Fluke Fishing is Fantastic

Stripers to 40 Pounds on Bunker

Beaches Lighting up for Bass on Top

If the opening days of fluke season 2013 are any indication of things to come, our job of forecasting fishing around the state has become infinitely easier. As a dedicated forecaster for On the Water, I try to monitor the events as they unfold and draw conclusions from the facts. I must tell you that this past weekend’s action was one of the best signs of a full recovery that I can describe. Not only were there more reports of limits achieved on flat fish but also great reports on almost all other open species. Big line siders, and huge weakfish were reported from all coastal regions. And all this in what I would consider less than prime conditions. Imagine the results we will see when we get some great fishing weather.

Point Pleasant is back from Sandy and the gang at Reel Life Bait and Tackle is going full bore getting anglers back into the swim of things. I spoke with Tucker at the shop this week and he told me that the best fluking action has been in the Manasquan River by anglers using Berkeley Gulp products and bucktails. The striper run has been going strong with strong reports from north of the shop in Avon and a little south at Island Beach State Park. Bunker or clam is the live bait of choice and pluggers seem to be relying on Daiwa SP minnows and a variety of pencil poppers. Tucker asked me to remind you that their big tent sale starts this Saturday and runs through Monday, Memorial Day. If you are looking to restock that tackle box, swing on by, you will not be disappointed.

Life in the Toms River is good and getting better according to George and the crew at Go Fish Bait and Tackle. The striper action has been non-stop all over the place. Beach action is still primarily on clam but bunker chunks are also working. Plugs and bucktails are producing as well. Fish up to forty pounds have been reported at the shop. If you are boat chasing them, Mann Stretch 25’s and Silver Bunker spoons are you best producers of big fish. On the fluke side, best bets are in the river itself where you have warmer water temperatures. Killies and Gulp baits are the hot baits. The killie supply has been a little sporadic, as is generally the case this time of year, so have a backup plan. Weakfish are in the mix as well. You might want to try the areas around the power plant.

If surf fishing is your forte and you have never been to Giglios in Sea Bright, I recommend you stop in there and check them out. Once you do, I can almost guarantee that you will become a repeat customer. I spoke with Ernie at the shop today and he told me that the action has been good to great for the past ten days and with conditions improving, it should only get better. Water temperatures out front have been a little cool but the striped bass and blues are apparently very comfortable with it. Louis Feniger of Asbury weighed in a 31 pounder this week taken on a plug. Ray Soyka weighed in 2 20+ pound fish that he caught on bunker chunks. Mike Collier landed a nice 25 inch weak fish at the Oceanic Bridge. The hot lure this spring has been the Daiwa SP Minnow according to Ernie but other swimmers like the Bomber have also been catching their share. Blues up to 15 pounds have, as is the case, nailing anything that gets near their toothy mouths. Ernie told me that repairs to the shop post Sandy, are still progressing and they are about 95% recovered. Good job guys!

Captain Chris Hueth and the crew of the New Big Mohawk are chasing striped bass until the water warms up a little bit and are having tremendous success doing so. I have seen the proof! Sailing out of Belmar, Captain Chris has a reputation as a meat hunter surpassed by no one and if they target it, you almost definitely will have action. So far this spring, I have seen fish up to forty pound lying on their decks. These guys can fish!

Spoke with Mike at Pride Fishing who told me that the Navesink is filled with bunker. This also means that there is an abundance of both striper and blues chasing said bunker. Take a snag hook and live line one to put a keeper striped bass in the cooler was Mike’s recommendation. If you are targeting the flat fish, any bait strips will work. Mike told me that many anglers are having success with Berkeley Gulps 4” swim shads. Color does not seem to be as important. The river has been much better than the bay as the water temperatures in the bay are still a tad chilly. There have been some weakfish taken in the area, definitely a good sign as it is still early for them in the Navesink. Always good to hear that kind of news.

I have heard several reports that the cod have decided to come out of hibernation and decided I would get confirmation from the best deep water fisherman that I know. So I called The Reel Seat in Brielle and spoke with owner Dave Arbietman. As luck would have it, Dave went out yesterday on a trip with the Voyager Party Boat out of Belmar. They had some great success jigging up enough cod so that all aboard went home with fish. Dave had 20 or so overall, with four keepers up to 22 pounds. The Voyager will be running a few more trips, call them for the schedule and reservations. Dave also let me know that the sea bass bit has been good, with more than a few reports locally of limit catches on private boats.

Special Note: The Reel Seat is running a Tile Fishing Trip for novices on the Voyager. The trip breaks port on Tuesday June 4th and returns the next day. There is a seminar for those who are signed up for the trip on the Sunday (June 2nd) before the charter. The cost is 300 dollars. If you have always wanted to try this type of deep fishing, you will find no better teachers than Dave and the gang at the Real Seat. And the Voyager is one sweet ride to boot. Call now as there are only three spots left.

With so many salt water species available this time of year, I almost forgot there are those of you out there who prefer a salt free diet. To address that, I contacted Tommy P. at the Sportsmens Center in Bordentown. On a down day, Tommy would be described as a screaming maniac. When the fish are biting, forget about it. He is out of control. This week, he was crazy for trout. It seems that the state is unloading the last of their hatchery for the year and the waters are flooded with some enormous brook trout. Specifically, Tom mentioned the D & R Canal and Stoney Brook. Hook up using any of your favorite lures but Tom recommended Trout Magnets of Mepps Spinners. And just when I thought his meds were kicking in, he switched to the bass bite in Pemberton. C and R but he said that the action has been nonstop. Try some rubber worms was his suggestion. The Striper bite in the Delaware River cooled off a bit but the catfish are hitting like mad. Further up, walleyes are the talk of the town.

 

Central and North New Jersey Fishing Forecast

This weekend marks the unofficial kick off to the 2013 summer season and, as such, puts a whole new emphasis on our fishing efforts. Looking at the early weather forecasts, it would appear that wind and pop up storms should be the major roadblocks. That being said, there is a cornucopia of fishing available to those willing to pursue our sport. Water temps in the north portions of the state seem to be a bit off the normal, so I would look in the rivers and bays if fluke is your target. Most of the fish I have cleaned so far this year had crab in their bellies. Also be aware that killies are in somewhat short supply. Have backup bait available. Gulp, squid, mackerel or spearing are all working. The beaches have been lighting up with blues and bass, depending on the bunker pods. Yesterday, Long Branch had some major activity. Pencil Poppers were reported as the best producers. Bait of choice off the beaches was fresh bunker chunks. Fresh water wise, I would target trout in any of your regular streams and lakes. The state did their last stocking during the week and cleaned out their holding pens. There are some really nice brooks in the water now. Check the DEP website for specific locations that they recently stocked. Plenty to do, just a matter of making a plan and going with it. Please stay safe out there. It’s a holiday weekend and people tend to get over enthusiastic and mistakes happen. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.