Prime Fishing Time Approaches
Two weeks into the summer fluking season and the signs are definitely pointing towards a great season. Water temperatures are making a steady climb up and down the coast and the bait fish seem to be making a strong appearance in almost every category. Stripers and blues are dominating the upper reaches of the state but I am confident that the fluking will make a dent in catch totals as the water temps increase and the bait pushes north. Let’s see what the shop owners have to tell us.
If you are on a salt-free diet, you may want to head over to Lake Hopatcong and give the lake a shot at supplementing your menu. There have been some beautiful hybrid striped bass taken there lately and once the wind and rain settle down it can only get better. Laurie at Dows Boat Rental on Lake Hopatcong informed me of several nice catches this week including Bob Smith of Ogdensburg, who landed a 10-pound, 15-ounce hybrid while using live herring at Brady’s Bridge. Herring was also the the key for the Mackin Cousins, Terry and Eddie, who boated a couple of nice stripers in the 9-pound class. If you are targeting walleye, Rapala lures are your best bet, as witnessed by the 5-pound fish Casey Christiansen caught at the ferry. If you are night fishing, the hybrid stripers are starting to chase top water lures like the Smack-it from Stillwater Lures.
Early in the season, I like to concentrate my efforts further up the rivers as the bait fish tend to congregate there which in turn makes the fishing a tad better. The Tom’s River area this time of year is one of the spots that are a consistent early season producer and this year has been especially good according to the crew at Go Fish Bait and Tackle. White Perch and blowfish are plentiful around the power plant and have been for the past couple of weeks. Bunker are still schooling up in the river so drag and snag is a good alternative for boating some winners. Fluking has been unusually good for this time of year in the river.
I had a long chat with Chris of Crabby’s Bait and Tackle in Keyport this week. To be honest with you, I was somewhat surprised as to how good the fluking has been around their shop. Leonardo Flats seems to be one of the hotspots, with Tammy Baker filling her limit with summer flounder up to 4 pounds. Tony Ramone had two anglers on his boat limit out with fish up to 3 pounds. Tony had his boat in the Triangle. And Chris told me that with all the bunker in the river, the striper bite is still going strong. Just ask Mr. Ramirez form Matawan, who had the good fortune to land a 50-pound linesider while live-lining bunker just off of Flynn’s Knoll. I would have to say that is one hell of a catch. Chris also asked me to remind you that the Aberdeen Family Fishing contest is scheduled for May 19th and is always a fun day. Call the shop for more info.
If you are thinking about going offshore and are in the Brielle area then a stop at the Reel Seat has to be a “must do” on your list. Owner Dave Arbeitman and his staff always seem to know the latest happenings in the deep water. And the shop is one of the best stocked tackle stores in the area. I spoke to John at the shop this week and was told the striper activity was still real good but not as consistent as a few weeks earlier. Wind and weather has affected the bite a little but nice fish are still there when you have the window. Trolling Tony Maja spoons and Stretch Lures are still a good option but snagging and dragging fresh bunker is the best method right now. There are plenty of blues around mostly in the 5-10 pound range. Offshore, there has been talk of yellowfin at that canyons but the lack of attackers makes it difficult to track down the specifics. Some Bluefin have been taken at the Texas Tower and there have been several reports of mako’s being boated up to 74 inches. Water temps along the coast are hovering around 62 degrees and the fluking has been decent for this time of year. Better up the rivers, but John did tell me that he had good success on a party boat that was fishing just outside the inlet. We are definitely off to a good start.
Alex’s Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant is about as good as it gets if you are looking for info on the happening in Manasquan Inlet. That’s because you can be out their front door and fishing in a matter of minutes. I would say that gives the gang there a pretty good perspective as to the latest action there. Of late, the inlet is teeming with nice bluefish. Metal and bucktails are the best bet for landing these eating machines in the 5- to 8-pound range. Fluking is actually decent right now with killies and squid being the best producers. Bass fishing in the inlet has been good with clam and fresh bunker still putting nice fish on the beach. Most of the head boats in the inlet are sailing daily and have been coming back with nice results. Water temperatures are holding around 60 degrees in the inlet.
It’s always nice to have a contact at the top of the state and Liberty Landing Marina is about as far north as you can get. Located on the Hudson, it’s a great place to moor up if you are in the area in search of temporary slips. It has a full stocked ships store and convenient access to some of the best fishing grounds the state has to offer.
Wind and other weather have made it tough fishing of late for the crew aboard the Gambler this week. Don’t get me wrong, they have been getting their share of bass and blues, but they worked hard for them and earned every one they boated. If you are looking for a party boat in the Point Pleasant Beach area, make sure you check out the custom built, 90 foot beauty. You will not be disappointed. Captain Bob and his crew work hard to put you on the fish every trip. They will be starting their half day fluking trips on May 26th and will resume their night fishing for blues and stripers that same Memorial Day weekend.
