Good Stripers and Trophy Trout
Back from a southern vacation with some bad weather and some mediocre fishing efforts, I look forward to this week’s scouting report from our partners to get me back in the swing of real northern fall fishing. As a teaser in front of the main lure this week, I need to tell you that the NJDEP’s fall trout stocking program went into full throttle this week. For you freshwater enthusiasts out there, this is when they release some of the biggest trout of the season in numerous lakes, streams and rivers all over the state. You can check out the October Issue of On The Water to find a location close to you and I guarantee you will be happy with the fishing opportunities you will find. On the saltwater scene, from a personal observation viewpoint, the water temperatures seem to be sliding towards the optimal range. The mullet run seems to be ebbing but there is still plenty of baitfish in the area to attract our finned friends. Just yesterday, after rinsing a variety of my finer lures in saltwater with little success, I attempted to get a few northern kingfish for the smoker only to be thwarted by a hungry horde of spot crowding the bottom for a place on my hook. In just over an hour, I caught well over 25, at times catching two at a time. Let’s see what our scouts have to say about the rest of the area.
Right out of the box it was good news from Atlantic Highlands and Kevin of Bait Your Hook Tackle and Ice. The striper bite is on! The most successful anglers are fishing the Rips and Flynn’s Knoll and using live eels to trap their quarry. Clam is also producing. Big bluefish can be had almost anywhere according to Kevin. There are other options such as porgy, which are filling angler’s ice chests and weakfish at the Raritan Reach. There is plenty of bait in the water from spot, to bunker to sand eels. Recently, Joe a shop local, reported beach catches of fish from 30 to 18 pounds.
This time of year, the bite can be red hot on one location and lukewarm in others just miles away. When I spoke to Dominick at the Bait Shop in Bradley Beach that was exactly the situation. High rollers off the beach front have kept anglers in bed later so the reporting was a little light for this time of year. Plenty of bait in the water from spot to bunker and water temps of 64 degrees should make for just about perfect conditions but the fish that are being caught are a little on the resident level right now. Plugs from the beach and clam are the most productive. Blue fish on metal was the call of the day. Domnick said the main body was not yet close to the area but is hearing that they are starting to gather in numbers farther north and should be moving down soon. Lock and load Dom!
In the Navesink River, according to Steve at Red Bank Marina, the crabs are the talk of the town. Patrons are taking advantage of the warm weather and water and coming back with nice bushels of blue claw crabs. There are also some snapper blues, weakfish and even some nice porgies in the area. There is plenty of bait in the river including peanut and adult menhaden, spearing and spot. Steve told me he thinks they will get a couple of good weeks out of the crabbing season before they lock up their rental boats for the winter.
You fly guys and gals out there in North Jersey might want to stop in Effingers Sporting Goods in Bound Brook according to Bert at the store because the fall trout run is on and they are running a Trout Unlimited customer appreciation sale this weekend to thank loyal patrons. Bert told me that the South Branch of the Raritan and the Pequest River had some nice wild and socked rainbows caught this weekend by fly anglers using both Pheasant tail and Perch Snip patterns. The State fall stocking program recently released a slew of 18- to 24-inch rainbow trout that are exciting most fresh water enthusiasts in the region. There are some real trophy-size trout out there right now folks! Additionally, they have been selling shiners right and left to the live bait guys hunting bass and crappies which are both biting strong right now. Best bets for action, the lower Raritan (bass) and the Millstone for crappie.
Attention Big Mohawk fans. When I spoke to Captain Chris Hueth this week to get the report, he told me he was upgrading his vessel and not running this week. The new boat will be ready to go at week’s end according to the captain and back on the fish by the beginning of next week. Make sure to call ahead if you are heading out to fish on the new Big Mohawk. Personally, I cannot wait to try out the new ride.
Long Branch Bait and Tackle’s Richard was the next name I contacted to find out how far south the bass have moved since my last report. He informed me that the pick there off the beaches was steady and seemingly picking up every day. Plug tossers were having consistent catches throwing bombers and Daiwa Salt Pro Minnows. Fish up to 12 pounds being the norm. Bait soakers are doing well on both eels and clam bellies. Plenty of bait in the 65-degree surf, mostly bunker and spot. Bluefish are still around but more so in the medium size range although bigger fish will move in as the bait moves closer to the beaches.
When I reached out to Ernie at Giglios in Sea Bright this week, I was looking for surf info and that’s exactly what he gave me. Water temps in the mid-sixties and a steady pick up of bass. Not the really big fish yet but nice keepers all around. Most anglers, like Dave Dixon (4 fish up to 9 pounds) and Don Ryan (8.2 pound striper in the river using clam) were having good days. Off the beaches, anglers throwing Daiwa Minnows and fresh clam were doing the best. Andy Defranco of Sea Bright had a nice 16.2 pound line sider throwing a Daiwa Minnow. Billy Birch, also reeled in a 16.35 pound striped bass on his boat while bait fishing. Plenty of bunker in the area according to Ernie so keep a snag hook handy. And he also told me that eels are working better from Sandy Hook area for some reason.
