NJ fishing reports for the week of 8-25 to 8-31-08

[bunkerjoe4]

Please post fishing reports here.......as little or as much detail as you want to give.

Please note: NO SPOT BURNING! Posts burning spots will be Edited or DELETED!
Some veteran fishermen have put in years developing and learning about certain spots.Some of these spots can only handle a few guys at a time. We are losing enough access as it is, due to the unfortunate behavior of a few selfish people. No sense in making it worse.

For some areas, it would be wiser to say:
OutFront (Ocean) OR -- OutBack (Bay) -- if you feel too many people will figure out what you are talking about. "Spot burning" also could involve mentioning something specific only to that area. If you do this, your post may be edited, or deleted. Remember that thousands of people could potentially read these posts. You don't want to be fishing next to ALL of them at the same time!

IF you are fishing an area that is NOT residential, being vague is less critical. For example, it's acceptable to say (Any)Park, or (Any)Bay, or mention a specific state park that has loads of parking and can handle the crowds.


If you are unclear on this concept, ask yourself:


If I name this place on the internet, will it be too crowded for me to enjoy tomorrow when people hear I got 30 fish here today?


If the answer is "Yes", then you should probably not be so specific.


We post these reports so our community will have a sense of what is working, what is not. We want to show people how to catch fish, rather than where.Even if you struck out or got skunked, it would be helpful to hear that as well.

If you have any additional details you would like to share - weather conditions, tide (incoming, outgoing, ebb, flood) water temps, bait present, or other mention of techniques or plugs used - feel free, as long as you are not overly specific about location.

Some acronyms -

SH - Sandy Hook
NoMoCo - Northern Monmouth County (below the hook to Shark River Inlet SRI)
SoMoCo - Southern Monmouth County (below SRI to Manasquan Inlet)

OC - Ocean County
IBSP - Island Beach State Park
LBI - Long Beach Island

AC - Atlantic County
AI - Absecon Inlet
CISP - Corson's Inlet State Park
CMC - Cape May County
CMR - Cape May Rips
GEI - Great Egg Inlet
TI - Townsend's Inlet

RB - Raritan Bay
BB - Barnegat Bay
CB - Chesapeake Bay
CBBT - Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
DB - Delaware Bay

[bunkerjoe4]

NJ WIR 8-25-08

Folks, we are still in the summer doldrums, but turning the corner. Some exciting things are starting to happen as we near the end of summer and the begin of fall weather.

Some respectable fluke are now being caught as the end of the season looms near. Catch 'em up while you can. See the latest suggested changes to the fluke quota here:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=1392

In the back bays, spike weakfish are still being caught, but the larger Fall weakfish have not made their presence known yet in any numbers. Looks like the fishery will be a late one this year. See a study relating to the decline of the weakfish here:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=1464


More bass are being caught, but for the most part the surf bass are schoolie size. With the full moon, the bite has dropped off. There is also a cinder worm hatch in the back bays now which has the fish basically interested in small offerings. Fly fishermen and those using teasers are in a better position to hook up. Again, the majority of bass are being caught in the dark.

Bluefish are starting to provide consistent action, with party boats and shore anglers reporting better catches. The small bait now has a continued presence in the surf, which allows some nice bluefish blitzes in the early morning and late afternoons.

According to my log, now is the time frame when very large bluefish are roaming the surf in search of easy meals. There is already a good night bite in the back bays, albeit a spotty one near the full moon.

Coming off the full moon, look for the night bluefish action to heat up. The bays will be more consistent near the deep water channels, but look for the surf to heat up very soon as the bigger ones stage inshore. I'm predicting bluefish in the mid to high teens will be caught in the next few weeks from the surf, as they were last year.

NY WIR

Everyone knows the fluke action has been a little better, especially in the deeper water areas near some of the major inlets.

What's been a big surprise is the outstanding porgy action from the surf, and the shores of the back bays. Porgy are big, and around in decent numbers for those using clams and worms.

Bass action is the LI sound has cooled slightly in the last few days, but those finding adult bunker and fishing structure are nailing bass to 35lbs, right time and tide. Montauk has been spotty, but those fishing eels in the dark are hooking up.

There are still loads of adult bunker and peanuts in the Long Island Sound, along with a bumper crop of spearing. Look for better action as we get closer to the end of September.

The ravenous bluefish that were hitting the harbors like swarms of angry bees have slowed down a bit. The WICC contest recently run produced some nice winners, but a lot of folks only managed a few small ones. Hey, that's fishing.:)




Overall, there are still cow nose rays and brown sharks cruising the surf. Anglers fishing at night should be especially careful with unattended rods.

Inshore pelagics: Bonito have been caught now from Mass to NJ, mostly a few fish at a time in the nearshore waters. Look for the albies to be close behind. We don't usually have confirmed albie reports until after Labor Day, but this year could be different.

Offshore reports: The southern NJ areas have been producing a better tuna bite, with the lobster claw again being very popular, drawing boats from NJ and NY.

One thing about the canyons is that many have a follow the leader mentality. That's why you have the "parking lots" out there. If you are in a boat and have some good readings, or mark some good water or a temperature break, it never hurts to fish it and save the #s on the GPS for future trips.

