Not to rush these last couple weeks of summer, but the stage is set for a fantastic fall run. The back bays and rivers of Monmouth County are overflowing with peanut bunker, mullet, spearing and snapper blues. In a little more than a month, these baitfish will begin spilling out of the estuaries and into the ocean, where they will collide with schools of migrating stripers, bluefish, and false albacore.
But back to this weekend. Some keeper stripers are coming from the waters around Bayonne reported the crew at True World Bait and Tackle. Lots of snapper blues are milling around the Raritan right now, providing some light tackle fun for shore anglers. Fluke fishing is picking up in New York Harbor, with the throwback to keeper ratio improving somewhat.
Steve on the Skylarker reported that he’s catching plenty of fluke, but most are throwbacks. There have been keepers mixed in, however, and the pool-winning fish each day has been somewhere between 4 and 6 pounds. The best fishing lately, Steve said, has been for ling. On the ling trips, anglers are taking home 20 to 25 ling each, and the pool winner is usually a good-sized codfish. Mixed in with the ling have been winter flounder and even a couple lobsters.
There are fluke all over the Raritan Bay reported the crew at Keyport Marine Basin. Unfortunately, not many of those fluke seem to be keepers. Snappers blues are loaded up in every small creek, and some anglers are catching them to use for bait for the fluke.
Jeff at Harry’s had the scoop on the freshwater bite. The Delaware River is running bronze as smallmouth bass hit topwater lures and crayfish-imitating soft plastics. Catfishing is going strong in Lake Assunpink and at the Bordentown Boat Ramp. For largemouth bass, Jeff recommends Mercer Lake right now. On the saltwater side of things, Jeff said Sea Girt and Axel Carlson reefs are holding fluke. To cull out a keeper from the shorts, Jeff said to use a 6-inch Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet matched to a bucktail jig.
Tom at Giglio’s gave us the first false albacore report of the year. Several schools of albies have been spotted—some within surfcasting range! Bluefish from 2.5 to 4 pounds are running the beaches. Plenty of fluke are also being caught, but Tom said to expect about a 20 to 1 ratio of throwbacks to keepers. Crabbing is very good right now also, Tom said, and stripers are popping up here and there around Sandy Hook and the rivers.
Thought the fishing for bluefish, kingfish, and stripers is slow, the guys at The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach reported that fluke fishing is good in Shark River Inlet. Some keepers are being taken, and the best baits are either fresh killies or sand eels, or Berkley Gulp. Shark River is loaded with bait, especially snapper blues, so anglers may be able to catch their own fresh or live bait while on the water.
The Miss Belmar is doing well on bluefish and chub mackerel. The fish aren’t large but the action is fast and lots of fun. Plus some surprises have been moving into the chum slick most days including false albacore, mahi-mahi, and sharks.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Most tackle shops agreed that while there is plenty to fish for and catch right now, the action is still a little on the slow side. The incoming weather Friday into Saturday may shake things up for the better. Fishermen hitting the surf should be on the lookout for false albacore. They will be moving fast, so have those metal lures within easy reach.
If the weather allows, hop on a party boat to enjoy one of the waning weekends of summer. Ling or bluefish/mackerel trips seem like the hot ticket right now, but the fluke trips are providing plenty of action with throwback fish, with a fair shot at taking home a keeper.