NJ Fishing Reports for Winter 2014....www.StripersAndAnglers.com

[DarkSkies]

NJ Fishing Reports for Winter 2014.....wwwStripersAndAnglers.com ...until March 1. 2014

**Important when registering on our site -- use an active email address so you can activate your account to be able to post.

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

**For some areas, it would be wiser to say:
Out Front (Ocean) OR -- Out Back (Bay) -- if you feel too many people will figure out what you are talking about. 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.

1. 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 there today?

2. If the answer is "Yes", then you should probably not be so specific.
More discussion on this:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.php?t=3763 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?t=3763)

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. :fishing:












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
CISP - Corson's Inlet State Park
CMC - Cape May County
GEI - Great Egg Inlet
TI - Townsend's Inlet

RB - Raritan Bay
BB - Barnegat Bay
CB - Chesapeake Bay
DB - Delaware Bay

[DarkSkies]

Fishinmission78,
you won the plug in the December2013 random drawing!:clapping: :thumbsup:
PM me your address so I can send it out to ya!



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.

If you struck out or got skunked, it would be helpful to hear that as well. Anyone who posts a report can win a plug even if they got skunked! :skunk::D


This month we're giving out plugs from Ace Baits, or something similar.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...splay.php?f=83 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/forumdisplay.php?f=83)

Thanks for posting and helping to make this a great site!:clapping:


http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6338&thumb=1&d=1238964999 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6338&d=1238964999)


http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6340&thumb=1&d=1238965622 (http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=6340&d=1238965622)

[finchaser]

5 of the regular crew and me tried for our first bass of 2014 this AM and were welcomed by 22 degree temps ice in the guides and on line rollers no fish and 39 degree water. Definitely the calm before the storm conditions at first light today.


We will try again in the AM before the gale force winds and snow arrive.

[Shorelady]

Got my first 2014 fish. It was nice. Wish I had realized the tape measure was actually in my pouch. Otherwise, Extremely slow this morning.

[Blazin420]

1st HAPPY NEW YEAR guys!!!! Hope everyone enjoyed there night!

Got out yesterday from 6am-1030am to try and find the last bass of 2013..Worked a good stretch of beach and managed 4 up to 24in..Must have missed a dozen hits..They were just nipping at the tail of my vision..Vision and yellow teaser caught all the fish..My buddy got out this am and got the skunk said it was like a lake out there!... I think this weather coming thru is gonna put the kibash on this bite we have had latley..Hope to find a few after it passes but not to confident in that..


Very nice shore lady my buddy Dave was out there this am i think you may have spoke with him

[Shorelady]

1st HAPPY NEW YEAR guys!!!! Hope everyone enjoyed there night!


Very nice shore lady my buddy Dave was out there this am i think you may have spoke with him

Talked to two very nice gentlemen this morning. (not in my usual spot, but close) I'm sure it was me... There were very few people out today, and to my knowledge, I was the more than likely the only female fishing in Jetty Country. My pink hat is a dead give away...

[finchaser]

We tried this AM before all hell broke loose with the weather NADA.

[storminsteve]

Well at least you are out there trying. I'm going to agree wiht blazin and say this storm may kill it. The schoolies won't stay around forever. Fat lady warming up, maybe.:laugh:

[finchaser]

I agree wind chill tonight -1 low tomorrow night 8 and water was 39 yesterday

[buckethead]

^^^^ x2

17880

[Monty]

^^^^ x2

17880

Nice white water :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[DarkSkies]

Yeah if that Goog of the Decade Monty didn't have to rehab his shoulder he would probably be out fishin in that...:kooky: :laugh: :HappyWave:

[finchaser]

WATER was 37 this morning at the inlet on incoming. Air temp 3 and for those who did't know we had 11 inches of snow yesterday. IMO that should end it

[surfstix1963]

Yep that should do it.

[buckethead]

Don't put a nail in the coffin just yet. Picked up 2 shorts around sunrise this morning. Bucktail and curly grub. At sunrise it was about 40, went to 51 today. Has dropped about 30 degrees since then.

[storminsteve]

Yessir it was a beautiful day today bucket! I was in the office looking out the window wondering if one of you hardcore guys was still at it. Thanks for the report and congrats on the january fish!

[Blazin420]

Nice job Bucket...Im not done yet i like the temps at the end of the week..I think i can still manage a few lil guys especially if there are sandcrabs in the wash;)..Gotta get my Jan bass!!!..Wanted to get out Sunday but my wife graduated from Nursing school..I figured id be in the dog house if i went fishing haha..I would never do that but she was worried lol..

[cowherder]

bucket you are crazy! As you said it was a great temperature day yesterday. Wow what a drop since!

