New York Metro &
New Jersey

Thinking Today of Tomorrow

I know you guys are eagerly awaiting your reports. It’s your quick fix on a Friday morning. It gets you really pumped for the weekend, and it gets me pumped just writing it. I love hearing the when where, how and who, and I love hearing the fishy stories, just as much as I like telling them. I never get sick of it!

But before we get into all the great things that are happening all over the island, and down in New Jersey, we have something very important to talk about. Its about my, or should I say, our favorite animal in the world: Striped Bass aka rockfish, old pajamas, greenback, pig, cow, hog or whatever you like to call it. They’re the most sought after sportfish in the northeast, and for many great reasons. They can be caught in a variety of ways, in a variety of waters, from 1.5 to 50 feet. They are a beautiful creature, from the iridescent purple and pink of a healthy spring fish and it’s dark lateral stripes, to the quick flash of red gill plates as a large fish opens its mouth and sucks your fly in mid strip. They give me, and I’m sure you also, an incredible amount of joy. They allow us to exercise our hunting instinct, to perform an act as old as the human race itself. They’re the perfect predator in their element, and the perfect abstract prey in ours. Fishing is an act of nature. Through it we establish our place in the worlds complicate web of life, and therefore feel complete. Through evolution we have modified our actions to allow us to experience this Zen like feeling time after time. Its called catch and release and its great! Just about everyone out there is performing it in some way shape or form, whether forced or not forced, with the exception of a few greedy bums (illegal fishermen). Wow, I love em! Striped Bass that is. Well, they need every fisherman’s help right now, according to CCA NY’s newsletter editor John Papciak. Here’s why:

“Amendment Six marks the first real opportunity in more than five years for comprehensive review of the Striped Bass Management Plan. According to the scientists, the stocks are certainly not on verge of collapse. But there is another aspect to the bass population that is only now getting some attention. Despite the general rebound in the striped bass population over the last 10-15 years, the scientists are saying that current fishing pressure will never allow significant numbers of young fish to grow to larger sizes. In fact, fishing pressure could very well have to be REDUCED in order to allow the striped bass stocks to assume a more natural age and size distribution, with a greater percentage of larger fish in the population.

Not having enough large fish in the population is obviously bad news for many recreational fishermen. There are biological implications as well. A striped bass biologist explained it in definitive terms. A population will be more healthy and stable as more spawning ages are represented. A population with more ages and sizes will fare better in the event of years of spawning failure.

The scientists only present the facts and numbers. It is up to the ASMFC Striped Bass Management Board to move the process along. The problem is, at this time, there is no desire to address the issue of larger fish. When members of the ASMFC Committee were recently asked why the big fish issue was not being addressed, it was made clear that larger fish would only be addressed if ("IF") there was a strong voice from the public asking to do so.

That's the situation. It's a tall order, but at least the goals and parameters are well-defined.

The goal? When Amendment Six is done, it MUST include goals for a more natural age and size distribution, with larger fish, not just ample numbers of small fish.

This issue transcends fishing clubs and associations. Those who care about the future of the fishery, and who share similar views on striped bass, must think about coming together as a temporary committee to assess options and develop an action plan. This should not turn into another association or organization. This will simply be a means for people who have different perspectives to come together to work on a very specific problem. The temporary committee should only exist for a few months, it will have a defined start and end period, and it will have a clearly defined objective and action plan.

If you (1) Share similar views that large fish / age structure MUST be addressed in a striped bass management plan, and (2) can help out*** or can contribute to a temporary committee (expected to exist from approximately Memorial Day to Labor Day), please respond by email or call John Papciak at 212-602-1771. A kick-off /orientation is being proposed to go over the details. The place will likely be at a central Long Island location around the Nassau/Suffolk border. The date is TBD, but will be one of the following: May 29, 30 or June 4.”

So there you have it. Get off you butt and call John P. These fish are very important to me. My boss calls them cheap therapy, and I agree. Don’t think I’d be the same person without them. I’m sure they’re important to you also. So get involved NOW!!! Every single act, now matter how small or how big, can and will make a difference.

Now lets talk about the fishing!!!! But first, a quick note about the Macallan Manhattan Cup Catch and Release striped Bass derby. There’s a few boats left for the tourney. For more info check out the News Section.

Boy am I tired. During this time of the year I don’t sleep much. I always say to my girlfriend at 4:00AM “sleep is for wimps,” after she says “I hate you” while I’m making as much noise as possible and turning lights on an off. But man, what I wouldn’t give for a few hours right now. Anyway, the fishing remains pretty good, naaa I’d say okay, in Jamaica Bay. It has definitely slowed down. I do, however expect things to get significantly better by this weekend, and those weaks should show in force any day now. Out on the Island they had a pretty good week on both the North and South Shores, and things finally turned on out east. New Jersey is another story, all together. Its on fire!!! Check it out:

And don’t forget to email me your own reports. Tight lines all.

