Small stripers are caught in the surf out west, white perch run the brackish creeks, and the south shore tog season winds down while freshwater activity ramps up.

Trout remain the top target with spoons and bait all working on a variety of species.

Sea bass and triggerfish are caught around reef sites, white perch and blue catfish transition to deep holes in the Bay, and catch-and-release striper fishing is productive in the lower Bay after the keeper-season closer on 12/10.

Freshwater anglers ply the ponds for trout, bass and chain pickerel with live bait, jerkbaits and scented artificials, while others gear up for shellfishing.

Double-digit tog are caught around reef and wreck sites, stripers take jigs and live bait in open water, and the surf bite slows while white perch fishing heats up in the backwaters.

Stripers take diamond jigs and flutter spoons while the surf bite slows, tog fishing is hit or miss out front, and bluefin tuna smash ballyhoo and big paddletails in close.

Both shore and boat anglers are finding the Lower Niagara to be the hot bite for steelhead and browns.

Pike and trout are on the feed ahead of the imminent freshwater “turnover”.

Big blackfish are caught off the North Fork and the west end, stripers continue to feed on bunker and sand eels out front, and freshwater fishing picks up in the creeks and ponds.

Anglers ply the backwaters for holdover stripers, mackerel are stacked in the Canal's east end, and largemouth bass and trout provide spotty action in the ponds amid frigid temps.