It is almost, but not quite time, to close the boating season at Sagamore Yacht Club. The next two months are also typically excellent boating weather. The fall season keeps boaters on the water with excellent fishing opportunities and less crowded waterways. The warm weather we have been experiencing the last few weeks continue to be good for boating and especially fishing. Many local anglers will be out trying to catch the big fish before it is too cold to catch anything substantial.

Syosset resident Phil Savader of Reel Happy can be found out on the water nearly everyday this time of year looking for the next big bluefish. Phil is a good local fisherman. Last summer he caught a 26.5-pound striper and was featured in the Noreast Saltwater, which is a free weekly boating news magazine that can be picked up at Oyster Bay Marine Supply on South Street and various other marine stores. Phil also mentioned, that he, like many other fishermen look forward to the annual Town of Oyster Bay Bluefish Tournament, which is also sponsored by Oyster Bay Marine Supply.

At the 20th annual tournament on Sunday, Sept. 18 there were over 340 boats participating, including about 30 Sagamore Yacht Club members, and about 1,000 people were at the "tailgate" party with hot dogs, beverages, snacks, raffles, awards and prizes. The town's tournament has become an all-day tradition starting at 4:30 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.

Town Supervisor John Venditto captured the essence of what fishing means to so many local fishermen when he said, "Fishing is, indeed, a sport for all ages that offers everything one would want for a day of fun... the tranquility of being out on the water, the adrenaline rush of feeling that first big tug on your fishing line and, in the case of our tournament, the spirit of competition. Add to that the possibility of winning impressive prizes and you have the Town of Oyster Bay Bluefish Tournament. Even if you don't beat the tournament record of 19.05 pounds, for a fishing enthusiast, it will surely be the perfect day."

Sagamore Yacht Club members recently hosted a junior bluefish derby to introduce local children to fishing. Woodbury resident Rob Casale finds it to be a rewarding experience fishing with his middle school age son, Ryan. To ensure a positive experience, here are some things Rob suggests: "When Ryan first started fishing we would catch lots of smaller fish such as shiners and then gradually he learned to catch bigger fish such as bass. And now, every year we enter the Town Bluefish Tournament and other local tournaments together. I still keep stuff on the boat for him to do if we don't catch fish so that it is still fun to be out together. I think I may have found a fishing buddy for life."

On Oct. 2 and 3 Sagamore holds its own annual Bluefish Tournament. At the end of the day on Sunday, Oct. 3 all Sagamore members are invited to join at the clubhouse for dinner. Bob Austin, a proprietor of Subway sandwich shop and former chef at several renowned restaurants, volunteers every year to cook the fish in various ways to please nearly every palette.

For more information about local fishing, winter skeet shooting, boating, sailboat racing, or taking safe boating classes over the winter contact Dockmaster Phil Rhoads at 922-0555, visit www.sagamoreyc.com, or look up SagamoreRacing on Yahoo!Groups.