[finchaser]

WATER 35 today back bay and Beaver Dam Creek frozen

[finchaser]

Manasquan Inlet water today is 33 degrees on incoming

[hookset]

thanks for the updates finchaser. No one's getting any herring anywhere? Or is it just so cold that people aren't fishing for them.

[finchaser]

Cold even the upper Manasquan above the route 35 bridge is frozen

[ledhead36]

thanks for the updates finchaser. No one's getting any herring anywhere? Or is it just so cold that people aren't fishing for them.

I was getting some herring around Christmas week in the deeper water behind Sandy Hook. That cold weather killed it. May try again this week but not too hopeful

[storminsteve]

Thanks ledhead keep us posted would love to get some herring

[buckethead]

Well it might be positively over. Fished this afternoon moco. Incoming tide with bucktail and grub. nada

[fishinmission78]

Way to keep at it bucket. Im done for the year, my surf gear all put away. Will try for some white perch the back in feb will report when I do. Good luck gents. Looking forward to the spring shows and flea markets.

[buckethead]

Gave it a try again in moco sunrise this morning. Bucktail and grub. :skunk:

[basshunter]

You may not have a chance in hell in catching but you are out there trudging around anyway. Good for you buckethead. I check this site several times daily for reports just to keep me sane and get me through the winter, thanks.

[plugcrazy]

X2 I can't get out there as often as some of you others can who live close to the water. Thanks for the updates and still trying its good to know there may be a few bass here and there

[buckethead]

Fishe 1 1/2 hours out there yesterday after work in the rain and fog, 2 shorties on bucktail and grub. Other than that it was pretty comfortable temps in the 50's. It's foggy this morning as well folks be careful driving.

[Monty]

Fishe 1 1/2 hours out there yesterday after work in the rain and fog, 2 shorties on bucktail and grub. Other than that it was pretty comfortable temps in the 50's. It's foggy this morning as well folks be careful driving.

Nice report, great to hear you got out and caught.

[ledhead36]

Went out last night to a raritan bay marina looking for sea herring. They were around right after christmas but the cold water prob ruined it. Fished close to high tide, nuttin honey. Will try again in a week. Cold spell affected it for sure not like other years.

[hookset]

At least you tried ledhead. Thanks for the herring updates. I gave it a shot today from 3-5. Conditions in moco were perfect overcast incoming tide with bucktail and pork. Struck out big time but there was still some white water and it was overcast and good to get out.

[J Barbosa]

The ice near me has thawed, I may go see if I could find a white perch or two one of these days. ;)

[storminsteve]

^^^^ Hey if this cold keeps up we will be able to fish for perch through the ice in the middle of the shrewsbury or navesink!

[hookedonbass]

Cold even the upper Manasquan above the route 35 bridge is frozen

Snow on the beach as well 11.5 degrees brrrrrrr!

[finchaser]

water 34 today at inlet

[jigfreak]

I was thinking it was at least down to 37. Thanks for taking the reading finchaser.
Was bored today and found some videos on iceboating the navesink. Check it out pretty cool but turn the sound down lotta static from the wind.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrPTXBQ5iX0

[storminsteve]

Anyone know what temp salt water freezes at?

[J Barbosa]

Anyone know what temp salt water freezes at?

28.4 F according to NOAA.

"Ocean water freezes just like freshwater, but at lower temperatures. Fresh water freezes at 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), but seawater freezes at about -1.9 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit) because of the salt in it. When seawater freezes, however, the ice contains very little salt because only the water part freezes. It can be melted down to use as drinking water."

http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanfreeze.html

[finchaser]

Inlet 32 degrees this morning

Beaver Dam Frozen
Metedeconk River Frozen
Manasquan River Frozen west of 35 bridge and along most of its banks
Point Pleasant Canal has skim ice
Barnegat bay Frozen

[cowherder]

Thanks for that. looks like we will be in a deep freeze till March!

[storminsteve]

Anyone else going stir crazy yet? Thank God for the fishing flea markets.

[Monty]

Anyone else going stir crazy yet? Thank God for the fishing flea markets.

I am going BONKERS....

Will likely go to Surf Day, Berkley and Asbury shows.
Targeting April 6th to start fishing again.

[storminsteve]

:plastered:Hell ya Asbury is the best in the world cant wait! The other ones are good too. Why are you waiting till april 6 the season starts on mar1.

[Monty]

:plastered:Hell ya Asbury is the best in the world cant wait! The other ones are good too. Why are you waiting till april 6 the season starts on mar1.

April 6th is about 5 1/2 months from the shoulder surgery. They say in 6 months should be in decent shape, I have had the 6th on the calendar as the target before the surgery. While I am doing great on the recovery Im still a good month from attempting a cast. So the 6th seems perfect. I usually start late March fishing. I am really looking forward to the shows, its the perfect lead into the season.

