It has been a busy period in the South Jersey fishing arena with decisively warmer waters, major pattern shifts, apocalyptic storms, massive power outages, and maybe even a few new words invented. I know that while doing the bucket brigade under a portion of my office ceiling last week in the dark that I was feeling exceptionally creative with my vocabulary.
But then I went fishing. In harmony with Mother Nature, in tune with my surroundings, as one with my inner self… and grumbling some of those same new words I just invented after watching my client lose his 5th hand tied fluke rig on the Ocean City reef. I swear I could retire on the lead I personally have left there. Can anybody relate?
The artificial reef systems in South Jersey are a magnificent example of the private sector joining with government to create a useable resource for decades to come. Even the novice boat handler can find them with their family and take advantage of the truly exceptional marine habitat they create. The State even has a pretty accurate guide to each of them, where you can download and print the info on the reef of your choice at http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/artreefguide09.htm. I’d wait to enter the exact numbers in your chart plotter until you got out there and did a little recon, as some of the snags on there are kind of old and buried, but it will put you within a few yards in most cases and allow you to pinpoint it with very little effort.
Reef fishing is great family fun and can be very productive if the fish are cooperating a little. Here are a couple tips:
- Tie lots of extra rigs that are ready to pop right on when you lose yours (no kidding). If you are not tight to the structure and getting hung up once in a while you are not in the right spot.
- Don’t waste your time out there. If you find a spot that is holding fish, beat it like a rented mule with very short drifts until it becomes unproductive. If you don’t, the other guys that just saw you high sticking that short fluke will be the ones going home early with a full cooler.
- Bring live bait. There is a ton of live peanut bunker in the back right now and more small spot in the surf than I have seen in years. If catching you own is not part of your deal, go buy some, but rest assured live bait near structure is truly king.
- Buy a windsock. The best way to see a nice day get ruined is to have no options when the wind kicks up just enough to make you use too much lead on your line. You really want to be as straight “up and down” as possible with the least amount of weight as possible so you can feel the bottom and not get hung up. You can drag a bucket or two but a windsock is a good long term investment.
- Be prepared for surprises. Reef systems obviously hold large amounts of feeder fish, which will occasionally attract larger predators. Cobia, wahoo, threshers and makos and even tuna can blow thru these systems without any warning at all. There should always be a heavier set-up rigged and ready to make that fast cast so you don’t end up inventing a new word for yourself!
Let’s take a lap around our network in South Jersey and check to see what’s hot and what’s not….
Ron must have had a late night at Fisherman’s Supply since my early call for info got Jason, but the scoop was real good. Fluking on the sticky bottom off of Deal in 55’ of water has just lit up big time with limits of flatties not uncommon. The “go to” for out there is a 1 1/2-ounce Spro Prime bucktail with a 6-inch Gulp grub. Don’t forget the net! Sea-bassin is just OK with most of the fish just over the keeper size if you want to do a marathon at the fillet table. The good news and bad news, depending on what you are chasing, is that the big bluefish are back at the Mudhole. There have been some good ling catches in the zone as well (tuna bait city!). Anglers trolling the Fingers have done well on football bluefin in the 20- to 30-pound class and guys near the beach are having fun tossing metals at tailor blues. Nighttime in the back with finesse on a jig head in the shadow lines are still catching schoolie bass and the hickory shad are tugging up a storm.
Even though Alaina at Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Brick ends every sentence with “… and it was caught on Jersey Hooker Tackle,” we’d still rather talk to her than Rich! The bluefin bite out at the Chicken Canyon is still on the radar for offshore along with northern canyon action for yellowfin and some mahi. Bluefish are running the beach for light tackle guys (and girls) and the blowfish are still puffin it up in the bay.
Bob at Reel Life Bait & Tackle in Point Pleasant has had lots of big fluke coming in from the Axel Carlson, Sea Girt Reef, and Manasquan Ridge. Red Gulp swimming mullet seems to be topping the list but I will always try and take something meaty with me. If you don’t have live peanuts, Bob has plenty of fresh frozen ones for you to bring along. Big bluefish out at the Hole and the Ledge are bending rods and ticking off tuna fisherman. They can do a job and a half on your trolling gear. There are some bluefin out at the Virginia as well. Inshore blues along the beach and good fluking in the river on squid & minnow combos. Most of the guys have given up on bass fishing except a few die-hards that are working the rocks with live eels at night.
Lenny at Capt. Hippos Bait & Tackle in South Toms River actually got out of the shop himself this week to hit the Barnegat Reef for a little flukin’. Lots of throwbacks on Gulp 4-inch swimming mullet in chartreuse, but still enough keeper meat for dinner. Lots of bait in the bay with small spot, croakers, and peanut bunker schooling up.
