Fishing for these things from the surf sounds like drinking three 5 hour energy drinks at once! I never got one from the surf, but have hit some bonito trolling. It's like a whole nother ballgame.:wheeeee:
Printable View
Fishing for these things from the surf sounds like drinking three 5 hour energy drinks at once! I never got one from the surf, but have hit some bonito trolling. It's like a whole nother ballgame.:wheeeee:
A 3rd hand reliable source confirmed one was (allegedly) beached from the sand this week 8/21, at a place where albies usually don't show up. Needle in a haystack kind of thing. Guy who got it worked hard, might be considered a sharpie, he knew what he was lookin for. :clapping::clapping:
There was another guy I know of who allegedly caught them in the Ocean county surf on 8/11.
The point here being that anyone who was thinkin they would be the first, that ain't possible anymore :D You never know when, where, or for how few minutes they will show up, get your rigs ready, please try to be quick on that release! :thumbsup:
It was the biggest adrenalin rush I have had fishing.
Great surprise, awesome experience.
This year I will be prepared for them if I am lucky enough to be in an area where they are.
The first time I ever saw them I thought I was seeing things (footballs torpedoing out of the water) :wow:.
I saw some pods yesterday morning at IBSP. They were pushing bait and several jumped out of the water, clearly false albacore. They were within range of a very long cast, although I did not see anyone hook up. You made a good call on this one, Dark. Last year they were around at this time, but most of my reports came from friends who were a few miles offshore. I believe they didn't come close to the beach until towards the end of the first week of September.
Thanks for the info fellas.
We ran into some albies yesterday about a mile off the beach in Monmouth county. We were fluking and had 2 fluke to 22", numerous shorts. The albies came through rapidly and then moved north. Instead of chasing them, I set up two rods with deadly ***** and kept them ready. They came back again and were in our area for a few minutes. We got two to 7#, quickly released. BTW the quick release tips are spot on, if you take too long these pelagics end up as crab bait.
2 reports from the island, today a guy saw them crashing bait on the ss, yesterday someone reported seeing them outside FI inlet.
:clapping::clapping: To my friend for gettin 2 yesterday morning, on an open stretch of beach, after chasing them down for 1 1/2 hrs.....on a chartreuse fin-s, 1oz jighead, because nothing else written in the "false albacore from the surf textbook" was working. :laugh:
WTG on the thinking outside the box, man. You now know what the addiction is like. :thumbsup:
Most of the lumps and bumps are loaded with Albert's and Bonita,
Thursday before the blow out by Little Italy there were Albert's,Bonita and skipjacks as far as the eye could see couldn' get threw threw them to the tuna.
Manasquan inlet late Saturday afternoon had blitz conditions on Alberts all the way to the RR bridge
Tks finchaser, that must have been a blast! :lookhappy:
Yesterday conditions were tough, from sources all up and down the NJ coast, guys had only a few minutes to try the Hail Mary cast, and they disappeared just as quickly. A few were caught in Ocean County from the surf in the morning, and then it was over.
I was at the ocean after work, trying to hit the PM bite. I got there 1 1/2 hours after they appeared. The water was different than the day before. They weren't jumping out 7 at a time like they were on Sun. :drool:
Anyone who saw them had only a brief glimpse. Some might have nailed one, but there were only a lucky few, yesterday was one of those days. :don't know why:
Today, only one caught in the surf so far. Anyone can luck into them at any time, be ready guys. A window of a few minutes, or a half hour, might be all you get.
I'm heading out today after work. I never caught one of these, but I sure as hell am going to try. I hope the conditions are favorable. I plan on using deadly *****. Any other hints to help me catch these?
Don't get into a rut of thinking that they are the only presentation that will work, plugcrazy. They are effective when there are large spearing as part of the forage. When the forage is smaller like rainfish/bay anchovies, you need to match that profile as well, perhaps by tying a fly to the front of your metal, OR.....tying a small fly to the end of it.
