Fishing with Dad

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.

Chris Salus at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Keyport says he’s been getting more and more reports of keeper stripers being caught on Sandy Hook and some in the bay. The bait is still all over the bay. He also reported the porgy and sea bass fishing just keeps getting better and better and the snappers are just getting bigger. There are also weakfish around the 19 and 20 cans and the crabs have not gone anywhere. Capt. George Bachert of the Angler, Atlantic Highlands, is the last boat still fishing for fluke, and he’s finding good fishing when the weather cooperates. Last Sunday, there was a lot of short action with some nice keepers mixed in. Checking old log books from when the season went into October, Capt. Bachert found good fluke catches, so he’s hopeful good fluking is still ahead. Capt. Sal Cursi of the Cathy Sea, Sewaren is finding school bass hitting rattle traps and live peanuts in the western part of the bay. He also reported adult bunker in the bay which could mean big bass once the fall run really gets underway. Capt Mike Russo of the Sea Hawk, Perth Amboy said the fishing has been very good with big porgies and a nice mix of sea bass. James Razios, Edison and a 3 1/2-pound sea bass and Franklin Bozier, Irvington has a 2 1/2-pound porgy. Capt. Carmine Monaco of the Lucky Carm is finding bass and good bottom fishing with big porgies. He’s running charters and open boat trips and can be reached at (908) 590-5240.

Capt. George Bachert of the Angler out of Atlantic Highlands reports his extended fluke season, made possible by research set aside permit, has been pretty darn good so far. He found a big spread of fish, which he said looked like new fish had moved into the area. He reported more bait than he’d seen all summer and, for once, there were more keepers than throwbacks. Capt. Tom Buban of the Atlantic Star, also fishing with the permit, said the wind of the last couple of days is making things a bit tough, but there is plenty of action on shorts with some keepers mixed in. Capt. Mike Russo of the Sea Hawk out of Perth Amboy said he’s getting some nice sea bass now that he’s switched to bottom fishing full time. He did end his fluke season on a high note with Seung Lim, Leonia, landing a 5 1/2-pound fluke and Anthony Olivera, Fords, catching a 6 pounder. Capt. Allan at Crabby’s Bait and Tackle in Keyport said the bluefish of various sizes have invaded the bay, and it seems that Earl pushed a lot of fluke back into the bay as well but, unfortunately, the season is over. He also said the good crabbing continues. Outdoor writer Allen Riley has been staking out the beaches at Sandy Hook waiting for the false albacore to arrive. Based on what’s being reported from the party boat, it shouldn’t be too much longer.

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.

Sam Snyder of Brown’s Point Marina in Keyport said the crabbing hasn’t been this good in years. Anglers are still finding plenty of fluke on the Keyport flats with enough keepers mixed in with the shorts to make it worthwhile. He also reported bluefish up to five pounds are now showing up in the late afternoons. Captain Mike Russo of the Sea Hawk out of Perth Amboy is making the most of the fluking until he switches over to porgies, blackfish and sea bass on Sept. 7. Kasper Pullem, Linden, got a 3 1/2-pound sea bass on last Wednesday’s trip and John Butler, Edison, got a 4-pound fluke on Tuesday. Capt Sal Cursi of the Cathy Sea will fish in the bay until Earl passes by then head back in to the ocean where he’s doing well with fluke and sea bass. Capt. George Bachert of the Angler said the ocean was flat on Thursday, despite all the warnings. Tuesday’s fishing was good in the Ambrose Channel but a tougher on Wednesday. The Angler will continue fishing for fluke after the season closes with a special permit. The Angler is one of five boats in the Raritan Bay area that has the permit. Phil Sciortino of the Tackle Box in Hazlet reported his father and uncle did real well on bluefin tuna, landing a 125 pounder and releasing a bunch more.

John Oswald

Captain Mike Russo of the Sea Hawk out of Perth Amboy has been doing well on his Wednesday sea bass and porgy trips. Fausto Rodriquez took a recent pool with a 3.2-pound sea bass. The fluking continues strong as well with Jim Fothering, Edison landing a 6.3 pounder and Keith Delahunt, South Plainfield with a 6.2 pounder. Capt. Tom Buban of the Atlantic Star, Atlantic Highland, said the bay is producing even in the bad weather. He fished Wednesday and got some keepers among the shorts, and expects things will improve as the weather does. Capt Sal Cursi of the Cathy Sea has been doing well with the fluke in the bay and will heading out to the ocean now that the weather is clearing. He’s running some special trips and can be reached at (732) 261-7914. He expects the recent nor’easter will heat the fishing up. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet reported Rich Zacharski, Oakland, beached a 5 1/2-pound fluke on white Gulp! at Sandy Hook. Steve Liberty,Morgan, weighed in a 28-pound pollack and a 14-pound cod he caught in the Mud Hole on clams. Sciortino said the snapper fishing and crabbing is great at the docks on the bay. Bob at Crabby’s Bait and Tackle in Keyport reported the crabbing continues to be outstanding.

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.

Sam Snyder at Brown’s Point Marina in Keyport said most of our boats fished close to Keyport because of the east winds this past weekend. Quite a few keeper fluke were caught in the 15-foot depths off the flats. Snyder said he normally sees a build up of fluke this time of year because of the abundance of forage and it now seems to be underway. “Postal” Sue Muska caught her biggest fluke yet at 9.36 pounds, measuring 29-1/2 inches. The fish was caught on a killie and squid combo off the Keansburg pier. Crabbing has been extremely good. The rental skiffs have been doing well with bushel catches common. Scott Yaniga and son from Bayonne had one that measured 7-1/4 inches out of the many they kept. Chris Salus at Crabby’s Bait and Tackle in Keyport reported peanut bunker all over the bay and the fluke are eating them. Tim Landon, Matawan fished around the 18 Can and had his limit up to 8.9 pounds. Snappers are all over the place and crabbing is red hot. In the 11 years he’s been open, Salus said it’s the best he’s ever seen. Capt. Mike Russo of the Sea Hawk out of Perth Amboy reports a lots and lots of shorts but some keepers in the mix. Stan Balewitz, Edison got a 3 1/2- pound fluke, Seung Lim, Leonia had a 4-1/2 pounder and Wayne Horner, Millington got one at 5-1/4 pounds. The Sea Hawk fishes for sea bass and porgies every Wednesday and T. Gosinononth, Hillsborough landed a 3 1/2-pound sea bass.

John Oswald