There are several difficult issues one has to deal with when writing a weekly fishing report. When fishing is tough in some areas, you have to keep in mind that everyone has to deal with the same conditions and that it is called fishing, not catching, nor a reason. There are no guarantees in fishing as there are none with life. My goal when I sit down each week to prepare the On the Water report is to paint as accurate a picture as possible to give the reader the best chance at having a successful day with rod and reel in hand. The fish are always out there but some days they aren’t as cooperative as others. This season, at times, has been especially tough. More big fish, especially flounder are being netted but all in all, the gross numbers seem to be down. Long periods of South winds have kept the waters unusually cool which in turn has made for some tough days. But if you do your homework and put in a little extra effort to the task at hand, I am sure you are doing well. Most of the individuals that supply us with scouting reports know that and share their best information with us so that you can put fish in the cooler. After all, it’s in their best interest to keep you happy and putting fish on your hook is the best way to do that. Let’s see what they have to offer this week. And by the way, if you run into any of those who provide the information that makes these reports possible; don’t forget to give them a “job well done”. They work hard and deserve the recognition.
Had the Chance to fish the Porgy IV out of Cape May the other day at the Old Grounds and while it as a slow pick, Captain Paul Thompson worked hard and we all went back with fish. I only took one but it was 6+ pounds and that is good enough for me. As with any trip I am on, I talk to as many anglers as I can, always trying to learn. One of the things everyone was talking about was Peace Token Bait and Tackle (in Cape May Court House) and how good of a tackle shop it is. Considering it is new to the area in the last few years having moved from NY, I was very impressed./ I have been in the shop and it is undoubtedly one of the best stocked shops in the state and the prices are right as well. Owner Mike Jung is a regular on the Porgy or so I have been told and know his fishing. Deep water fishing this year has been very inconsistent with some good days and some better days. The fish are there but you need to put in the time. Best baits yesterday were Bucktails and Gulps but all baits were catching.
A friend of mine told me he had his kids on the Toms the other day and the slayed the blue claw crabs there but didn’t know the exact area. So I out a call in to Chris at Better Bait and Ice up there he told me that the best place for crabs has been the Gilford Park area. He also went on to say that the fluking has been up considerably since we last spoke and the area behind the hospital in Manasquan is best right now. Snapper blues are all over the place and can be had with spearing or small metals. Blowfish are pretty much a no show with the exception of some activity over by the power plant which indicates the cold water is playing a factor there. Chris says local waters in the river mouth have been around 65 degrees but moving up lately.
It goes without saying that one of the best venues for feet in the sand fishing in the Garden State is Island Beach State Park. And if you are up that way and need bait, Grumpy’s Tackle is the place to stop before you rill onto the beach. Mike at the shop tells me that conditions up there are about normal for this time of year. Night anglers are still getting some bass off the beach using Black Bombers, clam or fresh bunker. There are smaller blues around as well but recently, an 8.25 pound yellow eyed demon was caught in the back which is a good indicator of things to come. There have also been some nice fluke taken in the surf. Most anglers are using Gulp Products or spearing but mike recommends tipping a S&S Rattletail with a Pearl or Chartreuse if you are looking for a prime specimen. Bucktails have been coming into the shop with the best fish lately. Water temperatures off the beach are still in the mid to high sixties but have started to move higher.
Having a bad time at the tables and looking for something to get your luck back? Jump on the High Roller Fishing Boat out of Gardiners Basin and change your luck with a half day of fishing on Absecon Bay. Captain and owner, Mike Tobasso tells me that the fish has been good and where cooler waters can hurt the inshore fishermen, it has helped the bay anglers. Pool winners are still averaging 4 pounds per trip and while the throw back ratio has climbed a bit, there is still plenty of action on flat fish. You don’t even need to bring rods and reels as the High roller has rental equipment available for a modest price and bait is included in the cost (27) of a four hour trip.
While we are on the subject of AC and fishing I have another suggestion if you are in the area and looking to fill in some free time and boating isn’t your cup of tea. Noel Felciano of One Stop Bait and Tackle will always point you in the right direction. Right now he is pointing towards the jetties and the seawall where the tog and trigger fish are absolutely on fire. Even with the one fish limit on tog, you can add some triggers to the catch for a nice cooler. Noel tells me that anglers fishing in the back, around Clam Creek (look for the windmills) killing the kingfish. Blood worms (One Stop ALWAYS has them) are the prime bait. In One Stop two, Noels other shop in Gardiners Basin, they tell me that the fluke bite is as good as it is in the local surf. Noel suggests using a high low rig in the bay and in the surf, a busktial tipped with almost any bait is key. But he says the fish are in tight, as tight as you can get in the beach which means in the low suds. Noel asked to remind you about the upcoming Beach and Boat special event on the AC beash on April 22nd. Fifteen Thousand dollars for the biggest Kingfish, blue or flounder in a three hour window that day. Check out ONE Stops FB page for additional info. It’s free but you need to register for the special event.
John Yak at the Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights reports that crabbing in the area has lit up in the big time level. Customers renting boats at the shop are regularly coming in enough blue claws to feed even the biggest of families. Even the crabbers off the Dock Outfitters pier are doing very well. There are also blues all over the area, most in the snapper designation. Fluking in the area is fair to middling with the bay ratio going up a bit as is common for this time of year. Surf anglers using spearing and squid are having god days on the fluke as well.
