Stripers, Weakfish Going Strong
Fluke Opens in Less Than 2 Weeks
In less than two weeks, the flood gates will swing open and the fluke season will be off and running. If you have not taken the time to get your tackle in fishing mode, now is the time to do so. There is nothing as frustrating as getting out on the water on opening day, only to find out you are missing some essential component necessary to put that first fish in the cooler. Rain is forecast through the weekend, can there be a better time to make a list and check it twice? Yes, I know that’s a Christmas saying but then again, isn’t opening day of fluke season a second Christmas for most New Jersey anglers? I know it is for me! Anyway, water temperatures are on the rise across the state and bait levels are starting to show signs of breaking their winter repose. All signs point to a healthy kickoff of the 2013 fluking season. Stripers, weakfish along with a host of other species are already making a strong showing and I expect fluke to follow that pattern. Let’s see if our scouts in the north and central regions agree with my assessment.
At the top of the state, in Keyport, the place for the latest hot spot is Joey’s Bait Shack on Front Street. I spoke with Joe to get his feel for the conditions and he told me that the striped bass bite has been good with anglers using fresh clam or bunker having the best success off the beaches. Nico brought a 40” striper into the shop this week and Jim Mick matched that with a 16 pounder. Both fish were taken off the local beaches. Blues up to 8 pounds on the same baits. Joe informed me that the best catches have been on bait so far as the waters are still cool and the fish are a little hesitant on the bite. Some fishermen are having success trolling Stretch 25’s from their boats as well. The weakfish have recently moved into the back waters and sand worms have been the ticket for your one keeper. The Bait Shack is on regular hours and carries a full line of tackle and fresh baits.
Captain Mike Sisto of Jersey Key Charters reported excellent striper fishing in the Raritan Bay, with many fish in the 20-pound class. This week, anchoring up with moving current to clam or chunk bunker produced big numbers. With the larger fish around, trolling bunker spoons is also starting to produce. Bunker pods are moving into the bay, and the spring bite is shaping up.
In Point Pleasant, to say it was a long winter could be the understatement of the year. Sandy put a stop to all fishing and it’s only been of late that the anglers are returning to the water. I spoke with Bob at the Reel Life there and he told me that Bass and blues have been lighting up the local beaches and inshore waters. Clam has been the preferred baits of most anglers or fresh bunker where available. Swimming shads have also been used with good success. If you are looking for some weakfish action, Bob suggested heading to the Manasquan River where the reports have been the strongest. Reel Life in on their extended summer hours already and is fully stocked in the live bait department.
In the Toms River, my go to person is George at Go Fish Bait and Tackle. When I charted with him this week, stripers were the main topic of the discussion. Using fresh bunker or clam, they have been having good days in the bay. If its blues you are looking for, head to the BB Buoy and throw anything you have at them, they have been parked there chasing bunker. George tells me the local perch bite has slowed down a bit but the weakfish bite is on by the power plant. For the weakies, George recommends using pink or white swim shads to maximize your catch. The shop just got in a new batch of fresh clam and bunker and is back on regular hours of operation.
When I spoke with Bob at Meltzer’s Sporting Goods in Garfield this week, the last thing I expected to get was a fluke report. But that is exactly what happened. Fishing from the NY side where fluke has already opened, they had more than a few flat fish up to 22 inches. They also had good action with striped bass on clam baits and small blues to the point they became a nuisance. Bob tells me that the waters off Sandy Hook have be very active but the water temperatures there have been all over the place. When they are up, the fish have been active and a day later, winds drive the water temperatures down almost 10 degrees and the bite shuts off. Blue fish in the area have been steady but the bass bite, a little more fickle. So he recommends keeping an eye on that until we get into a steady spring/summer pattern. On the plus side, there have been good reports of bait, mostly bunker, in the area. Bob told me to remind you that Meltzer’s is holding their spring rod sale right now. Any rod with a price in excess of $70.00 is available for a 20% discount. That makes it the perfect time to grab that high end piece you’ve be longing for. Tell them Mike from OTW sent you.