[finchaser]

Good for you, it will be nice to have you back. You do know you may have to stay away from the 10 to 11 foot rods and fish 9' . Balanced tackle also helps immensely.

[Monty]

Good for you, it will be nice to have you back. You do know you may have to stay away from the 10 to 11 foot rods and fish 9' . Balanced tackle also helps immensely.

Reluctantly a bit, about a month ago I realized it. Decided to start the season off with a light and balanced 9 footer. Will see where I can go from there. Thinking on working on becoming an ambidextrous caster:idea:.

[finchaser]

if you need me to do anything on the rods for you call me. By the way my biggest rod is 9'6" never needed anything bigger I can throw my 9' CTS and Super surf further than most with an 11' ask Dark. Your a small guy you may find that also.

[Monty]

if you need me to do anything on the rods for you call me. By the way my biggest rod is 9'6" never needed anything bigger I can throw my 9' CTS and Super surf further than most with an 11' ask Dark. Your a small guy you may find that also.
Ok, thank you, I used a 9' rod last year at the end. So if I have an extremely light 11 foot rod, does that make things better, or is really the rod length that stresses the shoulder?

[DarkSkies]

if you need me to do anything on the rods for you call me. By the way my biggest rod is 9'6" never needed anything bigger I can throw my 9' CTS and Super surf further than most with an 11' ask Dark.

Aah.....you know how those Eyetalians are always bragging how they can do something better than others....:rolleyes: :laugh:
I gotta chime in here, just ball busting him...but what he says is all true.....he can, and does, consistently outcast most guys on the beach.....and over the decades he's been involved in fishing and rod building, understands the basic physics of it......casting has a lot to do with your presentation, height to rod ratio, stance, and understanding of how each rod loads and works best.......

Generally speaking......If you're 6' or taller, IMO you are in a better position to throw a longer rod.....if not, you can learn to use a shorter rod to maximize your casts, and possibly get maximum distance. I use my 10'6" rod when the fish are beyond the breakers but there are times when I do just as well (and with less fatigue) with a shorter stick........

You should take him up on that most generous offer....he really knows casting, and what's best suited for each person, once he fishes with ya and gets a chance to see how you fish........

He did mention to me that with your shoulder surgery you would be now best suited to shorter rods if you want to keep that shoulder strong and minimize re-injury.......take a ride to see him in April and let him critique your casting...bring a few different length rods with you and get feedback on each........it's an offer that will provide invaluable insight....:thumbsup:

[buckethead]

I think I remember that. That guy killy made the clambrella famous.

clambrella and the effumall club that brought back some memories. Anyone up for some surf fishing? Winds are 34mph on the beach now, gusts to 38mph.;)
http://www.surfchex.com/manasquan-web-cam.php

[finchaser]

Just got back tried the fly rod with clams as it was a little brisk for a fly. just a bunch of shorts:fishing::HappyWave: Even wore my Effum all hoodie to stay warm

[storminsteve]

clambrella and the effumall club that brought back some memories. Anyone up for some surf fishing? Winds are 34mph on the beach now, gusts to 38mph.;)
http://www.surfchex.com/manasquan-web-cam.php


Just got back tried the fly rod with clams as it was a little brisk for a fly. just a bunch of shorts:fishing::HappyWave: Even wore my Effum all hoodie to stay warm


haha rofl! You guys are hardcore thanks for the intel! I'll get my clambrella gear and try for after the storm stops. finchaser was this in moco or occo? clams on a fly rod lol.:clapping:

[bababooey]

Just got back tried the fly rod with clams as it was a little brisk for a fly. just a bunch of shorts:fishing::HappyWave: Even wore my Effum all hoodie to stay warm

Curious about the mechanics of the clam and fly rod combo. Did you use an inline egg sinker for distance against the wind or was the weight of the clam enough to get it out there with the 38mph winds?:HappyWave:

[finchaser]

I use a littleneck clam on the 1/2 shell with hole drilled for hook to go through

[storminsteve]

I use a littleneck clam on the 1/2 shell with hole drilled for hook to go through

Still using bait, what a piker!:laugh: :HappyWave:

