New York Metro &
New Jersey

August 29th, 2003

Gearing up for Fall

Featured Affiliate

Orvis Ruoff's Bonefish/Permit Selection: 11 Flies for $35.00 plus shipping

Guest Report - Ralph Burtis

Here I am again, John & Daniel are making the final arrangements for their special day and then it’s off to some exotic place where they will do whatever young newlyweds do when one of them is a fishing junkie. Yep, I’ll bet they’ll fish at least one day while they’re away, any takers?
It seems fall is in the air, or should I say water. On more than one occasion during the last 2 weeks I have seen or heard of fall feeding frenzy surface action. I witnessed it myself less than 2 weeks ago out near the Gull Islands where blues and bass were feeding on rainbait to the point we could move right up next to them without even a shudder in the calamity.
In this weeks report you’ll read about one report on the sound where that same sort of thing went on. Albies, bonito, frigate mackerel and spanish mackerel have all shown their finny backs along the Jersey Shore and South & North Shores of Long Island. They have been thick as hell one day taking anything that gets thrown at them and the next, spotty or no where to be found at all. The fall run is right around the corner, so you better make sure you save a couple of sick days for September, October and November.
The Metro area is still fishing well with lots of blues and an occasional striper if you’re out early enough and the tunoid types came and went again. The mid to southern Jersey shore has been fishing very well with large schools of albies, frigate mackerel and bonito mixed in with blues. Out east; well, is out east. It’s almost always good fishing out there. The albies are spotty, but catchable if your there when they surface, blues and bass are plentiful in the usual areas with an occasional blitz thrown in, but unlike September and October, nothing you can count on.
I heard reports today of an 86 pound striper caught out east on a bunker head Wednesday, but I’ve been unable to confirm it. I spoke with several Captains out that way and they also heard of it, but no ones knew who or exactly where. Perhaps by the time this report is posted, it will already be common knowledge. I did have one confirmed report of a 63 pounder caught in the Montauk area about 10 days ago on an artificial of some sort, but once again the story was somewhat sketchy.
Offshore and inshore, large blues are tearing apart light tackle. During this past week a couple of Jersey fly guys managed to land and release a few Mahi to 24” as they worked offshore structure. Lastly, Makos continue to hang around their usual offshore structure areas as long as the water temps don’t get too much warmer. Now, let’s get down to the real news at hand below:

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

Capt. Gene Quigley of Shore Catch Guide Service sent in this beauty

Ralph - All I can say about the fishing right now here in Central and South Jersey is WOW!!

It is truly like the fall - Bonito, Spanish Mac's, Albies, and Blues all over the beaches the last three days tearing through bait. I had out John Boag and his 7 year old son Jake today. It was Jake's first day fishing in the ocean and he boated bonito, Spanish Macs, albies, blues and a lonely sea robin. Not bad for a 7 yr. old!

My Partner Capt Jim Freda has been on it every day and doing very well with clients during the AM bite. The bonito are 4 to 5 lbs, Albies 6 to 9 lbs, Spanish Macs 3 to 5 lbs, and all the 4 to 6 LB blues you can handle. The bait is all spearing and rainfish (small stuff) and surf candies, jiggies, and baby angels are the hot flies as long as they are small and sparse.

Offshore the water is green and cold and the tuna bite is slow. If this is any indication of the type of fall we are going to have in Jersey we are in for a TREMENDOUS season. The spring striper fishing was the best Jersey has seen in 30 years -- this could be the fall to remember as well.

