-
NJ WIR 9-22-08
Folks, the bluefishing has been pretty good, both in the back bays and the ocean. With the full moon, the mullet are pouring out of the bays and swimming down the coast. Bait and plugs are catching these choppers. Sometimes, when the bite is slow, bait is more productive.
Bass are still being caught at night, mostly shorts, but the good news is there is a decent distribution along the Jersey Coast, as long as you are willing to walk the sand and jetties to find where they are holding for that night.
Another great development is the increasing concentration of sandeels inshore. Bass and bluefish are gorging on them. Some captains report some of these sandeels as being the largest they have seen in recent years, and these sandeels are 1/8 to 1/4 mile off the beach. Time for the needlefish plugs and sandeel profile teasers.
Weakfish have finally been caught more consistently in the back bays. While they were in the BB for awhile, now they are being caught in the channels and near the harbors in the RB. Live or fresh dead peanuts are the preferred way to target them if they are feeding. The plain white or pink fin-s are also taking their share of decent fish.
People are still reporting exotics in the back bays and inlets, so don't be surprised if you hook an amberjack, pilotfish, banded rudderfish, or other tropical species.
Albies have finally been caught from the sand in NJ. The run is a little late in starting. With the constant NE winds we have been getting, there is no telling how long they will remain as the water cools rapidly. Enjoy the chance while you can, blink and they will be gone. As others have mentioned, please handle these Southern speedsters with care.
NY WIR 9-22-08
The bluefish bite in the back bays, inlets, and ocean has been good as long as the winds are not kicking up too many weeds. The key to a good fishing experience at this time is to have different spots you can go with different wind patterns. Bait will tend to hide in corners, pockets, and calmer eddies during rougher weather periods. Those anglers who can identify where these locations are (sometimes they change daily) will have the best shot at some decent fish.
Montauk is still producing fish, most of them being bluefish, and a few bass. Most of the bragging bass are caught deep in the dark. If you are inexperienced at night fishing, Montauk is not the place to learn. You really can get hurt out there if you don't take the proper precautions, and the nearest hospital is about 16 miles away. It would be a good choice to get there early one morning during low tide, try to learn as much as you can about the structure, make mental notes, and then return later in the night after you have fished a few areas during the day.
The NY bass bite in other places is heating up, but as I said, the places that held tons of bait last year are empty this year. It pays to scout around, as bass and other predators will be found where the most bait is.
Offshore report:
The heavy NE winds and the enhanced swell from the 2 latest hurricanes has kept many tuna fishermen at home. Some are getting out, and the success is inconsistent.
However, there is some positive news for the Hudson Canyon and some Northern inshore lumps, which until now had been very spotty. Bait is finally being seen in those areas on a regular basis. Mahi, smalll yellowfin and bluefin, and albies and bonito have arrived to give inshore anglers some action without going all the way to the canyons.
We still have a week of NE winds and swells, folks. If fishing the surf on an incoming tide, please realize the waves may become worse than you think as the tide comes in. Please be careful out there.
-
Fished Jbay in the back late last night, beginning of the outgoing. Bombers, swimmers, dannys, not even a bluefish.
Peanut bunker all around, nothing on them.
-
Took the afternoon off yesterday and made the run to Montauk. Winds were bad, only managed a few bluefish on the N side. Next time.
-
Back of Jones yesterday into sunset. Conditions were windy, but water not that bad, lots of bait around. Some nice blues up to #10 on SS littleneck poppers, and pencils.
-
Shinny inlet this morning, a little weedy. All blues, no bass, on poppers, and bucktails.
-
Back of Jones this morning/ still weedy, water dirty, bucktails, shads, and bombers.
-
NJ WIR 9-29-08
Well folks it has been a tough week in NJ with the storms. There are still fish to be found, but the inclement weather makes it a little more difficult.
The weakfish bite in Barnegat Bay is still on, and Raritan Bay is developing a spotty weakfish bite. Better late than never, it almost looked like it wasn't going to happen this year.
As for our prized striped bass, they are again being caught chiefly at night, with the addition of an early morning bite that has developed in certain key areas that are around or near inlets or large rivers.
Bluefish are giving boaters a good fight, but the bite has been more spotty for surfcasters. Sometimes they are the only thing to save the day for those traveling far distances to enjoy our fishing. However, the sustained surf blitzes that many look forward to have not been happening on a regular basis yet.
As for the tuna bite, the severe weather has kept a lot of captains home. The last reports sent to me indicated a spotty bite right now. I would advise those spending precious cash for a tuna trip to hold off for a few days until things stabilize. The fall tuna bite is usually spectacular, and I am hoping it will develop into one to remember.
NY WIR
Folks in New York waters are facing similar conditions as those in New Jersey. I would call this a week in transition.
In NY as well as NJ, bait is dumping out of the bays and inlets as part of its annual Southern migration. However, there are still some NJ and NY back bay areas holding a smorgasbord of tasty bait, from adult bunker to peanuts to spearing. Until these baitfish consistently make their way Southward, fishing will continue to appear to be spotty, except for the guys fishing at night, and targeting areas known to hold large bait concentrations. Moreover, these "known" areas change from week to week, which makes it all the more challenging.
The good news from Montauk is still coming down the pike, and decent catches are being made. What has happened in the last week is a skewing of the bait concentration in the LI sound. Large amounts of bait are being found in the Connecticut portion of the sound. There was a significant bunker kill in that area from lack of oxygen as the fish were pushed upriver by the predators.
Additionally, there are large concentrations in the most Western and Eastern parts of the Sound. It could be that they are finally ready to move along the coast or through the rivers. Maybe the next big storm will spur them on.
As for the almost absent albacore (say that 10 times fast)
, boaters have been into albacore and bonito for at least 2 weeks now, depending on the area. Yet the traditional NY and NJ early season spots for surf albacore catches have had very little activity, save for a few reported catches. We are rapidly losing opportunities to catch these great fish as the ocean temps slowly decline. Hopefully this week, there will be some decent surf catches put together.
Have a great week out there folks, remember to be careful, as we still have some storms rolling in.
-
Jones area, in the front last night, 2 bass to 27" clams. Conditions were not that bad, fished the outgoing.
-
Fished half a day in Montauk today, great fishing! Started at sunrise with poppers, nailed a few bass to 28", then it was bucktails in the daylight on the outgoing, few blues mixed in, but mostly bass. Were eating spearing. Fishing was decent after the tide turned, but not as good as the morning. Total bass about 15 up to 34", maybe 6 blues. lost many more.
-
Front of Fire Island sunset, 2 bass on a bucktail pork rind. Shorts.
-
Another day at Montauk, fished most of the day, more blues than bass, but I still managed 6 bass to 32", all put back. Most on bucktails and pork rind.
The blues were voracious, but so were the fishermen, at some places it was shoulder to shoulder. Not too many idiots out there, though, in all it was a great day.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
Reply With Quote