Fishing with Dad

Jack Monteiro at Surf Side Bait and Tackle in Long Branch reported that the amount and variety of bait around is phenomenal. There is mullet, rainfish, sand eels, adult and peanut bunker. Tony Melo of Long Branch netted the biggest mullet Monteiro has ever seen, an 18.6-inch, 2.4-pound specimen. Monteiro said you could throw everything in your bag to match what the blues and bass are feeding on. He weighed in a 25.2-pound striper for Al Watson, Oakhurst he caught on a popper in the Long Branch Surf and a 16.4-pound bass for Jack Kinsey of Long Branch. Monteiro expects the fishing to really explode any day now. Bob Staub of Long Branch Bait and Tackle reported all kinds of bait in the wash and he weighed in bunch of bass this week, including a 14.6 pounder for Chris Wean and an 11 pounder for Taylor Cook. Most of the fish are being caught on plugs and clams. He also weighed in a 12.8-pound false albacore for Herbie Bohnert and an 8-pound albie for Bryan Mejia, of Long Branch. Ernie Giglio of Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright, weighed in a 22 pound striper for Pat Kichskov of Howell he caught on a Vision sand eel teaser. He also weighed in a 14 1/2 pounder for Chris Buchta of Long Branch. Ernie said big blues, up to 15 pounds, could be found at the juncture of the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers on Tuesday. John Christensen of Scott’s Bait and Tackle in Bradley Beach weighed in a 17.7 pound striper for Randy Tremling of Freehold he got on a bomber at Deal and a 13 1/2-pound bluefish for Unique Washington of Asbury Park caught on a diamond jig.

John Oswald

I did hear of some action regarding big bluefish in Island Beach State Park.  They were caught on bunker, striped bass are still a little bit of a hit and miss.  Still waiting for the water to cool down a little more to hopefully spark the fishing into a fall blitz.  Today might not be one of the better days to go out and fish, since it will probably be raining all day and the wind will be kicking.  If you are not afraid of the wind and rain, as the fish don’t mind getting wet, you might as well give it a try.  Beats a day at the office.

Ernie Giglio at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright reports there’s a lot of activity in the surf. Big fish are breaking just out of range at Sandy Hook and there’s lots of bait in the wash, mostly sand eels. Anglers are picking up bass, and some fluke, on Gulp!. The fluke are going back. Bass are also being taken on worms in the ocean and river. The snappers are getting bigger and the crabbing is still holding strong. Jack Monteiro of Surf Side Bait and Tackle in Long Branch reports lots of small bait fish in the surf, including sand eels, rainfish, peanut bunker, spearing and snappers. He said keeper striper are being caught but not weighed in. It’s an early morning and late night bite on clams, worms and small swimmers. Fall blowout specials are still going on at Surf Side. Bob Staub at Long Branch Bait and Tackle weighed in a 3 1/4-pound fluke for Jordan Cook, 11, of Long Branch as the season ended. He also said Jack Kingsley, Long Branch, and a buddy got 87 porgies up to 2 pounds at the Naval Pier. Staub walked the beach earlier this week and picked up some small stripers in the surf at daybreak. John Christensen at Scott’s Bait and Tackle in Bradley Beach weighed in a bunch of keeper stripers after Earl left including a 12.6 pounder for Quincy Jones of Asbury Park, a 10.1 pounder for John Judge of Deal and a 12.9 pounder for Jose Bossbaly of Ocean Grove. All were caught on fresh clams in the surf.
John Oswald

So it seems that early morning fisherman are having a blast with bluefish. Throw anything out there and you are bound to catch one. Just because the birds are not working does not mean they are not there. As the day progresses try your luck with bait. Small stripers are also being caught but don’t expect to catch one, they are few and far between right now. The water is still a little too warm for striped bass. Unfortunately, fluke season has ended. If you happen to hook one make sure you throw it back. Good luck.

