I think when it comes to Halloween, fish get a bad rap. You drive down the street and see lots of cute little kids dressed up as bunny rabbits, kitty cats, Scooby-Do, and even the occasional mouse. Why is it we never see a good striper costume? Sure, you might get a Shark sidekick if some kid is doing a one-armed Soul Surfer, or maybe even a Nemo if someone wants to recycle an oldie, but where is the green eyed, razor toothed bluefish? You trying to tell me a bluefish isn’t scary enough for Halloween? Try telling that to a school of bunker, or just about every soft plastic in my surf bag!
I know, you dialed this up for a fishing forecast, but I’m just casting this out there….
Bluefish are, after all, the Bait & Tackle shop owners best friend in the world. After a long summer of nice, regular business, it is truly the bluefish that empties the walls of replacement plugs, leader, and terminal tackle. Maybe next year at ICAST, we should all get together and honor the bluefish. Without them, all we would have to do right now is catch lots of stripers, and never get to buy any new stuff.
Enough free stream of thought, let get busy with your plans for the weekend. With the water temperatures beginning to reach the magic 55 degree mark, which in my mind officially signals the beginning of the fall run, there is not that much running going on. I’m not saying there are no fish being caught, but the real drag-out, knock-down, run and gun mayhem is still more of a distant memory, than a reality. Considering last November we were all too busy trying to figure out if we were going to be able even FIND our boats or a beach that was even open, what we have as of this morning is fine, but not what we dream of.
Garfield
Bob at Meltzers Sporting Goods in Garfield did have an awesome charter in the last couple days in the East River dragging eels. Consistent action on medium sized striper has all anglers smiling. The Lower Hudson has seen action for those trolling as well as the Lower Hudson near the Verrazano down to the Hook. Blackfishing has been nothing short of unreal on green crabs. Both in numbers and size. Robin’s reef, Sunken Piers off of Staten Island and anyplace on the Brooklyn waterfront where the rocks extend beyond the walls.
Raritan Bay
Darryl at Efingers Sporting Goods has decent news from the salt and the fresh. Trolling for stripers in the Sandy Hook channel is picking up a little for anglers pulling 9’rs rigs in Red and/or Green. There have been a few bass caught from the beach during the daytime, but night time is the right time for pluggers throwing Diawa SP Minnows, Bucktails with pork trailers or any big sand eel imitation. Switching gears, trout fishing in the Gorge was getting better but promises to improve even more as the rain we are getting today (Thursday) starts to bring the water levels back up. Small midges or salmon egg patterns fished in the stained water near leaves is a good strategy.
Quickie catch report from Keyport Marine Basin. Paul Blumstein & Steve Sarano were dragging Stretch 25s and brought a 33-inch bass tot he dock. One year after KMB regular “Little Joe” plucked his boat off the Verrazano Bridge, he trolled up a 16- and 17-pound striper. Happy Anniversary Joe!
Trolling off of the Middletown area has been productive for medium sized bass for those dragging Umbrella rigs and bunker spoons according to Pete at Atlantic Bait & Tackle. The beach has been very quiet but all the guys on the shop are hopeful that this weekend’s blow will turn that around.
In Hazlet, Phil at the Tackle Box says most anglers that are catching are wither dragging umbrella rigs or dropping eels in Sand Hook or Ambrose Channels. There were a couple of days earlier in the week when jigging Avas was working but right now it seems like just exercise.
Sea Bright
Although the surf continues to be slow when the sun is up, you can still see the bait out of casting range, according to Tom at Giglio’s in Sea Bright. Even though he had a few daytime weigh-ins, from 12 to 18 pounds, it is the dusk to dawn crew that is connecting with the bigger fish, and more of them. Needlefish, Hogy’s, Big Slug-Gos, anything that resembles the primary forage, sand eels, is the ticket in the dark.
Point Pleasant
News through Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant is that the longfin are still chewing out in the Hudson Canyon when weather permits the adventure. Nearshore anglers in boats are dragging umbrellas with success as well as bunker spoons. Beach anglers are trying hard during the daytime with bunker, clam and plugs but few are making good contact. Night time, again, is a different story.
Pretty consistent news from our Northern NJ network. There is a front coming through the beginning of the weekend with rain Friday and big winds. The fans could blow 40kts at some times and the seas could go 6 feet from late Thursday right through Saturday AM with a little laying down later to 3-5’s. For beach guys, winds twisting from SW to NW after midnight Friday and holding at about 10 to 15 turning West Sat. night and back around to North on Sunday.
Best Bet for this Weekend.
No sense in bagging Friday at work since it looks like a total blowout on the water and on the beach. Hopefully it will turn the surf over and bring some fish closer in. If your boat is big enough, I’d be dragging Umbrellas in Green and Red Saturday as my primary strategy. If you are committed to the beach, then you better get out your headlamp. Dusk ‘til dawn is when the catching is going on, unless you really need lots of casting practice.
Stay Tuna-ed!