DEC’s Hunter Education Program is offering a free two-day hands-on youth hunting safety course on April 12 and 13. It is held from 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on both days at the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club in Manorville.
Participants will be taught and supervised by a plethora of certified Hunter Education Instructors, including professional trainers, state game wardens, and senior Peconic River Sportsmen’s Club members. This heavily resourced NY state program is leaps and bounds more valuable and meaningful than any online or local option. Get sense for it here.
Open to ages 12 to 16 who have not yet already completed Hunters Ed. The class is limited to 30 participants.
Participants who successfully complete the program will receive their Hunter Education Training Certificate. This certificate is required to purchase a hunting license, and is valid for life and in all states.
Part of the “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative.
As I reflect on the successes and challenges of the waterfowl season on the east end, one word comes to mind: Ice.
The pictures below capture the essence of our second half of the season quite well. The good news is highly localized birds, the bad news is lots of frozen real estate. If you have blinds pretty much anywhere, you can relate. The winners this month are the boat blind hunters. Sneakboxes remain my favorite for adaptability and invisibility. This year, boat hunting is a critical success factor since finding unfrozen launch ramps can usually be achieved.
There is always open water somewhere, the question is, where? Three Mile Harbor and the main part of East Harbor/Accabonac by Louse Point remain accessible for launching via the Hands Creek ramp and Louse Point put-in (I call it that because it’s really more a hard packed beach).
The ducks reported and actually seen by locals in-the-know and blind mounted trail cameras are the usual suspects: Black Ducks, Mallards, Widgeon, Screwdrivers (mergansers- called that due to their profile), Bufflehead and Broadbill. Sea ducks are around, but not what I’d call abundant: Long-tailed ducks, Scoter and Eider all on the big water. In general, everyone with an opinion (which is 100% of waterfowlers) says that ducks are down and geese are strong, but localized. Avian influenza seems to be one theory, but it’s always multi-factorial.
I spend an inordinate amount of time scouting, but the job got a bit easier via camera. I check Hamptons live cameras constantly, as well as the feed from my Moultrie trail cameras. I’d like to see more public wildlife/waterfowl live cameras installed in East Hampton, but like everything, it’s a matter of money.
The high point of my season, besides building blinds, was our ESHA December goose hunt in Watermill with Duane Arnister, master guide. If you haven’t hunted over “stuffers” (actual taxidermy geese), try it with him. It’s an experience that few will ever have. Over the last several decades, at roughly the rate of a dozen a season, he has built and preserved a colossal flock of stuffed birds which are lovingly managed and cared for like the waterfowl heirlooms that they are. I felt like I was a character from Eugene Connett’s epic waterfowling book, “Gunning the Atlantic Flyway.” Pick up a copy if you haven’t read it, it’s my waterfowling bible.
Feel free to share your stories, success and perspectives. This is just one obsessed man’s opinion. The truth lies somewhere in the consensus, and I always want to learn and be held accountable.
Until next time, Happy Waterfowling.
Brace Krag
Waterfowl Chairman East Hampton Sportsmen’s Alliance
You can now buy EHSA merchandise displaying the cool EHSA logo, including selected Carhartt items. Ladies and kids sizes also. To browse, please click here.
In July, The East Hampton Sportsmen’s Alliance entered its first ever boat in the Montauk Grand Slam fishing tournament, which takes place annually over two days. Twenty eight crews competed to land the highest combined weight of four species – Sea Bass, Fluke, Bluefish and Porgy – in pursuit of an $8,000 prize and 364 days of bragging rights. The Alliance sponsored the boat’s entry fee, with any winnings to be split between EHSA, as a fundraiser, and the fishermen.
Captain Patrick Furlong was lauded for putting into service his newly re-powered boat, the Golden Goose, and for being game to navigate far and wide in pursuit of Grand Slam glory. The other two EHSA crew members were Peter Van Scoyoc and David Yonke.
The crew fished hard in what was a fun, but grueling two-day event. Most competing entries had larger boats and crews, with eight or more lines in the water, compared to EHSA’s three. By landing all four species, a feat that only about half of the boats pulled off, and finishing in the middle of the pack at the final weigh in, the EHSA boat punched above its weight.
Fishing twenty-two hours over a two-day period, the team traveled nearly 50 miles to near-off-shore locations from Cartwright and the Frisbees to Submarine Buoy to Cerberus and everywhere in-between. The team managed to land nice Fluke and Porgies bottom fishing high-low rigs with clams, squid and artificial lures on the first day, but struggled to find bluefish and sizable sea bass (although 50+ fish were caught). On day two the team was able to locate a pocket of legal sea bass, finally putting a ~2 pound fish in the boat Sunday morning. With three of the four species in the bag, EHSA turned to trolling for the thus-far elusive bluefish. Finally, about two hours before the tournament end, the Alliance crew put a size-challenged 1.1 lb Blue in the boat, completing the four species Grand Slam. Other species caught over the weekend ranged from lizardfish and sea robin (which served as excellent bait) to rays, sharks and mackerel.
