According to the crew at True World Tackle, fluke fishing is improving in New York Harbor. There have also been more bluefish taken from shore around the Harbor in recent days. The warm water often brings smaller blues within range of shore fishermen as small baitfish like spearing and anchovies become active.
Parker Petes has been fluke fishing every day. He’s had no problem catching boat limits of sea bass (two fish per man), and when the drift conditions are favorable, fluke fishing has been decent. He’s taken fluke up to 9 pounds, with a few 6- to 7-pounders and many 4- to 5-pounders. All of his action has been on bucktails tipped with squid, spearing,
More good fluke fishing was reported by Tackle US. In a fluke tournament this past Saturday, the winning fish was a 7.75-pounder caught in Ambrose Channel. As of Wednesday, the fluke fishing was still strong in Ambrose.
Crabbing has been great, recently picked up as the water warmed. Other warm-water visitors, porgies and croakers have been biting well along the Bayshore and off the piers. Schools of bunker are all over, and some of these have brown sharks trailing them.
According to the Julian’s Bait Tackle, there are bunker and bass all over around Sandy Neck. The stripers are following around the bunker schools and feeding on the surface at first light. Topwater plugs, live bunker and chunked bunker are working on the bass. Being on the water before first light has been key to finding the feeding bass.
A little farther south at The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach, the striper fishing has shut down. Surf fishermen are catching lots of dogfish and skates from the beach, but the inlet producing some more desirable catches. Shore fishermen are consistently catching fluke in Shark River Inlet. Most fish are short, but there are some keepers in the bunch.
The Miss Belmar has been getting into a mix of bluefish, sea bass and fluke. The sea bass and fluke are hitting bait rigs and bucktails, and the best bluefish action has been on Ava jigs. Most of the blues taken have been in the 3- to 6-pound range, but only lucky angler went home with a 21-pound slammer bluefish on Tuesday’s trip. The Miss Belmar found more jumbo blues on Thursday, landing several bluefish between 17 and 21 pounds.
The Suzie Girl has been mostly fluke fishing, but has been picking up some sea bass and ling as well. The fish have been good size, with fluke to 8 pounds and sea bass to 4 pounds hitting the deck in recent days.
Best Bets for the Weekend
From the surf, your best bet is going to be sharks or fluke. If you’re after fluke, a ¼- to ¾-ounce bucktail tipped with Berkley Gulp and bounced along the sand will be your best bet. For sharks, head out late in the evening or very early in the morning, and dunk a chunk of fresh bunker on a wire leader. Be sure to use your heavy surf gear when targeting sharks. Brown sharks, which are the most common species in the New Jersey surd, are great fighters, and are a ton of fun to catch off the beach. Just keep in mind, it is illegal to keep brown sharks, and they must be unhooked and released immediately.
Ambrose Channel sounds like it’s one of the better spots for fluke right now. Heavy jigs and bait rigs will help tempt the deep-water fluke.
The bluefish action is picking up north of Shark River Inlet. Have plenty of diamond jigs on hand, but don’t forget to bring some topwaters, as blitzing blues have been spotted several times over the past week.
There was only one good report of stripers this week, but if you leave the dock early and work the waters around Sandy Hook, you still have a shot of catching a good bass. Just make sure you have a backup plan in case the stripers don’t show. Switching over to fluke after the sun gets high would be a good option.
Thank you appreciate the report