New York Metro &
New Jersey

August 1st, 2003

OPEN THE EEZ???  NO WAY!!!

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A big thanks to Ralph for covering for me again. I’m Back from the North Shore of Oahu where as you can imagine the surf was clean, smooth, and big, the weather perfect and the surrounding wilderness extraordinarily beautiful… There’s something entirely satisfying about placing yourself in the hollow of barreling blue water while you zip over a reef in crystal clear tropical water. Close to paradise… The fishing wasn’t so hot however. Hawaii has just about zero recreational or commercial fishing regulations. What looks like spectacular bonefish habitat is just about barren as the Sahara desert. I managed to get out for one full day of after being blown out of two. I did see 5 fish, in the space of an 8-hour day and a few miles of wading, including a monster that must have been at least 3-feet. That’s right… Three-freaking-feet! Of course I lost my composure immediately and lined the fish sending him speeding off in the opposite direction. The other 4-fish I saw were in the 10-plus class, but they were spooky, smart and well adapted to the heavy commercial pressure they are under out there. Those Hawaiian decision makers still haven’t figured out how profitable the flyfishing / tourism industry would be if they place an emphasis on developing the natural age and size structure that bonefish in less pressured environments enjoy. My guide actually bragged about the 37-inch bonefish his buddy had taken in a gill net the week before. It’s really quite sad but that’s the way things go I guess.

Kind of makes me feel a bit better about our situation here in the mainland. The whole conservation movement in the grand scheme of things is relatively new. Maybe 25- or 30-years old at best. This ethic, while still far from perfect, is becoming increasingly more prevalent here but is, more or less, non-existent in most countries. Is the US headed in the right direction? That’s certainly debatable, but most would agree that we’re not destroying resources at the rate we were 20, 10, or even 5-years ago. Even those non-fisher folk are taking notice of wasteful commercial fishing practices as feature articles detailing destructive fishing methods and stock decline are appearing in reputable pubs like Newsday, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe etc… National, powerful Environmental lobby groups, which used to focus on land issues are taking notice and dumping massive amounts of money and influence into protecting ocean resources.

This is a good thing, and the attention the issue is getting will hopefully persuade those voters and decision makers who before were unaware or, more than likely, uninterested. But every year we are still faced with challenges from those who are there willing to take advantage of any small gains the various stocks have enjoyed. Today’s clear and present danger is the reopening of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to commercial and rec striped bass fishing.

Back in February the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) recommended that the moratorium on the harvest of Atlantic striped bass in the EEZ after a 13-year closure be removed. The EEZ is that area from 3-nautical miles out to 200-nautical miles. The purpose of closing the EEZ was to protect strong year classes entering the population and to promote rebuilding of an overfished population. By conventional standards, striped bass are fully recovered. There are a lot of fish around, but there is no doubt that there is not a natural age and size structure as the vast majority of the stock is not allowed to live past half it’s natural age before being capped at 28-inches.

Is the striped bass population overfished? This again is debatable but many, including myself strongly believe it still is. And the increase in commercial and recreational quotas we saw this year will most certainly make things worse. Most fishermen and scientists agree that the big fish of yesteryear just aren’t around and opening the EEZ will only increase the catch by making enforcement complicated and in a sense impossible, encouraging more poaching and illegal fishing.

But we can do something about it. Write a short letter expressing your concern about opening the EEZ to commercial and recreation fishing to Anne Lange, Chief, State-
Federal Fisheries Division, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS, 1315
East West Highway, Room 13317, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Comments may
also be sent via fax to (301) 713-0596. Comments submitted via e-mail
or Internet will not be accepted. Written comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on August 20, 2003.

After review of the comments received, NMFS will decide whether to initiate a lengthy review and decision-making process, which would include preparation of either an
Environmental Impact Statement or an Environmental Assessment, and the development of management measures to revise current Federal regulations for Atlantic striped bass in the EEZ. Your letter does matter. So get off your butts and write!

