Pictured Above: This youngster got his keeper fluke on Wednesday’s trip aboard the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar.
Cooler temperatures and a persistent northeast wind delivered a brief taste of fall this week as tough conditions kept boats at the dock and anglers away from the beach. As is often the case, the weather affected the anglers more than the fish.
Things began to calm down on Wednesday and the rest of the week looks like clear weather. We really can’t complain too much as it’s been a good summer. Those who gave it a try in the relatively dry nor’easter found bass and blues in the surf, bonito, false albacore and Spanish mackerel offshore along with keeper fluke and plentiful sea bass.
Fishing Report for Northern New Jersey
Mark from Tackle World in Rochelle Park said, all in all, it’s been a good season and he reported good fishing despite the weather. The blackfishing has been excellent, there were Spanish mackerel at the Manasquan Inlet, loads of blowfish in Barnegat Bay, false albacore and bonito not too far offshore and good fluking.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the wind limited where the party boats could fish and were stuck at the dock for a day or two but there were plenty of fluke caught. That fishery, he said, continues to improve, but time is running out on the season.
He said there are cocktail blues all over Raritan Bay and some bigger blues showed up at the Keansburg Pier and in Keyport. The bay side of Sandy Hook is giving up a lot of porgies, he added, and there are bass in the Shrewsbury River feeding on all the bait.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright also reported excellent porgy fishing on the bay side of Sandy Hook. Beach anglers, he said, continued to pick up blues, small bass and fluke from the sand even with the churning surf. Martens mentioned that a school of adult bunker were in the wash earlier in the week and the blues were making a meal of them.
The Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers are full of snappers, he added, and are chock full with all kinds of bait. And the crabbing in the Navesink continues red hot.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said the weather had an impact on participation, but the fish didn’t go anywhere. The small bass and cocktail blues are still in the surf hitting plugs, metal and shads.
The fluke are there as well and bucktails and Gulp are catching them. The Spanish mackerel continue to pop up off the beach but remain just out of reach of surfcasters. Small fluke were hitting the pink shine I tossed into the surf on Wednesday in Ocean Grove and I could see the Spanish macks clearing the waves out of casting distance. One of these days, they’ll get close.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the good fluke fishing is still holding up even though the wind kept the party boats out of marina tied up at the dock for a day or two. Most sailed Tuesday and Wednesday and reported good fishing for blues, fluke, and sea bass.
He said there is a big build up of bait in the Shark River and the cooler temps at the beginning of the week is a reminder it won’t be long before it’s on the move. Hopefully all the peanut bunker will bring a good fall bass run. Matthews said the bonito and Spanish mackerel are around in good numbers and false albacore are moving into the area. He suggests keeping your epoxy lures and Deadly Dicks close at hand.
He’s waiting to see what impact the blow had on the tuna fishing but it may be a day or so before anyone ventures out.
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Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar reported an excellent day of bluefishing on Wednesday. The fish were in the 2- to 5-pound range and anglers all caught their limit on jigs. He’s also been finding bonito and Spanish mackerel among the blues on recent
trips.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar had to cancel a few charters due to the wind but he did well last Friday before the blow with his regulars from Forest Electric.
The crew found plenty of action as the bigger fluke continue to chew and they returned to the dock with a nice catch of keepers. He’ll be sailing this weekend and still has some open dates in September. The season wraps up on Sept. 21.
Capt. Jay Richardella of Side Job Charters out of Belmar has been fishing inshore for fluke and sea bass with good success but will be heading back to the canyons this weekend for tuna and marlin.
The white marlin bite has been especially good lately and Capt. Richardella will be running open boat trips for white marlin, tuna and other offshore species through September.
He said water conditions look very promising for the month and he can be reached through his website, sidejobcharters.com, or at 561-578-2710.
Amanda at the Reel Seat in Brielle said things were a bit slow over the last few days due to the wind and rough seas, but the fishing was very good before the blow.
Fluking was good at the Sea Girt and Axel Carlson reefs, Spanish mackerel and bonito were at the Manasquan Inlet, the albies had moved in just offshore and the mahi-mahi were at the Mud Hole.
Things should pick up right where they left off once everyone starts fishing again.
The Manasquan River, she said, still has loads of small bass and there are short and keeper fluke in there as well, but mostly on the short side.
Greg Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said the Manasquan River is loaded with life including snappers, peanut bunker and mullet. Small poppers have been catching a lot of small bass in the river feeding on all the bait.
Bogan said the Big Jamaica and Jamaica II are sailing again after a few days at the dock. The Big Jamaica got right back on the blues, bonito and false albacore while the Jamaica II found the fluke hadn’t gone anywhere and the sea bass were right there with them.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Bigger fluke are being caught from the boats and the beach and, with time running out on the season, put them at the top of the list. Bucktails and Gulp are doing the job.
And the water is very warm so southern visitors such as bonito, false albacore and Spanish mackerel are all good targets. Shore-bound anglers have the best shot at the inlets while boaters will find them relatively close inshore.
And the rivers are full of snappers. Have fun with the kids before they head back to school
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