Hurricane Erin Storm Surge – Bluefish Tournament Weekend | Bay Rats & Buoys Podcast Ep. 45

Welcome back to another exciting week of the Bay Rats & Buoys fishing and boating podcast! In Episode 45, Captain Gaige broadcasts from the studio due to rain and stormy conditions as Hurricane Erin pushes a surge up the Long Island Sound. Even though we’re off the boat this week, there’s still plenty to cover as the WICC Bluefish Tournament heats up. Where are the gator blues hiding this season? We break down reports, tactics, and conditions as anglers across the region gear up for one of the most competitive weekends of the year.

We’re now just 7 weeks away from the one-year anniversary of Bay Rats & Buoys, and that calls for a big celebration! Our journey has been fueled by you—our amazing fans, captains, anglers, and boating community. From striped bass to bluefish, offshore tuna trips, and everything in between, this podcast has become the go-to destination for fishing reports, tournament news, and boating lifestyle content.

This week we also take time to highlight Captain Joey Leggio, who recently suffered a boating accident. Please check out the GoFundMe link in the description to support a fellow captain and his family during this difficult time. The fishing community is strongest when we support one another, and your help means the world.

Our Facebook presence has exploded since February 2025—Captain Gaige’s content creator page now has over 5,000 followers and nearly 4,000 friends! A big shoutout to all the admins in the Long Island fishing groups who help share our podcast episodes each week. Starting now, we’ll mention the groups with the most interaction in every episode—because without you, this growth wouldn’t be possible.

Big news is also on the horizon as we prepare to launch the official Bay Rats & Buoys Fishing Club, giving fans and anglers exclusive ways to connect, join tournaments, and be part of the movement.

 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with your fishing buddies. Comment below where you think the bluefish schools will show up for this year’s WICC Tournament—we love shouting out fan comments in every episode!

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Episode 44 – Bay Rats & Buoys Fishing & Boating Podcast | Offshore Tuna, Mahi, Tilefish & Local Harbor Wildlife

We’re just 8 weeks away from the one-year anniversary of the Bay Rats & Buoys podcast, and excitement is building! In this week’s episode, Captain Gaige and First Mate Kory bring you all the latest Long Island fishing and boating news, plus an epic offshore report you won’t want to miss.

Kory headed offshore again for one of his best trips of the season, landing bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi, and tilefish. The tuna bite is still hot, but keep in mind—recreational tuna regulations have recently changed, so make sure you know the NOAA fishing rules before heading out.

Closer to home, our harbor and bay are teeming with life—cownose stingrays, dolphin sightings, and even a seal reported this week! It’s the perfect time to join us on the water and experience our world-class fishery just minutes from the dock.

We also give a big shout-out to Jacob from Davy Jones Shellfish Co. and our friends at J&M Seafood—both with big news coming soon. Plus, you’ll hear the wild story about planes landing on the Long Island Sound (and taking off again) that we caught on video!

Other topics this week:

• Boat injuries & the “Captain Gaige bruise factor”
• Why cleaning boats is our version of therapy
• Studio renovations for the off-season
• Launching the new Bay Rats & Buoys Fishing Club in Season 3, 2026

Whether you’re into striped bass fishing, tuna trolling, boat maintenance, or Long Island Sound adventures, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, and fishing tips.

 Subscribe, share this video with your fishing buddies, and stay tuned as we count down to our one-year anniversary!

#FishingPodcast #LongIslandFishing #BoatingLife #TunaFishing #BayRatsAndBuoys #BluefinTuna #MahiMahi #Tilefish #FishingClub #LongIslandSound

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

In Episode 43 of Bay Rats and Buoys, Captain Gaige and First Mate Kory bring you another action-packed episode focused on striped bass and tuna fishing here on the North Shore of Long Island and beyond! With just 9 weeks to go until our 1-year anniversary, we’re kicking things into high gear with big announcements and even bigger fish stories.



We’re excited to officially launch the Bay Rats and Buoys Fishing Club, kicking off in early 2026! This community-driven club will bring together anglers who live and breathe the salt life — whether you’re targeting cow stripers inshore or chasing tuna offshore, this is for YOU!


