Water temperatures are telling me that it is time to round up the posse and head the fish off at the pass. And their route will bring them right down the coast and into the prime hunting grounds of south Jersey. And the reports I have been receiving indicate that there are some big fish being caught from both sea and shore. To me, that says the main body of the herd is moving southward. It’s time to saddle up and join in the hunt. Thanksgiving is exactly one week away and we are in the thick of the fall run. How long it stays good after that is anyone’s guess. And with the swings we have been getting, doing a forecast is even tougher. At this time of the year there is only one sure-fire method for finding the fish and that is to put the time in. Our forecast at On the Water will try to knock the odds down in your favor but truth be told, they can be there one day and gone the next. All we can do is give you the best scouting report and hope for the best. And to be sure, our front line scouts are in touch with the conditions on a daily basis. Let’s see what they have for us this week.
When I spoke to Noel Felciano of One Stop Bait and Tackle this week, he was still in a state of the awe over the 57.2 pound 49” bass he had weighed in at the shop several days ago. The angler, Tito Otero caught the line sided cow on the docks facing Absecon Inlet. Noel tell me that Tito was fishing with a herring head as bait and the ten foot Airwave rod spooled with 50+ Power Pro held up well. I asked because knowing the area, it must have been a bear pulling of striper of that size up to dry land. Noel informed me that Tito had to climb down to the rocks to actually nab this beauty. I usually don’t talk much about fish caught in the past but this one was worth mentioning. There have been some nice fish taken out of Absecon Inlet recently and I have a hunch it will only get better.
The Mimi VI (Point Pleasant Beach) has some “Open Boat” trips on the schedule for blackfish. If you are looking for a ride on November 25th or 27th and again in December on the 4th or 5th, now is the time to make some reservations with Captain Kenny Namowitz. Seating is limited to 22 people on these trips so I would suggest you get your name on the books if you want to go.
If you are looking for striper and blues action out of the Point Pleasant area, the 90’ Gambler there is one of the better options. Sailing daily at 7:30am, they have been on the fish consistently this season. We are getting to the time of year when the bigger body of large fish are passing by but there is still a steady stream of 20+ pound striped bass and 10+ pound bluefish coming over the rails. And don’t forgt to check the Gambler’s website if you are looking to head offshore with them for some Jumbo Sea Bass. These are limited seating offshore trips taking place at the end of December and it is advisable to save a seat now.
The cold has scared off some of the anglers this week but the fish are still here according to John Bushell Jr. of Betty and Nicks in Seaside Heights. The fishermen of Island Beach State Park are still having success throwing artificial baits like Daiwa SP Minnows, Jetty Ghost Metals at a somewhat smaller but none the less active herd of striped bass and blues. West winds have been the best at driving the bait to the beaches lately and therefore also the best time for catching. Don’t forget to mark your calendar for next week’s Black Friday sale at Betty and Nicks. It’s always a great way to get some early shopping done for the Holiday fisher-person in your life. Even if it is you.
Captain David Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen’s Center reports that the fish are moving south and following the bait along the beaches. He is recommending live spot and Stretch or Tony Maja Bunker spoons for best results. Dave does have live spot. If you are fishing the inlets, Dave is touting live eels as the waters chill off. Fresh clams and bunker are also turning some striped bass heads as well. There has been some action reported on local Brigantine beaches especially with a west/ northwest wind.
The Captain Robbins out of Ocean City with Captain Vic Hartley is sailing Wednesday through Sunday in search of tog and sea bass. Captain Vic asked me to remind everyone that he has a “ten person special” for small groups that would like to jump on any of his open boat trips. Call 609-780-6362 for more information on that or full boat charters.
John Yak at the Dock Outfitters (Seaside Heights) reports that the bunker pods seem to be thinning out a bit but the sand eels are slowing starting to filter into the beaches. That means it is time to shine up your metals and slow down the retrieve. Cold winds have somewhat stunted the beach activity but John feels that will perk up with a shot of warmer weather they are calling for this weekend.
