The leaves are turning and to me that is a sign that all the good fishing is about to break out in earnest. Water temps are, for the most part, still hovering in the low 70s, but the baitfish don’t seem to realize that as they seem to be focused on their jobs. What I am trying to say is that they have locked in their GPS and are beginning to migrate south. And just as sure as the sun rising, the bigger fish will soon recognize that and follow suit. Let’s see what the shops and captains have to say.
I always enjoy speaking with Kevin at Bait Your Hook ice and tackle in Atlantic Highlands. He gives the best info (probably because they are so close to the action) and his Irish brogue almost makes it sound like he is singing out the scouting report. Kevin told me this week the beaches were lit up with stripers, anglers using Crocodile Metal lures and bait guys soaking clams were the most successful with fish up to 36 inches. He also recommended anglers check out the Highland Bridge area for linesider action. There are big blues all over the inshore and beaches with fish up to 17 pounds not unusual. The head boats are doing very well of late with sea bass, ling and nice cod as well as the occasional blackfish. Porgy fishermen are also doing well in their efforts. Kevin went out on the TAGFISH recently and they scored big with 25 big codfish and hundreds of ling. He told me they were in 250 feet of water, but all that reeling was definitely worth it.
The Name of the shop in Keyport is Crabby’s Bait and Tackle and owner Chris is definitely not crabby. But Chris and his staff definitely know their crabbing tactics. I spoke with Bob at the shop and he told me the crabbing was still fantastic in Keyport. There are plenty of spot still in the area as well as blues all over the place. Short stripers in the back with some reports of bigger fish as you get closer to the beaches. Live bait like spot or mullet will get the best action. Bob also told me that the weakfish are still hovering around the sounds, people using live baits (peanuts, mullet or grass shrimp) are having the best success.
Harrys Army Navy is much more than your normal run of the mill football –golf outlet. Its fishing department is well informed and always have info on the spots in the area, be it salt of fresh, they try to point you towards the action. Fresh or salt, these guys know their stuff. For freshwater, Chris at the store told me the river has calmed down and is giving up nice smallmouth bass. The local lakes are also doing well with bass as big as 8 pounds being taken by anglers. On the salt, all eyes point north according to Chris. He has had customers tolling sixty feet of water off of Barnegat Light doing well. Farther north, the resident bass are making a strong showing with fish op to 36 inches not uncommon. False Ablies and blues are also all over the place, especially in the waters around Monmouth county.
Looking for an “old school” shop in the Sea Bright area? Look no further. I consider myself a throwback surf fishing guy and Giglios Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright is my kind of shop. According to Ernie at the store, the bass are starting to turn on from both beach and boat. Andrew DeFranco recently weighed in a 12.3-pound striper, taken off his boat just outside the curls. And Brian Bollenger of Atlantic Highlands took a 19.5-pound line sider o Monmouth beach while throwing a Storm Lure. Ernie informed me there were blues up to fifteen pounds all around the area feeding on spot and mullet in the surf. King fish are also still running if you can get through the other bait. Crabbing is decent according to Ernie.
Julians Bait and Tackle have been serving Atlantic Highlands for as long as I can remember. These guys are the absolute experts on striped bass fishing in the Sandy Hook area and the king of spoons. The beach off of Sandy Hook is giving up some decent striped bass and bluefish. Out front, blues and false albacore with a mix of bonito for those trolling Clark Spoons . Sea bass and porgy catches have been above average of late. Some reports of anglers fishing really deep water (200 feet or more) and coming in with ling and cod.
Captain Chris Hueth of Big Mohawk has switched over from fluke mode to sea bass and porgy while waiting for the blackfish to light up the reefs. If he does half as well as he did during the fluke season, that will be incredible. And from the pictures I have been seeing, few customers are going home empty handed. If you have never fished off the Big Mohawk, I highly recommend it. Captain Chris is on the fish and when tautog goes hot, I have no doubts he will be first in line for them as well.
Steve Spinelli of the Skylarker out of Belmar has been doing well catching sea bass up to 5 pounds. Triggerfish are still mixing in, and big porgies are beginning to invade the inshore wrecks and reefs. Inshore trips on the Skylarker have turned up bluefish to 12 pounds, along with false albacore and skipjack tuna. The occasional bluefin is also being spotted in the chum slick.
The Sportsmens Center in Borden may be closer to fresh water angling opportunities but that does not mean their knowledge base is limited to that venue. When I spoke with Tom P. this week, he was all hyped up on the sea bass fishery of late. According to Tom there is some great sea bass fishing going on but you need to find the right reef. This week the bite was ten plus miles out, working some of the deeper structure. Good black sea bass, porgy and even the occasional conger eel. Tom is also a freshwater guru and this week was raving about catfish bite in the Pennsauken and Rancocas creeks as well as in Pemberton. Chicken livers are the key to success according to Tom. He also told me to pass along Swedesboro Lake for anyone seeking largemouth bass. The bite has been hot there.
Better Bait and Tackle of Toms River is the place in the area for fresh bait and hot information This week I spoke to Chris to find out what the locals are up to in the area. Perch of the white variety in Island Heights was one recommendation from Chris. One- to three-pound bluefish still rule the Upper River and lower bay. Stripers being caught on plugs are all resident fish up to 24 inches. Chris told me the crabbing is still pretty good and you can fill up a peach basket with blowfish still at the BB Buoy. Plenty of bait in the river, mullet, peanut bunker and spot but Chris believes they are starting to thin out a bit.
