fly fishing Sandy Hook

[VSdreams]

I thought this article was pretty interesting. Capt Jim Freda has a good rep.

http://www.flyfisherman.com/northeast/jfsandyhook/
Sandy Hook Fall Blitzes
Captain Jim Freda


Sandy Hook (above) is a seven-mile barrier spit surrounded by water on three sides. It offers public beach access to world-class striped bass fishing within sight of the New York City skyline.
Intro | Hotspots | Bait | Albies | Bunker | Late Season
The 127 miles of New Jersey coastline has a lot to offer fly fishers who fish the surf and backbay river systems throughout the year. It is late in the fall, however, that our bait migrations take place tight to the beach and put striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, and false albacore right at our feet.
One piece of prime real estate during this fall migration is Sandy Hook. The Hook is a seven-mile barrier spit surrounded by water on three sides. Sandy Hook marks the northern tip of the New Jersey coastline and is within view of the New York City skyline. It is one of more than 360 parks that comprise the Gateway National Recreation Area maintained by the National Park Service. It is also a site on the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail. [Click here for a map of the Sandy Hook area. The Editor.]
One of the reasons why Sandy Hook is so productive are the four major river systems that feed her waters. The Hudson, Raritan, Neversink, and Shrewsbury rivers all flow into the New York Bight area, past Sandy Hook and out to the ocean.
The great action both in the surf and along the backbay shorelines begins as early as the middle of September and continues until Christmas if the weather and wind cooperate. The best fishing days in the fall are preceded by a consistent weather pattern and have a light northwest wind. Westerly winds push bait against the beach and is best for shore anglers. A northeast wind puts the wind at the back of shore anglers, roughs up the surf, and disorients the bait. Bass and blues immediately key in on this activity and blitz situations often result, although they are frequently offshore and not within reach of shore anglers.

Striped bass (right) and bluefish are the most common gamefish at Sandy Hook but false albacore also hunt these waters in early fall when anchovy and silversides migrate along the beach.
Approaching hurricanes in the early part of the season can quickly shut the action down, as large swells and crashing waves push the bait off the beach and create turbid water conditions. Normally the water here is clean and clear.
Bait and gamefish remain in the Sandy Hook area until surface temperatures drop below 50 degrees F. This usually doesn't happen until the third week in December but can be accelerated by stiff northwest winds and cold fronts dropping down out of Canada just after Thanksgiving.
If icy cold weather does come through, the bait quickly vacates the surf zone and the season for shore anglers comes to an early close. In the absence of bait near the beach, striped bass, bluefish, and false albacore quickly move off into 20 to 70 feet of water to find the bait.
Hook Hotspots
There are several productive locations on Sandy Hook worth investigating during the fall run. As you drive onto Sandy Hook from Route 36 or Ocean Avenue you see the historic Twin Lights of the Highlands overlooking the Shrewsbury River and the Highlands Bridge. Cross over this bridge to access the Hook. A nominal fee is charged at the toll gate from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fishing is permitted at any unguarded (non-swimming) beach during daylight hours during this time period. In the off-season, all ocean beaches are open to fishing. A permit is required to park at night on the Hook. Get a permit if you plan to fish late or before the sun comes up. Purchase the permits at the Ranger Station inside the toll gate.

North Beach (above) at Sandy Hook has a steep dropoff where striped bass and bluefish often trap schools of bait.
The first Sandy Hook location worth investigating is adjacent to the toll gate. Park in the nearby lot and walk a short distance east to the ocean or west to the Shrewsbury River. On the ocean beach there is deep water a short distance from shore. Because of the quickly sloping topography of the beach, bait holds tight to the shoreline. Striped bass, bluefish, and false albacore sometimes blitz up and down this stretch attacking pods of bait. Often these fish push the bait right up onto the sand making hero casts unnecessary.
On the west side of the toll gate, the Shrewsbury River runs into Sandy Hook Bay. There is an old boat channel that runs parallel to the shore that is within casting range. This channel drops off quickly to about 12 feet so sinking lines are necessary to fish this location whenever there is a strong current. During slack tide, intermediate or floating lines are effective. Caution should be exercised when wading out at this location as one or two steps too many will take you off of your feet.

