buckethead
05-30-2010, 01:29 PM
Sea bass are biting
By DAN RADEL • STAFF WRITER • May 28, 2010
After a long closure, fishing boat captains that fished for sea bass were generally pleased with the life they found inshore. Water temperatures are still a bit chilly but there were sea bass on all the spots as the fish are slowly, but surely, beginning to populate the shallow water structures.
Jeff Bauer of the Carolyn Ann III reported the bottom temperature in 82.3 feet of water was 51 degrees on a spot outside of Barnegat Inlet. He said the ideal sea bass bottom temps are about 55 degrees. They did find fish on the pieces however, and even though the fish weren't exactly jumping in the boat anglers did make catches. Ren Nociti of Barnegat Light had 8 keeper fish and a pool winning 3.6-pounder.
Just southeast of Manasquan Inlet, sea bass have begun to take up residence on the Axel Carlson reef. Captain Bobby Bogan of the Gambler said he fished the reef this week in 65 to 75 feet of water and reported finding the fishing better on the high pieces.
"We had fish at every spot, the best action was on the higher pieces of the reef," Capt. Bogan reported.Anglers saw an even mix of keeper and short throwback fish under 12 -inches. High hooks were around 10 keeper sea bass and pool winning fish were 2 and 3 pounders.
Captain Willy Egerter of the Dauntless fished in water depths from 50 to 80 feet finding some sea bass home at all the spots he covered.
"The fishing was good. We'd see a few fish real quick as soon as we stopped and then a slow pick of a few fish after," Capt. Egerter reported.Average catches were 6 to 15 fish per angler, about right for this time of year. There are still codfish on the spots also as the water temps are cold.
"I reeled up one sea bass and it felt like I had just pulled him out of the refrigerator," Capt. Egerter added.
Captain Bobby Quinn of the Ocean Explorer said he was very pleased with nice sea bass he's seen moving inshore. They made their first drops in 50 to 60 foot depths around the Shrewsbury Rocks on Wednesday. This weekend he will begin sailing combination trips for fluke and sea bass.
"I'm looking forward to these trips. Everybody will get a chance to catch a little bit of both fish," Capt. Quinn said.
If you're heading out sea bass fishing hi-lo rigs and clam baits are what's working. As the temps steadily increase we should see more migration of sea bass from offshore. But the fish are in and that's a good sign.
By DAN RADEL • STAFF WRITER • May 28, 2010
After a long closure, fishing boat captains that fished for sea bass were generally pleased with the life they found inshore. Water temperatures are still a bit chilly but there were sea bass on all the spots as the fish are slowly, but surely, beginning to populate the shallow water structures.
Jeff Bauer of the Carolyn Ann III reported the bottom temperature in 82.3 feet of water was 51 degrees on a spot outside of Barnegat Inlet. He said the ideal sea bass bottom temps are about 55 degrees. They did find fish on the pieces however, and even though the fish weren't exactly jumping in the boat anglers did make catches. Ren Nociti of Barnegat Light had 8 keeper fish and a pool winning 3.6-pounder.
Just southeast of Manasquan Inlet, sea bass have begun to take up residence on the Axel Carlson reef. Captain Bobby Bogan of the Gambler said he fished the reef this week in 65 to 75 feet of water and reported finding the fishing better on the high pieces.
"We had fish at every spot, the best action was on the higher pieces of the reef," Capt. Bogan reported.Anglers saw an even mix of keeper and short throwback fish under 12 -inches. High hooks were around 10 keeper sea bass and pool winning fish were 2 and 3 pounders.
Captain Willy Egerter of the Dauntless fished in water depths from 50 to 80 feet finding some sea bass home at all the spots he covered.
"The fishing was good. We'd see a few fish real quick as soon as we stopped and then a slow pick of a few fish after," Capt. Egerter reported.Average catches were 6 to 15 fish per angler, about right for this time of year. There are still codfish on the spots also as the water temps are cold.
"I reeled up one sea bass and it felt like I had just pulled him out of the refrigerator," Capt. Egerter added.
Captain Bobby Quinn of the Ocean Explorer said he was very pleased with nice sea bass he's seen moving inshore. They made their first drops in 50 to 60 foot depths around the Shrewsbury Rocks on Wednesday. This weekend he will begin sailing combination trips for fluke and sea bass.
"I'm looking forward to these trips. Everybody will get a chance to catch a little bit of both fish," Capt. Quinn said.
If you're heading out sea bass fishing hi-lo rigs and clam baits are what's working. As the temps steadily increase we should see more migration of sea bass from offshore. But the fish are in and that's a good sign.