John at Dock Outfitters in Seaside is seeing some decent fluke coming in off the sand and from the rental boats in the bay. Metals and cut bunker are keeping beach fisherman busy during the day and at night, a bucket of cut bunker can get you in a fistfight with some nice brown sharks.
Along with all the rest of the action, Andy down at Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin want to remind everyone that it is a great time to take the kids out in the back for a little fun. There are lots of blowfish, little triggers and spot in the back to keep them busy and even a few 3-pound weakies around. Never too young if you can keep them busy!
Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center has got a busy cleaning table these days with the fluke bite all fired up. Tony Pagano from Hammonton was out by himself this week and brought home a load including a fat 6.5-pounder and a bunch of 3 & 4’s. There are some weakies being caught in the back bay holes and the end of one local jetty, which will remain nameless (process of elimination…). Triggerfish have shown in large numbers and are tons of fun near the bridges and piers close to the inlet and with the warm water an appearance by a big convict sheepshead that broke the double-digit barrier. The surf has some kingies in it but good luck trying to hook one; the little spot are just everywhere… thousands and thousands of them. There is no better bait for fluke and if you want to grow some for the fall, Dave can help you out with an aerator and tank set-up along with cast nets. He has orders of both coming in later this week, so call ahead and get you name on the list. They are hot items right now.
Team Tackle Direct has been running for tuna and the running has been very good. Bluefin and yellowfin mixed together are starting to show on the Hotdog and other lumps with both the chunk and jig bite turning on. There are some chicken mahi mixed in and lots of sharks in the area out there. With the warm water, we even saw a white marlin hooked up on a neighbor boat (thought it was coming in the cockpit for a visit) off of a dead butterfish bait. Lighter fluorocarbon leaders seem to be the key with smaller circles, so be sure to dial down the heat on those lever drags. This is my favorite kind of tuna fishing and when it turns on you can keep them behind the boat and hammer away. Don’t forget to keep tossing chunks after you hook up!
Chase Rogers of Wynnewood gets a little help from his Dad, Craig, as he holds up his first keeper fluke taken on a live spot at the Ocean City Reef. Chase out-fished his Dad on his first trip off the beach.
Phil at Fin-Atics in Ocean City confirms the bluefin bite, along with word of yellowfin and some white marlin at the Wilmington. They are still taking some stripers at night and first light popping off the sod banks. The fluking in the back has slowed as the fish move out to deeper water. Try taking some of those spot that are stealing your kingfish baits on the beach out to the Ocean City reef. At night, just to remind the surfers that they are not alone, there have been some 5-foot-plus brown sharks taken in the dark.
Lots of fluke action at Two Chums in Sea Isle. They have a rental boat fleet that has been banging them pretty good along with some really good crabbing. 77 year old Paul Kinnicki brought a 22-inch fluke to the dock and Chuck Roman had a 5.5-pound flattie. The Berk family from Bucks County had one heck of a crab feast after bringing a full bushel back. Offshore, the Wilmington got a visit from Chuck Urba from West Deptford. He and his boys brought 5 nice yellowfin back from the deep.
Around the corner at Sea Isle Bait & Tackle MIke is reporting some great fluking out at the O.C., T.I., and Wildwood reefs. Several 5#+ fish in the shop this week from guys that were not afraid to drop right in the rubble and take their chances with their rigs. Back bay the fluking is up in numbers, but down in keepers. 2 friends had fun with 40 throwbacks in Corsons in a couple hours but nothing in the box. This is great “kid” fishing. Add in the triggers that are now hanging around all the buoys and pilings and you really can keep them from giving you that puppy dog “when are we going to do something fun” look.
Mary & Chuck from Off the Hook Bait & Tackle at Hinch’s Marina in Cape May have been super busy with the chunk bite firing up offshore. They have quite a few charters running out of there and the boys are really stepping up their game. Off the Hook has a couple of monster freezers loaded up for this and if you are in Cape May, it is a great resource for what you need bait & gear-wise as well as one of my favorite places to get real time info. Worth the stop for sure.
Best bet for this weekend is really easy. Just figure out how far you want to go and you will be in the fish. If going long, try to avoid the crowds and hit some of the lumps around the more popular areas. Nobody really reported on midrange since the news was all long, but try stoping on the Cigar, 28 Mile Wreck, and Lemke’s before going the distance and at least take a look. I can’t tell you the number of times we have driven over fish to catch fish. The reefs are all super hot if played properly and the beaches and bays are still producing. I LOVE July! Hit it hard while you can.
Stay Tuna-ed!