Tip for the Day. Fishing is not a spectator sport; it is one that requires participation. Catching isn’t mandatory but actually wetting a line is. We will help you with the catching part of the equation but you have to actually put a line in the water to use the information we provide. I would also ask that you get involved with the other parts of the sport that have an effect on our sport. Currently, the state is holding hearing in regard to the future of the striped bass fishery. Get involved if you can. I realize it is hard to comment on fishing issues in this state. For all intent and purpose, you have to do so at a NJMFC meeting and that always isn’t the most convenient thing to do. But in order to have your voice heard, you have to make the effort. Personally, I am pushing the “Powers that be” for a more accessible method of contacting the council. Stay tuned. Getting back to the catching part, We at OTW and our scouts in the field are here for you. We promise to give you the best information available to put to help you put fish on the hook. No guarantees, just another piece of ammo in the tackle box. Let’s take a stroll down the coast and see what’s happening out there.
Captains Ken Keller and Matt Sosnowski of the Norma K III in Point Pleasant know that the end of summer flounder season is just around the corner and have promised to take advantage of every day left. Hard winds have made for some tough times of late but the outlook for the remainder of the week looks promising. Recent trips have had great fluking and the evening runs are starting to get consistent blues in the 10+ pound range. Winds have been a problem lately so call before heading down to make sure that there will be fishing for you. You can reach the boat at 732-496-5383.
A quick reminder that the Carolyn Ann III in Barnegat Light has trimmed its daily trips back to one six hour run. Captain Bill Hammarstrom reports that the fishing has been great lately (when the winds let them have at it) and they have even had some mahi on a few of their inshore trips. Captain Bill says the conditions are primed for a big closing in the next few weeks. With sea bass closed until mid-October, they will be pushing hard through the end of the season to make sure you have a something for the table until the fall run starts.
According to John Bushell Jr. of Betty and Nicks Bait and Tackle in Seaside, the fishing has been great in Island Beach State Park until the new moon and recent northeast blow. Fluke in the surf has been close to the best it has been all season. Bucktails tipped with your favorite bait has been calling up some nice fish and John expects that to resume as the winds lie down. Depending on how much weed the super moon high tides pull from the back, the bait run should start any day now. There have already been some scattered reports of mullet in the cuds but nothing to get excited about yet. Water temperatures remain in the seventies.
With the end of the fluke season within sight of the horizon, The Gambler Deep Sea Fishing team is already making plans to fill in the gaps for those of you looking to keep a line in the water. They have an “inshore exotics” trip scheduled for Monday September 29th and October 13th targeting mahi, tuna and jacks. Seating is limited to 30 so reservations are a must. But don’t give up on fluking yet. They will be sailing daily from their berth in Point Pleasant and have a special Fluke Marathon on September 23rd which leaves at 6am. Once again, reservations are recommended for the special trip. The Gambler also has some offshore big game trips scheduled in October. Check out their web site for more information.
John Yak at The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights informs us that the beach front fishing has been tough lately with the north winds churning up the surf. There are still nice fluke to be found and some nice bluefish but weed and waves have made it a trying task. Once that clears out, there should be better fishing. The back waters still have an abundance of snappers and there are reports of decent blowfish in the area. Crabbing off the docks and rental boats remains “decent”. If you are looking to re-spool some any of your reels with new line, you need to hit the Dock Outfitters this Saturday or next as they are running their annual line specials. Bring in your reels and have them filled up with new mono or braid for 30% off regular prices. With the striper run getting ready to start any day now, that is a deal worth considering. Nothing can ruin a day faster than losing a trophy fish to a line malfunction.
I stopped in to chat with Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center and check out his “striper Madness” sale. It’s 25% off everything in the store. While I was there, I took the opportunity to get a feel for the local fishing from Curt and Dave who both told me it was a little slow. Dave feels it is because of the lack of spot which in the past few years has kept anglers busy stocking up their cages for the striper run. Curt tells me the best action has been towards Little Egg and the Mullica River, where there are a few more options. Croakers and perch can be taken closer to the river and there are still some decent flounder in the inlet. There are small bluefish all over the place. And some spike weakfish have moved into the area. For bigger fluke, it has been a must to visit the local reefs and wrecks where the fishing has been great up until the recent blow and full moon. As to how it will be when the waters settle down, the jury is still out.
I got in touch with Rich Wilkowski of the Jersey Hooker this morning while he was out with a charter in some difficult conditions. The winds were forecasted to lie down but surprise, they didn’t. Fluke has been good lately according to Captain Rich but today water has him switching to a troll for blues and bonito. That folks is the sign of a good captain, willing to adapt to the conditions to put his passengers on fishing opportunities. Rich also told me that the tuna bite has been red hot form the Wilmington all the way north. Mostly yellow fin about the further north you get, the better shot you have at an eyeball, blue or longfin tuna. Rich agreed with me that this is a strong year for Dorado as well. Inshore, albies bonito and mahi are common right now. The Jersey Hooker has both a shop and charter service in Brick. Stop in and check out their “end of season” fluke equipment sale if you are in the area.
