In case you missed the notice, summer is about to come to an end. Cooler weather patterns snuck up on me out of the blue. I first noticed it over the weekend when I hit the beach for some plug tossing and never even considered throwing a pair of waders or even hip boots in with my gear. The water was still warm enough to fish bare-footed in the surf but I have to tell you that stepping out of it was an experience beyond my limited comprehension. Water temperatures have definitely cooled down a bit with inshore reading hovering in the mid to upper sixties. What kept me going was the occasional pod of mullet which seem to be testing the waters as well. And if the mullet are moving, you know what that indicates. The fall run is about to swing into action. And while there is still some time left in the summer flounder season, you just might want to consider doing an inventory of your tackle box. It is definitely time to start making the gear switch and where necessary, replenishing the essentials. And when you find holes in the fabric of your fishing system, head over to one of our sponsors to close it up. I have visited most of them over the last few months and believe me when I say they are ready, willing and able to close any gaps you may have.

Right form the start, I am going to point you towards a special event that will take place this weekend in Egg Harbor Township. To coincide with the opening of their Shimano Technical Center and the G. Loomis Performance Center at their Tilton Road Store, Larry Dahlberg, star of TV’s “Hunt for Big Fish” will be at the Tackle Direct shop to meet and greet the masses. Highlighted by two days of fishing demonstrations, contests, giveaways and seminars, it is definitely worth adding to your schedule. I know I plan on attending.

Over in Absecon, Captain Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center is hard at work filling up all his live bait reserves in anticipation of the fall season. If you are a fan of live bait, there isn’t a better shop in the area as far as stock goes. You name it; ABSC more than likely carries it. Green Crabs, eels, live spot, bunker, blood worms, live mullet and clams are just a few of Captain Dave’s offerings. In local fishing, the cap tells me that the bait is teeming in the bays and back waters. Mullet and peanut bunker are crowding the creek leading out to Absecon Inlet. Dave tells me that there are still flounder being caught inside the bay in areas like the cans and Little Panama. Some nice to have been hooked around the Brigantine Bridge. On the local beaches, spot and kingfish rule the surf. Further out, anglers are still having success on the reefs for flounder. Hot baits are cut strips of squid, Gulp (Chartreuse and pink) and live spot. The mullet are filtering out to the front and as a result, bass are starting to chase them. The best bass bite is still in the back waters but there has been some action off the beaches. Croakers and spike weakfish are still around the area.

On the Toms River, the man in the know is Lenny Hahn, owner of Captain Hippo’s Bait and Tackle. When I chatted with Lenny this week, he was excited to say that there have been some nice striped bass taken on clam back behind the old Tilco. Fish up to 36 inches according to the reports. Some weakies have also been showing up in the area. Lenny suggests using peanut bunker for best results. Ben Dow brought in 3 keepers while drifting minnows in the Manasquan. Lenny tells me that people are still crabbing in the area with mixed results. White perch fishing in the area has been picking up with the drop in water temps. Anglers using worm pieces and shedder crabs have been having the best catching days. I asked Lenny about the blowfish bite in the bay but he hadn’t heard anything. I have heard of some being caught but the bite has definitely slowed down. Water temperatures dropping most likely play a big part in that. All in all, fishing sounds good in the area. If you stop in the shop, make sure Lenny is bundled up and taking his medicine. He had a touch of pneumonia last week and is still fighting it a bit. Get well Lenny!

Venturing further to the south, I spoke with Nick at Hands Too Bait and Tackle in Cape May, one of my favorite fishing locations in the fall. With the ocean and bay so close to each other there, the odds of getting the skunk are very low. Moving to another spot is always just a few minutes away. Nick tells me that the flounder are still inshore and the offshore spots like the old grounds have petered out. The Cape May and Wildwood reefs have had great action. But the big news is that the recent drop in air temperatures and the nor ‘east wind have turned on the striper bite. Anglers throwing poppers and swimmers with teasers ahead of them have been taking bass off the rocks at the point. In addition to the mullet moving, Nick tells me that peanuts, spearing and bay anchovies are all over the inlet and beaches. Bluefish up to 24” are also patrolling the local waters. Metal and strip baits are the best attractants for the blues. Not interested in bass, flounder or blues? There are plenty of spot, croakers and kingfish still in the local waters. And Nick reminded me not to forget crabbing. This is traditionally the time when the crabs are overlooked and also the time when they are the biggest of the season.

Chris at Better Bait and Ice in Toms River tells me the area is still recovering from the fire in Seaside last week so reports have been a little muted. There has been some bass activity with anglers live lining spot having the best success. Chris also tells me that the crabbing has been still good in the area. He also has some reports of black drum (puppy) in the Barnegat Inlet. Croakers and blowfish are still in the area. Both can be taken on clam. There has also been some weakfish up to 20” taken back in the Oyster Creek.