Captain Chris Hueth and the crew of the New Big Mohawk have switched to striped bass while waiting for the fluke season and guess what? They are slaying them as usual. No big surprise there. White shads and spinning tackle have been the most consistent workers but if live bait is the ticket then that will work as well. The Mohawk has had fish in excess of thirty pounds on a regular basis which explains why they have been sailing with a full complement of anglers when the weather allows. They will be switching gears to fluke as soon as the season opens so if you want a odds on chance at some big stripers, get on over to Belmar and sign up for a trip on the Mohawk. Weather permitting it breaks dock at 6:30am each day.
When I spoke with Ron at Fishermen’s Supply Company in Point Pleasant the news of the day was blue fish up to 8 pounds everywhere. It should be noted that there are some big pods of adult bunker in the area so finding the blues is as simple as looking for the bait. Ron also said that anglers that could get through the blues are finding nice sized striped bass with no problem at all. If you are looking for action Ron suggested trying a Daiwa SP Minnow in the new pearl white color or a Baker JLD series in white or silver. Both have been producing great results of late. There are some weakfish starting to show up and Ron points to the shallows in the lower side of the bay to increase the odds of taking a keeper. Fishermen’s Supply Company is fully recovered from the wrath of Sandy and fully stocked with live baits and tackle to help you in your efforts.
Snake Heads. Tom P. of the Sportsmen’s Center in Bordentown told me they are in the area. An invasive species, they can run as big as 8 pounds and can decimate a fishing habitat. Tom has seen pictures of a 6 pound snake head taken in Crystal Lake by Doug Radier. If you catch one, they are not to be returned to the water per NJDEP. From their site:
New Jersey statutes prohibit the possession or release of live, potentially dangerous animals including fish. Dangerous species are defined as “a species that is non-native to an ecosystem and whose introduction causes, or is likely to cause, economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.” The Fish Code identified ten such species (see below). These fish are considered to possess the potential for becoming a significant threat to indigenous animals, the environment, or public safety. Possession and/or release of live potentially dangerous fish species is prohibited and if these species are encountered while angling they must be destroyed. All but one of these species, the silver carp, has been found in New Jersey already.
Snakeheads and flathead catfish are top level predators and may negatively impact the structure of indigenous and established fish populations. Bighead carp and silver carp threaten human health as they leap out of the water when startled and may intercept passing boaters. When unregulated, grass carp are an invasive species that can over-graze aquatic vegetation, thus destroying fish habitat. Green sunfish and warmouths have a larger mouth than the state’s native sunfish, thus have the ability to outcompete native fish. Asian swamp eel, brook stickleback, and oriental weatherfish are highly tolerant, generalist feeders that compete with native fish.
Anglers must destroy these species if encountered while fishing and are asked to submit specimen(s) to Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries personnel for verification. Fish and Wildlife’s fisheries biologists can be reached at 908-236-2118 for northern New Jersey, and at 856-629-4950 for southern New Jersey.
Tom also informed me there is a new batch of shad in the Delaware River. Trout are still going strong, most are the recently stocked variety and the best attractants have been the Gulp Power Baits And Mepps Spinners. Walleye up to eight pounds have been the talk of the D&R Canal according to Tom.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
Weather is the key this weekend but the weather people haven’t been too accurate of late. Blues and stripers are active in the front and back coast wide. There are weakfish as far north as Manasquan, mostly in the warmer waters. Average water temps have been holding in the mid-fifties in the front but you can find much warmer water in the back where the water gets skinny. The perch bite has quieted down a bit. On the fresh water scene, I would head for the Delaware River where the variety is much wider. Shad are still being caught along with some walleye and nice bass. If the weather does turn south, then make the best of it. With no lawn work, you have the perfect excuse to work on the tackle box. And if you should find your gear in need of some replenishment, try to give a play to your local Bait and Tackle shop. Most are still dealing with the clean-up of the mess that Sandy left them with and would love to see your smiling face in their shop. Every little bit helps. But whichever option, please stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.