Some captains say the tuna bite is the best it's been in years. Generally, the morning chunk bite is the best, from 4-11am, but some decent fish are also being caught on the troll. The average size has gotten bigger in the last week, with many in the 100-175lb class, but more reports of 250s being caught. You need to be prepared for battle with these speedsters, folks. Many are reporting lost fish because they are undergunned, either with terminal tackle or unmatched reels.

The bluefin action has heated up, though there are some poor days as well. One of the things that is holding the pelagics, as well as many sharks, whales, and dolphins, is the heavy bait concentration, squid being among the heaviest. There are also some wahoo, makos, great whites, and marlin mixed in here and there.

The canyon fishing is hot, and can only get better. If you were awaiting for the right opportunity, now is the time!

[clamchucker]

so occo this morning, outgoing. 9 short fluke on gulp new penny shrimp and spearing combo rig. 2 keepers to 23". I did notice quite a few schools of bait traveling by. They were not mullet, I think they were small scads.

[fishinmission78]

Incoming for fluke today, few miles n of IBSP, rocky. 5 fluke on spearing and sea robin belly, no keepers. Sporadic blitzes of bait in the water. It was small snappers and spearing.

[clamchucker]

The Sandy Hook surf has finally brought back something worthwhile. Fished the sunrise this AM, bass at first light up to about 8lbs on small 4 1/2" megabaits. Once the sun came up, the bigger blues came in and gave us action on small diamond jigs and metals for about 20 minutes, blues to about 10 lbs. Only a few guys on the beach, most of us did well. Spearing in the wash.

[fishinmission78]

IBSP late afternoon, got some small fluke and one small tog. As I was leaving, a small blitz started on the tip, some blues. Good thing I didn't make my way out there, only lasted 5 minutes.

[DarkSkies]

IBSP late afternoon, got some small fluke and one small tog. As I was leaving, a small blitz started on the tip, some blues. Good thing I didn't make my way out there, only lasted 5 minutes.


Hey man, you guys getting spot down that way? I read they're in LBI, wondered if they were north of the inlet?

[fishinmission78]

Not that many by the inlet, Dark, but they are there, can get them with small hooks. More south of the inlet, LBI and the back bays.

There are more small seabass and fluke than anything else. You can catch all the 6" bass and 16" fluke you want there, until your arms are tired, but hardly any keepers lately.

Fished today, incoming, fluke on gulp, saw one promising school of bunker pass by, possibly bass or bluefish under it, they were nervous. But they were too far out, and never came in. Also a heads up to anyone who goes down there, there is a jelly slime all over the place, less on outgoing, gets on your line, guides, like the green jello ghost in Ghostbusters. :scared:

[fishinmission78]

OC today,above the pier, private beach. Same ol same ol, short flatties, gulp, no keepers.

[cowherder]

Fluked all day yesterday at SH, half the fish were 17 3/4, the other half were like 11-seemed like they were made from the same 2 cookie cutter molds. Gulp chartreuse and spearing tandem.

[wish4fish]

rb in the back, tons of snappers chasing spearing. got a bunch with my little cousin, stopped with the rain.

[katiefishes]

I went to Sandy Hook yesterday. Using a schoolbus bomber with a teaser, I got one bass about 22 inches near sunset. There were times when I had other little taps, but they didn't feel like bass. Anyone else ever have this happen?

[DarkSkies]

Katie, that might have been bass, and you just didn't know it.:) A bluefish will hit like a freight train, while a bass will sometimes bump it with its nose. You will see that start to happen more and more as the water gets colder.

One time fishing in the middle of a light rain, I kept getting small taps, thought it was bunker, but no bunker were around. Next tap I felt, whacked it good and got a 22lb bass.

The next time you feel a tap like that, set the hook like you mean it, you'll probably get a bass.

Fished nomoco last night. Heard there were bass around in a few spots, went on the hunt. They were sitting in moving water, outgoing seemed to be the best bite. Also brought a bunker rod and got whacked by a small shark, about 3'. Drag and release.

Bass were all schoolies, hitting shads and swimmers. Only got hits toward the top of the ebb, so moved to another spot. Ran into some friends coming out of a spot, they got some keepers using blue and black magdarters.

The wind picked up and changed direction overnight. Don't know if it was that or fishin just petered out, because the rest of the ebb really sucked. Started up again at sunrise, but not much going on, bunch of guys fishin for bass, no action.

I again put up the bait rod to ease the boredom. I made the fatal mistake of not standing close enough to it, and lost it to a cownose ray around 7am as I was standing about 15' away plugging. Thankfully it was an older setup, penn longbeach stiff stick, penn baitcaster. Still sucks to lose something, but it was completely my fault for not being more careful.

Yes, I am a dork. ;) Should have known better.:beatin:

As I was leaving a few minutes later, a fly guy hookd a cow nose. I watched him as he fought it for about 10 minutes, nice fish, and eventually lost in the wash.

No, it did not have my pole attached. :embarassed:

[cowherder]

Wow, great report, felt like I was there. What kind of swimmers and shads were you using?

[DarkSkies]

I started with some custom swimmers, and a bunker profile swimmer. Nothing. Most of the hits were on the bomber or magdarter. Seems the fish are looking for smaller profiles with all the spearing in the water. If you do use shads, use white or bunker colored ones.