 As the Hamptons Shootout gets underway this weekend, we’re also covering a hot topic on the docks: brown sharks! More and more tuna and striped bass fishermen are reporting sharks taking bites out of their catches while still on the line — and we’ve got the full scoop.


Due to high demand, we’re now running open boat fishing trips once or twice a week! Whether you’re looking to fish for striped bass, bluefin tuna, or just hop on with a great crew, now’s your chance.


 Big sponsor news is also coming in September — stay tuned for exclusive gear drops, giveaways, and more ways to get involved with Bay Rats & Buoys.



Watch the video version or stream the podcast on your favorite platform — or visit SandCityCharter.com for all things fishing, podcasting, and charter bookings.


 Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE this episode with your fishing buddies and in your local Facebook fishing groups! Tight lines, and thanks for listening every week!

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Bay Rats & Buoys Episode 42 – Mid-Summer Moves, Tuna Talk & Studio Upgrades!

Episode 42 is here, and believe it or not—we’re just 10 weeks away from celebrating one full year of Bay Rats & Buoys! This week, we’re dodging passing storms and soaking up the cooler air after a seriously hot stretch here on Long Island. While the weather breaks, the action heats up behind the scenes.

Construction is officially underway at the Bay Rats & Buoys studio as we gear up for a big push into the second half of the season—including prepping for our return to the 2026 NY Boat Show! We’ve also got eyes on the Hamptons Shootout, happening August 10–15. For all the details, check out HamptonsShootout.com.

Captain Gaige and First Mate Kory are shifting gears for some offshore tuna action in the coming days, and we’ll be chasing that inshore bite with plugs and jigs as well. Meanwhile, the boat’s coming out for a mid-summer scrub-down—battle prep for the back half of the season.

August will bring a mix of podcast locations: from the oyster beds at Davy Jones Shellfish Co. to the scenic bar at Whalestales Hamptons with our buddy Sosh. No matter where we are, we’re bringing you the latest fishing updates, salty stories, and coastal happenings from across Long Island.

Big announcements are coming your way by Episode 52—so stay locked in, share the podcast with your crew, and tag your favorite fishing influencers. We’d love to collab!

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Bay Rats & Buoys Ep. 41 – Mid-July Bass, Bluefish & Bait Mule Hacks!

Episode 41 of Bay Rats & Buoys is coming to you straight from the deck of the boat in Huntington Harbor on a picture-perfect July day! We’ve officially crossed the mid-July mark and the fishing action is still holding strong. Water temps are ranging from 72° to 76°, and yes — the striped bass are still here! Chunking and live lining have been the go-to techniques, and we even managed to hook into a few aggressive bluefish this week.

Private charters have been busy, and Captain Gaige and First Mate Kory are burning the candle at both ends, now running night chunking trips to stay on the bite. If you want in on the action, head over to SandCityCharter.com and fill out the booking form — we’d love to get you out there while the fish are still chewing!

This week’s episode also features a great local gear tip: Capt. Nick, Capt. Mike, and their wild Uncle John turned us on to a handy product called the Bait Mule — a clever way to keep your GULP baits from leaking all over your tackle bag. We dropped a pic in the episode so you can check it out.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Hamptons Shootout on August 11, 2025 — it’s going to be an epic showdown.

We’re just 11 weeks away from our one-year anniversary of the podcast, and we’re grateful for every listener who’s been on this ride with us. Big shoutout to the Facebook group admins who help us spread the word — you guys rock!

Subscribe, share, and stay tuned. Tight lines, and thanks for listening!

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Bay Rats and Buoys Episode 40 – Montauk Canyon Challenge Special! 

Welcome to a special edition of Bay Rats and Buoys filmed on location at the legendary Montauk Yacht Club during the Montauk Canyon Challenge — one of the biggest tuna tournaments on the East Coast!

With 85 boats entered and over $1 million in Calcutta prize money on the line, this tournament is pure adrenaline from the dock to the deep. In Episode 40, we dive into the action and get a firsthand look at what makes this event a staple of the offshore fishing world. From canyon strategy to bigeye dreams, this is a must-listen for any offshore angler or tournament junkie!

Follow the leaderboard live at MontaukCanyonChallenge.com to see which boats are hauling in monsters and who’s chasing the check!

