It seems like only last week I was nagging everyone to get ready for the spring fishing season and here we are at Thanksgiving. Time certainly has a way of slipping past you when you aren’t paying attention. And when we are talking about fishing, it tells me that you have to take advantage of the conditions when they are in you favor or else you will find yourself sitting home wondering where the season went and why you don’t have fish in the fridge to get you through the winter rest period. We caught a break last week with the weather and many were rewarded with some fine opportunities and fish for the cooler. And the early projections for the upcoming week don’t look that bad either. We have arrived at the time of year where our expectations for “Prime fishing conditions” is adjusted to include days that maybe we might not consider in the spring or early fall. And remember, we the angler, are always playing an “away” game. It’s their field so we have to adapt our tactics if we intend on winning every time we take to the field. And that is why you need to follow the On the Water Fishing Forecast. We are here to give you that edge you need to win on a foreign field. Our scouts give us the latest information but the rest is up to you.
There are still plenty of stripers around if you know where to look for them. And Captain Kenny Namowitz of the Mimi VI (Point Pleasant Beach) certainly knows his trade. The Mimi is a Charter only 62’ custom boat and does have some open dates for the end of the season. In addition, the Mimi has some “open boat” trips scheduled for blackfish in the near future. Friday November 27th and December 4th and 5th are currently on the schedule. Cost is 65 dollars per angler but seating is limited. Call 732-370-8019 to save a spot.
John Yak at The Dock Outfitters (Sea Side Heights) reports that there is still a slow pick in the area and the best place to be is Island Beach State Park. Waters have cooled off and bait is thinning out so John recommends clam, bunker as the best live baits. Swimming lures like the Daiwa SP Minnow are the artificial of choice. The Dock Outfitter will be having a “Black Friday” sale starting on Friday thru December 4th. All reels are 10% off and there are a multitude of deals on everything else. Even gift cards and prepaid boat rentals for next season are discounted. Sounds like a good deal to me.
The Carolyn Ann III is sailing on Saturdays and Sundays only for the remainder of the season. But this Friday they will be adding a special “blackfishing Friday” trip. Captain Bill Hammarstrom is telling us that the cooler waters of late have only enhanced the bite. The Carolyn breaks dock at 8 am and reservations aren’t required. Bait is provided and rental equipment is available.
The Gambler (Point Pleasant Beach) will have a special Thanksgiving ½ day trip departing at 7:30 am and returning by 12:30 pm. This will give you something to do while the bird is in the oven. They are still catching and this is the perfect way to start off the holiday season.
The place to be this time of the year is definitely South Jersey if you are still looking for Trophy Bass. At least that is what I am hearing from Captain Ed Berger of Team Tackle Direct. Out on his boat, the FM Tuna, Ed has been having some spectacular days hunting the striped ones off the shores of Absecon Island. Fish up to 35 pounds have not been uncommon. There are still strong schools of bait in the area and while much of the catch has been taken on the troll, the opportunity to jig up some nice fish has presented itself. And if you are in the area this weekend, don’t forget to take advantage of the TD Black Friday Weekend Sale. As always there will be some great deals to be had. This is an IN Store Event only.
Captain David Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center (Absecon) is telling everyone he runs into that there is still plenty of life left in this season. And based on the pictures of big fish I am seeing on his web communications, I tend to side with him. The big fish have just arrived in the southern part of the state and that means there is still the charge of school sized fish bringing up the rear. Dave sees eels and fresh baits being in demand as the water chill off even more. And he has plenty in stock and waiting. Right now, the best way to put some bass in the box is to employ trolling methods but if you fisn them swarmed up, jigging will get you action. There are some blues around as well, according to Dave, but not in the numbers that there should be. So we have that going for us as well.
We are getting to that time of the year when shops start to adjust their hours so keep that in mind when you are putting together your fishing itinerary. When I spoke with Lenny Hahn at Capt’n Hippos Bait and Tackle (Toms River) he told me his new weekday hours were 9-7. On Saturdays and Sundays, they well be open 8-7 and 8-4 respectively. Lenny told me the beaches in the area are still getting fish but the real action has been by anglers just outside of casting range. The average fish being caught has come down in size but there are still plenty of keepers. Don’t forget to stop in the shop come Friday and check out the sales they have going on to commemorate the season. Capt’n Hippos has some especially good deals on Gift Cards you might want to check out.