Now on to the reports:

Still plenty of action offshore as bluefin and yellowfin, while tough to hook, are all over the wrecks and drops. Big bluefish are also abundant offshore, mahi are crowding the floatsam and lobsterpots, and strangely enough there have been reports of keeper size bass underneath it all. Inshore, the summer doldrums have set in and the action, for the most part has been with bluefish. The nighttime bass fishing in Southern New Jersey has been productive with keeper fish falling to flies. In the New York Metro area, big bluefish have been taking large flies underneath the bunker schools in Jamaica Bay and smaller bluefish can be found under the birds in the Breezy Point and Sandy Hook areas. In Western Long Island, the North Shore has been producing some keeper-sized bass but there are a lot of alligator blues up to 12-pounds outnumbering them. Reports indicate that the same sort of thing is happening on the South Shore as the stripers are less frequent, but the larger blues have been making up for it. Out east, Montauk is still producing some big stripers for those fishing sinking lines. The flats at East Hampton still have bass on them but they are very finicky and tough to get. Still no inshore pelagics to speak of but those green bonito should be arriving any day now. You can be sure I’ll be on the lookout for them.

A bit of wind and rain this weekend, but certainly fishable. So get out there…

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

From the Atlantic City / Ocean City area Captain Bryan DiLeo from Iowa Fortune Guide Service reports good night time action...  Check it out:

This past week was just a carbon copy of those gone past with very good catches of Bass providing plenty of action for both Fly and light tackle anglers alike. The bass still are consistently larger that our usual summer time fish with each trip hitting at least one double digit fish amongst our catches with this weeks largest tipping the scales at 14lbs taken out of 18"of water. Night time has been the focus in combination with the right tide has been allowing my clients to get on the biggest fish in the shallowest of water. Very few fish have been taken blind casting the last couple weeks with the common pattern and method being, see it catch it. Mostly all the Bass especially the larger fish have either been seen tailing or subtly sipping the surface and once we see their location a quick accurate cast has been closing the deal. Look for the action to be on the increase especially with numerous hatches (shrimp, crab, worm) going off with the approach of the new moon. Water temperatures are still ranging in the mid to upper 60's keeping both the quantity as well as the quality bass laid up. With this kind of summer time action the fall should be very interesting.
Capt. Bryan DiLeo
609-926-5415 

From Central New Jersey Captain Gene Quigley reports consistent offshore action when the weather permits with a mix of yellowfin and bluefin.  Mahi are showing up in good numbers as well and have been great on the fly around the pots - most of them 6 to 15 lbs on baby angels and jiggies.  Plenty of big bluefish out there as well. 

Captain Bill Hoblitzell reports that there are some interesting things happening offshore…  Check it out:

On Saturday am, fellow ASWF club member Steve Farrar, Freehold, NJ, accompanied me to look for some spainish macks, or bones. After checking a few places in the bight that they usually frequent we headed offshore a ways to a frequently visited and well-known wreck, I was dreaming and thinking amberjack when Steve's pink jiggy sank in the depths. On his third cast he came tight into some sort of bully that was rapidly pulling line fom his 10 weight outfit. Mr AJ soon turned into Mr Bluefish and a nice 9 pounder at that.  I'll take that I thought, a few more casts than a bump, than solid take how about a striper in 95 feet of water 8.5 miles out.  For the next 2 and half hours we both caught and released several nice bass and blues in the 10 pound class, all release unharmed. It was really cool to have the stripers hit 30' from the rod tip than dive straight down to the wreck below. Some were fortunate to teach us a lesson and break us off. At times you could feel the 450 grain lines rub and saw against the rip rap. Sea conditions were flat, variable winds, slack tide therefore the fish were up in the water column, once the tide started to move we lost the bite. We did venture south to the BA where the water was blue and 69 degrees but there was no life, bait or signs.  Will be fishing offshore with more frequency weather and seas permiting
Bill Hoblitzell

Odd that those stripers are out there…

Jamaica Bay held a good number of bunker this week and those monster blues were in there feeding on them.  Heavy sinking lines, a lot of wire and big bunker flies were the trick to catching these brutes.  Most of the action was AM only, however reports indicate that the dusk hours were productive as well.  No reports from over on the Raritan bay side as most boats seem to be concentrating on Fluke.  From Breezy Point to Sandy hook, there still seems to be plenty of rain bait and plenty of smaller blues on them.  If it sticks around we should see some great false albacore and bonito action as the season progresses. 