PLUS — don’t miss our just-released recap video of the Bay Rats and Buoys First Annual Striped Bass Invitational, now streaming at SandCityCharter.com! We tagged 65 striped bass for conservation and hosted one hell of a tournament in the Long Island Sound. Huge thanks to all the captains, sponsors, and supporters who made it unforgettable.

Episode 40 is available now on YouTube and wherever you stream your podcasts! Hit that like, subscribe, and share button to help us grow the Bay Rats crew. New episodes drop every Thursday at 6PM!

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Captain’s Weekly Fishing Report – Mid-July Update! 

The summer heat is here and the water temps are cranking — 81° in the harbor and 76° out in the Long Island Sound! While the striped bass bite has slowed down a bit, live-lining bunker continues to produce the best results. Bunker pods have been showing nicely on the surface this week, giving us some exciting visuals and solid chances at quality fish.

On the bottom, the action hasn’t missed a beat! We’re out daily chasing fluke, sea bass, and porgy, and the cooler is filling up fast. Whether you’re looking for steady rod-bending action or a shot at a doormat fluke, this is prime time to get out and fish our local waters.

Charters are running morning, noon, and night, so grab your friends, your kids, or your crew and book a trip with us while the summer bite is on! 

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Bay Rats & Buoys Podcast – Episode 38 

“Striped Bass Still Chewing in July!”

In Episode 38 of Bay Rats & Buoys, the striped bass bite is still red hot—and yes, it’s July! Despite rising water temps just shy of 73°, we’re still hammering quality bass daily. In this episode, Captain Gaige and First Mate Kory break down the one technique that’s absolutely crushing it right now. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or just looking to get in on the summer action, this is the tip you need to know!

Bottom fishing is also lighting up, and we’re seeing a wide variety of species coming over the rail. Northern kingfish are now in the mix, adding to the fun alongside black sea bass, porgy, fluke, and gator blues. We had a blast this week with local families bringing their out-of-town guests aboard Sand City Charter for unforgettable summer memories.

Charters are running 7 days a week—morning, noon, and night, and the action hasn’t slowed down. July is shaping up to be one of the best fishing months of the season, so now is the time to book and get in on the bite.

As we roll into the 4th of July weekend, we want to remind all boaters to put safety first. It’s one of the busiest weekends on the water—enjoy it, celebrate responsibly, and have a great time out there!

Subscribe, like, and follow for more tips, techniques, and fishing reports from the crew that lives it every day. Tight lines! 

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

This past weekend marked the incredible launch of the Bay Rats & Buoys First Annual Striped Bass Invitational, and what a weekend it was! Over 65 striped bass were tagged and released with Gray's FishTag Research to support conservation and scientific tracking of this iconic species.

The excitement began Saturday morning at the Captains Meeting hosted at Whalestale Northport, where tournament shirts, rulers, Gray’s fish tags, tag applicators, and sponsor swag were distributed. Special thanks to CLiX Fueling, and shoutout to Howard and Steven for showing up in person to support the event!

Sunday morning, boats lined up just north of the Huntington Lighthouse for a shotgun start. Anglers battled through a north squall with 5-foot waves that added intensity to the first two hours of fishing. The first fish was on the deck just 30 minutes into the competition!

Teams captured epic footage and tagged dozens of bass — with the winning fish coming in at 46 inches, landed on a porgy chunk by Eric Huebsch, Mike & Andrew Viola!  

Bay Rats & Buoys is incredibly proud to have brought the fishing community together for a cause that matters. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, anglers, and supporters — this event wouldn’t have been possible without you.

We’re already looking ahead to next year’s tournament, and the planning starts now! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and follow us on social media to stay updated on future events, tagging efforts, and Bay Rats & Buoys adventures!

Tagging and Bragging! 

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/

Bay Rats & Buoys Ep. 35: Rain Blitz of 2025!

Jurassic Park on the Long Island Sound — monster striped bass up to 45 inches blowing up live bait! Capt. Gaige & Kory break down the red-hot bite, from flutter spoons to topwater, trolling, and more. Rain didn’t stop us — it delivered! Shoutout to Matt & Joe from Mt. Sinai for joining the action.

Book your trip at SandCityCharter.com and register for our First Annual Striped Bass Invitational on June 22, 2025!

https://sandcitycharter.com/podcast/