Montauk, N.Y. – For more than 25 years, fishing guide Bill Wetzel has driven his modified 4×4 along the town’s rugged shoreline, watching the Atlantic for the tell‑tale signs of striped bass feeding. He knows the tides, the moon phase and the best coves, but he now worries there may be few fish left to catch.

Guides and veterans sound the alarm

Wetzel, a well‑known Long Island guide, says he hasn’t witnessed a “blitz” – the chaotic feeding frenzies that once defined Montauk’s surf – in four years. “There’s no small fish left. They’re gone,” he told the Associated Press. The larger stripers that remain are not being replenished because the population isn’t reproducing at sustainable levels.

Former president of the Montauk Surfcasters Association, Jason Markowitz, still swims to offshore rocks in hopes of finding fish, but he admits the odds are diminishing. “You’ve got a lot of folks that are finding fish but it really is a case of ‘last of the buffalo,’” he said.

Seasoned anglers recall richer days

John Skinner, a 65‑year‑old YouTube creator and author who has chased stripers since he was ten, describes the current situation bluntly: “It sucks.” He notes a lack of small forage fish such as menhaden, which stripers rely on, and a decline in other large predators that once balanced the ecosystem.

John Mahan, who has fished Montauk since 1987, says this is the first year he has not landed a striper after four decades on the water. “What it was like, back in the later ‘80s and ’90s, was spectacular,” he recalled, adding that he may need to let the fish recover by leaving them alone for a time.

Economic stakes and cultural heritage

Scientists estimate that striped bass fishing supports an $8 billion industry along the East Coast. A decline in the species threatens not only the livelihoods of guides, charter operators and local businesses, but also a tradition that has drawn generations of families to Montauk’s shores.

Montauk’s reputation as a premier striper destination dates back to the mid‑20th century, when its mix of sand beaches, boulder‑strewn points and swift currents created ideal conditions for the sport. The town’s unofficial motto once was “a small drinking village with a big fishing problem.” Today, residents note a cultural shift as Montauk’s character blends with the nearby Hamptons’ affluent enclaves.

Conservation efforts and hopeful signs

Wetzel uses his social‑media platforms to promote conservation, recalling the stock collapse of the mid‑1980s that forced a fishing shutdown. He hopes that increased awareness and responsible practices can help the population rebound.

While the outlook remains uncertain, the anglers’ shared commitment to preserving the fishery underscores the deep connection between Montauk’s community, its coastal environment, and the families who have passed the love of fishing down through generations.

Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.