Not normal… but getting there.
If you can lend a hand to someone in need this week, your karma is sure benefit for many cycles to come.
I almost feel a little guilty writing a fishing report when so many people are still being so tragically impacted from the storm. Our industry in the region has suffered a massive blow, both financially and emotionally. Yet, in the midst of all this we still need to be able to maximize the little “free” time we have and if we at OTW can help a little by pointing you in the right direction for a little well-earned therapy, I guess that is good enough. I will warn you in advance that the info from some of our areas is a little thin for obvious reasons. In light of the situation, we will be posting telephone numbers this week to call ahead for those shops and Charter boats that we have confirmed are open. By the way, just because your regular shop or Charter boat is not listed does not mean that it is closed or not running. Many are dealing with more pressing issues than picking up a phone call, even though we do try a number of times.
Capt. Ken from Big Kid Sport Fishing has been running and connecting on good size and numbers of stripers. Big Kid runs year round, and is out of Brielle. Ken is running Tony Maja’s south of Manasquan, and tells us chrome #4’s are catching 2 to 1 over whites in the same size, which is a great tip. He has some midweek spots open if you are interested and is discounting a bit depending on which days. 732-261-0606
Capt. Chris Heuth has a smile on his face as the new Big Mohawk out of Belmar shoves off for the official opening of the “real” blackfish season. NJ Regs. on Blackfish change today to a 6 fish bag limit up from the 1 it has been for most of the year. Get them while you can boys, and find a boat with a nice heated cabin for the ride out! Big Mohawk sails daily. 732-974-9606
Sources are telling us that Sandy Hook is open and that some rock hoppers are picking at stripers and blues on plugs and bunker. Josh at Efinger’s in Bound Brook tells us that although many are opting to jump on party boats to escape for the day, the surf guys are connecting. No blitz reports, but there are fish in the zone. 732-356-0604
Max at Pride Bait and Tackle in Red Bank got a message through that the power is on in the shop and clean-up is well underway. We understand that there are fish working in close in Long Branch but few are chasing them at this point. 732-383-8198
Steve at Red Bank Marina picked up when I called this morning and confirmed what we had heard earlier. The store is closed for the season as a result of the storm and they are gutting it out. His message was quick and to the point, “We’ll fix it”. We know you will.
Surf Side Bait and Tackle in Long Branch dodged the bullet and is open with regular business hours. Jack reports that he has been weighing in stripers from the beach in the mid-teens the last couple of days from pluggers. Give him a buzz, 732-222-4436.
Good news also from the Bait Shop in Bradley Beach. Not only open but stocked up with fresh clams and green crabs for those getting ready to jump on the blackfish. Dominick says the truth of the matter is that the striper fishing right now is better in Shark River and the inlet than the beach, simply because of the debris up and down the shoreline. 732-361-8500
Chris from Harrys Army Navy in Robbinsville is hearing more success stories from the backwater and from the inlets than from out front in the last couple of days. In fact, he is headed out with his Korkers tonight to give the tide a run from the jetty. Word in the shop is that Barnegat inlet has been particularly hot. 609-585-5450
Dave at The Reel Seat in Brielle is back open 7 days a week, after a big effort to get everything back in line. He says that those that are able to get out, and go south of Mantaloking down to Sea Side are doing well on decent size bass. Bunker spoons seem to be the best bet with big trolling plugs running second. Big bluefish in the mix too. 732-223-5353.
Capt. George on the Teri Jean II has not been out much to help with reports, but will be starting this weekend. George took a professional photographer out this week to take photos from the water of the Seaside area and tells me that it would have brought tears to anyone’s eyes. It is a war zone down there. Teri Jean II will be running until December 20th. You can reach him at 732-280-8113.
Capt. Rob from Last One Charters has pretty much the same story to tell. His boat is fine and running, but for the most part it has been sitting at the dock. He is open for charters out of Belmar and will be in through the end of the year. 732-556-7156.
Capt. Mike from the Katie H just had power restored to his marina in Belmar and is fueling up for a busy blackfish and striper week. He does have some openings and is itching to get out. You can reach him at 908-600-6413
Last but by no means least, the always chatty and full on good intel, Tom P from the Sportsmens Center in Bordentown. On the freshwater scene, crappie fishing has been nothing short of outstanding at Carnegie and Mercer lakes with 13- to 16-inch pan sizzlers filling the well. Live fatheads, shiners or hair jigs are turning the trick. Mercer is also seeing some muskie action. Trout fishermen are pacing back and forth waiting for the winter stocking next weekend. Got trout? In the salt, Barnegat inlet has been a hot spot for spot fisherman on small to medium stripers. 609-298-5300
Seas forecast for the upcoming weekend are going to complicate your “Best Bet” scenario a little. Not that unusual for November anglers. Northeast 10 to 15 with gusts to 20 and 4- to 6-footers out front will make many change their minds about the ocean. That does not mean that you can’t catch a load of blackfish or rustle up some stripers in a 5-foot swell, it just that it does take the “relaxing” part of it out of the equation for many. Without too much worry about boat traffic, I’m voting for some partially protected inlet fishing for stripers. Most of the inlets up and down our region are holding fish. A livewell full of those spot you have been babying (they are all going to croak soon anyway from the cold water temps.. have yours stopped eating yet?), some eels on the rocks, or some fresh chunk ‘o bunk (I am a noggin guy myself) can get you connected to some well deserved therapy.
In closing I would just like to remind everyone that the fish are going to be around for a while, and that many of our neighbors are still in desperate need of any kind of immediate help you can provide. Make the time to be a good brother to another. Any fisherman that does not believe that a little good karma goes a long way simply has not been paying attention.
Stay Tuna-ed!