The Shrewsbury River (above) on the bay side of Sandy Hook has a deep boat channel frequented by bass and bluefish.
The other feature on the Shrewsbury River just north of the toll gate is Plum Island. Gain access by parking in the second lot after you drive onto the Hook. Here you will find several points that stick out into the boat channel. These positions get you closer to the channel and offer an added advantage. Get there early if you plan to fish this spot.

The rubble from an abandoned military bunker (above) north of Horseshoe Cove projects into the bay and is a good spot to fish when the tide is moving.
North of Plum Island is Skeleton Island and the surrounding waters of Spermaceti Cove. This area has an excellent combination of channels, flats, cuts, and drop-offs. It is a good place to seek shelter from the wind when it is blowing hard out of the northeast. Work the cuts around Skeleton Island during the outgoing tide when bait flushes through these narrow passageways. Foot access is adjacent to Parking Areas C, D, and the Visitor Center. Further north you find Horseshoe Cove, which is another location that can have good striped bass or bluefish action in the fall. It is also sheltered from the wind. There is also an old abandoned bunker with extending rubble where you can stand and cast into the bay.

Horseshoe Cove (above) and Spermaceti Cove—both on the bay side of Sandy Hook—are good places to find shelter from the wind. Fish the nearby cuts where stripers wait to ambush their prey on a dropping tide.
Both coves serve as staging areas for mullet, peanut bunker, and spearing before they make their exodus out of the bay into the ocean. It is usually the early part of the fall, late September and early October, when bait is present here. Later in the season, during November and early December, the water is usually too cold. Don't spend too much time in these locations if no bait is present. Move to the ocean where the water is warmer in the fall.
The historic Fort Hancock section of Sandy Hook is home to a U.S. Coast Guard base. At the northern end of this section is the true tip of Sandy Hook and an area known to boaters as "The Rip." The Rip has received much attention over the years and is known as one of the best locations in the state to land big bass.
Swift currents move through this location on the changing of the tides. Baits are helplessly swept out from the bay in the strong current and take refuge close to the shore to get out of the heavy flow. This gives shore fly fishers an opportunity to target large stripers and blues that pin these baits against the shore.

[VSdreams]

Sandy Hook Bait
In order to be successful, fly fishers should be familiar with the pattern of bait migrations that take place along Sandy Hook beaches in the fall. You should know what baits are dominant, what they look like, how they behave, and when they appear. With this knowledge you can choose the right fly combined with the right presentation to "match the hatch."
The beginning of the mullet run takes place near the time of the new or full moons in September and traditionally marks the beginning of our classic New Jersey beach blitzes. Mullet pour out of Sandy Hook Bay and move south along North Beach. This draws stripers and blues close to shore. The striped bass at this time of year are resident fish and not migrating down from New England. They range from 5 to 25 pounds. Bluefish vary greatly from small cocktails all the way up to some real gators that can tip the scales in excess of 15 pounds.