If you are a surf fishing degenerate like me, then Giglio’s Tackle shop in Sea Bright is as close to heaven as it gets. I challenge you to stop in the shop and walk out without making a purchase. I can’t and I am pretty sure you won’t be able to either. And they know their fishing there. I spoke with Tom this week and he told me the striper bit is still going strong, even with the foul weather we had earlier in the week. Steve Simon weighed in three fish this week, with the biggest at 22 pounds. Joe Devino brought in a 27 pound lunker. And Gene Bradford brought in the biggest at 30 pounds. Tom also informed me that the fluking has been a little slow off the beaches but expects that to change rapidly as the water temperatures start to adjust to summer patterns.
If you are in the western reaches of NJ and are looking for a shop that can give you a leg up in your fishing endeavors, you may want to stop in Harry Outdoor Outfitters on Route 130 in Robbinsville. Fresh or salt water, chances are they will have the right gear or bait to get your next fishing trip off to a successful start. When I spoke to their fishing guru Chris this week, I was especially interested any the fresh water scouting reports he could pass on to me. He told me that those in the know were still chasing shad in the Delaware River. And that the NJ trout stocking program has been a rousing success as almost every local stream or pond that has been stocked is giving up great fish. He mentioned some anglers that recently fished the Pequannock River and had a spectacular day. Since Harry’s serves such a wide geographical area, his report on saltwater angling was somewhat general in nature, only that most of their customers have not been disappointed regardless of what species they were targeting in the salt. Harry’s carries a full line of bait, including shiners and worms for the fresh water angler. And of course that have a wide variety of the Berkeley Gulp Line. So if you are heading to the shore for a day of fishing and want to get a head start, be sure to check out Harry’s Outdoor Outfitters to meet your needs.
Reel Life Bait and Tackle is one of the only shops I know of that stays open 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays during prime fishing seasons. To me, that speaks volumes about their dedication to the sport. It is no wonder Point Pleasant is a fishing Mecca in NJ when they have shops like this serving their anglers. When I spoke with Jill this week, she told me the rivers are strong with blues in the 3- to 8-pound class. The stripers are still out front chasing the bunker. Fluke have been taken but not in great numbers yet. The best pick has been in the Metedeconk River. Killies and squid strips are the bait of choice.
Located on the bank of the Troutman Creek, just off the Shrewsbury River, Long Branch Bait and Tackle has what I would call an ideal location for a shop. Their staff is knowledgeable in all aspects of fishing tactics and products, so its well worth a visit if you are in the area. I spoke with one of the co-owners, Kevin Staub, and he told me the striper catch is still very active, especially with all big schools of bunker in the Shrewsbury. Joe from the Asbury Fishing Club weighed in a fat 26-pound linesider taken on bunker. And Mike McCann, who came up from Pennsylvania, brought a 15-pound striper into the shop this morning. Bunker is the bait of choice. There are some nice blues in the river as well. Fluking has been a little soft, but mostly because most anglers are focusing their attention on linesiders. But he did mention that the crabbing is off to a flying start. That is a very good sign for a strong season.
The Navesink River basin is home to Red Bank Marina and is one of the better spots to launch from if you are in the area. I spoke with Steve to get the latest low down and was told that there are tons of bunker crowding the river. And where the bunker go, the striper and blues are close behind. And that is exactly the situation on the Navesink right now. More striped bass than blues with the occasional weakfish mixed in for good measure. Red Bank Marina is known for its crabbing, so I inquired as where we are in that cycle. The crabs are starting to get more active and seem to be ready to go into their spring shed. Water temperatures are increasingly steadily so it won’t be long now for good return on blue claws. Red Bank Marina has a full fleet of rental boats red and waiting for you. All you need to bring is lunch; they have all the other ingredients for a successful day of crabbing on the Navesink.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
We are looking at another weekend with some pretty good fishing weather if the TV prognosticators are on their game. Water temperatures are rising steady and if the wind lies down, it could be prime time. The back rivers and bay should start giving up some better fluke, not that there hasn’t been an early treat already. Blues and bass are along the coastline ready and waiting. Best baits are clam and bunker. On the boats, they have been having great success trolling spoons and diving lures. Keep a snag hook at the ready because there are nice pods of menhaden all over the place. I have heard whispers of yellowfin and bluefin tuna and know for sure that more than one mako shark has been brought to the weighing stations. Weakfish have been better than the past few years, but with the limit set at one, anglers are a little tight lipped about their hotspots. That’s understandable. Freshwater wise, the fishing has been very good. Smallmouth bass are starting to take off and trout have been fantastic. Any way you turn, you should have the opportunity for success as long as you do the planning and preparation. There’s also an open house at Surf Side Bait and Tackle’s new location at 200 Ocean Blvd N. in Long Branch where you can do a little shopping in preparation for the best part of the season. But whatever you do, be safe out there. Life is too short to waste a day. See you on the incoming.