Bunker draw the big fish away
Fin says this all the time, he's right.
When you hear the tackle shops hyping all the recent beach blitzes, remember that many of those blitzes happen because fish are in hot pursuit of adult bunker and end up near the surf line. When the blitzes are over, the bunker (survivors ;)) and the big fish move on as part of the seasonal migration. A guy buys the "special" clams and bunker from the tackle shop, walks on the beach hours after the report, catches no fish, and wonders why.
What we really need for sustained Spring surf action is the various whitebait...rainfish, bay anchovies, herring etc. Some have reported these in small amounts, and some members here have reported sand eels, thanks. :thumbsup:
My point is that generally by this time of year the surf zone has a lot of this bait making its northern migration. We haven't seen the bulk of these forage fish yet, and that's why there will be large stretches of "dead water". If there's nothing to hold the fish, they move on.
Look for consistent action on artificials when you see these fish more consistently in the surf. I'm hoping that will happen within the next week or so, as these small fish are definitely late this year.
Storm shads for spring 2010 bass
I hate recommending storm shads when big bluefish are around. Wish4fish and I each went through 2 packs and some singles I had laying around. It's an expensive way to catch fish. Bucktails or leadheads with rubber are usually a better alternative. :learn:
But last night the storm shads outproduced all other presentations even though there wasn't much bait around in the water. It is what it is, gotta roll with what works.
My last 2 keepers came on storm shads.
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...cons/icon3.gif
Give the fish what they want...
Bunker and clams still a good choice...
1. They had a hot clam bite in the nomoco ocean for most of the day.
2. There has been a great bite on bunker heads, as nice size bass and some big blues are nailed where the bunker are thickest at night. I passed by one of those areas on the way out, saw bunker stacked by the hundreds.Live and learn. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...cons/icon3.gif
It's almost over, soon it will be time to pack up the surf gear till the fall...
Did that get your attention?
Good.
What people need to realize is that for the surf guys we have a specific season to get big fish off NJ beaches. You can always catch a few short bass or cocktail bluefish. I'm talking about targeting bluefish from shore in the 15# class, and bass 25 and above at night.
These are all generalizations, you or I can each come up with examples to dispute what I'm saying.
However, the next 30 to 45 days should generally be the best of the surf action we'll have till the fall, with the action generally dropping off after that if seasonal patterns hold. If someone asked me which of the next 30 to 45 days or nights to fish, I would say all of them. :kooky:
If you're keeping a detailed log with many years in it, you can plan your trips for the big girls. However, generally speaking, they will show up within the next 2-3 weeks in our surf. They're out there now offshore making their northern migration.
There are only 2 things to hold them close to us, weather and bait. Weather includes water temps and storm patterns. A spring pattern of intermittent storms ain't so bad because it keeps the water temps down. Ocean temps now are already flirting in the mid-60's in places.
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/355.html
Once those temps hit the 70's, bass generally will seek cooler water North of us.
A key variable that will hold them is bait and bait migration. A sustained series of W winds will bring bunker tight into the beach and allow some of us to be bunker snagging heroes. ;) :plastered: :fishing:
Without that pattern, the bass will continue their migration North, frequently cutting across the Mud Hole to LI and points North, as Finchaser so often says.
Even the bluefish action isn't guaranteed from night to night. Big bass and bluefish are shadowing the largest bunker schools. The water is already getting too warm in the bay flats for those big blues. They will be moving offshore to spawn very soon. Then all that will be left is the 1-3# cocktails and tailor blues. :(
If you're addicted to big fish action from the surf, the time to be out is now. So get off your azzes and put some hours into pounding the sand and rocks!
Of course, I would be equally as happy if everyone stayed home, all the more space for me. ;) :HappyWave:
5-31-10 advice - first light bite
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DarkSkies
Surfwalker, talked to one guy last night who had 2 short bass on artificials, he confirmed those first light comments. It seems to me there's a point to that as well. People have been catching fish in the dark on artificials, but after a lot of effort.
It seems for now the first light bite is a better than the night bite, unless you're fly fishing grass shrimp patterns at night. I try to reason things like this in my head all the time, talked with Jim Cousins at Giglio's this morning to get his take on it.
There were bass all over popping on grass shrimp for awhile. The bite seemed slow, even for the bait guys. (Yet I did get a pic of a guy who got a 21 last night, slack tide, bunker head)
Just some helpful hints. ;)
Figuring a pattern; bunker along the NJ coast
Figuring a pattern:
In the past few days I have been discussing with some people how it seems the night and day fishing pattern, if there is one, tends to favor the incoming tide. Last night, I got fish on the first 2 hours of the outgoing. As far as figuring a pattern, a big frustration for me this year is the lack of a pattern for any consistent amount of time.
Bunker along the NJ Coast:
Some new schools were spotted and have been reported all along the internet sites. There may be a very few bass under them, not many like people were finding last week. Once the bunker boats get to them in the next 24 hours, this info will be moot anyway. ;)
July/August doldrums fishin
I was gonna say you people should be fishing the incoming tides during these months, but Surfstix beat me to it. :thumbsup:
I fished the ocean this morning for a short while, the incoming definitely brings cooler water.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
surfstix1963
Go deep and slow the warm water this year will make them sluggish, inlets are the best bet incoming is usually better getting some cooler more oxygenated water flow and as the others have said fish at night or early a.m. and dusk.
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water temps and length of day
RB and BB water temps have dropped 10 degrees in the past 7 days. The low 60's and high 50's are prime temps for bass, and will push the baitfish along on their southern migration as well.
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Mullet are still along the beaches and bays. In some years they're already gone by now.
The new moon tides will give the surf guys more chances to connect with bigger fall fish as they offer good exposure and longer fishing time for strategic areas that the fish pass by... edges, inlets, points, etc.
So get yer azzes out there and put in the time in, the opportunity is there. :thumbsup: :drool: :fishing: