Fall is officially here and someone needs to contact Mother Nature and let her know that her timer is a little slow. Water temperatures, as you may know, are one, if not my favorite fishing indicator. As I type this weeks report, I am looking out on a bay so thick with fog, you cannot see 15 feet. Last time I checked, water temps in South Jersey were hovering around 73 degrees. In addition, I have some concern about the fresh water that is still filtering its way dawn to the saltwater estuaries and tributaries. This must be causing some issues for both salt and fresh water anglers. What exactly that issue are, I don’t know but I intend to investigate further, you can make book on that. Our choices are somewhat limited this time of year, what with fluke and sea bass closed, so it is important that the average angler use every asset in his or her bag of tricks to insure a successful outing. And if you are reading this report, it’s my job to help you close the deal. The linesiders are out there, not in numbers yet and you can always put a tautog on the table. Blowfish are still active and perch make a fine meal and are as fun to catch as any. Kingfish are lining the coast and I have even heard scatter reports of cod and ling for those willing to brave some choppy seas. So let’s get into the specifics.
Stopped in Rip Tide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine after a foggy morning on the beach yesterday. Andy informed me that while the pick has been somewhat slow for stripers, some have been taken, mostly by bait-drowners tossing clam. Small blues (up to a 2 pounds) are around with smaller versions in the back bay. Water temps are hovering around 73 degrees, so you don’t even need the waders yet, but be sure to don the Korkers jetty cleats if you are heading for the jetties. Those rocks can be treacherous with all the mist we have been experiencing. Kingfish are abundant from LBI south according to Andy. Preferred attractant are bloods, FishBytes and Gulp worms, in that order. One note of caution. They are pumping sand on the north end of Brigantine so plan your trip accordingly.
Up North in Seaside Park, blues are the all the rage. Small blues are all over the beaches. With water temperatures hovering around 70, there is still some opportunities for the occasional striped bass but according to Paul at Grumpy’s, we still need some better weather and a drop in the water temps. This weekend could be the answer to the question we are all asking. When will it start? There is a cold front on the horizon which may provide the impetus we need. But for the time being, its blues, blues and more blues. The Governors Cup is this weekend so get on over to Grumpy’s, gear up and hit Island Beach State Park. Make sure you register ahead of time. You can do so at the state web site: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/gsft.htm. The Governors Cup Is Saturday October 2, at Island Beach State Park.
You will know the fall run has officially turned on when the fish start pounding the beaches at Sandy Hook and Monmouth Beach. And when I am looking for information for the best places to interrupt their migration, I usually stop in Giglios in Sea Bright and get the low down form the staff there. Giglios is a well stocked shop with all the trappings that you will need, be it by land or by sea. I spoke to Ernie up there this morning and he told me that with water temps hovering around 70, it’s been a tough pick. There have been a lot of schoolie bass being picked up with anglers using mullet rigs and or clam. Last week had some nice, bigger bluefish but no blitzes of real consequence. There is some bait around, primarily mullet with a sprinkling of menhaden. The big schools of bait haven’t really made an appearance yet but Ernie senses that they aren’t that far away. The biggest fish they weighed in over the last couple of weeks was a 61 pound drum taken by Bill Kalafka of Sea Bright when he a Mac Foley were soaking some clam around Sandy Hook. That must have been one hell of a surprise for this time of year. I guess you really can’t win the lottery unless you buy a ticket. Good job guys!
The Absecon Island Surf Derby is officially opened and Captain Andy’s in Margate is the place to stop in and get registered and geared up for this long running beach tourney. I was in there earlier in the week to piggyback on their scouting reports, hoping to find some meat for the table. Tog is still going strong, and Manager Don Brown told me that green crabs are plentiful and ready for the hook. Kingfish are all over the beaches. Fog and tough chop have kept many boats in their slips but he is looking for that to ease up as we get closer to the weekend. Donny, before he left for a Montauk hiatus, called to inform me that there have been some good reports on yellow fin tuna taken on the chunk out at the Lindenkohl. So you have that going for you should you have the opportunity. Water temps around Great Egg and Ocean City are around 73 degrees but bait has been somewhat scarce since the last round of storms. Hopefully, the cold front projected to come through this weekend will change those conditions for the better. The water has been choppy and cloudy but for the most part clean of debris as the fresh water is still filtering in to the bays. Good times on the horizon, according to the guys at Captain Andy’s and they bleed more salt then blood so I trust their instincts.
This time of year, I typically save my trips to the far southern tip of the state for last. And today is no different. And for the best information, Jim’s Tackle in Cape May is my go-to shop. I spoke with Matt this morning and he quickly confirmed my suspicions. It’s slow down there, but not dead. He told me that the tautog bite is decent off the rocks in any of the inlets from Corson’s down through Herefords. Mullet, while scarce around Cape May have been reported in the areas around Stone Harbor and Avalon. Out front, there are some nice bluefish on the lumps. The back bays are loaded with short stripers if you are simply looking for action. Matt told me that top water plugs like Stillwater’s Smack-It plug are working real well. With water temps hanging around 72 pretty much everywhere you go south of OC, the kingfish bite is red hot. As Jim’s is one of the premier offshore outfitters in the state, we also discussed that bite as well. He confirmed prior reports that the Lindy was doing fantastic for those chunking or jigging tuna. Try a hammered diamond jig or some butterfly jigs for some action. Matt also told me that some of his boats have been hitting the Baltimore and coming home with some nice wahoo and stories of even nicer white marlin. Conditions have been changing rapidly, so don’t hesitate to call Jim’s or stop in if you are looking for the latest info.
Best Bets for the weekend.
Keep an eye on the water temps and conditions as we are expecting a significant change come Friday. There are fish out there, but you are going to need to earn them right now. Bait is somewhat scarce almost everywhere, the strongest reports are up north. If its food for the table, then think kingfish along the beaches almost anywhere south of Long Beach Island. You deep water both inshore and in any of the inlets are holding nice tautog but remember, until November 15th, you are limited to one. Stripers in the back are your best bet but soaking some clams or mullet out front is your best bet for a keeper. Blowfish are still kicking around LBI as well. There is plenty to do out there but as I mentioned, it’s going to need a little elbow grease and planning for success. We are close, I can feel it. And if you don’t want to miss that first big blitz, Get Ready, Get Set – GO Fish.