Practice time is over as far as I am concerned. Most of the casual anglers have departed, back to the comfort of their year round homes, leaving the waters all around the state open to we dedicated fishermen and women. Bar none, this is my favorite time of the year. There are more opportunities for fishing in the late summer early fall than one can even imagine. For the next few weeks, some will fade off into the winter sunset but others will step up to take their place. If you can’t fish now, chances are it’s because you aren’t putting a line in the water. By the time the mullet and other baitfish start their migration luring the bass out of hiding, there is plenty to keep you busy. Now is the time to load up and stock the freezer for what I am thinking will be a long cold winter. Let’s see what our scouts on the front line have to say.

In the Toms River area, Chris at Better Bait and Ice is the man when it comes to local reports. When I spoke to him this week, he informed me that the fluke bite has been best on the ocean side (specifically off the amusements in Seaside) but they are still catching them at the mouth of the river. Squid strips and white Gulps have been the best for action. Chris mentioned the BB Buoy as well for both fluke and the blowfish that are still in the area. Crabbing has been really good lately with one customer getting 5 dozen keepers in a half day of crabbing. The perch bite has been slow but there have been some weakfish taken in the river.

Down in Cape May, Joe at Hands Too Bait and Tackle tells me the reefs close in have finally bloomed. The Cape May and Wildwood reefs have all be giving up nice fish. Joe suggest big baits like strips of cut bait or Gulp Squiddos in the six inch size matched with a 7/0 hook on a two foot leader. There has also been some weakfish action off Cape May Point and in the canal. Crabbing slacked off after the last moon. If you are looking to simply catch, head over to the point and set up for spot, croakers and small blues and weakies which are there in numbers. Joe tells me that the D-Bay is overrun with croakers. The sod banks in the back are holding some decent stripers which is no surprise as the peanut bunker are around as well as some nice corn cob mullet. Things are definitely taking shape in the far south. I wouldn’t be surprised to start hearing some reports on red fish in the area.

With the offshore bite heating up again and the fall striper run on the horizon, I suggest you shoot over to the Tackle Direct site or better yet, their store, and restock the tackle box now while you can. They have some hot sales going on right now. When I spoke to Ed at the shop in Egg Harbor Township (Tilton Road- in the old Staples location) he told me that the local flounder bite has been off the wall. The TI and OC Reefs have been the hot spots but most are producing. Look for 60-80 feet of water and use big bait. Go big or go home Ed told me. Still some weakfish action in the back with spikes off the front. Sheephead is something to be aware of on any structure. Shrimp, clam or small squid on a smaller hook is the key. Stay alert, they are bait thieves. Off the beaches, flounder, kingfish and croakers rules the surf. Some spot as well. Last year around this time, I caught some nice pompano off the beaches in Margate while fishing with blood worms.

Lenny Hahn at Capt’n Hippo Bait and Tackle on Atlantic City Blvd in Toms River tells me that the fishing up there has been good and seems to be picking up a little of late. Being back up the river can be tough this time of year when the water heat up. Bait fish tend to head for cooler waters out front, taking the bigger prey with them. But there is still plenty of game left in the area. Snappers and spot are still in good number and if you move into the bay, there are plenty of blowfish in the area. Don’t forget a clam log to lull them in. Lenny also told me that the white perch in the area are perking up a bit. Worms, specifically night crawlers seem to be working best as bait. If you are looking for some fresh water action, there has been some good largemouth action in most of the local ponds and lakes. There was a 20” LM bass taken in Ocean County College Lake recently. Looking back to the salt, Lenny tells me he is starting to see some bank action on stripers at first and last light. Most of the bass are shorts but they can be the best fighters. Top water lures are the best producers.

I spoke with Lou at Two Chums Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle with the specific intention of seeing how their boat rental customers were doing with crabbing in the area. He told me crabbing has been good and that one of the patrons came in with not only a nice haul of crabs but also a keeper striper for their efforts. Fluking has been decent off the beaches and better at the TI Reef. There are kingfish and spot in the surf. Some small blues are filtering into the bay.

If you are in or heading to LBI to wet some lines and in need of bait, check out the web site for Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin (just off the Rte. 72 causeway) before you leave the house. Their “live bait board” will tell you exactly what they have in stock. This is a great idea. When I contacted the shop this week to see where the hot action was, they pointed me to the north or south Garden State Reef. Look for the deepest water you can find there and use big strip baits like squid or cut mackerel and big Gulp baits for the best results. There are blues and fluke in the inlet and back bay but the throw back ratio is a little higher. There are still some blowfish in the area. There have also been some nice black drum taken in the area. Peanut bunker and spot are all over the bay waters, don’t discount them as fine fluke bait either. Make sure you pack your cast net. Crabbing in the area has been decent. White perch can be found in fingers behind Mystic, if you are looking for some fine table fare. Shedder crabs are the best baits right now.