I'll try to find an illustration of this, in the meantime check out this thread for suggestions on what to use:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.php?t=4866
The important thing to remember is if what people tell you to do isn't working, try to think out of the box. A key factor is to get the presentation down to the level where they are feeding. sometimes they're not exactly on the surface or feeding strictly at the top. You need to get your offering to where they are, and in front of them, in such a way that it doesn't look fake, and matches what they're eating at that moment.
A friend got 2 the other day on a 1 oz jig and a chartreuse fin-s. Did I think that would be effective? :kooky: Until I heard the story, I never would have tried that combo. When I first started fishing for them, a guy who didn't catch them before got them on a bucktail, because that's all he brought with him, and they were in a frenzy at that moment.
Be aware they have incredibly keen eyesight, hence the belief that less hardware, flouro leaders, etc, are the way to go. You want to get it to where they are, and not have them reject it, to nail it on impulse. Within those parameters, you have a good amount of latitude.
:dribble:I really have to try for one of these things. I thought I saw them today, but could not be sure. Either way, thanks for all the reports and tips, Dark and others.
I got one about 8# on a diamond jig this morning at IBSP. They were on rainfish.
A few were reported yesterday, guys and gals, here and there. One friend who is a great fisherman got none, while a friend of his got 2 an hour earlier. These were caught in different places all up and down the NJ coast.
There have also been some spurts of surf action all along the LI beaches.
There is some inconsistency in catching them from the surf unless they're in a frenzy over large quantities of bait, and then you have a better shot. Otherwise just keep casting away, and ya gotta believe! ;)
I got 2 at IBSP Thursday morning, deadly *****.
People were asking if the noreasters would drive them away. Some guys have been nailing them in the RB in boats, in the channels. Similar action S and E of Breezy Point. Also some decent catches at, and North of the Barnegat ridge up to SH, all from boats.
Yesterday a friend of mine was chasing them all day. There was a 30 minute period of activity when some were caught in the ocean, they came in chasing bait to the 3rd wave and some surf guys got lucky. He missed that, but was able to get a spanish mackerel, using metal, at another surf area close by. WTG for your persistence. :clapping:
Thanks for the update dark. I might have seen signs of them in south ocean county this morning, but I couldn't be sure. They were too far out and I didn't have binoculars.
After the epic day some guys had yesterday, I set out early in search of some albies from the surf. I arrived as some of the regulars were leaving, got a chance to meet some of the old-timers I've read so much about in print. :HappyWave: The time spent talking to a regular fisherman of a particular spot is invaluable. Spare the time if you can, you won't regret it.
The bite was only a slow pick today, a few were nailed by blind casting. Based on what they told me, I made a move to another location to catch some different water.
I was throwing an Ava17no tail, flouro leader. 200 casts later I was done. :skunk: Switched over to some top water, mid water, bucktails, and rubber trying to hit a stray bluefish, but I failed in that objective too.
I saw one albie taken today, by a guy down the beach, deadly ****.
I got one yesterday morning in somoco, throwing a diamond jig with a spearing teaser. The albie hit the teaser, I would guesstimate she was 10#.
I saw the clouds and the overcast conditions this morning, and said to myself: today is the day to be out there for albies! :drool:
There are 4 or 5 surf locations that could see false albacore come in close. As long as the sun is partially hiding, today could be another epic day. I'm jealous of the guys who are retired, but at least they can get in some good fishin without being mugged. Good luck out there. :HappyWave:
Attachment 7734
Attachment 7735
On Long Island around the Shinnecock inlet we have been getting some good shots at them they stayed around for awhile my buddy got ten.But here today gone the next.
Well I was a little off on my prediction. :beatin: The day above I thought would be a good opportunity turned out to be yesterday, Sept 24, 2009. A got quite a few calls about the great albie action for surfcasters. Of course, boaters have been nailing them consistently for some time now, but the surf action depends on whether they come within casting range or not.