Mullet (above with flies) are the first important baitfish of the fall season. They migrate along the beach and draw stripers and blues close to shore.
On calm northwest days, it is easy to tell if bass are on the mullet, as you see bass fining, porpoising, or pushing a wake as they mill through the bait in the early morning hours. At other times they hammer the mullet, sending water spraying in all directions. The same type of surface activity can be noticed toward dusk if the wind remains northwest and doesn't switch to southeast.
The mullet (Mugil cephalus) we see in New Jersey are bluish gray to silver along their dorsal aspect and fade from silver to white along their bellies. They range from 4 to 6 inches in length. They are commonly referred to as finger mullet or "mushers" because of their soft underbellies. When viewed from the front, they have a blunt cylindrical appearance like your fingertip. Larger 8- to 10-inch sea mullet, commonly referred to as "corn cobs," may also be mixed in.
Large bulky Deceivers, deer hair mullet patterns, poppers, or Tabory Snake Flies all imitate mullet but my favorites are Bob Popovic's Siliclone Mullet or Bob's Bangers from 1/0 to 4/0.
At the same time the mullet are present, Atlantic silversides (Menidia menidia) also known as spearing, and bay anchovies (Anchoa mitchilli) referred to rainfish, also congregate in large numbers along the beachfront. These bait migrations are accelerated by dropping water temperatures but also influenced by lunar phases, particularly the new and full moons of each fall month.
Both these baits have slim profiles and an unmistakable iridescent stripe running along their sides. Bay anchovies range in size from 1 to 4 inches and spearing from 2 to 6 inches. Larger anchovies, 5 to 6 inches in length with a slightly wider profile and more pronounced stripe, are also seen along the beach at this time. These are called striped anchovy.

With spearing or bay anchovies, your fly selection should be on the small side and dressed with white or translucent bellies and some flash. Include a good assortment of Bob Popovics' Surf Candies and sparsely tied Jiggies. Clouser Minnows are also effective. Be sure to include prominent black eyes in both and a pearlescent side stripe.

Do not release false albacore like a trout. To release an albie, give the fish a headstart by shooting it headfirst into deep water.
Most fly fishers use a fast two-handed retrieve when albies are around. While this retrieve draws strikes, you can also try no retrieve at all. Cast into the bait and let your fly just drift or get pushed around in the melee. I have had albies almost rip the rod from my hand using this method. Stay tight to your fly as it drifts so you can get your line under control and quickly get the albie on the reel. One fly that works very well when dead-drifting through a pod of hungry albies is Joe Blados' Crease Fly. This foam fly emulates an injured or stunned bait and looks like easy prey.
Albies have red meat that is not good eating, so release them quickly. Carefully lift the albie by the tail and place your other hand under its belly. Shoot the albie headfirst back into a deeper pocket of water along the beach. This motion helps force water through the albies mouth and over its gills to revive it.

Peanut bunker, or juvenile menhaden, are the prevalent Sandy Hook baitfish in late October through the month of November.
Peanut Bunker
during the end of October and through November, peanut bunker are the dominant bait. These baits are the young-of-the-year from the adult mossbunker (menhaden) that spawned off of the Atlantic coast the previous late winter and early spring. This spawn makes it way inshore to rivers and backbays where the young develop over the summer. By fall they are ready to migrate to the ocean to find warmer southerly waters along the beach for the winter.
Peanut bunker are silver with white bellies and a single black spot under the pectoral fin. Their profile has length and height but lacks width. Their length is 2 to 6 inches long depending on age, their flanks are about and inch or so high, and their width when viewed from below is minimal.
The peanut bunker run in the Sandy Hook area has been absolutely phenomenal the last several seasons. Here is an excerpt from my Bergen Record fishing column that appeared in November 2003. It captures exactly what I am talking about.

"It is hard to put into words the tremendous action that took place over the weekend as surf anglers, fly fishers, and boaters cashed in on some of the most phenomenal blitzes that many have ever seen. It wasn't so much the size of the fish that made these events so dramatic but rather the quantity of fish and bait that were present were astronomical.
Sandy Hook was the place to be as peanut bunker have made a mass exodus out of Raritan Bay and are moving south along the beach. The schools of bait are massive right now and you don't have to be a fishing person to recognize where they are. Even an untrained eye can look out into the water and clearly notice that something is different.
On Sunday of this past week surf anglers that were at the Hook will remember that day for a long time. The blitz that occurred was an all out assault of teen size bass on peanut bunker that lasted for the entire day. Many times throughout the day one could look down the beach in either direction and see every rod doubled over with thirty or more anglers hooked up at one time. To top it off big burly blues in the ten to fourteen pound range also were in and out of the surf wreaking havoc on any artificial that was cast out. Some comments from anglers that I talked to said, 'I've been fishing the beach for over forty years and have never seen it this good, it's insane!' Another said 'If I made 40 casts I had forty fish.' Still another, 'Not to even catch a fish but to just watch what is going on is amazing.' And another, 'Teen-size bass were stacked ten deep in formation; I've never seen it like this.'"

