Bass Bite Improves, Surf and Boat
Slowly but surely we are making progress in overcoming the devastation that Sandy brought with her when she visited New Jersey two weeks ago. I saw the proof last Saturday at the public boat ramp up the street from my home in Absecon. Sure it was perfect weather. And yes a few of the other boat ramps in the area were still disabled and or inaccessible. But every single parking spot was taken and there was a waiting line to dip boats in the Absecon Creek. It confirmed a theory I had ever since Sandy rolled onto our shores. You can knock us down but eventually we will get back up swinging. There’s a ton of rebuilding to be done yet, we are still in the initial recovery phase. But fishing is an important way of life down here and nothing will stop us from pursuing our passions. Since more are back to fishing this week, I will try to mix in some reports as well as conditions in the southern reaches of the state.
Long Beach Island and the surrounding areas are open for business again. One of the harder hit sections of the coast, options are somewhat limited in regard to fishing but the stripers are there and people are chasing them. Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin in open for business and has fresh bunker. They are reporting a striper bite in Barnegat Inlet and on both the north and south jetties. Live spot is the killer bait but clams (if you can get them) and eels are working well. Jingles bait and tackle, Oceanside and Ancient Mariner are closed due to the storm. Fisherman’s Headquarters is open. Certain areas of the island like Holgate and Beach Haven remained closed due to extensive damage.
From the information I have received, Mystic Island is essentially shut down for the season. I have had reports that Scott’s Bait and Tackle is closed for the season as are most of the area marinas as they struggle with the recovery effort.
The mainland side of the coast from the Mullica River south to Absecon Creek took a substantial hit from the storm and some fared better than others. Captain Dave Showell at Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center is up and running on its regular fall schedule. Plenty of bait (he has clams but not a big supply) and the stripers are biting good in Absecon inlet and the surrounding areas. Live spot and eels are the go-to bait of most local anglers. Captain Dave also informed me that Chestnut Neck Boatyard on the Mullica is up and running but sustained substantial damage.
Brigantine Island, like everyone else along the coast, got hit pretty hard by Sandy. The north end took the brunt of the storm from what I have seen but the beaches are fishable. Be careful on the beaches as they have been altered substantially. North Point Marina is closed from what I hear as they took a big hit. Riptide Bait and tackle is open and waiting for your business. The businesses along the causeway on the south end had less damage but I would recommend calling ahead before your trip. Access to Absecon Inlet is there and people have been catching stripers up to 20 pounds on live eel, spot and clam.
Absecon Island includes Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate and Longport. I have fished the beaches since the storm and all areas are accessible. The Longport jetties sustained damage, so be careful. Greater Egg inlet and Bay has given up some fish but information is spotty as most of the shops and marinas on the island sustained substantial damage and are in the process of rebuilding. Captain Andy’s and Scott’s dock in Margate are closed for the season. In Ventnor Height’s, Santorros Ships Store is closed as well. In AC. I have been unable to contact either Noel at One Stop or Jon At Offshore. If you are heading out that way and are looking to them for bait or equipment, I recommend calling ahead. Both were in severe flood zones.
Somers Point is somewhat shelter at the back of Great egg Harbor Bay but took a hit, none the less. I toured the area the other day and it seemed to be bouncing back quickly. The Kennedy Park ramp is still closed. Brennan’s tackle on Bay Ave. was open but Dolphin dock was closed. 24-7 Bait and Tackle farther inland (on the Patcong) was open and ready for business will a full complement of baits and equipment.
I spoke to Rich at Reel Life Bait and Tackle and they are open every day from 6 to 6 in Point Pleasant. Not all the beaches are accessible and the water still has debris in them but if you can get out, the fish are there. Blackfish still going strong in the canal and on the reefs things are picking up. Stripers are here and strong. Rich told me bait is at a premium, as many of the suppliers got hit hard. In the area, many shops are closed. Fishermans Supply got hit with more than four feet of water and is down for a while. Betty and Nicks as with most of the establishments close to Island Beach State Park had a smack down. Grumpy’s, I believe to be open but have not been able to contact anyone at The Dock Outfitters north of them. I have heard that both took lesser hits as their building sit higher. Here’s hoping for the best. Rich told me he believes that IBSP is closed until February at the earliest due to severe beach erosion. I am not sure if that is just driving on the beach. At the time of this report, access to the area is restricted to residents. For those who are open, the biggest help any of us can provide is business. Think about it before you place your next big box store order. Every little bit helps.