Western Long Island

Reel-Timer Angelo Peluso checked in with two reports this week.  Check it out:

The name of the game for me this week has been "small bass, big blues."  Just before the thunder rolled and the lighting strikes(thank you Garth Brooks), the fish turned on.  The last few evenings brought a number of small bass to the fly and quite a few bluefish...with shoulders I might add.  Fish up to nine pounds have been very consistent and I did hit  a few pods  in the 12 to 15 pound range  While they are wreaking havoc with my fly box they sure are a blast to catch.  And I had some jumpers last evening, many of which broke water three and four times!  But once the skies start to light up I take my nine foot/nine weight "lightning rod" and high-tail it back to my truck! 

My neck of the Sound has turned into Porgy City...an emerging Mecca of sorts for those drowning sand worms and already dead clams.  But the bluefish are around in decent numbers giving us fly guys numerous daily opportunities.  The fish are mostly within the six to nine pound category, with enough twelve plus pounders around to keep it interesting.  Small bass are still inhabiting the back bays but in general most are tending toward the finicky side.  I've been hearing of more bass being caught as a by-catch on porgy rigs than on flies and artificials.  I did manage two keeper-sized stripers the other evening...both at 12 pounds, caught within 10 minutes of one another and off the same rock structure; then not a single other fish.  Best bet for the stripers out this way at this time of year is very early morning, at dusk and then in the dark.  During the day some fish can be found off the drops adjacent to shoals...but that will require upwards of 450 grain lines.  Big flies seem to be bringing the best results for me right now.   I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the first "bones".  Till next week...Angelo   

Captain Barry Kanavy from Natural Anglers checks in from Martha’s Vineyard:

Life is good on Martha's Vineyard. This is my annual trek up here where I invite select clients to fish for a few weeks. Water temperatures are only in the low 60's and the Bass are "frisky." We've had wonderful fishing with Stripers, with many fish in the high teens, on the flats, eating crab flies. Structure fishing has reviled "hog's" up into the mid-thirties (pounds that is). Life is good when you have Happy fish. Back home on Long Island South Shore, the big "wolf pac" Bluefish have moved in. We have also had a fair number of Weakfish in the 7-12 pound range, in skinny water. The Striper's remain consistently aggressive and plentiful. Montauk's Fall Run book is 90% full if your looking for a date don't hesitate!
Wish you were here!
Captain Barry Kanavy
516-785-7171

Plying the South Shore beaches was Reel-Timer John Papciak.  Check out this report!:

Late that night / early morning I got the bug to try for some weakies. I started at Jones inlet with a light stick, small plugs and small bucktails and worked from the bay all the way to the jetty. Very discouraging, not a sniff. Next stop backside FI Inlet. I was working a small bucktail through the swirls and eddies. I finally got smacked and set up. The fish doesn't move. Then I applied some pressure and off it went. Granted, I have the light stick and last yr's 20 lb braid. Each time I apply some pressure I lose about 20 yds of line. This is one heckuva weakfish, I'm thinking. For a few minutes I'm in a bit of a standoff with the fish. I cant really apply too much pressure, and the fish is only taking more line and going deeper when I try. This is a REAL nice weakfish, I'm now thinking. Please god, let me at least get a look at this "mother of all weakfish." I change the angle of the rod a little bit, and finally I get a break. I take back most of my line, but the fish makes one last good run. I finally see the outline of a fish on the surface - damn that weakfish is HUGE! A few more cranks and I have the fish in close enough for confirmation. Not what I expected, but not disappointed either. A bass, 32 1/2 pounds (as per my scale prior to release). Go figure. Needless to say, I worked every nook and cranny for the next 2 hours with a bucktail, but not a touch. That was my only hit all night. As far as weakfish are concerned, I'm just not hitting any - yet, hmmmm. But I'll be back with a 10 or 12 wt and the LC13.

