If you back out the day of storms we had last week, the first week of summer may be one of the best I have witnessed in quite some time. Regardless of where you decided to wet a line, chances are you had a very good success rate. Very few people I interviewed (and if you know me, that number is very large) had any complaints about the fishing of late. The weather has been more than cooperative. The waters are not heated up to the boiling point yet. And even the economy is playing nice this time, lowering fuel costs at a time when it can best help anglers. So let’s see what this week holds for us through the eyes of those closest to the action.
The fishing must be red hot out of Brick because all I hear from Max up there is that he has to get out to catch some. They are tying teasers and running specials at a hair raising rate at Pride Fishing Tackle. When I spoke to Max this week, he confirmed my suspicions. The fluke bite is on! Whether you are fishing the channel, the tip of the hook or the inshore rocks piles, they are hitting and hitting hard in most cases. Max is pushing his own version of a bucktail teaser but you are going to need to stop in the shop to see one in person. My description just won’t do it justice. But I know it was good enough to help Max’s buddy Charlie Parker bring home an 11-pound, 8-ounce flatfish and that’s proof enough for me. Max also let me know that we shouldn’t give up on striper yet. They are still around, chasing the big schools of bunker roaming the inlet and rivers. The best bite seems to be in the morning or at last light. Night fishing remains strong as well. Take along snag hooks because fresh bunker is what they are yearning for.
Sometimes the best way to get on the fish is to leave it up to the pros to find them. You know the guys I mean, the ones that spend a better part of theirs lives on the water. If you are within casting distance of Brielle, my recommendation would be to head over to the Big Kid Sportsfishing and book passage with Captain Ken Gallop and his crew. Sailing a 44 foot Topaz, you won’t find a crew in the area that does better when it comes to helping you put fish in the cooler. While they have been focusing on the fluke and sea bass of late, that does not mean they aren’t still the big game chasers anymore. More to the point, in last weekend’s Mako Mania tournament, they boated four mako up to 170 pounds as well as a 400-pound-class tiger shark. That’s some kind of shark fishing. If you are looking to charter a first class fishing weapon for a tournament or just to fill up the freezer, I recommend you give Big Kid a call before they limit out on trips. You will not be sorry.
Some like it salty but others prefer a fresh water approach to angling. If that is your preference, I would suggest you head on over to Dow’s Boat Rental on Lake Hopatcong to get your fix. Anglers using fresh herring and light tackle have been having some success with muskies there lately, according the Laura at Dow’s. Jim Bocchino landed a 43-inch, 200pound muskellunge which was quickly topped by Clint Myers’ 47-incher. Hybrid striper action has been good in the evenings. Walleye and largemouth bass catches have been consistent and should get even better as the weather settles down and gets into a predictable summer pattern. The panfish catch has also been good. Pickerel up to 3 pounds are showing up at the shop. Mepps spinners and live herring are proving to be the best all around producers on the lake so far this season.
The name of the shop may be Crabby’s, but don’t let that fool you. If you look at state records, you will see the shop as the weigh-in station to the NJ record blue claw crab at 8¾ inches. And owner Chris Salus isn’t content; he wants it broken again this year, even if he has to do it himself. And with the way the crabs are shedding this year may be the year he will do it again. BTW, the state record is currently held by Ray Ponik of Bayonne. Elsewhere in the Keyport area, the fluking has been good in the Triangle, back in the bay. So good Mike Ramone boated a 5-pound flatfish on a Glow rig and killie combination. In the Kingsburg hole, Joe Thompson took a 7-pound fluke using peanut bunker for bait. Chris told me they are starting to see peanuts all over the Keyport pay area and cocktail blues chasing them in a fury. He also asked me to remind you about the shop’s free crabbing contest. Stop by the shop and check it out. I told you. This man is serious about his crabs.
There is an old song out there somewhere about Palisades Park. I can’t quite recall the words but am pretty sure it’s not about the great fishing to be had nearby. So to find out what’s hitting in the area, I usually give the staff at 46 Bait and Tackle a shout to get the latest news for the area. This week Brandon at the shop tells me that blue fish are taking over the Hudson. Big pods of menhaden are loitering in the area and the blues are trying to clean up after them. Small striped bass are still in play but you will need wire and weight to get below those toothy blues. Fluking is fair to middlin’ in according to the locals, and white perch can be had by using some shedder or worm near the crab house. Crabbing is just starting to get into the good level so we will need to keep an eye on that as everywhere else south of the Hudson is doing very well.
In Bradley Beach, there is a shop where even if you aren’t catching; it’s always worth a visit if only to hear some good fish tales. That’s why I always look forward to chatting with Dom at The Bait Shop when I am preparing the report. This week, wind and tides are forefront on his mind. Both have taken their toll on the local surfcasters. Pods of bunker are present but staying just out of reach of the surfcasters. Hopefully and shift in the wind will change that. Most beach anglers have been switching over to fluke rigs with the water temperatures spiking up to as high as 74 degrees. Blue fish are available for the taking off the rocks.
Summer time to me means crabs and if you are in Red Bank and want to indulge in a day of crabbing, I recommend you head over to Red Bank Marina. That is their forte. From bait to rental boats to supplies, you can find it at Red Bank Marina. Crabbing in the Navesink has been good so far this year and I expect it to get better. I spoke to Steve this week at the shop and he let me know that the river temps are optimal at 75 degrees and the crabbing has been great. Some jellyfish have found their way up the river but not overwhelming the catch. Fluking has been picking up and there is still the occasional striper to be found, feeding on pods of peanut bunker that are starting to bloom. And of course, where there are peanuts, you will need to have a cocktail blue or two. So if you are looking for a day of crabbing, it’s probably not a bad idea to bring along a light rod and some small metal lures to pass the time.