Today is your last chance to get your fluke and it sure is a beautiful one. Get out there and give it a shot, there have been some monsters weighed in throughout the state in the last few days. Hurricane Earl churned up the seas and the fish are biting. Big blues are also on the menu, they are being caught on mullet, spearing, anything you can throw at them actually. Some striped bass have also been weighed in recently. You can throw out a clam or two for them but do not focus your time on them. Striped bass are still a hit or miss. Enjoy your labor day weekend.

Hurricane Earl, has come and gone. Looks to be a great Labor Day weekend for the beachgoers and for the surf fisherman. The seas are churned up, perfect fishing water for striped bass. The best thing you can do is get out there this weekend and give it a shot. The fluke season is almost over, try giving one of your local charter boats a shot this weekend. I would not recommend fluke fishing off the surf as the water will still be dirty and probably too rough for fluke. Try throwing out mullet for the monster blues that are finally showing up in our local waters. False albacore and kingfish have been caught recently also. There is plenty of action out there, get out and throw out some metal or some fresh bait. There probably will be some beach erosion, if you are driving onto Island Beach state park this weekend, be extra careful during high tide especially at beaches 12, 17 and 18.

Jack Monteiro at Surf Side Bait and Tackle in Long Branch reports sand eels, peanut bunker, spearing and rainfish are in the suds. He’s also had reports of keeper stripers being caught but none weighed in so far. Bigger fluke are being caught in the surf using Gulp! and spearing and killies. Monteiro says the fall striper and blue season looks promising and don’t forget his blowout fall specials with 10 to 20 percent off on most items. Bob Staub at Long Branch Bait and Tackle reported that Shawn and Pat Stiles weighed in a 91-pound bluefin tuna caught offshore. They also released several others, which hit chunks and jigs. James Laco, Long Branch, weighed in a 9 1/2-pound fluke and a 12-pound mahi-mahi. Staub also reported kingfish, snappers, cocktail blues and plenty of bait in the wash. Stripers are being caught at daybreak in the surf and he’s heard of 5-pound weakfish hitting worms north of the Highlands Bridge. Ernie at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle said school stripers are hitting bucktails in the Shrewsbury River and he weighed in an 8 pounder for Paul Noonjian of Laurence Harbor. He also reported blues in the surf. John Christensen at Scott’s Bait and Tackle in Bradley Beach weighed in a 4.7-pound fluke for Ryan Degraw, 11 of Wall, a 5.4-pound fluke for Gene Saks of Bradley Beach caught on squid in the surf and a 10-pound striper for Lee Rubin of Montclair he got on clams at Bradley Beach.

The last couple of days have had some 12 lb Bluefish. They are taking assorted metals and bunker or mullet. The Fluking is still good on the surf, only 10 days left and bucktails with GULP is still a best bet. More of those rumors of keeper Bass are floating around. Get out there it is going to be a gorgeous weekend!!!!

Jack Monteiro at Surf Side Bait and Tackle in Long Branch says customers are reporting spearing, sand eels and peanut bunker. There are porgies on the jetties and black fish as well. He’s also reporting king fish and abundant keeper fluke with some nice ones hitting the scales. Ross Definis, Roseland, landed a 4.2-pound fluke in the surf on spearing and Gulp! and Platon Dertouzos, Hamilton, had a pair at 8.10 and 4 pounds from a boat. Striper fishing is getting better on small lures and teasers. Monteiro says get ready for fall with Surf Side’s blowout sale on G-Loomis and custom rods, freshwater tackle and choice lures like Gibbs and X-Rap Rapalas. There are also specials on waders, Aquaskinzs, Korkers and more. Call (732) 222-4436 for more information. Ernie at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle said the weather slowed them down but things are picking up again with fluke in the surf. The crabbing continues hot in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers and snapper fishing as well. John Christensen at Scott’s Bait and Tackle in Bradley Beach reported a 4-pound sea bass for Eric Prime of Bayonne from a boat and a 3.7-pound fluke for Gary Little of Neptune he caught at the Shark River Inlet on Gulp!.

John Oswald

Not much to report, the rain is keeping the fisherman away. I know the fish don’t mind getting wet, if you can brave the cool weather and rainy day, give it a shot.