Nice!!!

Eastern Long Island

From the South Side Captain Jim Hull from Light Tackle Challenge continues to put big fish in the boat.  Check it out:

After a sluggish week, things are returning to normal. Had a couple of good fish yesterday for Ron Wolf along with beautiful weather. We had a 75lb. BFT breech clear in 15ft.of water. Had a brief sighting on skipjack the previous day. Also have some Mola Mola around but as you know, Striped Bass is my thing and July and August is my favorite time for Hog hunting. Get out there and keep fishing.  Jim (captainjimhull@aol.com) 631-749-1906

Cool!!!

From the beach Reel-Timer James Wu checks in with this report:

I fly fished the rocks of Montauk with Thomas of Manhattan Saturday, 26th, early morning; we caught school stripers in the cuts before 9am, using micro clousers.   Once again, I am struck at how the floating line often outperforms the intermediate line, as you can control the presentation as soon as the fly lands.  This for the angler fishing from shore.   Looking to encounter heavier action as we move through summer. 

From East Hampton, Captain Alex Powers from To The Point Charters reports continued action in shallow water.  Check it out:

Hey John:
Had some great fishing this past week from East Hampton out to Montauk.  There have been some bass tailing early in the morning and some monster bluefish cruising the flats (see attached photo).  Getting the bass to eat a fly after the many clear nights around the full moon has been difficult but not impossible (see other photo).  Once again, sparse flies placed in front and below the fish seem to have the best result.  Another factor that has caused some difficulty recently has been the vast numbers of sharks that are cruising the flats - at one point last weekend I counted 19 within 30 yards of the boat. 
 
Capt Alex Powers

Farther west in the Shinnecock area Captain Don Kaye from Shinnecock Guiding checks in with this report:

Due to the rainy weather, accompanied by high winds this past week, there were but a few sight fishing opportunities. The sun appeared late in the week and anglers Joe Sorbara and Peter Orthos plied the Shinnecock waters. The winds returned but Joe presented the fly to a number of sighted stripers, even in the 'chop',before tightening his line on a good sized Bass. As the winds increased, we hunted the Bay for signs of feeding Bluefish. Late in the afternoon, schools of Blues were spotted breaking the surface in the shallows and both anglers were into fish immediately. The fish ate both flies and lures, fought well, and were all quickly released. With hopes for calmer seas and tight lines; Capt. Don Kaye, Shinnecock Guiding

Reel-Timer Joel Filner reports from Cape Cod this week…  Check it out:

Fished the waters off Monomoy and Chatham today on Cape Cod with Jeff Walther. Tough fishing in deep waters but a lot of fun along with the work. My fishing partner stuck to spinning tackle and out fished me using a pink sluggo on 12 lb test mono. Total fish caught and released were 20, with quite a few keepers. I experienced a run off down to half my backing only to lose the fish when the reel handle hit the camera. We all thought it was a bonito. Wow. Water temperatures were still in the fifties and shifting all the time as the day wore on, getting up to 61 when the bigger stirpers were on the feed. There were large pods of bait scattered along the coast line about  1.5 miles out. Different waters than the Shinnecock but just as exciting. Monday and Tuesday were shore days that were even tougher as the dreaded mung weed clogged the waters, and seals seeking shelter from a large mako just off shore kept the beaches clear of fish. The only positive report was from three surfcasters coming off the beach at 630, explaining the major action quit after first light (about 415 AM).
I sit typing this with a hot pack on my neck and the laptop on my lap and arms and shoulders so sore I cannot lift the glass. But I could cast and retrieve and play the fish for the first time in 4 weeks. I'm ready for fall.

joel

It’s soon to come Joel…  That’s all for this week…  See you on the water…