Yesterday there was no sign of them when I had to leave for work. I felt for sure the acres of small bait would draw them in. Chas spotted them shortly thereafter, but they were out of reach. When you see albies that are too far out, that's the surf fisherman's equivalent of putting a fresh juicy steak just out of reach of a starving dog. :dribble: :wow:
Yesterday, Sept 24, surf albies were caught along a broad stretch of the NJ coastline, along with quite a few strategic spots in LI as well. Some were there and simply lucked out. Others, like some friends of mine, have been chasing them every day, putting themselves in places they're likely to show up, and blind casting hundreds of times just for the shot at one of these inshore pelagic acrobats.
These guys have been hardcore, risking divorce ;) and sacrificing other opportunities to get a shot at just one. It's hard until you get a big one to understand what it's like. Yesterday some big ones were caught, 10# and better, along with some decent sized Spanish Mackerel.
It's the thrill of catching something that seems like a tuna from shore, that's about the best way I can describe it. :wheeeee:
Congratulations to Surfwalker, my other incognito friends who care more about fishin than any intenet chatter :thumbsup: :HappyWave:, and all the other guys or girls who hooked up yesterday, WTG! :clapping::clapping:
I'm trying to lay this down to document each season.
Last year 2008 was poor no matter how you looked at it. Short and inconsistent. 2007 was pretty memorable, and the first year I started chasing them. I've had the fortune to meet other more experienced anglers who have shared about the great years they have had as well, and were able to pass along some solid intel and tips to me. :HappyWave:
Thus far (if I left anything out, please feel free to weigh in to further help us document it here) 2009 Season:
August 8-15- first reported ones are caught in Ocean county, NJ, along with some spanish mackerel. Then Aug 15 the first reported ones are caught in Monmouth County.
This is significant because according to the old timers who have been schooling me, we don't usually see them until Labor Day. So I believed we were off to a great start this year.
A few days later, they reported them off various LI beaches, and they came in with the spanish mackerel as well.
For the next 2 weeks, guys had them on and off, at different times of the day, in Ocean County. It was slightly more sporadic in Monmouth County, but enough to make it interesting.
Similar circumstances in the LI area beaches as well.
Then we had some noreast weather patterns. Fishing slowed down for a while, but recently started building back up again to where you had a shot.
During this time, there were more reported catches off the LI area, and even some in the back reaches of the LI sound areas, NS LI and on the Connecticut side. The water is warm enough, and the bait is thick enough, that you can expect albies to be reported from NJ to Mass, and they are.
On Sept 20, there was another spike in activity in Monmouth County, with some areas reporting up to 50 caught that day. It seems that Ocean county and various LI beaches had good chances at surf albies that day as well.
In between, sporadic catches here and there, with the most recent spike in surf catches being yesterday, Sept 24, when they were beached in good numbers from NJ to Mass.
Of course, boaters have had a good year as well. They have been reporting that when trolling for tuna and other pelagics, it's hard not to catch the albies, as they are so abundant from 1-40 miles offshore. I appreciate all reports that are sent in to me, whether you guys post them up or not, or just want to give me a head's up.
And this is by no means a comprehensive listing of catches. Many catches go unreported as there are many I know who have no need for the internet. :wow: Corrections and additions are always welcome.
The reason I started these reports last year was so they would function as an online logbook to talk about and identify the trends from one year to another.
Spot or area burning:
Many may notice I try to speak in generalities as much as possible. There's a reason for this. I see no purpose for saying "albies were caught at spot X" yesterday if they will only be moving to spot "Y" today, or 5 minutes after you saw them yesterday.
Spot or area naming serves no logical purpose other than to draw lazy fishermen to a spot when they don't want to do the work. :learn:
People who fish with me know that when we go out for the night, we may hit 5 or 6 areas before we're into fish, that's part of what fishing is about. (to me anyway) :don't know why:
Privacy is best served with PM's. Feel free to PM any specific info privately anytime, and as you can see from my posts, lots of people trust me to keep things general. I hope I continue to do a good job at that, as I hate walking onto crowded beaches, no matter what time of day or night.
