Jersey Shore Fishing

Saltwater fishing updates from The Star-Ledger's Al Ristori

Stripers at Sea Bright

by Al Ristori/The Star-Ledger

Wednesday November 19, 2008, 9:47 PM

Where you should go: Heavy bird action was reported over striped bass at Sea Bright Wednesday both offshore and on the beach.

What you should use: Metal jigs and teasers.

Why Thursday is a good day for this: The wind is finally supposed to back into the northwest and moderate. That should make it more comfortable on the beach while the surf should finally calm down somewhat.

Other spots for other fish: That northwest calming effect should set up better blackfishing at inshore areas off Long Branch and Monmouth Beach plus the reefs. Stripers and blues may be located under birds all along the Shore. There's been hot striper action in South Jersey at Townsends and Corsons inlets. Clamming for stripers remains a best bet at Romer Shoal and the clam beds off Sandy Hook and the Rockaways.

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School stripers in Island Beach State Park surf

by Al Ristori

Tuesday November 18, 2008, 6:13 PM

Where you should go: Island Beach State Park has been producing lots of action with school stripers from one end to the other.

What you should use: Metal jigs and teaser flies, Vision rainfish or Flemlee eels.

Why today is a good day for this: Though the wind isn't supposed to shift to the desired northwest until the afternoon, surfcasters did well with mostly short bass on Tuesday even in the north wind blowing down the beach.

Other spots for other fish: Blackfishing has been very good when boaters have been able to get out on the ocean to rough bottoms off Long Branch, the reefs, and other tautog areas. Some sea bass and porgies are mixed in. Clamming for striped bass to the north remains very good, and both stripers and blues should be located in many areas under birds. Surfcasting for stripers should be good along the entire Shore.

Recap of yesterday: Betty & Nick's in Seaside Park reports hot action for bass all through the park. I stopped at Bay Head in the morning and hooked two striper doubleheaders right away, but it quickly turned to a pick. The surf was rough despite days of west wind, but there wasn't the gale wind from the north that that had been predicted. Capt. Pete Wagner reported continued hot striper clamming on his Hyper Striper out of Twin Lights Marina in Highlands as the north winds weren't anywhere near gale force. Capt. Chris Devereaux of K-Kat at Highlands had limits of blackfish on Monday. He sails open for stripers and blacks on Thursday. Call 732 567-3289.

Al's Tip of the Day: With the wind sweeping down the beach, use heavier jigs and quarter your cast into the wind so it won't be blown into the beach right away.

We'd love to see your photos!
Everyone has a good fish tale -- but how about a good fish photo? Check out the reader photo gallery (it's on the rail on the left of the page under ''Jersey Shore Fishing"). Now this only works if you send in your photos (send them to "fishpic@starledger.com") so if you've got a catch worth bragging about, send it in and we'll put it up for all to see.

And, as always, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the "post a comment'' link at the end of the blog and let us know how the fishing is.

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Gale warning posted

by Al Ristori

Monday November 17, 2008, 6:24 PM

Weather Warning: Gale warnings are posted for a north blow Tuesday before the desired switch to northwest. A north wind blows down the beach and creates a rough sea, while the northwest following it blows off the shoe. It should knock down the sea and clear the waters while bringing a new blast of stripers. Though poor for boaters and most surfcasting, it may be possible to fish in the north wind at the pocket by the north jetty in Island Beach State Park. Surfcasters will also be fishing on Long Beach Island despite the conditions after some very large bass were reported there Monday in the surf tournament.

Recap of yesterday: After a hot Sunday jigging bite of stripers and blues off Island Beach State Park, it was very quiet there yesterday. Bait readings were heavy, and there were lots of birds flying -- but not feeding. Surfcasters in the park were catching short stripers on metal while casting to the white water on the bar in the afternoon. There were birds feeding on sand eels in the Bay Head surf when I arrived shortly after sun-up. Yet, what looked like a classic blitz turned out to be a pick. I snagged more sand eels than the two short bass I released -- and only saw a couple of others caught during a short try. Blackfish anglers finally got their shot as the swell dropped and waters cleared. Capt. Kenny Gallop had a three-man limit up to 6.4 pounds on Big Kid from Brielle Yacht Club after fishing off Long Branch and on Sea Girt Reef. Nick Honachefsky said the big one was entered in the Manasquan River Marlin and Tuna Club extended weekend contest -- and released at the dock.

