June, 2 2011

Before we get to the info that is totally going to make your day, weekend and week, there is a very important housekeeping note I have to pass along that effects all of us. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has proposed new access rules that will allow individual townships to make their own beach access decisions.  There is not any doubt in my m

ind that this is going to severely limit the access that you and your kids are going to have to share time together fishing on the shorelines of our state.

You know that many of the prime areas that we go to are in the “high rent” districts where many of the landowners look down their snoots at fishermen like us out enjoying what we are rightfully entitled to as New Jersey Outdoorsmen. Well, these new rules may be their way to lock us out.

There is a VERY important meeting in Brant Beach at the Long Beach Township Courtroom (6805 Long Beach Blvd., Brandt Beach) on Thursday night, June 2 at 7PM.  This is for ALL of NJ, not just the LBI region.  You need to show up and you need to be heard.  Pack the place, it’s important.  You can contact the NJ Beach Buggy Assn. for more information, or if you can’t make it, follow this link to Fisherman’s Headquarters “Hot Topics” page: http://www.fishermansheadquarters.com/hot_issues1.htm  and write your representative right away.

On to the stuff you tuned in for…..

Laurie up at Dows in Lake Hopatcong has seen some awesome walleye weighed in at the shop, fish in the 7- to 8-pound range, but it seems as though the fish are starting to move into the deeper water.  Hybrid striper fishing is still hot and 31.5-pound muskie was nailed at night this week by Jack Dziduch!  Watch your fingers in the dark there Jack!

As we move from freshwater to saltwater reports, the news is all the same – IT IS ON!  Big bass on bunker are everywhere in Northern and Central Jersey with 40- and 50-pound fish making appearances in an insane fashion.  Tom up at Giglio’s in Sea Bright has seen a steady stream of big fish weighed in over the last week and it is still rockin.  On the beach you can still nail a biggun on a clam but poppers and those that can get a snagging rig out to the bunker are having their days and nights made.  Flukin’ is a little slow, but with the bass on the chew, nobody really seems to mind.

Dave at the Reel Seat has more of the same to report on the beach, but the boat reports he is getting are totally off the hook.  Snagging and dragging live bunker or running bunker spoons is the ticket to land the bass that you have been dreaming of.  The blue fishing on the nearshore lumps is getting better, but the northern guys have yet to see much of Mr. Mako yet.  The cod fishing on the wrecks is still strong and the quality of the sea bass being caught since the season opening last weekend is really good.  Fluke fishing from the beach seems to be improving a little and there have been some back room rumblings about bluefin offshore. Unfortunately, exploratory missions may have to wait until next week with that good looking offshore water and decent weekend forecast.

Chris at Harry’s Army Navy summed it up: there is a “Big Bass Blast” going on and if you can’t catch one now, it may be time to hang it up.  Tops again is trying to get to the bunker but even if they are out of casting range running big plugs on top and just below the surface can get you a spine rattling hookup and a run to remember.

Just a side note here, and trust me, I’m no tree-hugger, but with multiple big fish being caught by anglers taking a few “release” pictures is a great idea to make sure we have these babies around for years to come.

Chris also wanted you to know that the flukin’ back in the Raritan Bay is back on track and the bunker have moved back in there as well.  Guys from the beach thowing Spro bucktails and GULP are catching keeper flatties.  By the way, if you are a braid guy and need a refill, Harry’s is offering 20% off PowerPro spooled in the shop if you mention On The Water – so mention it!

Even the guys at Grumpy’s in Seaside are smiling – well, we think they were smiles, it could have been gas – with the bass bite going off.  There were only a few smaller bass weighed in this morning but there has been a steady trek to the scales over the last week.  There are blues to 5 pounds in the inlet and some of the sand stompers chucking bunker are battling with marauding choppers up to 13 pounds.  The best bite for the bass seems to be later in the afternoon and at night from the beach.  There are fluke in the surf to keep you busy in between eye-balling your striper rod.

Dan at Lacey Marine on Rt. 9 in Forked River has had the big bass dialed in himself for the last week or two.  His guys have been dragging white bunkers spoons out in 50 feet of water while others were working the bunker themselves closer to the beach.  Dan says there are blues all over the Barnegat Ridge up to 12 pounds and the nice fluke have moved out there too.

The boys at Fisherman’s Headquarters have been busy day and night, especially his past Saturday when all midday mania broke loose with 10 weigh-ins!  A 50-pound bass snagged and dragged off of a local’s boat was the star of the show.  Even the kingfish are showing up in the surf looking for a little bloodworms snack.  Boy if a kingfish grew to bass size what a locomotive we would have on our hands!  A little work on the sand can put a stringer of kingies and a couple nice fluke on the table if you play your baits right.

The back bay striper bite is not to be ignored behind Absecon Island according to Tony over at Capt. Andy’s in Margate.  First light and dusk are starting to really show some nice numbers on schoolie sizes stripers if you are a smaller boat or sod bank angler that is not making it out front to the bunker schools.  Local pontoon boats The Keeper and Fish ‘N’ Fun are doing a great job on the fluke with plenty of action and a few nice keepers mixed in.  Bucktails, GULP and mackerel strips are the ticket with minnows last on the list, but that that will change when the water temperatures come up just a little more.

Tackle Direct in Somers Point was jumping on Sunday morning with guys that had found the first real schools of bunker of the year right off the beach the day before.  They wanted in on the action.  There was a run on terminal tackle and those big wooden plugs off the surf wall that guys like to roll around the big schools of bait.  Reports of big bass in the southern area are still few and far between but with the bunker showing up it is only a matter of time. Are you ready for them?

Bill at Fin-atics in Ocean City has heard about the bunker off the beach but his ears have been tuned-in to some offshore action that everyone is just totally wound up about.  The first report of 3 white marlin being released in the middle canyons is music to everyone’s ears.  Add a few reports of small- to medium-size yellowfin farther south and the battle wagons are starting to twitch in their slips.  I know I am so wound up to get out to the edge that I am starting to lose sleep over it. But there’s also the bass bite and the bluefish on the fly rod to keep anglers budy until they can get to the bluewater. There are some real nice blues out at the Triple Lump and little Hambone if you are looking for shark bait and a good time.

And speaking of sharks… the first really nice mako of the season hit the scale at Off the Hook Bait & Tackle in Cape May this week.  A 157-pound soon to be grilled, high flying, tooth ripping maniac was brought to its knees by Rob Kurian of Sun-In Builders aboard Capt. Fred Dirsch’s 3D Sportfishing.   Nice job boys!

Best Bets for the Weekend

Best bet for this weekend is WAY obvious – find the bunker schools and beat them like a rented mule.  Unless a phone call from some offshore captain just busting with fresh info comes in late this week, that is where the FmTuna and I will be…. On 68, and listening in.