Captain David Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center is gearing up for the fall striper run as we speak but don’t think for a moment he has forgotten about the flounder in the area. He is one of the few shops who keep live spot and mullet along with most other baits you will need for a successful outing. If you are limited to the bay waters, the best areas for flounder are the cans just outside the Absecon Creek and the Inlet drifting past the Coast Guard station. Out front, the GE and AC Reef have been productive. Water in excess of 80 feet seems to be the key. Best baits include Gulp 6” grubbs in chartreuse and pink. Long strip baits such as squid and mackerel are also getting a lot of attention. Back inshore, anglers throwing top water baits are having fun with stripers along the sod banks at first and last light where the peanuts and mullet are congregating. There are still some nice weakfish in the back and Dave recommends shedder crab if you are targeting them. Crabbing in the area has been a little slow since the last moon but should rebound.

Looking a little further out to sea, I contacted Tom Wolfe at Jersey Tackle in Brick to get a grip on what is going on with the deep water bite. With most of the big tournaments over, he can get a little more specific with his recommendations, another reason I like this time of year. There has been some serious action in The Square and the Hudson according to Tom. It’s not only long fin and big eye tuna out there but some serious Blue and White Marlin. Tom recommends Jet Strike Glow lures if these are your targets. He had some serious action out there over the weekend in some really tough seas. Their crew boated over 15 whites and blues over the last trips as well as some big eye in the 175 class. There were plenty of dolphins in the areas as well. Tom is seeing better weather at the end of this week which should really make the fishing exponentially better.

In Sea Isle City, it seems that when the holiday ended, the fishing changed with the departure. Mike Cunningham, at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle tells me that all of a sudden they are getting nice flounder in the inlets on the tide changes. Additionally, the kingfish has gotten substantially better and there have been some pompano in the mix. I was waiting to hear this as I had them around this time last year as well. The same baits you use for spot (which are also still around there) should attract any pompano in the area. Mike tells me that a few customers have even come into the shop with small Jack Crevalle . Not the best eating fish in the world but fun to catch. He also told me that there are still weakfish in the area as well as a noted pick up in the striper action along the banks in the back. Small swimming pugs are your best bet for both. I asked mike if there have been any reports of redfish but none as of yet. I usually hear about them if they are around the Townsend’s inlet.

If you are heading for the beaches or water in the Wildwoods, a must stop is at the Peace Token Bait and Tackle on Rtes. 9 and 147. You will not be sorry. If you can’t find what you are looking for there, than chances are you won’t find it anywhere. When I spoke with Owner Mike Jung this week, the flounder bite off the beaches in North Wildwood was decent. Croakers and spot are still being caught with the occasional spike weakfish. The rocks by the old church are giving up the limit (one) of tog to anglers using green crab. The inshore reefs are the hot spot for flounder. Most of the local head boats are reporting good if not great days when the weather decides to play nice. The back waters have a mix of everything but usually on a little smaller basis. Stripers seem to be getting more active, probably because the bait is starting to school up more. Crabbing has been good.

The crowds in Ocean City have thinned up a bit with the start of the new school session and that means that there are more opportunities along the beaches for undisturbed fishing adventures. So I checked in with Bill at Fin-Atics Marine Supply to get a better view of the big picture. I must admit, seeing pictures of Jerry Coombs and his son Keegan holding up their catch of Sheephead taken at one of the local reefs, I knew I had to find out the rest of the story. Bill at the Shop tells me that they were off the GE using crab as bait. The biggest was 13.42 pounds. I knew they were in the area. In other news, bill tells me that the kingfish are still off the beach but you need to cast out a little to get past the spot in the surf. Flounder fishing remains consistent at all of the local inshore reefs but the water has cooled a bit so you need not fish in the really deep holes. There are weakfish inside the inlets and bays by the bridges in the evening. Pink artificial lures have been the most productive.

Best Bets for the Weekend

If you don’t catch any fish this weekend, I recommend you check the line on your reels. More than likely you will find it’s still dry. Not putting a line in the water may be the only way not to catch fish this time of year. Pick your prey and have at it. From land or from boat, conditions look to be ideal for the next five days. And the best is yet to come. The bait in most places are starting to bunch up, getting ready to make their move. And there are some exotics around like cobia, sheephead and trigger. I am pretty sure it doesn’t get any better than this. So stop in your local B & T and load up with your favorite baits and lures and dive in. The water is still warm. While you are there, give the proprietors a big “job well done”. For most of them, it has been a rough year recovering from what is widely perceived as catastrophic off season. Most of them have been working non-stop since last October recovering from Sandy’s devastation. And by all accounts, they did one hell of a job. Let them know that you noticed. And when you hit the water, stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.