Al's Tip of the Day: Wait for that switch to northwest before getting out on the surf -- and then fish hard under prime surfcasting conditions no matter how hard it blows.

We'd love to see your photos!
Everyone has a good fish tale -- but how about a good fish photo? Check out the reader photo gallery (it's on the rail on the left of the page under ''Jersey Shore Fishing"). Now this only works if you send in your photos (send them to "fishpic@starledger.com") so if you've got a catch worth bragging about, send it in and we'll put it up for all to see.

And, as always, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the "post a comment'' link at the end of the blog and let us know how the fishing is.

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Stripers off Island Beach

by Al Ristori

Sunday November 16, 2008, 8:18 PM

Where you should go: Off Island Beach State Park: Both stripers and blues were thick there Sunday after the hard southerly blow.

What you should use: Metal jigs and flies. Umbrella rigs and bunker spoons for trolling.

Why today is a good day for this: The forecast is for miminishing west winds by afternoon before the real cold blast from the northwest comes in. This could be the best day for awhile.

Other spots for other fish: After Sunday's strong winds and discolored waters from the storm, this could be the first really fishable day of the six-fish limit blackfish season. Inshore waters such as Shrewsbury Rocks may be fishable, or you can move out to the Rattlesnake. The reefs should also be a good bet. Blues and stripers should also be showing at many points along the Shore. The west winds should have layed down the surf, and there could be great surfcasting for stripers almost anywhere. Island Beach State Park may be the best bet.

Recap of yesterday: Capt. Russ Binns said he marked fish steadily from his Mar-Lin out of Toms River from Barnegat Inlet to the park. Jigs produced in 60 to 70 feet until the wind got too strong for jigging. It was still 4-1 bluefish, and only one of the bass was a keeper -- though Binns heard that Bounty Hunter had a 22-pounder. Capt. John Brackett of Queen Mary from Point Pleasant had a breakout day with bass as 51 shorts and 11 keepers were caught along with over 300 blues by 15 fares. A 22-pound bass took the pool. Capt. Frank Tenore of Fins and Feathers from Leonardo didn't get out due to the wind, but he talked to a skipper who did -- and found the swell and water color had turned off the inshore blackfish bite.

Al's Tip of the Day: Be sure to carry heavy jigs when the west wind is blowing hard. It's possible to fish fairly close to the lee of shore, but the fish are often a bit further off -- and you'll need those 6-to-12-ounce jigs to work them somewhat vertically.

We'd love to see your photos!
Everyone has a good fish tale -- but how about a good fish photo? Check out the reader photo gallery (it's on the rail on the left of the page under ''Jersey Shore Fishing"). Now this only works if you send in your photos (send them to "fishpic@starledger.com") so if you've got a catch worth bragging about, send it in and we'll put it up for all to see.

And, as always, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the "post a comment'' link at the end of the blog and let us know how the fishing is.

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Tough weather for blackfish opener

by Al Ristori

Saturday November 15, 2008, 4:09 PM

Weather watch: As this is being written Saturday afternoon, there's a tornado watch posted along with a gale warning. Though there's a switch to the west underway, it's initially predicted to be southwest -- which won't help much in settling the ocean. Movement toward the west and finally the desired northwest should set up better conditions and fishing during the week. Saturday's powerful south winds created a very rough ocean that might be too discolored inshore for good fishing until the northwest front arrives to knock down the swell and clear the waters. It may be possible for large boats to fish near shore in the ocean on Sunday for the blackfish six-fish limit opener. The same applies to clamming at Romer Shoal, where caution is necessary due to breaking waves, and to jigging and trolling for stripers and blues under working birds off the Shore. Unfortunately, it may not be possible to tuck in close to the shore for some protection from west winds as waters could be badly discolored and not fishable close to the beach. In case the forecast is wrong, check Thursday's best bets for the weekend.

We'd love to see your photos!
Everyone has a good fish tale -- but how about a good fish photo? Check out the reader photo gallery (it's on the rail on the left of the page under ''Jersey Shore Fishing"). Now this only works if you send in your photos (send them to "fishpic@starledger.com") so if you've got a catch worth bragging about, send it in and we'll put it up for all to see.

And, as always, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the "post a comment'' link at the end of the blog and let us know how the fishing is.

