Okay, now you can start getting excited!
If you are wondering why we are posting a little early this week, it is because we have some hot news, and the weekend may be complicated by Tropical Storm Sandy. But even if the weekend was looking great, you may not want to wait!
With a couple decent weather days this week, and low boat traffic in some of the more historically productive areas, it is becoming apparent that the worm has turned. Action has been spotty, but the stripers are starting to move. Not strong enough yet to be predictable, but strong enough to start making sure you are clearing a little time in the very near future to be able to drop everything and roll.
Places like the tip of Sandy Hook on the outgoing tide have been yielding fish on eels, even in the daytime. Over the weekend when there was lots of traffic, the bite shut down, but it is expected to flame back up. When the boats are working those nearshore clam beds, fish are being taken on jigs, and the Shrewsbury Rocks are seeing short, but encouraging spurts of activity.
Brandon from Efinger Sporting Goods in Bound Brook adds that if stripers are not your primary target, blackfish and porgies are easy pickins at the Sandy Hook Reef. If you are a freshie, the hybrid bite at Lake Hoptacong has been strong on herring and shiners, and although the trout bite has slowed a little, small Rapalas and Trout Magnets are the way to go.
Back to linesiders in the report from Melissa at Bait Your Hook in Atlantic Highlands. Even though she was whacking porgies, blackfish and sea bass yesterday, she did have reports from 3 of 4 boats that connected on stripers. Most are doing ¾-day trips right now with snagging and trolling the top 2 methods. No actual count but feedback was that the action was on in very short spurts.
Late Tuesday morning and the bass are crushing it off the beach in Sea Bright. There are bunker tight enough to the beach to be snagged and they are getting murdered on the drop. Ernie at Giglios has weighed in multiple 20-pound-plus fish with a couple monster 15-pound chopper blues mixed in the last two hours. You have to keep moving with the bait and the boats are charging the beach and breaking things up. Wow!
Even better news: Not only Sea Bright, but more of the same further South in Long Branch! Weigh in’s at Surf Side Bait and Tackle from 20 to 34 pounds. Steve says they are on all sorts of bait in the wash from mullet to peanuts to adults. If you are not snagging, SP Minnows are the go-to.
Chris from Harrys Army Navy says “tell the boys we were on them first!” The Harry’s boys took the day yesterday on On a Mission Fishing charters and had tired backs and big smiles after “whomping” them. A limit of stripers for Chris and Eric and more big blues than anyone could handle. “There are peanuts everywhere! Go!”
This is turning into my kind of forecast!
Just in case you are not planning on hitting the surf, let me dial you up a little resource directory. Many of the Charter and party boats that we rely on for information can be your best friends when things are just starting to heat up. We have quite a few licensed Captains in the Belmar area I’d like to share with you:
Ol’ Salty Charters Capt. Nick 732-681-6650
Teri Jean II Capt. George 732-280-8133
Last One Charters Capt. Rob 732-556-7156
Katie H. Capt. Mike 908-600-6413
XTC Sportfishing Capt. Scott 732-267-7922
Big Mohawk Capt. Chris 732-974-9606
Skylarker Charters Capt. Steve 732-309-7689
Big Kid Sportfishing Capt. Ken 732-261-0606
I just got off the phone with Capt. Ken from Big Kid. He was out hammering big stripers on adult bunker yesterday afternoon and his boat is out there right now doing the same thing. If you are not snagging and dragging, Capt. Ken recommends Tony Maja #4 bunker spoons in white. They were VERY productive on Monday.
You wanted scoop, you got scoop! Strong reports from our Northern and Central spotters should now have you in Game On Mode! Normally we post a weekend fishing forecast, but with what is going on right now, waiting may just be a mistake. Is your throat starting to get a little scratchy? “Hello boss… ?”
Grab your rod and head to the beach, or fire up your network and grab a ride. It looks like all that waiting may have just paid off.
This boat driver is headed to the dock right now to make sure the FmTuna is gassed up and ready to go. Waddaya know, it looks like Fall just finally got here!
Stay Tuna-ed!