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.