Down in Sea Isle I always check in with Mike Cunningham at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle. The flounder, according to Mike, are still going strong but there is definitely a move to deeper water. Anglers at the Sea Isle Ridge have been doing well in + 80 feet of water. The inshore reefs are also still producing. Best baits have been big Gulps and Bigger cut baits. Off the beaches, kingfish and spot are still around. The mullet are moving in the area and anglers throwing metal have been getting blues up to five pounds in the bait runs. If you can get below the bluefish, then you have a shot at picking up a bass or weakfish with the same lure. Mike also tells me there are still plenty of bass in the back along the sod banks. Dusk and dawn have been the best catching times and top water plugs like the Still Water Smack it’s have been getting a lot of attention. Crabbing in the back remains good. And if the one fish limit doesn’t scare you away, mike tells me that green crabs are getting some nice tautog at the rocks in the Townsends Inlet Bridge.

Long Beach Island is one of my favorite spots in the fall. There is deep water right off the beaches, plenty of places for the bait to hole up and a wide variety of action. To get a current read of the area, I always make Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin my first stop before venturing over the causeway onto the Island. When I spoke with Matt at the shop this week, he told me that the mullet was running the beachfront but the action was still far below prime. Fluking was the main game in town right now and the Garden State Reef has been the preferred arena of action. Anglers using Gulp or cut baits are having the best luck. There are still blowfish in the area but the bite has definitely slowed down according to Matt. As always, clam is the best bait. Mitch Krezel and Shawn Hawthorne sent me some pics from the beach of a haul that included some nice weakfish, kingfish croakers and spot. All were taken off the Beach in the Holgate area. They married it with some Jersey Corn and tomatoes to make what I understand was a great end of season “Jersey Fresh” meal. I would have added some crabs, which are still doing well in the area, but that’s just me.

I have to get down to Wildwood to hit the beaches down that way but before I go I thought I would check in with Mike Jung of Peace Token Tackle Bait and Tackle on Route 9 and Route 147. I know I have said this before but you need to check this shop out. If there is a better stocked shop in the area, I must have missed it. Mikes hand tied rigs are favorites of anglers all over the northeast. And his selection of fishing tackle is literally from floor to ceiling. The local head boat fleet has been hitting the inshore reefs hard and being rewarded with some nice flounder as the season winds down. Not to worry as they will retool and put out for black sea bass as soon as it reopens on September 27th. On the beches, there have been reports of striped bass following mullet and blues trying to steal some meals. The blues aren’t huge but are fun. On the Delaware Bay side, there are reports of weakfish as well as some striped bass action at the point. Anglers using top water plugs and Daiwa SP Minnows are having the best success. Additionally, there are croakers and spot in the area.

I sent a message out to Tom Wolfe at Jersey Tackle in Brick looking for some of his expertise on the offshore bite. Heard back the following:

The Hudson finally opened up with yellow fin this week. Several boats coming in Monday with yft and longfin…. all they wanted.  Toms and Wilmington have been hot for big eye and yellow fin too but this is the first time the yellow fin have made a showing in the Hudson. 
Bluefin still being caught on the mid-shore grounds, with tons of bonito in close at just 3-4 miles off the shoreline. Bluefin can be found along the 20 & 30 lines with a few wahoo taken recently as well. Wahoo for our customers have been on Tornado Chrome Headed Lures.  

We just brought in 3 new lure manufacturers to the shop. Bost  Lures from Florida, Magic lures from Hawaii and Aloha lures from Hawaii. All are custom handmade lures for tuna and marlin. 

Big eye action to south, but a few eyeballs had at the 100 square too. 

Thanks Tom. I always look to others who have more experience in areas of fishing where I am weak. My offshore days are long behind me and I appreciate the help.

Best Bets for the Weekend

I guess it goes without saying that fluke is the target of the weekend in as much as it is the last weekend you can legally target them. The early weather reports seem to be pointing towards a spirit of cooperation in that regard. The blast of cold air temperatures we have been dealing with also seems to have stirred the wander lust in the mullet of the coast. They are slowly filtering out from the west and turning hard south. I have had several days now where there have been nice pods of bait moving from north to south. Bluefish are starting to show up but not in the numbers I would prefer. And while there have been some solid reports on weakfish, I would not be surprised to hear that strengthen as well. If you are looking to stock up your bait pen with spot for the fall run, I would definitely think about putting some time in on that front. The water temperatures are slipping and there is no telling how long you will have access to them. As of right now, they are strong in numbers right now but water just as water temperatures dictate their arrival, it also tells them when to head out. Who knows, you might also have the opportunity to grab some northern kingies at the same time. Early fall is a great time for anglers. So many options it can make your head spin. Whatever option you choose, please be careful out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.