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

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New Jersey

Captain Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide Service checked in with this report:

Well, things really got hot here in Jersey this week. We have all three species (Blues, Stripers, and Weakies) hitting flies hard from Sandy Hook to Barnaget Light. Down in Barnaget Bay the Blues have been holding in about a foot of water on the white sand flats making it almost identical to bonefishing in the keys. During the middle of the day you can see large schools of these Gators cruising the flats and they are just smashing top water flies! Clients Steve Applegate and Bob Godown put about 40 or so in the boat in about three hours on Sunday afternoon. Fish are averaging 7 to 9 lbs. The big tiderunners have also made their presence and they are even bigger than last years class. Most fish are going 7 to 12 lbs and a few have been taken in the 15 LB range up around Sandy Hook. Hot flies for the weakies are yellow and white jiggies and bucktail deceivers. Both Jim and Shell E. have been taking clients on foot and scoring well with Stripers and Blues on Jiggies and Bangers. The striper action has also been solid at dawn and dusk along the sodbanks and in the channels with fish going in the low to mid teens regularly. I am pretty sure that the best weakfishing is still yet to come as many of these tiderunners are just entering Barnaget Bay. Hope everyone else is doing well. Gotta run. Until next tide..............

Capt. Gene

Holly !@#$!!!! Did he say 15 pounds!!!! Sweet!!!!

Captain Paul Eidman from Reel-Therapy checked in with a report a little farther north. He had this to say about this “weaks” (all pun intended) action:

Hi John. Fishing has been good here on the Jersey side. Waters clean and loaded with baitfish. Been flyroddin the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers pretty hard since the wind has been so much fun lately. Tons of fun size bluefish on 7-9wt rods with sink tip lines and chartreuse and white flies. 50lb test as a bite tippet works. Stripers min the 24-26 inch range mixed in, with an occasional flurry of 30 inchers to keep you very interested. I have been distracted away from the weakies that lie below, but I know that this is the right time to nail em. Off to Montana next week to experience the big country and fight some big Rainbows on flies with my buds. I have dates open for May and June, Remember the early June run of GATOR blues on the flats in Raritan bay!

Catch em up!
Capt. Paul

Captain Bryan DeLeo from Iowa Fortune Guiding Service also sent in a report of some great Ocean City and Altantic City action. Check it out:

Capt Bryan DiLeo
Iowa Fortune Guide Services

Things are just starting to become a bit more consistent in the South jersey back country. Even though there is a lack of bait the Bass and Bluefish are still on the hunt through out the shallows. Blues are ranging from 3 to 6lbs and Bass are in the 18" - 30". Another side attraction in back are 2-4 lb shad which are a blast on a 6wt and very willing to take a fly on the flats. Night time has been the right time for the larger Bass this past week. Things should just continue to improve now with the nice weather upon us. The water should finally reach consistent temps along with the weather. Average temps during last weeks trips would range from 48 to 65 degrees all with in a hundred yards. Spring has sprung so lets go fishing.

Capt. Bryan DiLeo
Iowa Fortune

Western Long Island

Things continue to be pretty darn good on the western portions of the Island. Captain Barry Kanavy form Natural Anglers sent in this South Shore report:

John

It's wild down here. Taking bass on poppers every day. Tom Ottway took a twenty-seven pounder on Sunday morning. We've got weakfish on the flats and big blues in the rips.

Just finished our casting clinic with Lou Tabory six happy anglers left with added optimism and twenty feet on their cast. One of them being Tom Ottway. We are organizing additional casting clinics for July. Our new Maverick Master Angler as been christened and has maintained a 100% fishing success rate so far. I don't know how long this can continue but I'm shooting for a 100% season.

Captain Barry Kanavy

Sweet!!!!

I also spoke with Captain Scott Holder from Dragon Fly Charters. He said the weaks have definitely shown in The Great South Bay and the bass action is fantastic.

Capt. Ken Courtlangus of Frequent Flyer Charters reports:

Hi John:
The 2001 charter season started off great with regular client and friend, George Tung scoring with Striped Bass 20 to 29 inches at > Leads Pond in Manhasset Bay and Cold Spring Harbors' Causeway area. The back of Manhasset Bay was loaded with small school Bass. The fly of choice was a white and chartreuse Clouser on a sink tip line. The water temp was in the low 60s. Great conditions until that north east wind kicked in, sending the fish and us to calmer places. That calmer place was the East side of Cold Spring Harbor. Fat, husky and hungry 26-29 inch Bass. Again sink tip lines and white and chartreuse Clousers did the trick. Looks like a good season ahead, the Bass are plump, bunker are in most Western Sound bays, sand eels and spearing in the estuaries and water temps. rising. Renewal is a good thing.