When you are writing a fishing report, it’s always useful to have a contact in an area where there is a high concentration of party and charter boats. That is the definition of Bait Your Hook in Atlantic Highlands. They are within a stone’s throw of more than a few of the best in the area and as such, get to witness first hand the catch as the anglers arrive after a day of fishing. Kevin of BYH told me this week the striper action off Shrewsbury Rocks has been the hot spot. Fish up to 40 pounds were not uncommon. Most anglers are making the switch to fluking in the area and have not been disappointed with several weigh-ins off the Sea Tiger eclipsing the 10-pound mark. The fad bait this week seems to be 6-inch chartreuse Gulp Swim Shad sandwiched with a couple of nice fat killies. Kevin also said the sea bass bite is still going strong on the inshore reefs and the night bluefish bite on the head boats is great as well. Most of the boats are heading to the edge of the Mud Hole and while out there are doing real well on ling as well.
Long Branch Bait and Tackle is always a wealth of local information when I touch base with them. Jack didn’t let me down this week, with reports of nice catch off the beach and in the rivers. Fluking is still strong, mostly in the river but they are starting to filter into the ocean front beach and rocks. Local divers report some nice fluke just off the rocks and plenty of small bass in that area as well. The big bass are being caught with fresh bunker heads or using snag and drop techniques. John Lacco bagged a 3.9-pound fluke and Carl Van Ness topped that with a 6.9-pound flatfish. A Gulp on a Spro Bucktail has proved to be both popular and effective for keeper flatties. As an alternative, Jack told me to recommend a jighead tipped with spearing and squid. The night bite is the ticket for big bass in Long Branch. Once again, fresh bunker is out fishing plug anglers. Pencil Poppers are raising the 10- to 15-pound striped bass but fresh menhaden, are putting 30- to 40-pound fish on the beach. Much of it has to do with the water temps which are around 70 degrees off the beach, a little warmer up the rivers.
I know I have said this before but it bears repeating. The Reel Seat in Brielle and owner Dave Arbietman and his staff are one of the best shops in the area for a variety of reasons. One, they are probably the best stocked shop in the area and with top of the line equipment and gear. Two, they are all hard core anglers and have no problem sharing their expertise with their customers. When it comes to offshore, they are my go-to team. Dave verified some information I have been hearing for several weeks now. Sharking is as good as it has been in maybe 30 years. Recent outings have fishermen tagging as many as five big mako’s, and the threshers are also starting to show their tails as well. One of the Reel Seats regulars even fought it out with a huge tiger shark. Dave also told me that the bluefin tuna bite has been red hot with the biggest brought into the shop being 62 inches and 135 pounds. Yellowfin tuna at the Wilmington has been on fire with most trips coming back with nice 40- to 50-weight fish. The occasional white marlin is in the mix as well as some small mahi. A little early for both of them according to Dave but still that’s a very good sign. Dave has also seen some nice tile, and if weather permits will give us an up close and personal detailed report after this week’s trip.
They may be farther away from the salt than most of my sources but that doesn’t mean Harry’s Army and Navy in Yardville is out of the loop when it comes to fishing information. In fact, they not only have the dirt on the salt scene but they also are tops when it comes to the fresh water action as well. When I called Chris this week, he confirmed many of the other reports listed from other sources. Striped Bass are still active but Chris recommended using fresh clam and fishing tight to the jetties for better action. The huge bunker pods are attracting blues and the big stripers like to lay off to the side. Makes sense, wonder why I didn’t think of that? Fluking is hot and heavy almost everywhere but Chris noted that the big fish seem to have moved out front and into deeper water. In regard to fresh water action, all the usual spots are giving up large and small mouth bass. Carolina rigs seem to be all the rage this year. Fish up to 6 pounds are not uncommon. Pickerel, crappies and bluegills are all going strong as well. Chris told me that many of his customers are using Strike King KVD lures for their trophy catches. Stop in Harry’s if you are in the area. They carry it all and then some!
Best Bets for the Weekend
We are not quite into the summer doldrums but there is a growing sense by this writer of an impending slowdown. Some facets of angling, specifically fluking and crabbing are going strong. Although, my research does indicate the fluke are moving out to deeper water. And while I didn’t mention it in the individual reports, I always ask about the throwback-to-keeper ratio, and it seems to be moving up a little. The smaller fish are getting a little more active. Crabbing is still off the shelf and the latest molt is, for the most part, over. Not one responder this week mentioned weakfish, which was a little disappointing. I don’t know if that means they have moved on or just that anglers are targeting other species and weakies have become a seasonal by-catch. If the wind settles down with the rise in heat, I would recommend finding a way to get to the deep for combination fluking and those knot headed sea bass. Sharks are the best option for the gamefish angler but tuna, be it blue or yellow are also in good numbers out far. No sign of dorados yet but then it still is early. Bluefish as usual, can be had for the price of some cheap metal lures. On the fresh water scene, you name the species and there is a good chance you can have a banner day. Largemouth and hybrid bass are really going wild. Whatever you choice is, please stay safe out there. Be sure to pack your bug repellent, the light winter is making this a record year for insects. And remember, you only get so many days in the game and it’s a shame to waste even one of them. See you on the incoming.
This fishing report reads too much like an advertisement for tackle shops and chart guys.