I got my first NJ keeper bass last night after midnight. Artificial only, baby!
How I did it - I went to an unnamed inlet, and fished the incoming tide which I thought would be warmer. After the warm sun yesterday it was probably in the 40 degree range but I did not have a temp gage. I was using a bucktail with pork rind after midnight. It was dark and cold but I did feel life out there, did feel some things bumping my line. So I brought my rig back in and put a teaser on. It was a very small one about 18" above the bucktail. I kept doing that for another 15 minutes as the bumps on my line increasd. I was figuring they were bunker or herring but I could not see them. Finally I got a hit!!! (or maybe I snagged it I am not sure)
It felt and swam like a herring or small bunker. I pluyed it out because I thought it would be my only fish of the night. When it stopped fighting so much I reeled it in to see what it was. BAM!!!!!! All of a sudden the line got hit like it was snagged. I tried to free it and it took off! I thought it was on the teaser so I was careful fighting did not want to lose it.
I fought it for a few minutes and gradually gained line. I think the bucktail and pork was near the bottom because as it got close I got hit again! Presumably on the bucktail. Then it was on! It felt like I had a giant shark or bluefish on because my rod was bowed in half and it was heavy!
I was thinking it couldn't be a bluefish because it is too cold for them now. As I got it close to the inlet rocks I could see it was a keeper striper that ate my herring, and a fluke!!!!! Fluke are out of season now. I took a pic of both of them, kissed them and released for good luck! I was the only crazy out there fishing.

Hoping to see more action, I pulled out my trusty clambrella rig that I made following the helpful hints on this site. Instead of clams I used popcorn. I casted it out and let the incoming tide take it into the channel toward the middle of the inlet. I got a few more bumps or hits but no takers. There were birds coming around to eat the popcorn that was falling off the hooks. I was cold and tired so i called it a night.

I want to thank buckethead and finchaser for their perseverance and advice on fishing this cold weather. Without their old salty advice I would have never hooked up in the first place. Check out my pic and tell me what you think!:HappyWave:

18051

[baitstealer]

Wow thats awesome congrats on the fish! North or South jersey if I may ask?

[hookset]

^^^^^^Total bs but entertaining none the less. You left enough clues in there for Hansel and Gretel to find their way out.

[Monty]

Still using bait, what a piker!:laugh: :HappyWave:
Instead of clams I used popcorn. I casted it out and let the incoming tide take it into the channel toward the middle of the inlet. I got a few more bumps or hits but no hookups. There were birds coming around to eat the popcorn that was falling off the hooks. I was cold and tired so i called it a night.

I want to thank buckethead and finchaser for their perseverance and advice on fishing this cold weather. Without their old salty advice I would have never hooked up in the first place.
I'm confused, is popcorn an artificial or considered bait?



:ROFLMAO
You should be writer SS

[cowherder]

^^^That was the post of the week, SS!:clapping:
monty not sure what class popcorn is if you go by the previous definition of jbarbosa.:HappyWave: According to him everything is related to the earth so I dunno maybe even the flies you guys tie could be consider as descending from organic matter.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/showthread.php?9377-So-how-hard-is-it-to-catch-a-bass-on-a-piece-of-meat
To me popcorn is a food and if it can be eaten it qualifies as bait. So if SS was using popcorn that would have to be bait, no?
fictionally speaking, lolol.

[buckethead]

I want to thank buckethead and finchaser for their perseverance and advice on fishing this cold weather. Without their old salty advice I would have never hooked up in the first place. Check out my pic and tell me what you think!:HappyWave:

18051

Who you calling old? Thanks for nothing.:d

[plugcrazy]

First keeper striper and no weigh in or prize claiming in the tackle shop? What a waste ss you need to get your priorities straight it's not official unless you can thump your chest and win a prize for it lol.:rolleyes: I was bored today and looking for something to take that boredom away. Your report got me until I was 3/4 of the way through and you put the fluke in there. Without that you may have had a chance. Really enjoyed reading that good writing skills keep it up.

[surferman]

Plug I do agree with what you are saying there is too much results oriented focus rather than the joy of fishing out there. The one thing I do want to say in support of the tackle shops is that in the beginning of the season almost no one is fishing. Especially with cold like it is now. So those shops have to get people out there otherwise there will be no reports at all. And they do need money too so they have to get that marketing going and get folks in the money spending mood. Without the mom and pop tackle shops all we would have is walmarts cabelas and bass pro shops. And I do not think that would be a good thing. my .02

[fishinmission78]

Fished yesterday in the back for 2 hours mid day. one small runt on clams. Should be better this time of year but the water is still cold and this spot should have been holding a lot more fish. Very creative report stormin steve keep em coming.

[Blazin420]

Haha great post Steve!! BS or not:rolleyes:Got my blood flowing:d..Now was that popcorn buttered? Or just plain with a lil salt?....

Also Fnm nice on the runt..I no its a runt but anything right now is encouraging! Im not even fired up enuff yet to give it a go after this long winter..Hope i can get amped up soon and get my **** together! It is nice to see some posts in the report thread again:thumbsup: