Point bass bite explodes as rips fire on big tides and sand eels stack thick

The Point is absolutely on fire right now, and I mean that in every sense of the word. We're seeing the kind of striper fishing that reminds you why Montauk earned its reputation as the bass capital of the world. The rips are loaded, the bait is thick, and the fish are feeding like they mean it.

The night bite has been nothing short of spectacular. Eels fished after sunset are producing bass in the 30 to 40-pound class with remarkable consistency. The key is getting your eel down into the boulder field on the incoming tide, letting it work naturally through the structure. I've been seeing the best action from two hours after sunset through midnight, with fish hitting hard in 25 to 35 feet of water around the lighthouse area and North Bar.

Daylight fishing is equally impressive if you know how to work the rips properly. Four and a half ounce bucktails tipped with Uncle Josh pork rind or 5-inch white Gulp Swimming Mullets are absolutely crushing it. The technique that's been money is swimming the jig through the rip while keeping it just off bottom. When the current swings your jig downstream, flip the bail and let controlled line out to get back to the strike zone. These fish are sitting in that 25-foot depth transition where it drops to 10 feet and back to 25 — classic Montauk structure.

What's driving this incredible bite is the perfect storm of conditions we're experiencing. Sand eels are stacked thick throughout the area, creating feeding opportunities that have the bass locked and loaded. The bunker that were so prevalent earlier in the season have largely moved on, but the sand eels and squid are more than making up for it. I'm also seeing good numbers of cocktail blues in the 1 to 2-pound range mixed in — always a great sign that the bait chain is healthy.

The rips themselves are fishing like a textbook. North Bar and Shagwong Reef are both producing, but the real action has been concentrated around the Point itself. The incoming tide has been the most productive, particularly that last two hours when the current really starts ripping. You need to be ready for strong water — I'm seeing guys using up to 6 ounces to hold bottom in the strongest flow.

Fluke fishing has also picked up significantly. The south side drops are producing fish to 6 pounds on white Gulp and chartreuse bucktails in 30 to 40 feet of water. The outgoing tide has been best for the flatfish, with the bite really turning on as the water starts to move. Porgies are scattered but when you find them, they're thick. The key is mobility — don't waste time on dead water.

What's really impressive is the size of the bass we're seeing. These aren't just slot fish — we're talking about genuine trophy stripers that are clearly overwintered fish. The deep, powerful tail pumps when you hook one of these fish tells you immediately you're into something special. Most of the bass are well over the slot, with many pushing that magical 40-inch mark.

The water temperature has been climbing steadily, hitting the mid-60s around the Point. This thermal structure is perfect for holding bait and concentrating fish. The clarity has been excellent despite some recent weather, and the rips are running clean and strong.

Looking ahead, we're coming into the new moon period which should really fire up the bite. The spring tides that come with the new moon will flush even more bait through the area and create the kind of current that makes Montauk legendary. I'm expecting the eel bite to get even better as we move through the week, particularly on those big tide swings.

The surf has also been producing for those willing to work for it. The beaches from Turtle Cove around to the south side have been giving up bass to 30 pounds on bucktails and swimmers worked in the wash. Early morning and late evening have been prime time, with fish feeding aggressively in the surf line.

This is Montauk fishing at its finest — the kind of action that draws anglers from hundreds of miles away. The combination of structure, current, and bait has created a perfect feeding environment that's producing the kind of memories that last a lifetime. If you've been thinking about making the trip to the Point, now is the time. This bite has all the makings of something truly special.