in. Bring wire or a long-shank hook and expect to lose a few jigs.
Fluke Picking Up
Fluke fishing at Montauk had been a picky pick, but it's improved over the past week. Still some squid around the grounds too, which tells you the water's running a touch colder than usual for mid-June. Drift the right tides and you'll scratch out a keeper or two between bass drops.
Porgies Rebounding
Porgy fishing has bounced back nicely. Shore casters are picking them off around Gerard Drive, and boat crews working the eastern bays have found good numbers of big scup — Cherry Harbor on the southwest side of Gardiner's Island has been a reliable anchor-up spot when conditions cooperate. Bring plenty of bait; when they're on, full buckets are the norm.
Blowfish in the Harbor
A few tasty blowfish have started showing in Three Mile Harbor — a fun, kid-friendly bite and some of the best eating around. Worth a look on a slack-tide morning.
Heads Up: Brown Sharks
The brown sharks are back, and they've been shadowing striper schools from Southern New England down through Montauk. If you start losing hooked bass — or hauling up half a fish — that's your cue. Use heavier tackle to keep fights short, don't over-exhaust fish you plan to release, and if the sharks have moved into a spot, just pick up and run somewhere else. No sense feeding over-slot cows to the gray suits.
Mark Your Calendar
The 70th annual Blessing of the Fleet kicks off at 5 p.m. in Montauk Harbor, hosted by the Montauk Boatmen and Captains Association and the Viking Fleet. Looking ahead, the 2026 Montauk Grand Slam inshore charity tournament runs July 18–19 out of Uihlein's Marina on West Lake Drive — anglers chase a slam of fluke, sea bass, bluefish, and porgy. This year's Montauk Fishing Legend of the Year goes to Capt. Tom Herlihy of the charter boat Herl's Girl — a well-earned nod. Details and leaderboards at mtkgrandslam.org.
Bottom Line
It's a bass world right now and the rest of us are just living in it. Get to Montauk for the stripers — day or night — and pick up bluefish, improving fluke, and rebounding porgies along the way. Just keep one eye out for the sharks.