Hot Water Brings Good-Eating Fish to North Jersey Shore
We are at that time of year when the fishing can get a little tricky for most anglers in the area. High heat, sudden storms and rising water temperatures make it a challenge to not only find your target, but also finding those worthy of a trip to your cooler. Big fish do not achieve their size because they lack survival instincts. When we reach the “Dog Days” it’s even more important to do your homework, adjust tactics and position yourself in the best possible conditions to track and capture your prey. Using OTW reports will definitely give you a leg up on the hunt. Each of the reporters who compile these reports is a dedicated angler, often looking for the same information for their personal use as much as providing a service for anglers everywhere. So you get to fine tuning those rigs and we will provide the information to make your next trip a raving success story.
When it comes to all things fishing in Red Bank, then you have described the gang at Pride Fishing Tackle. When they aren’t fishing, they are designing new rigs. Or they’re experimenting with recipes for their catch. At Pride, the saying is “all things fishing, all the time.” And they always seem to have a special going on at the shop. Bass are still active in the river with your best bet being first or last light. Plenty of bait available with cocktail blues chasing them all over the place. Small metal is the best bet. Fluking has been just decent in the upper river but better if you get to the deeper waters. Bucktails (Check out Prides specials) tipped with spearing and or Gulps will get you some keepers. Also worth noting is that Pride Fishing Tackle will be participating in the Red Bank 58th Annual Sidewalk Sale. Just about everything in the shop will be on sale.
At Bait Your Hook Tackle and Ice Shop, they have borrowed the catch phrase from the real estate industry. It’s all about location, location, location. And they are in a prime location. Close to the action, they also have an advantage in information from a variety of sources. This is why I always make it one of my prime sources when scouting the northern reaches of the state. When I reached out to the shop this week, I was informed that while the fluke pick was still going on, the storms have made the pick a little inconsistent. Anglers putting in their time were still taking home keepers but the ratio with throwbacks has definitely increased. Berkeley Gulps sandwiched with either spearing or squid have been the most effective baits. Spro bucktails seem to be one of the more preferred lures. Fish up to 9 pounds have been recorded at the shop, but the flatfish are extremely finicky. Sea Bass are still in the prime mix as well but you may need to visit several reefs to get on the fish. Short drifts seem to be the key right now as the fish are definitely packed in tight. Once you find the hole, work it hard until the bite shuts down. There has also been an influx of triggerfish into the area, so keep that in mind when you are rigging. If you find them, a smaller hook is the key to working the school. Big blue fish are doing well on the party boats heading out at night. Check with the shop in advance for a recommendation as to which boats are sailing in the dark.
Hot, dry weather like we have been experiencing of late can really slow down the fishing in a fresh water environment. So you need to go big sometimes to increase your chances. Lake Hopatcong is big! And according to Laurie at Dows Boat Rental on the lake, fishing remains consistent there despite the drought-like conditions. The recent rains have cooled the water off a bit and that has helped anglers. Heap to the points with some live herring or small jig and you have a good chance of picking at smallmouth bass, crappies or hybrid stripers. If you are fishing in the evenings, top water lures can help you hook up with walleye. The shallows and worms are your best bet for other pan fish. And if you are looking for pickerel, Mepps spinners and shiners along the weed lines have been very productive.
Does the phrase “talk the ears off a brass monkey” bring anyone to mind when you are looking for fishing information? Besides me, I mean. If you guessed Tommy P, resident outdoors expert, writer and radio personality, then you are a good carpenter. You hit that nail squarely on the head. And if you venture in to The Sportsmens Center in Bordentown, always seek him out if you are looking for an edge on your next fishing trip. The great thing about the Sportsmen’s Center is you get info from all over the state and sometimes even farther. Hot weather has limited some of the smaller tributaries according to Tommy but the smallmouth bite is still going strong in the Raritan River. Fly guys are doing especially well. Others are using Mepps and shiners to get their fish. Tom was also all excited about the fluke bite at the Old Grounds and Reef site 11 in the south. Customers have brought in pics of fish breaching the ten pound mark. There is also some good muskie action up at Oxford Lake. Anglers using big shiners or big plugs are having the best chances of a hookup. And Tom reminded me that the lower sections of Barnegat Bay are experiencing a weak fish revival of sorts. Angler using either shedder crab or cut spot are doing quite well even though the creel limit is one.