A good captain will find a way to put you on the fish regardless of the conditions. That’s called playing the hand you were dealt. Captain Kenny Namowitz of the Mimi VI is one of those captains. When the fluke fishing gets tough he will put you in a spot where you can supplement the action with sea bass, ling and winter flounder. In fact Ken told me he had a 17 inch winter flounder just the other day. Yes sir, the water is cold but the fishing is good if you know where to look. When she doesn’t have private charters the MIMI IV runs some great open boat trips. Next week the schedule shows open boat trips on 7/26 and 7/31. Call ahead (732-370-8019) for reservations.
The reports coming out of the Long Beach Island Area tell me that fishing there remains at a “good” level. At least that is what the gang at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin is telling me. Some areas like the Oyster Creek and Double Creek are doing very well but the throwback to keeper ration is sliding north. Fluke on spearing or Chartreuse Berkeley Gulp 4”Swim Mullet are hot baits. For inshore reef fishermen, the Garden State has been the local hot spot. Head for the north Barnegat Ridge and target small blues and Bonito if you are looking for some action. Ling and trigger fish are the primary attractions in some of the deeper holes. Sea bass are still spotty. Crabbing remains very good in the bay.
Sandy at Capt’n Hippos Bait and Tackle in Toms River describes the action on the River as non-stop on snapper blues and crabs. She recommends spearing or metal on the blues. She has had some reports of blackfish off the rocks in the inlets. Most anglers are using crab for the tog but some are having success with clam pieces. The fluke bite is decent around the BB buoy in the bay but throw backs are far outnumbering the keepers. Spearing, Killies, Squid and Gulp baits are the top producers. Sandy also confirmed it has been a tough year for a bay staple, blowfish.
Sailing out of Barnegat Light, Super Chic Charter Fishing is reporting that the inshore bite has been good with Fluke and sea bass dominating the bottom fishing. And ling has also been coming up off the deeper wrecks. Captain Ted White has also doing good trolling up small blues and bonito. Bluefish in the 1-3 pound range and bonito about double that size. The Chic is targeting tuna as much as possible these days as the bite has been red hot. They have some holes in their schedule that need to be filled so give them a shout if you are looking for a ride that can handle up to 20 passengers. The Super Chic is rated for more but tries to limit numbers for a safe and comfortable fishing experience. Call 609.709.1686 for reservations and available dates or email: superchic2fish@comcast.net.
In Point Pleasant, I spoke with John at Fisherman’s Supply to get a touch of the offshore action. He related to me that the talk of the week has been the Bluefin action at the 30 fathom line of the Chicken Canyon. Fish up to 100 pounds are normal with the majority being taken by those trolling ballyhoo. Second choice to live bait would be trolling spreader bars with green machines or squid set ups. John told me that the morning action has been red hot. On the way out or back, there are some nice mahi at the pots. If you are looking towards white marlin, John recommends the 100 Square where there have been some nice temperature breaks. Fisherman’s Supply will have a seminar next week at the shop featuring Chuck Richardson of Tournament Cable who will be discussing the intricacies of dredge fishing. The seminar starts at 6pm but if you get there early, John will be holding a ballyhoo rigging demo before Chuck starts his presentation. Sound like a good time.
Some house cleaning:
The Stray Cat (Longport) has Open Boat days next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. Trolling for inshore blues or Bonito or bottom fishing. Call Captain Mike O’Neil at 609-391-9630.
The Duke O’Fluke (Somers Point)Sails twice daily from Bay Avenue and is a great way to get the kids or family out on Greater Egg Harbor for some flounder fishing. Captain Brooke sails at 8am an 1pm every day. The Duke is a 50 foot pontoon boat with amenities. Rental rods are available for a nominal fee.
The Captain Robbins in Ocean City (4 hr ocean fishing) and its sister ship, the Miss Ocean City (4 hr bay fishing) both sail daily from their slip in OC. Captain Vic Taylor and his crew run two trip daily on each boat. On weekends, the Robbins does full day bottom fishing trips on the local wrecks.
The Carolyn Ann III is now sailing two 4-hour trips daily, sailing time 8:00 am to 12, then again at 1 pm to 5 pm. The price is $40 for adults and $20 for children. Also if you sailed the morning trip and you would like to go back out on the second trip, the cost is only $20 for an adult and $10 for a child. Fishing rods are available for rental for $5 and the bait is provided. The Carolyn Ann III is berthed in Barnegat Light.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Early weather forecasts are calling for a cooler than normal Friday and Saturday and a return to normal summer patterns come Sunday. Enough wind to get a good drift going but not so much as to bother your casting efforts from the shore. For you bottom fishermen and offshore anglers, it looks to be very good. Don’t forget that tog reopened (1 fish) and there are trigger fish in the same area. Kingfish, while not mentioned much in this week’s forecast, are around in strong numbers. And the cooler waters seem to make fluke fishing from the beaches an especially attractive option this year as they are hugging the coastline. It hasn’t been the greatest of seasons so far this year but it is far from the worst. There are some huge flounder being caught just not in the numbers we would hope for. But if you try hard, you will be rewarded. Whatever option you go for, stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.