In times like this, I hesitate to use phrases like “things are getting back to normal”. But after speaking with Lou at Two Chums Bait and Tackle in it seems like that is the case in Sea Isle. Anglers have been getting fish off the beaches. Mostly bigger blues with some stripers mixed in, but they are doing better. Like most shops, they had water damage, lost equipment and inventory but they are bouncing back. They have plenty of bait on hand including white leg crabs, just in time for the expansion of tog season. Sea Isle Bait and Tackle is also open for business and fully stocked with bait. According to owner Mike Cunningham, conditions are getting better each day. Mike also me that the troll was working last weekend off the lumps and that the hot lure was a Cabo Sunset Stretch 25 which seemed to be out catching any other by a two to one ratio.
In Brick Township, the Jersey Hooker Outfitters is hard at work rebuilding after the storm. The boat is in dry dock have some repairs done which I understand weren’t too severe. According to all I have read, they should be back in action soon. The shop is in need of work as well but should be back up to speed real soon. I haven’t been able to track down Captain Rich Wilkowski on the phone but have been monitoring his activities digitally. Even with the losses they have suffered, Rich is busy raising funds by auctioning off fishing trips on the Hooker for the relief of families hit even harder than they were by Sandy. Keep up the good work Rich.
In the Wildwoods and Cape May area, damage was lighter and the fishing has been better of late according to Rusty at Off the Hook Marina in Cape May. The CM Rips have been real hot of late with many anglers limiting out on striped bass by throwing bucktails. The lower section of Delaware Bay has been out producing the upper section on the chunk. The beaches in the area are more accessible and better producing than most along the coast. Rusty told me there are still a few redfish in the area but they are smaller and appear to be almost gone for the season as the water have cooled off substantially. Most of the charter boats and party boats in the area made it through the storm and are operational but the wise angler would call ahead to insure their trip is available. If you run into Chuck or Mary from Off the Hook, be sure to give them their props for the great job they have been doing gathering supplies for the Sandy Relief people. No sooner than the winds stopped blowing those two and the gang at the shop have been working endlessly to help people who got hit harder up north than those in the southern part of the state. Way to pay it forward guys!
If you’ve ever been to Fin-Atics Marine store in Ocean City, you probably know that they sit high enough to ride out most storms and did just that with Sandy. They had some losses but are open for business according to Justin at the store and as of today, have a full arsenal of available bait. The best catch for stripers or blues has been the inlets, either the GE or Corson’s. Justin asked me to relay a message for boaters to be careful as an awful lot of sand has shifted and traffic being light so far, there still may be some trouble areas. Off the beaches, plugs are getting the smaller fish and clam chuckers and fresh bunker rule the suds. The bite has been a little slow but seems to be picking up each day. Justin also told me the inshore tog bite shut down with the last nor’easter. The beaches also took a pretty sever hit in regards to erosion so please take care, especially if fishing in the dark.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Believe it or not, there are calls for another nor ‘east storm next week, so if you want to get some fish for the Thanksgiving Table, this weekend looks to be your best window of opportunity. The bite is on at Barnegat and all the way south in the Cape May Rips and the Delaware Bay. Those being the best chances but any of the inlets can and should provide action. On the boats, trolling and chunking are the best options but have those jigs ready in case you come upon the mother lode. Most of the southern stores that are open have restocked their bait inventories, so that shouldn’t be a concern. And most of all, if you want to go fishing, then go. Every single shop owner I spoke to this week voiced the same opinion; we need customers right now more than anything. So there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty about day fishing. And if you do go, stop in and buy local if you can. It’s a small gesture that would go a long way in showing the people that serve us in the sport we all spend so much time pursuing that we recognize their service. Whatever you do, be careful out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.