Saturday, October 28, 2017

Changing Weather

We are now getting the real fall weather, beautiful days with cool mornings and mild afternoons, set between storms, cold fronts and gales weekly. Friday was one of those days, with the temperature reading 36 degrees when we left the house for the beach. The dink blackfish and sea bass ate up our crab supply so we headed out to the point to explore. Fishing from the land is new to us and it is very interesting learning the water. There are holes, ridges, bars, snags and other structure that hold fish, just like anywhere else in the ocean. We walked out to the point and worked the water for whatever we could find. Snapper blues were abundant, but were very finicky and only wanted the spearing they were feeding on, but would occasionally tear up the gulp and bigger ones would grab the jig. I was on a mission for a late season fluke, I want to see how long I could still catch one from the land. Evelyn was casting in to a deep hole behind the bar and had two redfish cruise along the beach but could not get them to bite. As I worked the jig back up a ledge, I wondered what I could have gotten snagged on so close in when it started shaking and running down tide. I was happy to see a twenty inch fluke that I played down the beach and landed for a quick photo and release. I will not get into how I feel about the regulations, but that fluke would have made a fine dinner. Looks like bad weather the next few days, but the long range show more mild days ahead.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Next Trip BLACKFISH

I have some open spots for opening day of blackfish season, Thursday 11/16. The 11/3 seabass trip has been cancelled.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Sea Bass Opener

We left the dock in the dark, at 5:30 AM with all the railed party boats soon to follow. On the way to the grounds, most of the spots were covered with private boats that left sometime the night before. We set up to fish in the dark and all rods bent...with spiny dogfish. As the day brightened the bass and porgies began to appear. We drifted and anchored at different spots and there were all types of boats in every direction. Some anglers did better then others, but everyone caught fish. Evelyn was the angler of the day, landing the most and largest sea bass. Randy won the pool with one of his four blackfish. Some triggerfish and a bonito were added to the catch. Thanks to everyone for coming out and enjoying a nice day on the ocean, stay tuned for future trips.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

A Cool Day

OK, maybe it was a little more then cool Tuesday, with the thermometer reading 37 degrees and frost on the truck. Shorts and T-shirts were replaced with hooded shirts and fleece, and off to the beach we went. Some casting and exploring from the sand produced some snapper blues and fluke, while a bald eagle soared overhead. When the tide got right it was small sea bass and blackfish on every cast until we got tired and headed home to watch baseball. Like I said, a cool day.

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Pioneer Banks

Over forty boats, including Jersey shore and Long Island party and charter boats, drifting for striped bass at the Statue of Liberty the past two days.

Friday, October 13, 2017

Fishing Limbo

Not much going on. Rough weather and closed seasons have most boats sitting at the dock. Porgy fishing remains good when you can get out, but that only remains interesting for an hour. The same with catch and release blackfishing, it's lots of fun, but there is no need to stand on a boat all day. I have been catching some shorts and keepers in the bay and also from shore. Last month we had great fishing for ling in the deep, but the bad weather and dogfish ruined our trip on Sunday. A try at trout fishing in local waters was also a bust as the streams are running low and warm. We will keep the big boat tied up until sea bass season, and try some fishing off the beach next week.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Rough Seas

The strong south wind and the arrival of the spiny dogfish cut short our mudhole adventure. Everyone had a couple ling and some flounder but the dogs were thick and we had to retreat inshore and finish the day porgy fishing. Back at it again when sea bass opens 10/22.