When I’m looking for info out of Toms River, I always go to Capt’n Hippos up there for the latest scoop. Since Lenny decided to sleep in today, I spoke with Sandy, the real brains of the operation at the shop. She told me that the big news this week was some nice pickerel catches behind Planet Fitness in the fresh water part of the Toms. There are also some a load of early perch in that area. In other parts of the river, its snapper blues as far as the eye can see. Lenny’s “Lance it” custom snapper rigs are flying of the shelves. Crabbing in the area remains good. Sandy also asked me to remind you that come October, shop hours will probably change with the clocks. Look for a dawn to dusk (7 to 7) hours through the remainder of the striped bass run.
Noel Feliciano, of One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City, is not only the top bloodworm seller in the state but also AC’s best PR man. And when it comes to the bite, you will be hard pressed to find anyone with better scouting reports. Noel tells me there is still a strong hatch of bait in the wash with spearing and peanut bunker boxing in the jetties. Anglers looking for croakers or flounder are still be rewarded. The rock hoppers are getting their one fish limit of tog with green crabs but they have to wade through the shorts to get that one fish. Noel told me to remind you guys and gals out there that the Absecon Island Surf Derby starts on the 22nd of September and the badges are in already. So stop in and pick one up and then get your vehicle certified for the beach. The Absecon Island Surf Derby runs September 22nd and runs through November 2nd. Most of your local B&T’s have signups and weigh stations.
I’m a surf guy most of the time and when it comes to fall fishing, there are few better places to ply my trade then in Long Beach Island. In recent years, it has also been one of the better places by boat as well. Nice drop off just off the beaches there make for some great opportunities when it comes to most species. I spoke with Bill Heitzmann at Bill’s Surf and Tackle in Harvey Cedars this week to see if it’s time to make the daily trek from my home for some chances at good fishing. There are some nice 2 to 4 pound bluefish off the beach that get a little bigger when the bunker moves close. Bill tells me that the bunker pods around the island are huge. He warns boaters to be careful as there are some whales inshore feeding. Blackfish of the jetties and kingfish in the back waters are also active. There are also blowfish being taken around the BB buoy. Sounds like things are shaping up. Bill just got in a new line of SS Tackle’s EelZ and Slimfish line which he says are destined for greatness when the stripers show up in numbers. Stop in and check them out if you get the chance.
Nicole at Two Chums Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle tells me that the wind has been rough but if you put your time in, there are still plenty of fish out there. The Sea Isle and OC Reefs were on fire prior to this wind and with water temperatures remaining tepid, they should pick right back up when it lies down. The beaches of Sea Isle have some nice blue fish and kingfish. Keeper flounder are still being lured in but the inlets have been the best locale for them. Sod bank plug tossers are picking up some bass throwing top water lures at sunup or sunset. Nicole also told me that the crabbing has been good and should get better as we move further away from the new moon. Two Chums has some beautiful rental boats and will keep them in through the end of the season.
In Cape May Court House, Mike Jung of Peace Token Bait and Tackle reports the wind has slowed things down a bit as many of the boats have stay tied up to the docks. Prior to this blow, most of the reefs were very active with more big flounder being landed in several weeks than the rest of the summer. 5 pound fish have become almost common place at the Cape May reef. Offshore, the Wilmington was the hot spot with many yellow fins dominating the picture. There was talk of some white marlin banner days in the Baltimore but no confirmation. On the inshore ridges like the Sea Isle and the Elephants Trunk, it’s been all about trolling for dolphin, bonito and wahoo. For you beach busters out there in Cape May, the best I can tell you is the north end of Wildwood where blues, croakers and kingfish seem to be gathered up in decent numbers. The rock piles around Moores are also holding some nice tog but not giving them up too easily.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Writing a fishing forecast when there are periods like we are currently experiencing can be a challenge, to say the least. An accurate forecast relies heavily on patterns and when people aren’t fishing makes it tough to predict where the hot spots are going to be when things get back to normal. Having cried on your shoulder, I will say that the best place to look is where you last left them. The reefs were red hot up and down the coast before we had this blow. I predict that they hunkered down the same as you and I and will be there waiting for a fresh meal when we resume. King fish are starting to show up in all the usual places and the blues never left. I was hoping to hear of some redfish showing up and while I did hear of one unconfirmed in the Wildwoods, I still have hope for their arrival. The usual worry warts are out there crying that the mullet are sneaking out but I have found very little evidence of that as fact. Water temperatures are simply too high. But it doesn’t hurt to keep a watchful eye and a cast net at the ready. The weather does not look to be perfect and there is a good chance the wind will still be roaring but there is still action left in the old girl. Spend the weekend exploring would be my recommendation. That is what I plan on doing. But stay safe out there. Fishing is supposed to be fun and there is no need to take chances out there. See you on the incoming.