[Mike P]

By boat, I would say off the Virginia/Carolina coast or around the mouth of the Chesapeake between December and the beginning of May. From what I hear, this area was never fished heavily until recently and it's where the big gals winter over prior to the spawn, and exit afterwards. Another possible spot is those traditional places around the Vineyard/Elizabeth Islands, like Sow&Pigs, Quick's and Robinson's Holes, Devil's Bridge, and the holes around Squibnocket. Third choice would be where the record was briefly held, Plum Gut and the Race around Fisher's Island off the North Fork of Long Island.

From shore, Block Island in late October, the Vineyard in late September/early October and the backside beaches from June into late September, in that order. Montauk no longer produces the big fish the way it once did, the big herring runs in November aren't happening anymore. That's where the percentages are best, the backside because big fish probably spend more time close to shore there than they do anywhere else, and the others because they possess great structure and the big bass spend a lot of the fall pigging out in those spots.