I know that I keep harping on how good the Reel Seat in Brielle is when it comes to tackle shops. Owner Dave Arbeitman and his staff are hard core anglers and it is reflected in every row of the shop. As far as local and offshore news, they always have the latest report. When I got in touched with them this week, I was looking for an offshore report and John at the shop certainly complied with that request. One of their customers, The Jenny Lee with Captain Dave Bender has been hitting the yellow-fin tuna pretty god at the Hudson Canyon. Trolling is the secret to their success. Blue fin are still parked at the Triple Wrecks most in the 30- to 50-pound class but they restarting to jigging. Mahi are being caught sporadically for those targeting them.Offshore anglers are still doing well with Tilefish. Locally around the Brielle area, fluking has been consistent with fish up to 8 pounds being recorded at the dock. Sea bass have been hit or miss, a lot depending if you can find a fresh reef. Bluefishing is better at night for the bigger yellow-eyed monsters but there have been days when they move inshore and into the rivers and bays chasing bunker. When that occurs you can get fish up to 9 pounds relatively close to the rivers.
Liberty Landing Marina may be the ideal spot for those looking for temporary berthing in the heart of all the action. In the shadow of Lady Liberty, they offer all the amenities you could possibly need or want for your boating enjoyment. And their full serve marine shop is not just there for decoration! Tackle, bait and service are available to make your fishing outing a triumph. The upper bay has been giving up its share of fish but for the most part, the gang at LL is telling me to head out front if you are looking for bigger fluke. The Shrewsbury Rocks are the consensus this week for the hot spot when fluking. Smaller blue fish are all around but the night bite is about the best time for hooking into the occasional schoolie striper. Sea bass can be had at most of the inshore reefs. Be careful with if you are heading north with keeper fluke on board. Remember, it’s the port you land at with the fish and the size limit at the port. Going into a NY port with a NJ fluke at minimum size can cause some discomfort.
If you are like me and enjoy offshore fishing but don’t want the hassle and expense of being a boat owner, then I suggest you look into the services of Big Kid Sportfishing. Captain Ken Gallop and his crew on their 44-foot Topaz will provide you with an adventure that won’t soon be forgotten. When I got in touch with Ken this week, he was heading the Big Kid South to my neck of the woods, getting ready for the Beach Haven Invitational. Ken told me that they have been having success at the Hudson on both yellow-fin tuna on the troll and mahi-mahi. Inshore, his charters have been doing real well on the inshore reefs targeting fluke (up to 8 pounds) and Sea bass in excess of 4 pounds. The Big Kid is flexible, fishing to their client’s needs. You want gamefish; they can certainly get you there and back in comfort. And if you just looking for a nice day bottom fishing the reefs, they will accommodate you there as well.
For some, summer in NJ means fluking and Jersey tomatoes. My favorite summer food, bar none, is NJ blue claws. Easy to catch and even better to cook and eat, it just doesn’t get any better than that. And it’s the perfect way to spend day fishing with the kids. Rarely does the skunk find you when you are crabbing. And from the top to the bottom of the state, it has been a banner year for crabbing. And if you are into crabbing and anywhere near Keyport, do yourself a favor and stop in Crabby’s Bait and Tackle to talk crabs with Chris. If there is such a thing as a crab fanatic, that’s Chris. He will not only tell you the best methods and spots but also anything else related to these fine tasting crustaceans. They have a crab contest up there every year and already have a half dozen or so that have eclipsed the 7-inch mark. All taken on bunker. Union beach and the Keyport piers have been very kind to the crabbers this year. Fluking in the river has been decent with the keeper ration going up a bit but the Shrewsbury Rocks seem to be the in-place for bigger fish. Cocktail blues are all over the place, chasing the latest hatch of penut bunker so take some small metal if you want to play tag with them.