Fall blitzes of striped bass along Sandy Hook beaches can bring hundreds--sometimes even thousands of striped bass to the surface to feed. Click here to see a large (300K) version of this image.
This is the type of action I hope for this season. Peanut bunker are present in large concentrations in both Raritan and Sandy Hook bays at this time. Before the peanuts move out to the ocean, Spermaceti and Horseshoe Cove mentioned earlier in this article are ideal locations to fly fish, particularly late at night. Bait stacks up tight to the beach.
Matching the profile of the peanut bunker can be critical to your success when everything is going nuts. At times, I have seen blitzing bass and blues cause the water to boil, but nobody was hooking up. These predators can key in on these baits and refuse everything but the real thing, or a nearly perfect imitation.
Use Slab Flies or wide-bodied 4- to 6-inch Bucktail Deceivers, Bob's Bangers, or other surface poppers. Geno's Baby Angel is also a "must-have" fly. This peanut bunker imitation is tied with all angel hair and matches the bait profile. Floating, intermediate, or 200- to 300-grain lines all work depending on the water depth, wind, and current.
Late Season
From the end of November until Christmas, sandeels and sea herring keep bass and bluefish in the Sandy Hook area. By this time only a few scattered pods of peanut bunker remain along the beach. If you locate a pod, it probably has bass with it, but sandeels provide the bulk of the action.
This time of year we see large schools of big bass migrating down from New England and Montauk. These are big males and big females or cows. These bass range in size from the teens into the 40-pound range. These big bass hold around Sandy Hook if bait is present. If not, they move through quickly. This is trophy time in New Jersey.
Sand eels, also referred to as sand lance, are an inshore bait fish not related to the common eel. Its scientific name Ammodytes americanus literally means sand burrower, a typical behavior demonstrated when it flees from a predator or resting.
Sand eels have slender bodies and pointed snouts. They have long dorsal and anal fins and are deep blue green to bronze on the back with a white belly. They can grow as long as 15 inches but are commonly 4 to 6 inches in New Jersey in December.
When sandeels root along the sandbars of the Sandy Hook surf, bass and blues feast. Sandeels may move in from their offshore bottom depths as surf temperatures drop just below 50 degrees. If they remain offshore, the season can come to a quick close as relatively no bait will be present along the beach.
Have a variety of slender Clouser Minnows, Jiggies, and Half-and-Halfs with you to emulate the slender profile of a sandeel. The weighted heads of these flies put the flies deep, which is important during the middle of the day when sandeels bury themselves for protection. Bass move along the sand bars and try to uproot them with their snouts. At first light, dusk, or in the evening the sandeels are up in the water column, or on the surface, so getting deep with your fly is less important. Other flies such as Bob Popovics' Stick Candies and other epoxy flies also emulate the bait.
Different hues of green, olive, blue, or black over white are the most effective color patterns. At night, black patterns are always productive.
Besides sandeels, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) also hold bass and blues near Sandy Hook as the season comes to a close. Feeding schools of 15- to 25-pound bass push schools of herring to the surface and often cause obvious surface commotion. Large bass feeding on this bait are less likely to come close to the beach, compared to baits earlier in the season. Look for gulls and gannets making kamikaze dives into the water trying to obtain a meal. The best sea herring flies are larger 6- to 8-inch Bucktail Deceivers fished on intermediate lines.
There's a little taste of what to expect in the fall along the beaches and backbays

[basshunter]

Freda really knows his stuff, he must spend alot of time there. Thanks for sharing that.