This time of the year, living further south in the state has its advantages. While others up north are wondering if the season has lost it steam, the further south you move, the better the fish seems to be. At least that is what we are hearing from Mike Jung at Peace Token Bait and Tackle (Cape May Court House). There have been some nice runs of big fish at the Wildwood and Sea Isle Lumps. The Delaware bay has also given up some trophies sized lunkers as well. The beaches have been slow but there is action when the bait comes in. By boat, the best action has been on the troll. From the sand, its been clam or bunker as bait you want to have. The head boasts in WW and Cape May are doing sell on tog at the inshore wrecks and reefs. A little further out in deeper water, they are still getting some nice sea bass specimens. If you are in the area on Friday, don’t neglect to stop by Peach Token. You won’t find a better stocked local shop to kick off your holiday shopping.
Reel Life Bait and Tackle (Point Pleasant) doesn’t hold many sales during the year as they try to value their gear at affordable prices from the minute they hang it on the rack. So when they hold a sale, you can bet the prices are really good. If you are in the area, I would recommend stop in and checking their Black Friday sale which runs through December 1st. You will not be disappointed.
Betty and Nick’s (Seaside Park) Bait and Tackle owner John Bushell Jr tells us that the action on Island Beach State Park has slowed down some but there is still a decent amount of activity in the area. It has been a tough season from the sand with the bait staying just out of casting range but there have been some great moments if you were there at the right time. Boaters are still making the best waves with blues and bass. And the local party boats are having their way with the blackfish. But even if the fishing is slow this weekend, you can head over to the store and find some great deals at the Turkey Day sale. Betty and Nicks carries some fine equipment and tons of it. Here’s a tip. Buy a gift card at a discount and use it to purchase items that almost never go on sale anywhere.
The B&N gift card discount is as follows:
• $25 Gets You $34
• $50 Gets You $67
• $100 Gets You $135
• $200 Gets You $270
• $300 Gets You $405
• $500 Gets You $675
• $1000 Gets You $1350
Some high end equipment is never sold at a discount, per mfg. requirements. This is a way to get that gear and still save a few bucks.
Noel Feliciano of One Stop Bait and Tackle (Atlantic City) tells me that the rock hoppers and sand jockeys are still pulling some nice fish from the Absecon Inlet area. Fresh bait seems to be the best enticement lately but there has been some action on bucktails and metal. The waters in the area have cooled down so Noel is telling everyone to slow down their retrieve. Togs apparently have moved off the island and blues are pretty much a no show but the striped bass are still feeding. And the AC area has produced some of the nicest fish this writer has seen this year. If you think that the only thing to DO in AC is the gambling halls, think again. There is some good fishing in the area.
In Ocean City, the place to go for both info or gear and bait is most certainly Fin-Atics Marine Supply. The staffs is all top notch anglers and know their trade. This week I spoke with Justin at the shop to see if the local gossip I have been hearing was accurate. He told me that there has been some action off the beaches but the bite for boaters has been nothing short of phenomenal lately. Big fish, small fish (bass) and even some blues in the mix. The best catches are still coming off the troll by anglers using stretch and umbrella baits but stopping and jigging up fish under birds has worked as well. And the biggest fish this week were caught by anglers using eels. Justin told me to remind everyone that Fin-Atics is putting everything in the store (except 2015 Kayaks) on Sale this weekend. That’s 25% off everything. So if you are looking to do some early Christmas shopping and are in OC, Fin-Atics is the place to go.
Best Bet for the Weekend
First and foremost I want to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from myself and the gang at OTW. It hasn’t been the greatest of years, but then again it hasn’t been all that bad. And anytime you get the chance to put a line in the water, you have something to be thankful for. If I could recommend one thing to do this weekend, it would be to thank every boat captain and shop owner out there for all the hard work they put in to make our hobby as great as it can be. And if you are looking for something for that fisherman or woman in your life, give them a shot. The bass are in south Jersey but who knows how long they will stick around so take a run at them this weekend if you have a chance. Fishing is meant to be fun and relaxing so do just that. But stay safe out there. The waters have chilled out and accidents can turn bad quickly this time of year. See you on the incoming.