In the Fall, Babylon Cove is good for...?

[Techjunkie]

For the last few summers I've been taking my kids snapper fishing from various public docks on Babylon cove. I'm aware that there's also puffer fish, , sea robins, crabs, needle fish, and even the occasional eel and on rare occasions a fluke (always too small). Around five years ago, there were baby weak fish, but was the only time I'd seen them there.

I'd always thought that was the extent of the species that pass through the cove, until a few weeks ago when I pulled out a lone short sea bass. Now I'm beginning to wonder if any large trophy fish enter the cove to feed on bait fish this time of year, or if I'm simply better off sticking to the ocean beaches.

Would someone kindly clue me in? Thanks.

[Techjunkie]

...nothing, apparently.

Too bad. I was kind of hoping to hear that with access to the south shore cut off, the piers and launches that face the north side of the great south bay and are still accessible are worthwhile, but the lack of response to this query leads me to believe otherwise.

[City Slicker HillBilly]

Hey Tech,

It's a pretty tight lipped forum. I've never fished the cove but I wouldnt take the lack of response to mean you're wasting your time. Folks don't comment on location here, I think it may actually be against site rules (or it seems that way at least).

[Techjunkie]

Thanks. I was trying to be as non-specific as possible, and some of the locations I had in mind are about a publicly known/accessible as can be, but I hear ya. The complete lack of any other anglers there this time of year tells me it was wishful thinking anyway.

[cardboard box]

Techjunkie,

For any large trophy fish to enter the Babylon cove (as well as just about every other large cove in GSB), there must be a good reason. They don’t spawn there, so sex is out - that only leaves food...they need an ample food supply. When the adult bunker come into the bay in the Spring, bass and blues follow them in. The bunker flee up into the creeks to avoid being eaten. The predators will follow them in...to a point. As soon as the boat traffic starts up, they will head off to...parts unknown. As a fisherman, you need to be aware of this. In other words, don’t expect to be bailing 30 lb bass from the Babylon Town Dock at noon time on a nice sunny day - ain’t gonna happen. The adult bunker, as well as peanuts, mullet, spearing, et. al., will begin leaving the creeks during the Fall. The bass know this, and will wait to ambush them. Again, the boat traffic will put them down. As the water temps drop, and the bait heads South, the bass will pull back closer to the inlet to wait for a meal. I wouldn’t expect to catch any large bass or blues up in the creeks in the late Fall.

Sorry for my late response, but I just joined the forum today. Hope my reply was helpful.

[Techjunkie]

That's a great explanation of things. Thanks.