New York Metro &
New Jersey

July 25th, 2003

This May Be A Season To Remember

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Guest Fishwire reporter - Ralph Burtis

Here I am again, it seems every time I’ve got a big trip scheduled, John’s busy and ... you don’t need to hear all of that stuff... As I’m writing this, I just cancelled an offshore trip for tomorrow due to the possible dangerous seas that are working offshore. I ‘m pissed about it too, I’m hearing reports of major tuna blitzes and good sized sharks in some of my favorite offshore spots. It just seems I can’t get all my schedules and the weather to mesh. For those that don’t know it, we (the New York Bight area, which, believe it or not spreads all the way out to the Hudson Canyon) is having what seems to be one of those offshore years that will be talked about for years to come. I can remember this sort of thing back in the 60s, and again in the 80s, perhaps I’m showing my age.

During the past week, I heard reports of great whites within 30 miles of the beach, tuna (yellowfin & bluefin) within 20 miles of the beach. It seems this year is a banner year for small baits offshore and with that banner tuna. All I’m saying is if you now someone, or have the opportunity to go offshore, don’t miss out, you may be sorry for it in the future. If this season continues on the same track as it’s going, we’re going to have a super fall with all of the tunoid type fishes that push inshore late in the season,,,,, hold on tight.

As usual at this time of year, reports are somewhat skimpy as the inshore fishing gets tougher and many people have other things on their minds than fishing, not that I can understand why. It ends up, the local corespondenet has to do his homework and put something together.

It seems things in Jersey and the NY metro area have reached the usual summer doldrums. Blues with some bass mixed in early in the morning. Blues here and there throughout the day and a few bass on structure here and there before the water temps come up too much. The shallow waters in the metro area have just about come to a screeching halt. Out east however, the water temps are still cool and crisp in the mid to upper 60s in the early morning moving up into the mid 70’s in the afternoon. Lots of shots at bass and blues on the flats with the usual flats anxiety to go along with it. Don’t get me wrong, that’s why I love the sport of sight fishing, outwitting those cunning predators in the shallows and then hanging on while they make a mad dash for deeper water. Lets get on with the report.

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

Hold onto your fly rod, Capt. Gene Quigley starts off the reports with this major offshore report:

Ralph,

Once again this week the name of the game is TUNA - and lots of em. The only problem is that not many folks are catching them right now. We have managed a few -- but for the amount of fish that are offshore right now we should be getting more.

Many of the Bluefin schools are as close as 14 miles outside of the central Jersey inlets and are showing on top feeding on very small tinker mackerel and bay anchovies. Further out their are very big (75 to 150 LB) yellowfin tuna doing the same thing up on the surface. I was out Sunday with friends and we found acres of em late in the afternoon feeding furiously on top. We managed to hook and land one on the troll that was 80 lbs.

This is by far the most tuna that I can recall inshore since the 80's. It is still early and more fish are settling into the bait enriched bluewaters out their every day. This could make for an incredible August and September inshore tuna bite.

If you want Skipjack Tuna and BIG Bluefish you can get them on the fly up top basically until your arms fall off.

Thanks all for now!

Capt. Gene Quigley
Shore Catch Guide Service

Woah Geno, you’re really gettin’ my blood pumpin’

Sorry, no reports from the Metro area this week.

Western Long Island

North Shore

Bob Giordano sent in this well appreciated Huntington area report:

Hey John,
Things up here in Huntington have still been consistent. Early morning jaunts have put me into a handful of bass each trip. Small blues have now invaded the bay and have become a bit of a nuisance along our grass beds. (Love them when they get a bit bigger!) Most of the bass have been between 20" and 26". Keepers are a bit scarce. Fish taking both Half & Half's as well as clousers with Chartreuse over white getting the nod. They have also began taking gurglars and small crease flies as well. Plenty of white bait around both spearing and anchovies.
Stay well....Bob Giordano

Thanks Bob

Eastern Long Island

Capt. Jim Hull sent in this report of a client with some great offshore and inshore fishing:

Hi Ralph,
It looks like John picked a good week to take off with a big heave going strong. The start of this report period was still fishing well. Dr. Sprinkle came out from San Diego for a couple of days fishing with me. He started out fishing with Doug on the 31 Bertram TIPPET. 7. makos were played on the fly. San Diego has an excellent mako fly fishery but never gave up a day with large sharks like he saw that day. The Dr. casted fly off Light Tackle Challenge for bass with a big bass each day. The weekend slowed with the bait holding too far offshore. Hopefully the heave will return things to normal.
Keep em tight.
Jim

Sounds like Dr. Sparkle had one heck of a week

Capt. Don Kaye sent in this envious flats report:

The stiff mid-week winds clouded the waters and put a 'damper' on the great sight fishing we've had in Shinnecock Bay. However, schools of mirauding Bluefish paid no attention to the waves and pounced on just about every lure presented. The weekend sun shone, the cloudy water was 'gone with the wind' and the visual stalking of those Stripers was on again. The opportunities were many and all fish captured were released unharmed to fight another day. And the great Shinnecock Summer continues!
Capt. Don Kaye
Shinnecock Guiding
631-728-8175

Thanks Don

Salty Flyrodder Joel Filner
 
Fishing is still a vicarious sport for me, but I cannot sleep in so out to the beaches I wander, searching for the friendly truck and watching with sadness. Friday morning was beautiful on the water a mild wind and still moderate water temperatures, holding at 68 on the outgoing. The moon was nice and the fish were very picky again, with reasonable numbers around but not taking, then some switch goes on and then they feed on flies. Kayakers report large schools in new locations and the same reluctance for the fish to hit, then bang.. and in 15 minutes its over. Nice size fish with some keepers but mostly schoolies of the 24 to 30 range. Saturday after the rains was quiet except for the boats, however on the Peconic, nice blues and stripers off Jessops. Our favourite honey hole was magic at sundown through 11 PM, and Sunday morning, with the outgoing was a lovely fishing time for weather and fish. The Ponqougue bridge on the south side and the holes on the north were good spots on the outgoing and the beginning of the incoming, again with spotty hits but enough to keep you coming back. Mostly kayak or boat accessible unfortunately. Next week its the Cape for me and hopefully my arm will be okay to fish.

joel

Hopefully Joel’s arm will be back in shape for the fall run. Thanks Joel

Well, that’s it for this week. Remember, if you’ve got a report, send it in to John so he can include it in the Fishwire.

Until next week, Tight Lines;