1/17/2011

Just a short report to let you know what’s going on here in Montauk, where we are still
covered in snow, although not as bad as other parts of the island.
All there is to talk about is the codfishing, which from all the reports is great (there is no
way that I am going to go out and check for myself). There are a half dozen head boats
sailing daily or at least when weather permits. There are only two outsiders here this year,
less than last. The way they sailed last year I assumed that there would be more of them
but I guess the travel and economics weren’t worth it. There couldn’t have been any
complaints about the fishing. One of the boats here is the HELEN H, down from Hyannis
Massachusetts, where cod is the state fish. What does that suggest to you? There are a
couple of charterboats still in the water, but the only ones that seem to be sailing with any
regularity are the BLUEFIN IV and CAPT MARK, both of which have been organizing
trips on a per person basis as well as straight charters and SEA SPRAY an over six boat
sailing out of Montauk Marine Basin..
Most of the boats are sailing around 3:00 am or so getting to the grounds south of Block
Island well before dawn. Quite often the best bite of the day starts immediately, usually
tapering off as the sun rises. Reservations on all the boats are a must. You don’t want to
drive all the way to Montauk to find out the drive was a waste of time.
I’ll get back to you occasionally throughout the winter and resume the weekly reports in
the Spring.
PS: I have a Murray Brothers fighting chair taking up space in the basement that I want to
get rid of. Anybody interested, drop me a line.