Surf Fishing, especially for pluggers, is my favorite kind of fishing. And if you are a feet-in –the-sand kind of angler and plan on hitting the surf around Sea Bright, then you need to visit Tom or Ernie at Giglios Bait and Tackle before hitting the sand. Even if your plans are to simply drown some bait, these guys will point you in the right direction. The fluke are still being caught daily up there according to Tom at the shop. Boat or beach, it does not seem to matter. Peter Soviero of Little Silver brought an 8 pound flatfish in caught on Berkeley Gulp. There are cownose rays in the area, so pack your heavy tackle as these monsters can easily breach the 50-pound mark. Tom also informed me that weakfish are going strong. Leon Russomono of Monmouth Beach hooked into a 9-pounder while fishing pink Fin-S on a small jig head. There are also blowfish and northern king fish all over the beaches and jetties. Fish Bytes and small bits of clam or sand worms will do the trick for these delicacies.
With hot weather and near drought conditions, it’s sometimes difficult to get an accurate read on the freshwater conditions. When that happens, I know I can count on Ron at Efingers Sporting Goods to give me the best shot at catching a nice bass. When I finally tracked him down (Note to self- he was busy marking down all of their custom wood plugs for a sale they are running) he told me that the Raritan River was the one sure shot in the area. The bait fish are bunched up there and the small mouth and hybrid stripers are the best bets for action. Shiners and spinners are the baits and lures that are attracting the most attention. Hey Ron, when you read this, put a couple of the really good plugs aside for me. I can always use a few more!
If you are in Long Branch to do some angling, it could be in your best interest to visit Jack Montiero at Surf Side Bait and Tackle before your trip as a way to insure a fruitful angling adventure. There are few in those areas who keep their finger on the pulse of the local fishing activity the way Jack does. Beach or boat, he always has the best low down on where to go and what is biting. This week, Jack told me that while conditions have not been optimum of late, they are getting better. Fluke off the sand and close in water have been good if not great at certain times. Incoming tides have been the best. Berkeley Gulp Swim Shads have been the best for attracting flatfish. Plenty of baitfish in the area means plenty of blue fish off the beaches, most in the three to five pound class. Metal like Hopkins or Crocodile will save you some bait costs in the long run. There are also Blowfish and kings in the surf. You will need a smaller hook and clam, sand worm pieces or artificial baits like pieces of Fish Bytes to attract these nibblers. Jack told me there have been quite a few trigger fish taken in Long Branch as well.
The Raritan Bay holds some of the best fishing in the upper portions of the state. And if you are heading towards Morgan, give a shout to the gang at Zubacks Marine and tell them I sent you. When I chatted with them this week, fluking was the hot topic. From the Ambrose Channel all the way down and over by the Shrewsbury rocks were areas of good fishing. Water temps are hovering around75 degrees in the area so look for deeper water. The Sea Girt Reef has been active as well giving up both fluke and sea bass. Hot fluke baits this year have been buck tails tipped with Berkley Gulps and or strip baits. Cocktail and snapper blues closer to Zuback’s home port of the Morgan Inlet. There have been some striped bass taken at the hook by anglers using clam at night.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
Heat and humidity take their toll on fishing. Everything seems to slow down that much more. If you are engaging in the states favorite summer activity, fluke fishing, I would adjust my tactics accordingly. The deeper holes are your best bets for bigger fish. Beach or boat, it does not matter. Looking for a meal, focus on kingfish all along the coast if we have a west wind. Wreck fishing requires that you do your homework. Some of the reefs have been worked pretty hard and yopu may need to alter your game plan to find one that has a lot of action. Best bluefishing has been the night bite off the head boats from what I am hearing. Inshore and in the back, there are all the cocktail and snapper blues you can handle. Plenty of action and good eating, if you know your way around the kitchen. Personally, I enjoy them smoked with cherry wood. The offshore bite is still going well and there have finally been some reports of Dorado in the area if things slow down. Freshwater has been the tightest action on the board this week. Believe it or not, there are still trout around but finding them in skinny water conditions may be a trial in and of itself. If you must go the non-salt route, I would have to say that bass are your best alternative for action. Panfish like crappies and bluegills along with smallmouth bass are the most resilient when it gets this hot. Any way you look at it, the bite has been there but it is making you work for it. Stay hydrated! Long hot days take their toll on anglers this time of year and no fish is ever worth your good health. Remember, you only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.