In case you haven’t noticed, the days start to get a little shorter this time of year. To me, it’s an indicator that, like everything else in life, changes must occur. Call it match the hatch or whatever, if you are to be successful in you fishing efforts, you must recognize the changes that are occurring and alter your angling efforts to take advantage of environment. Don’t just fish, take notice of the activity. Different baits are dominating the scene. Mullet, peanut bunker, spearing and even spot are showing their colors up and down the Jersey coast. As waters heat up to its summer zenith, both bait and game fish adjust their habits. So does the smart angler. And those that do will be the ones catching as opposed to those not and complaining that the weather has slowed things up.
Got a chance to talk to a Mark from Meltzer’s Sporting Goods in Garfield this week. Meltzer’s is a family owned sporting goods store in the northern part of the state and do they like fishing! Most of the gang there are hardcore anglers, based on my chat with Mark. This week, they have been targeting dolphin and doing well out around the Oil Wreck. Fluking has been good in the Raritan and Sandy Hook area. Bait of choice, Berkely Gulp mullet in pink or chartreuse. Mark also mentioned the new Gulp grubs have been so good he can’t keep them in stock. To be honest, I have not tried them yet, but based on the good report the guys at Meltzer’s are giving them, they are definitely on my shopping list for my next trip. Welcome aboard guys.
I firmly believe that fishing should be fun and relaxing. And nothing is more relaxing and fun than a day on the beach and catching a few fish as a bonus. Seaside Heights is a great place to indulge in a little of both. And according to Paul at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside, you can get a lot of both up their way. Peanut bunker are starting to get active, chased by small blues in Barnegat Inlet. Some nice fluke are being taken there as well as off the beaches of Island Beach State park. Paul tells me that Berkley Gulp has been the most productive bait in the surf. Pack some metal in your tackle box if you are looking for blues, sun up and sunset are your best bets. If you are thinking about some blue claw crabs for table fare, now is the time! Grumpy’s has all the bait and equipment you will need for any fishing endeavor you are considering, so make sure you stop in the next time you are in or around Seaside Heights. Take it from me, you will be happy you did. These guys know their stuff and are glad to share it with you.
It goes without saying that Long Beach Island offers a wide variety of opportunities to catch fish, even when the waters surrounding it reach all time highs. You may have to work a little harder but if you do your homework and plan your expeditions right, success will follow. The crew at Fisherman’s Headquarters in LBI can help you with both. Right now, the best bets are out front on the reefs dunking for big, blue-backed sea bass. Clams are the best baits with killies running a close second. The beaches have been producing some decent fluke with a mix of cocktail blues being attracted to metal. Lots of cow-nosed rays in the area so keep an eye on your surf gear. These suckers are big and strong and can easily yank an improperly seated reel from a sand spike. The back bays are a blue-crabbers delight, especially in the Beach Haven area. Fresh bunker or chicken is the bait of choice. And don’t forget to rig a pole for blowfish, as they are still going strong in the bay. Stop in Fisherman’s HQ for all the latest info, you can’t miss it as you come over the causeway.
Don Brown, manager and resident fishing pro at Captain Andy’s Marina in Margate, is always on top of the best places to land a keeper in the area. Captain Andy’s has gone from a small bait and tackle shop to a hub for every type of angling you can imagine in Atlantic County. With several headboats and a multitude of six pack captains headquartered there, Don has plenty of resources to base his referrals on. Water temps around Great Egg Inlet are about as high as Don has seen in quite some time. Fluking has been best in the inlet and the OC Reef. If you are looking for something a little farther out, think about the Lobster Pots for some mahi action. Yellowfin and mahi on the troll are still doing well along the 20- and 30-fathom lines. Any structure or floating debris seem to be an opportunity for hooking mahi. And Don stressed that finding the water gradients is key to success this time of year. Listen to him, he knows!
Just over the bridge in Cape May, sits Jim’s Bait and Tackle. It’s pretty easy to find. Just look for the building with the giant shark hanging outside on the wall. This week, they are telling me that hot waters in Delaware Bay have slowed things down a bit but there are plenty of fish for the taking, depending on your target. Croakers are filling up the bay as we speak, and the locals could use some help thinning out the herd. Flounder are there, but the high water temps have slowed the bite down a bit. Incoming tides seem to be producing the best results. Offshore, the tuna bite remains strong if you find the dividing lines for water temps. Mahi are all over the place offshore, and once again, don’t ignore any structure. Jim also let know that some white marlin have been caught and released at the Sea Isle Ridge. If you are a feet in the sand angler, Stone Harbor has been giving up nice catches of kingfish, and some tautog have been noted in the Wildwoods at Herefords Inlet. Bloodworms for the former and clam for the latter. The head boats have been doing real well with croakers, sea bass and to some extent trigger fish. The pick has been slow but steady. And in the back bays, crabbing has been off the wall for the last several weeks.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
This time of year, it gets tough planning trips. High heat and humidity make for uncertain weather patterns. The beaches in the south are holding kingfish, flounder croakers and small blues. North, it’s mostly blues and flatties. Mahi are the prime target for the inshore thrill seekers. In the back bays, early and late lights are producing some stripers, mostly in the 26 to 34 inch ranges. Waters are warm no matter where you go. One word of warning. This heat has been producing some of the nastiest lighting that this writer has witnessed since he moved from the foothills outside of Pittsburgh. Be careful out there. That being said, get ready, get set and GO FISH.
very good report