Capt. Ken Courtlangus
"Frequent Fly-er"

Eastern Long Island

Things have really gotten going out east according to Jim Hull from Shelter Island Light Tackle Challenge. This week he did extremely well. A nice body of large fish moved in with the Bermuda high. Butterfish, bunker, and large sandeels moved in force. Blues were around in a big way mugging the porgies and leaving half bodies all over the top of the water. In addition there was a substantial worm hatch in Niantic Creek, and weakfish were swarming them on top. Jim’s boat nailed a 36” 17 pound fish! Had John Eldridge, Dan Duff and Frank Trigiano out and everybody hooked up. Eldridge had 18 fish with 6 keepers. They were using sliders on the surface, half and halves just below the surface and they caught fish on sinking lines also. The cold front shut things down on the weekend. Jim said, “We’re off to a good start!!!”

New York Metro

Things slowed down a bit since last Friday, but they remain pretty good. Captain Ralph Burtis from Island Charters had a good week. Check out his report:

Hey John,

Wow, stripers all over the place. Things started off slow this year, but the fish are sure making up for lost time. Fished this week with Mike Gromet and he landed some nice bass to 32” (picture attached). We had bass on the surface for several hours that day with small patterns being the ticket since the stripers were busting s

chools of spearing. Later in the week I had Lou Johnson out for another day of surface action. Popping plugs were the weapons of choice that day with great success.

I just came in from an evening trip near Jones inlet and the conditions were just as good as Jamaica Bay. Stripers busting small bait under birds. We had 2 hours of pure excitement. We landed fish to 28” non stop.

Next week is the CCA Manhattan Cup tourney. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon on the water and benefit a worthy cause. I’m looking forward to another great trip and hopefully another winner, although last year will be tough to beat. One thing’s for sure, it won’t take much for the weather to be better than last year.

See you on the water; Capt. Ralph

NICE!!!!

I was out there right across form Ralph on Sunday and I can confirm his story. We had a nice run of fish on top swirling on a wind blown surface. I even pulled out a 20lb fish on a jig and then another one lost at the boat on a popper. A great day, but cold and windy. The Friday before I had out Eugene Garity. After getting a few fish on sinking lines we anchored up on the secret flat and had a good hour of solid action on poppers and gurglers. It was pretty freaking awesome!!! Saturday morning was more of the same until the wind turned to the east and things turned off like a light switch.

Captain Frankie Crescitelli from Fin Chaser Charters had pretty much the same experience. He checked in with this report:

Hey John, it must be May, cause things are crazy! We have gone from red hot to look warm inside of a day or two, and it has probably more to do with the moon, and the cold snap than anything else. The good news is that they are both almost over and things are already looking good, with the big fish on the move. This week we hosted the "Flats Master" of the East end, Capt. Bob Robl. It was great to see a guy like Capt. Rob fishing "out of his element," as you know our style of flyfishing in the western end is much different from Bob's waters. Although it took him a while to actually getting used to letting the fly sink, he hooked, hooked I say, the largest fish of the day, but the fish got the best of him, and Capt. Dino and I turned the screws a little, just so he'd remember...We got fish with attitudes here in the city! That day (Tuesday) was the slowest it has been in about two weeks, but even so we put together a decent catch and had some fun. Wednesday saw a turnaround and Capt. Dino landed a bunch of fish from 8-11 lbs in Raritan Bay. Were on the downside of the moon, the weather is warming again, and by the look of my log, this should be some of the best fishing of the spring over the next two weeks, just in time for the Manhattan Cup tourney. We still have a couple of boats available, and if anyone is interested check out www.ccany.org or email me for more details,

until next time...keep your fly down! ,
Capt. Frank
Finchaser Charters

Captain Joe Mattioli from On the Bight Charters also check in with a report from Raritan Bay. He had this to say:

Striped bass, Bluefish and Weakfish are on the line in Raritan Bay. We had Bass & Bluefish up to 9 lbs and Weakfish up to 6 lbs using Chart/white half & half flies. The fishing is a pick fishing deep water at the channel edges. The boats using bait or trolling are scoring with big catches and Big fish up to 30 lbs. There is plenty of fish It's Just a matter of time before we see fish Blitzing on top .

I have dates available!