Knowing where to go on the Island to catch fish is not difficult at times because it will be visually easy to see where the bait and fish have set up. Bent rods and crowds are a sure sign that fish are directly in front. When the fishing is good in one location as opposed to another you will see vehicles moving around and then stopping and congregating in one spot. At times like this it may be difficult for you to find elbow room to squeeze in with the fly rod as spin casters will dominate.

If fishing from the beach, approach the water like you would a new trout stream. Look for areas conducive for holding bait and eventually you'll find the fish.

During November and December bass and blues can be spread out over the entire length of the Island so depending on others to show you where the fish are is not necessary. One can fish by reading the beach that would involve fishing in areas that are most conducive for holding bait and attracting fish. In other words approach the beach as though fishing a new trout stream for the first time. Identify where the structure is and begin there if no visible signs of fish are evident.

Beach Topography
In terms of general topography an outer sandbar exists anywhere from 75-100 yards off of the beach that characterizes the Island. For the most part this outer bar protects the coastline as waves break along its length and then pushes whitewater towards the beach. This entire area in front of the bar comes alive on either side of the high tide as the water fills in this area. Bait comes over the bar at this time and the bass and blues are quick to follow. They will pin the bait tight to the beach and as a result tremendous blitz action can occur for hours right in front of you.

Late fall is the best time to catch stripers from shore.

Some the other important beach structures you should key in on are sandbars, drop-offs, holes, cuts, bowls, points, troughs, and rip lines. Several of these structures and in some cases all of them, will be present along the beach that you are fishing. The Island's northern end is generally deeper than its southern end and has more pronounced holes that attract and hold fish. To identify a hole look for darker water surrounded by lighter water. A good pair of polarized sunglasses greatly aid in distinguishing this characteristic.

Sandbars are identified along the beach by searching them out at low tide and seeing where they actually exist. Many times especially during a moon or blow-out tide you will be able to walk out on the sandbar ten or twenty yards and reach deeper water that is out front. You can also identify the location of a sandbar by looking at the way waves break that move inside the outer bar. Ocean waves will break when they feel bottom and do so from left to right or vice versa. Observing this pattern will give you a feel for where the shallower bottom of the rising sandbar lies. In areas like these that are within casting range you can cast to the bar and allow your fly to drift over it slightly dropping into deeper water that will border it on either of its two sides.

Rip lines are evident as water moves seaward through a cut between two sandbars. Here water velocity will increase and as a result kick up sand from the bottom causing the rip to be lighter in color than the surrounding water on either of its two sides. Allowing your fly to drift through the rip either out or to swing across it are two good tactics to employ.

Look for rips along sandbars and jetties for bait concentrations and feeding fish.

Bowls are pronounced as large indentations of the topography of the coastline that are easily recognized as you look down the beach. Here the water is sometimes deeper and setting up and fishing along its edges can often be deadly. These will be bordered by points of sand of both sides of the bowl.