While running hot and cold in recent seasons, during good years (like 2025 seems to be so far), the waters off Montauk Point force anglers to choose between running down schools of blitzing albies or schools of blitzing stripers. Captain Peter Douma of Windward Outfitters notes that albies have become the most sought-after fish by fly fishermen visiting Montauk in the fall. In a “typical” year, Douma says the albies arrive by Labor Day, but some years, they may not move in until much later. For captains like Douma who don’t rack the albie rods until the bitter end, albies present opportunities into November. On the fly, he favors Surf Candies and a slider pattern that presents similarly to an Albie Snax.