Jack Montiero of Surf Side Bait and Tackle in Long Branch is on the beach most days scouting the scene so he’s my go-to guy in that area. Lately, the striper action has been a little slow but those being caught are either by live bait chuckers( mullet or clam are working best according to Jack) or plug masters throwing metal or swimming baits. There is plenty of bait in the water around Long Branch, mostly mullet and spearing as well as the occasional pod of adult menhaden. Be sure to load your cast nets and or snag hooks if you are looking to load up on the baitfish. If you forget them, head over and visit Surfside. Jack also told me there have been some occasional runs of false albacore off the beach, so you may want to have a rod ready to take a go at them.
Max at Pride Fishing Tackle was offshore chasing the big tails when I called the shop this week and that speaks volumes. Max goes when the bite on the canyon is on and Max is out there. Do the math. Locally, according to Chris at the shop, Blues, Albies and resident stripers are dominating the Red Bank Local scene. Pluggers on the beaches have been doing ok with stripers up to 34 inches but the big stuff is still a little ways off. Blues off the beach front are decent, better in the inlets and even better inshore. Plenty of bait in the area including but not limited to mullet, spot, spearing peanut and adult bunker. No sign of sand eels yet according to Chris. Crabbing in the Navesink is still good as well. Some weakfish have been taken in the river but it appears the bite is slowing a bit. There have been weakies up to 5 pounds, but the work is long and hard. Soft baits or spot chunks have been the key to the bigger fish.
When I spoke with Captain Mike Schneider of the charter boat Katie H this week, he had just returned for the Toms Canyon where they had loaded up on the yellow fin (70-plus-pound class) and one swordfish. Captain Mike informed me that the northern canyons seem to have come back to life after a few weeks of lackluster action. Mike was attending to regular maintenance on the 46’ Hatteras but took the time to tell me the reports from the Carteret, Hudson and Tom’s all sounded good up through the weekend. Inshore, he is gearing up for striper, cod and blackfish which he will run throughout the winter once the offshore game fish bite ends.
It’s been a strange fall season so far in Long Branch according to Kevin at Long Branch Bait and Tackle. Plenty of bait in the water including mullet, spearing bunker and spot, but the big fish haven’t yet arrived. Resident stripers have been taken off the beach front along with a mix of medium bluefish and some false albacore. Kingfish are still going strong but you need to get through the spot to get at them Jack also told me that they had a run of yellow tails on the local jetties the last couple of days. Weakfish in the area have gone into hiding according to Kevin. No sign yet of sand eels but Kevin feels the water temperatures should drop soon and that will signal the start of the real fall run. Keep an eye out for us Kevin!
The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach (is there an easier name to remember) reports the Shark River has been the best shot at action lately. The mouth of the river had some yellow tail recently and the kingfish bite is still going strong. There are some weakfish around but mostly in the “just barely legal” range. On the beaches, first light is your best chance for a keeper bass. They are chasing the mullet according to Mark at the shop and recommends Bomber lures or something similar if you are allergic to bait. Clam tossers are also doing ok with bass of schoolie size. Mark also told me that the night bite has been almost exclusively on bait. Try using either mullet, fresh bunker of fresh clam for best results. Water temperatures in the Shark River are around 71 degrees and mark feels the area is about two weeks behind schedule because of it. I tend to agree with Mark.
For offshore information in the northern portion of the Garden State, few can beat Dave Arbietman and the crew at the Reel Seat in Brielle. Any offshore angler worth his salt will back up my recommendation of the Reel Seat. When I spoke with Dave this week, he was all excited about the red hot bite at the northern canyons. He had just got off the line with the Captain of the Jenny Lee who had gone 5 for 6 on bigeye tuna on the troll. No doubt using some of the Reel Seats custom set ups. No news as to the night bite but good action. They also had a nice wahoo to the side of the boat. Dave also told me the Gambler just came back with 32 50-pound yellowfin from a recent trip to the canyon. Inshore, Dave said more than a few of the local head boats have been slamming sea bass in as close as 4 miles with nice results on Porgy fishing as well. As a side note, Dave is having his annual plug sale and just got in a shipment of CTS rods he has been waiting on. If you are a fan of quality tackle like me, do yourself a favor and check out the Reel Seat next time you are in Brielle. You won’t leave empty handed, that’s for sure.
Best Bets for the weekend.
To be perfectly honest with you it’s a coin flip this week. There are definitely fish around from the top of the state south but most of the bass range from 18 to 35 inches. With a mini snap of “Indian Summer” in the forecast, your guess is as good as mine. Water temperatures are hovering around 70 degrees and the big lunkers appear to be taking a brief layover farther north, but that could change in a heartbeat. Plenty of bait around and that could play a role. If you have the opportunity and want some meat for the table, the sea bass bite is red hot and the porgy bite is heating up. The northern canyons are on fire. The big yellows and wahoo are biting, and bigeye tuna are still active on the troll. Swordfish are also active to a degree in the canyons. But the forecast also calls for some cooler weather at the tail end of the weekend. One night could change it all and flip the switch on. Worst case scenario you catch some nice bluefish when you are targeting bass. All in all, there is plenty to shoot for this weekend but like everything else in life, there are no guarantees. Whatever option you choose to participate in this weekend, please be safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.