Super Chic Charters (Barnegat Light) had a last minute cancellation and is looking for a team to fill that gap this Sunday. Give Captain Ted White a call at 609-709-1686 if you are interested.
The information I received from Mike Jung at Peace Token Bait and Tackle (Cape May Court House) tells me that the heaviest action right now is in the Delaware Bay. Those who are employing chunking techniques in the bay are having the best success, with several fifty+ pound fish being landed. The rips are still somewhat quiet but drifting eels through it have produced some fish. Trolling the beachfront with umbrella rigs or Stretch Lures has also been productive. The local head boats are sailing for tog and having success still at the inshore wrecks. There are still some sea bass being taken in the deeper holes. The beaches of Wildwood and Cape May are giving up some fish but nothing earth shattering. Bunker and clam seem to be working the best.
Bill Wiggins over at Fin-Atics Marine Supply in Ocean City tells me that the move of late in the area has been trolling Stretch or Umbrella rigs. With the huge pods of bunker in the area, that is the best way to attract striped bass’s attention. There have been a few fish taken jigging and live bait fishing but trolling far and away is the best option right now. There were reports that the TI was lit up as we spoke but no conformations yet. I asked him about bluefish in the area and Bill said that while there have been some scattered reports of them, there was no consistency. The beach bit has been a slow pick, best at the southern end of the island. Night bite seems to be the best chance at raising your odds for keeper bass.
Lenny Hahn of Capt’n Hippos Bait and Tackle in Toms River reports that most of the local action is centered on or just off the local beaches. Fish are coming down in size up that way but there are still plenty of keepers in the mix and nice bluefish as a bonus. I forgot to ask about white perch in the river but have heard some whispers that they were getting active. Lenny will be starting his annual Christmas discount sales starting Black Friday so mark your calendar and stop by. The good thing about Capt’n Hippos sales is they typically go on for weeks so you can take advantage. Tune in next week for more information.
I spoke with Bill Heitzmann of Bill’s Surf and Tackle (Harvey Cedars) to get a read on a potential trip to Long Beach Island. Lately, the bite has been mostly by boat, just out of casting range of the beach according to Bill. The bait, mostly bunker, seems to be content staying outside the breakers and nothing can convince it to move closer. Trolling the area between the water towers on the island has been the hot spot. Anglers in the know are setting out umbrella rigs with shad in red or yellow and loading up fish to forty pounds. There are some nice blues in the catch as well. Jigging has been tough due to the lack of sand eels and the pods of bunker being somewhat skittish. I questioned Bill about blackfish in the area and he told me that the inshore rocks and offshore wrecks have both been producing so well he can barely keep enough crabs in stock to meet his customers’ demands. Clams and fresh bunker have been the best sellers for surf anglers as it has become a set up and wait kind of season. With the bait hanging in the deeper water, you need to be there when they drift in. Don’t forget to add a snag hook to your tackle box.
Up on Island Beach State Park, the water temperatures may have dropped into the 40’s with the recent cool snap but there is still plenty of bunker along the beaches and the means that there are still bass and blues looking for a meal. According to Grumpy’s Tackle there, the one element missing are sand eels but we are still hoping that they will drift inshore and make metals the most important tool in your arsenal. Right now, live bait anglers are ruling the suds. There are plenty of keepers but nothing in the cow classification from the sand. Swimming lures like the SP Minnow are the top sellers and producers locally. Grumpy feels that this weekend could heat things up as the cold snap breaks and conditions change with it. I tend to agree with his Grumpiness.
Best Bet for the Weekend
I was looking at the long term weather forecast for a couple of days to sneak out for some blackfish and the next ten days look like mostly winners at this point. There are a couple of days with wind in the mix and a little precipitation but overall, it is looking good. I truly believe that the main body of big striped bass is in the southern reaches of the state and based on the projected conditions, this would be the weekend to have at them. Remember, you can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket and the ticket for a big bass is to put a line in the water. And remember, fishing is supposed to be fun so go out and have some. Stay safe out there, the waters are cooling off quickly and small accidents tend to get magnified when combined with cold water. See you on the incoming.