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Fishing Lake Montauk: what the data says
1,072-acre harbor near Montauk. The water tops out around 14 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Striped Bass fishing at Lake Montauk
Spring striped bass on Lake Montauk hold shallow, usually 4 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Bluefish fishing at Lake Montauk
Start shallow in spring: bluefish sit in 2 to 14 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for bluefish in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & dusk | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 2 to 14 ft | dawn & midday | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Summer Flounder (Fluke) fishing at Lake Montauk
In spring, summer flounder (fluke) run shallow here, mostly 3 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 3 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday and early morning. A bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Slow bottom rig + strip |
Black Sea Bass fishing at Lake Montauk
Start shallow in spring: black sea bass sit in 4 to 14 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 8 ft that scores prime in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in midday and early morning. A bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 4 to 14 ft | midday | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Tautog (Blackfish) fishing at Lake Montauk
Spring tautog (blackfish) on Lake Montauk hold shallow, usually 3 to 14 ft. Summer fish stay in 4 to 14 ft, and winter fish hold in 4 to 14 ft. Break off the point is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for fall tautog (blackfish). In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning. Tie on a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 14 ft | midday & dawn | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 4 to 14 ft | dawn | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 3 to 14 ft | midday | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 4 to 14 ft | midday | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 12 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 4 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 2 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 2 ft
Common questions
How deep is Lake Montauk?
Lake Montauk is about 14 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Lake Montauk?
Anglers target striped bass, summer flounder (fluke), bluefish, black sea bass, tautog (blackfish) on Lake Montauk.
Where is the best fishing spot on Lake Montauk?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 12 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Lake Montauk?
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Three Mile Harbor · East Branch Reservoir · Bog Brook Reservoir · Titicus Reservoir · Cross River Reservoir · Diverting Reservoir
Browse all New York fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.