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Small craft warnings up

by Al Ristori

Friday November 14, 2008, 6:37 PM

Weather warning: If the weather forecast is right, only the most dedicated of anglers will be fishing Saturday. Small craft warnings are posted for gusty south winds along with rain, fog and even the possibility of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Strong west winds after that may settle the ocean enough to allow for blackfishing close to shore on Sunday's opening day of the six-fish limit season. Strong south winds usually aren't good for surfcasting, but the switch to west and then northwest should set up great striper action from the beaches early in the week.

It may be possible for larger boats to clam at Romer Shoal. Capt. Chris De Stefano got reports of large bass being clammed there on Friday. He also heard of good numbers of short stripers from Mantoloking south to Island Beach State Park. De Stefano fished the Strike Force from Brielle Yacht Club at Shrewsbury Rocks, where trolling produced a few legal stripers up to 34 inches from among shorts in foggy conditions. Jigging there only resulted in bluefish.

The surf was rough on Friday, and barely fishable even in the morning when there was little wind. I saw only a few anglers fighting the waves from Bay Head to Ortley Beach -- and there were no bent rods.

We'd love to see your photos!
Everyone has a good fish tale -- but how about a good fish photo? Check out the reader photo gallery (it's on the rail on the left of the page under ''Jersey Shore Fishing"). Now this only works if you send in your photos (send them to "fishpic@starledger.com") so if you've got a catch worth bragging about, send it in and we'll put it up for all to see.

And, as always, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the "post a comment'' link at the end of the blog and let us know how the fishing is.

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'Real' blackfish season set to open Sunday

by Al Ristori/The Star-Ledger

Thursday November 13, 2008, 8:36 PM

Blackfish addicts have had to be content with a single tautog per day since July 16, but that comes to an end Sunday when the limit changes to six per man through the rest of the year.

It probably seems strange to anglers that the season doesn't open at the beginning of the weekend. The state was forced to take a big cut in blackfish harvest earlier this year, and the numbers had to be crunched in order to satisfy the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) percentages and avoid a federal moratorium. The Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Marine Fisheries Council wanted to be sure the six-fish limit season would extend to the end of the year, and had to give up that first Saturday to stretch it that far.

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Best bets for the weekend

by Al Ristori

Thursday November 13, 2008, 7:56 PM

Best bets for the weekend:
Stripers and blues along the Shore. There seem to be unlimited numbers of bluefish for boaters all the way from between the channels down to Island Beach State Park. Finding stripers among them is another story. The best results seem to have been off Island Beach, where surfcasters have also scored well the last few days with both bass and blues. Those seeking bigger bass may do best by trolling bunker spoons. Big blues were in the Sandy Hook surf earlier in the week, and in the Deal surf Thursday morning.

Blackfish, porgies and sea bass on inshore reefs, wrecks and rocky bottoms. This fishing has been very good again since the swell went down. Blackfish take the spotlight Sunday when the limit increases to six at the same 14-inch minimum. There'll be a mob scene if the weather is right at such traditional areas as Shrewsbury Rocks, the Rattlesnake and Sandy Hook Reef.

Sea bass on deeper wrecks. Those trying to avoid the inshore crush on Sunday can concentrate on sea bass a bit further offshore on 70-to-90-foot wrecks.

Ling on Mud Hole wrecks: This fishing has been producing big catches all year. School cod are mixing in.

Clamming for stripers: There may also be big fleets on Romer Shoal and Flynn's Knoll. Dogfish are a problem in the ocean off Sandy Hook and the Rockaways.

Albacore in Hudson Canyon. There have been signs that there may be a tuna season in the canyons after the longfins moved in. The Jamaica from Brielle had a good catch Sunday night, but the Jenny Lee from Manasquan couldn't find them Tuesday after the water temperature dropped to 63 degrees in the Hudson.

We'd love to see your photos!
Everyone has a good fish tale -- but how about a good fish photo? Check out the reader photo gallery (it's on the rail on the left of the page under ''Jersey Shore Fishing"). Now this only works if you send in your photos (send them to "fishpic@starledger.com") so if you've got a catch worth bragging about, send it in and we'll put it up for all to see.

And, as always, we'd love to hear from you. Just click on the "post a comment'' link at the end of the blog and let us know how the fishing is.

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