We count a good number of experienced fishermen amongst the ranks of EHSA members and are looking for added support next year for Patrick, Peter and David in next year’s effort.
As we move deeper into November, it has become a challenge to find days that are fishable. As is common this time of year, windy weather has been a frequent occurrence and has postponed many planned outings on the water.
On Sunday morning, the wind fan was still turned on as I joined the East Hampton Sportsmen’s Alliance on its final fishing excursion of the year. The winds, which gusted to over 20 knots from the north, were supposed to die down as the morning went on. Fingers were crossed that the forecast was accurate.
Once again, we were on the Elizabeth II, a roomy 46-foot, Young Brothers-built charter boat that’s skippered by Capt. Paul Bruno. We arrived a bit past 5 a.m. at the Montauk Marine Basin, and the air temperature was downright cold — about 34 degrees. The wind chill made it feel closer to 20. Brr.
All eight of us aboard were wearing our heaviest of winter gear, including gloves, wool hats, insulated socks, and waterproof boots. Most of us resembled the chunky Pillsbury Doughboy. Appearances aside, we were still all happy to be aboard.
The heater was thankfully on full blast in the main cabin, where Bruno was sitting in his helm chair. “A bit frosty isn’t it?” he said as we shook hands. I couldn’t argue with him; I could barely feel my toes.
Bruno’s game plan was to take us on a 90-minute ride to Block Island for blackfish, sea bass, and codfish. When boats were able to get out in recent days, the action was good, especially for blackfish.
For background, the Narragansett people were the first inhabitants of Block Island as evidenced by remains that date back thousands of years. They called the island Manisses, which translates to “Island of the Little God.” I’m not sure who the Big God was, but I’m sure he was quite impressive.
Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European to note Block Island’s existence back in 1524. However, Block Island was named after Adriaen Block, the Dutch navigator who found it again in 1614.
Sixteen families from the English colony of Massachusetts settled on Block Island in 1661, and in 1664 the Island became part of the English colony of Rhode Island. Today, the beautiful island has a population of around 1,400 residents, and tourism, along with great fishing, are its main claims to fame.
Laughter filled the cabin for much of our ride off to the east. Ilissa Meyer, who once again coordinated the trip, made sure that each of us was well taken care of all day with a large plastic bag of her own delicious version of chicken McNuggets. Meyer, who is blessed with a warm smile and great sense of humor, made sure that none of us would starve that day.
As we approached the south side of Block Island under the majestic 200-foot Mohegan Bluffs, Bruno lowered the anchor. It was finally time to fish.
While the breeze eventually began to die down a few hours later, we all plucked away at a consistent blackfish bite that ran in flurries. A few nice sea bass were also landed, as well as two codfish. We had a great day. Mission accomplished.
Our ride back to Montauk was beautiful in the late fall sun. The winds were no longer an issue and the seas were calm. Our leader, Ilissa, took a well-deserved snooze in the forward lower berth.
Sadly, she and her husband will soon relocate to near Ithaca in upstate New York. But she has vowed to continue to coordinate and man the rails on our future trips, continuing a nearly 15-year tradition. A trip on the Elizabeth II would not be the same without her.
Back on land, at Mrs. Sam’s Bait and Tackle in East Hampton, the proprietor, Sebastian Gorgone, said, “Squid is the word!” He reported that “the squid are still thick out here.” By way of confirmation, Capt. Bruno caught a bushel basket of the tasty cephalopods in Fort Pond Bay the day before our charter. Fried calamari, anyone?
Gorgone added that blackfish are being landed off Gull Island off to the north, and that schoolie-size striped bass remain plentiful for casters in the ocean suds.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, Capt. Harvey Bennett is giving thanks to the donations of baseball equipment he has received, including bats, balls, and gloves, that he will shortly send to underprivileged children in Cuba.
“I really could use some more stuff before I box things up,” said the former owner of the Tackle Shop in Amagansett. “I hope people will take the time to look for stuff in their garage, closets, or basement. But I’m also happy to accept new equipment too.”
To coordinate a drop-off, Bennett can be reached at 631-324-7770 or by email at thetackleshop@aol.com.
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Fishing tips, observations, and photographs can be sent to fish@ehstar.com.
Per resolution of the Directors of the EHSA, membership is no longer restricted exclusively to East Hampton Residents.
Residents of Southampton, and locations further afield with an interest in preserving our local fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities are welcome to join as Associate Members and to participate in any EHSA activities.
Members must be at least eighteen (18) years old, be a legal resident of the Town of East Hampton or own real property within the Town of East Hampton.
Associate Members must be at least eighteen (18) years old.
Members and Associate Members must pay any initiation and/or annual membership fee or assessment as determined by the Board of Directors and meet any and all other requirements as determined by the Board of Directors as they deem appropriate.
Future Directors will be elected from the pool of TEH resident Members.