Chris at Harrys Adventure Outfitters in Robbinsville is always a good source of all things fishing in the state. When I tracked him down this week, he told me that while the striper bite was on, it was on sporadically all over the place. The northern reaches of the state like Sandy Hook and Shrewsbury Rocks are the surest options and those working eels are having the best hook up ratios. In that vein, Chris as me to tell everyone they finally got their shipment of Savage Gear Artificial Eels that so many of you have been waiting on. The fish are here they simply haven’t filed a flight plan yet. Blackfishing and porgy are great off all the jetties. On the freshwater fishery, Chris suggested trying the Delaware above the tidal waters for largemouth bass and carp, both of which were on fire right now. He also reminded me the lower Raritan River had some dynamite smallmouth action right now. And don’t forget the fall trout stocking taking place this week. Chris has seen some monster rainbows come through the shop this week.
Captain Steve Spinelli of the charter boat Skylarker wasn’t fishing the day I tracked him down this week because he was helping to bring the new Big Mohawk down from New York with Captain Chris Hueth. Fish better look out because when these guys team up, they don’t stand a chance. Steve did tell me the Skylarker finished the black sea bass season with a bang (until Nov 1st) boating fish up to 5 pounds on the last day. They are now shifting over to porgy and blackfish while mixing in some striper fishing until the tog season shifts into high gear with 6 fish bag limit on Nov. 15. He has already been putting nice stripers in the box, mostly without even targeting them as they chased the porgy up the lines.
Spoke briefly with George from the Teri Jean II who informed me that they had 18 fish yesterday while trolling the Long Branch Area. I would tell you what they were trolling but then I would need to hunt you down. Actually, they use a custom rig that is hard to describe. But you can always charter them and find out for yourself. George left me with a confirmation that the fall run is definitely on for the Teri Jean II!
I just got done decoding a secret message from Tom P at the Sportsmens Center in Bordentown. This time of year with several types of hunting and fishing going on, it amazes me that Tommy has the time to breathe. He was gearing up for some night fishing a Lake Hopatcong (more specifically Chester Point) where he would be targeting hybrid striped bass. On the menu for them are live herring and or Rapala Ice Minnows. According to Tom, they are white hot up there right now. Best bet for their salt water cousin, per Tommy, is live-lining eels at the jetties in Monmouth County. The south branch of the Raritan River is alive with small mouth bass as well a some local areas that have just received their allotment of state grown rainbow trout.
It wouldn’t be a fishing report if I didn’t touch base with Dave Arbietman of The Reel Seat in Brielle and get the skinny on the deep water fishing. According to Dave, the bite in the northern canyons has transformed to mainly a day bite, both on the troll and chunk. They are still having success at the Hudson with yellow fin and long fin tuna. The Virginia Wreck has been giving up nice 70- to 100-pound class yellowfin on both chunk and troll. Most of the other northern canyons have had good amounts of activity. Inshore around Brielle, Dave has weighed some nice stripers recently and feels the big run isn’t that far off. The head boat action, for the time being, has been limited to porgy and the single blackfish we are stuck with until mid-November. Dave also commented that there is plenty of bait in and around the area.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
A lot depends on the weather this week but the preliminary report looks promising. Cooler weather could spark the long anticipated migration of striped bass we have all been waiting on. Bigger, migratory bass are already being taken on a regular basis in the furthest reaches of the state. Hopefully, the action will start to filter south. Best results seem to be those trolling spoons or umbrellas rigs or those using clam or drifting live eel. Plenty of bunker in the area which also means that the bluefish bite should be almost anywhere you find menhaden schools. If you are thinking about bottom fishing, Porgy and blackfish are the only games in town right now. If you want some nice fish for the table, might I recommend hitting the fresh water for some of the trophy trout that the state has been stocking this week. Rainbow’s up to 24 inches are not uncommon in this phase. As the weather cools, this could be one of your last chances to hit the fresh water for some time to come. Bass and crappie action is at it’s peak right now all over the state as a bonus. There is still time to gather bait spot for your pens if you need to fill the void. And the canyons are still giving up good catches of long fin and yellow fin tuna. Crabbing, at least for now, is still a viable option. If you want to put up some blue claw meat for the winter, it’s now or never. Whichever option you chose this weekend, please stay safe out there. The waters are getting rougher and colder, mistakes are always magnified this time of year. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.