The bunker are coming! The bunker are coming! The cry is being heard up and down the New Jersey coast. And according to my research, the heralded migration has not only started, it is in full bloom. And where there is bait, bass and blues are almost always lurking in the shadows. With a little cooperation from Mother Nature, and some sharp-eyed scouting from the On The Water team, there is no reason to believe that you won’t be able to fill your cooler this fall. So read up, gear up and get out there. No matter how good the season is, we still haven’t discovered a method to lure those fish to your easy chair.
As is the case in most fall runs, the fishing always seems to light up early in the northern reaches of the state. And while it is frustrating to those of us situated a little farther south, it is nonetheless, great to hear. This week, the hotspot up north (at least for baitfish) is from Manasquan south to LBI. This is according to John at the Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights. Plugging at Island Beach State Park has been easy but not really too productive with the gusting west winds. Blues up to 12 pounds have been picked up off the beach and boat with short bass thrown in. Winds should turn east and maybe that will move the fish in a little closer. The best chance at landing a keeper seems to be at night, with clam chuckers having some success. Water temperatures are still hovering in the mid 60s, which could play a significant factor in the slow pick. John feels that conditions are definitely setting up for some good action this weekend. If you are out that way, make sure to stop in and get the latest info from Tony or John. Or just grab breakfast. The Dock has it all!
It’s still a little early for Rip action down in Cape May, but I thought I would check in just to see where we are at in the process. One of the best sources down in that area is Chuck Hinchcliffe (or his wife Mary) owners of Off the Hook Bait and Tackle in Hinch Marina of Cape May. Last week, they were so busy weighing in Tuna taken out of the Spencer, they barely had time to answer the phone. Everyone was coming in port with a full locker. This week, wind has pretty much limited the offshore trips but according to Chuck, the upcoming weekend may open a new window of opportunity. The front of Wildwood and Delaware Bay have been producing tailor blues and the occasional keeper striper, but action has been a little off. Water temps are hovering in the mid 60s. Plenty of bait around, but little in the way of trophy stripers. That should change soon, so get your charters lined up for rips and sloughs of Delaware Bay. As usual, togging has been good but there has been a definite shortage of green crabs up and down the coast. Small weakfish are around, but mostly spikes. Chuck told me the wind is supposed to turn around in the next few days, so the upcoming weekend is setting up nicely for a turn on. We can only hope!
For some, Long Beach Island is considered South Jersey, others deem it to be north or central Jersey. I have long considered it “Fish Heaven.” That’s because as long as I can remember, fish seemed determined to impale themselves on the hooks of the smart anglers that opt to wet a line there. And the gang at Fisherman’s Headquarters there are definitely accomplices to this action. While action seems to be slow up and down the coast, the LBI anglers have been doing well with decent bluefish and striper action earlier in the week off both the sand and boat, and better days are on the horizon. Water temps there are still in the mid 60s, so kingfish and blowfish are still active around the rocks and inlets. Of course, tautog fishing are happening as well. John O’Connell of Vineland weighed in a 22-pound striper taken at Barnegat Light on Tuesday. John was using Cut bunker as an attractant. Great job John!
If you are thinking of heading to Atlantic City this weekend to drop a few dollars at the gaming tables, don’t forget to throw some tackle in your vehicle to compensate for the lulls in the action. Absecon Island has some great beaches and access to the ocean for those seeking some outside adventure. There are a slew of tackle shops on the Island and one of my favorites, Captain Andy’s in Margate is only minutes from the gambling halls of AC. Don Brown and Tony Eaton run Captain Andy’s and when they aren’t in the shop, they are usually exploring the water in search of some saltwater action. When I spoke to Tony this earlier this week (Don was offshore at the Spencer hauling in yellowfin on the night chunk), he informed me that while the beach action was a little light, there was some activity to note. Most of the jetties are holding tog, with green crabs being the bait of choice. In the back bays, topwater plugs are enticing bass up to 32 inches. There are tons of small weakies just off the beach, not much for eating but certainly worthy of a day of catch-and-release action. Metal with a teaser is all the bait you need to hook up to these spotted strikers. If you are looking for some headboat action, check out the Jessie O which sails daily from the Captain Andy’s Marina. A sixty foot custom Parker that handles the seas effortlessly with a crew always ready to put you on whatever action is available at the time.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
The weather has put a little damper on angling all along the coast. It looks like it will blow a bit until Friday but lay down just in time for the weekend. If you are thinking about an offshore trip, you might be able to sneak one more in before old man winter starts to wake up. Last reports had yellowfin, albacore and even some mahi and white marlin still making strong appearances. Inshore, there are huge schools of menhaden up and down the coast. The further north you go, the closer they are to the beaches but wind shifts could change that anytime. The big bass are still spotty, but there are plenty of big blues and some lunker bass mixed in. Top water plugs are still in vogue with water temperatures still hanging in the mid 60-degree range. Keep some metal handy and don’t forget your wire leaders to get under the bluefish and down to the stripers. For you trollers, make sure your bunker spoons are sharpened up and ready for action. Jetty hounds, the bait is there and so are the schoolie bass. Once again, you have to earn your catch. But that is part of the fun, now isn’t it. This time of year is my favorite. Part of the fun is hunting the fish. Once you find them, the rest is simple. All you need to do is think like a fish. Where would you go?