Spot burning and videos:
To this end, I want others to know that while I like filming the videos I do, I take great care to make the filming look as generic as possible unless it's an area where no one is catching and I want to showcase the conditions.
I have received some comments about the way that others put their videos up on the internet. If at any time anyone feels a video I post up is too specific or you are offended by it, please e-mail or pm me. If more than one person has a problem with a video, I'll remove it immediately. Thanks people. :thumbsup:
Amen, anyone can learn to fish, if they are willing to put in the time.
I got one albie this morning on a deadly ****. I was fishing ocean county.
I enjoy reading your reports Dark. It seems you try your best to be a neutral party and to be discreet. You actually care about your posts and feel a related responsibility to how they are perceived.
We have been getting good amounts of albies, not every time out, but they are here in strong numbers this year. From what I have seen in past years, they may be here for a while longer. I hope you surf guys get some more shots at them. They are a ton of fun.
Thanks Voyager, your comments are appreciated. :HappyWave:
Today was another successful day for albie surfcasters, both in NJ and LI. People will have this day marked in their log books for years to come. Congrats to all those who worked hard and casted hundreds of times to get that adrenalin rush. :clapping::clapping:
Got 4 albies yesterday afternoon in an inlet, out front. The wind had the bait pinned in the pocket and they were there. All were caught blind casting crippled herring. A few other guys were there and hooked up as well. It was a blast!:fishing:
Yep Nitestrikes, thanks for the report. There were quite a few caught at some LI inlet areas the day you reported, and the day after.
Also, believe it or not, some albies were landed on the inside of a NJ tidal river, a little upriver of a Nomoco place. You never know where these babies will turn up, so stay positive. Congrats, they are some great fish to catch! :clapping:
It's been a while, but there are some guys out there hooking up. Some are so crazy they are hunting for them every day. To those dedicated few I tip my hat. :HappyWave: I still haven't gotten my first 2009 albie yet. There may be 2 weeks or so left in the season. All is dependent on the water temps, which so far are not great for bass fishermen, but great for those targeting albies.
So.... yesterday a few were caught on NJ beaches. There was a flurry of activity around sunrise. Then it was quiet until around 4pm, when it heated up a bit and a few guys got lucky.
There was also one notable catch that I heard of today. A friend of a friend caught a nice sized one yesterday around 5pm, way in the back of RB, near an inlet. He was jigging, and the albie caught him by surprise. :wow: Although he can be said to be very lucky, I still salute the guy for such an unusual catch way in the back. :thumbsup: I remember about 5 years ago seeing a guy get one at an inlet in the back. Wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see with my own eyes.
There were also quite a few caught on various LI beaches yesterday. :thumbsup:
Thanks for the updates. It's good to know they are still around.
This was from a report I found yesterday -
I have never seen albies 10", that's tiny.
"Later in the day, we caught false albacore about two miles off Pt. Pleasant. They call them "little tunny" and these were little. The biggest was 10 inches. They were chasing bait on the surface. "
Any day now....
We may need a few days after Earl for the inshore waters to clean up. After that those who need to find them in the surf...... will. ;) :fishing:
I can't wait!:dribble:
They caught them 15 miles offshore, from yesterday's Ristori report:
Bluefish cooperated again, and quantities of little tunny were finally running through the slick of Miss Belmar Princess as Capt. Len Forsyth anchored 15 miles east of Shark River Inlet. He also had skipjacks in the slick, and noted that his anglers have even jigged an occasional cod out there. Capt. Jim O'Grady of the **** Robin from Point Pleasant also had little tunny in his slick plus some bonito. Capt. Howard Bogan Jr. reported 7-to-15-pound blues on his Jamaica from Brielle plus little tunny and skipjacks.
North Fork report
A guy was out fishing off the North Fork of LI over the weekend, jigging for blues, he got 2.
A fisherman got 19 of them, albies and bonita, on the Queen Mary today. It said something about them being only a few miles off the beach.
Dude on another site hooked into one yesterday, lost at the boat. Breezy point area.:drool: It won't be long now.