Capt. Gene Quigley
Shore Catch

Capt. Bryan DiLeo of Iaow Fortune Guiding sent in this report

Capt. Bryan DiLeo/Iowa Fortune
Atlantic City/ Ocean City Report

Things down here have been very good since the arrival of the very cool air and water temperatures. A low pressure system passing over on Saturday sent the water temperatures plunging from 78 degrees to 61 overnight and that put the Bass on the feed in a big way. With more than enough bait to feed on and the good moving water with the approach of the new moon the Bass have been pushing good size schools of bait, balling them up and so the feeding frenzy begins. The schools have been holding bass from 20"to 33" with some larger fish mixed in and have been tracking fairly well allowing enough time to get in front them offering solid head on shots for both Light tackle and fly anglers alike. With the cool water around look for the action to remain consistent through the new moon.
Capt. Bryan DiLeo
609-926-5415

Western Long Island

Reel-Timer Angelo Peluso sent in this little L.I. Sound pre fall run report

Hi Ralph,
I take nothing for granted when it comes to fishing and I appreciate anything the fishing gods choose to bestow upon me. And so it was that the week began with the biggest blitz of bluefish that I have seen in quite some time. It reminded me of the bounty of the early 1980s. Literally tens upon tens of acres of fish on top for at least two hours from first light, and then again a repeat performance with the changing of the tide. The blues, mostly two to six pounds, were having a field day with peanut bunker. And there were enough larger blues mixed in to keep it exciting. Also present at this time, and mixed in with the blues, were a few small pods of bonito...but with the massive numbers of bluefish feeding in true frenzy form, it was impossible to get a fly or lure to the "bones" without it being intercepted by the less selective choppers. The greatest thing about all this was that it was just one other boat and me having at it with the fish for most of the morning. That is probably the reason they stayed on top so long. Most any fly I threw worked but I had blast with fly rod poppers. That is exciting fishing! After that blitz, dredging the depths with the Teeny produced some fish as well.
Days two and three of this week were carbon copies of the first with blues on the feed with moving water. Some bonito mixed in but a tough time getting them to hit from among all the bluefish. Also, there are still some smaller bass willing to play flyrod games. Topwater flyrod poppers did the trick again but I am going thru them at a fairly rapid rate thanks to the bluefish.
To say the least, this bluefishing is quite exceptional. As far as I could see yesterday, almost all boats were into fish and the party boats didn't have to motor far to keep their fares happy. This is a great time to introduce kids to fishing since the action can be non-stop.
Just a final note on bluefish...There are those flyrod "aristocrats" who demean the virtues and qualities of bluefish. "Too easy," some say. "A nusiance," other lament. But as one flyfishing voice, I think the blue is a terrific gamefish and it saved many a day back when the bass stocks had declined. And for tenacity, power and the willingness to strike a fly I for one would take it any day over some artificially propagated brown trout sipping a size 22 Trico as if it were high tea! Give me a fish that runs to a splash not one that runs away! And the blues just pull harder!
I found some bigger blues Thursday morning up to 9 pounds and some decent bass, including one 19 1/2 pound fish. This has been an excellent week. Till next week.
Stay well and stay into fish!
Angelo

Eastern Long Island

Capt. Don Kaye of Shinnecok Guiding sent in this report

This past week began with mild breezes, sunshine and numerous sight fishing opportunities. Lots of Striped Bass 'busting' surface baits seemed to outnumber the Bluefish. The key was small flies and lures moved slowly in the strong current to 'match the hatch' of tiny baits making slow headway in the flow. Lots of Bass to 32 inches and a few Bluefish, all captured and released. Schools of small Bonito showed up late in the tide. Clear nights and unlimited horizon offering great views of planet Mars over the Bay. We're now on both Albacore and Mars watch!
Capt. Don Kaye,
Shinnecock Guiding
631-7288175

Salty Flyrodder Joel Filner sent in this report

At least I caught a fish this weekend. My one problem on Friday was there were not a lot of fish around, but one blue from the jetty at Shinnecock, one fly, and two hours work did the trick. Again early morning before the light in the sky, the spin guys and some of the fly guys managed fish, not much size nor much constant action but fish. Friday at low tide in the morning/afternoon, spanish mackerel were in and thats all folks. If one was in a small boat we could see the pods of feeding fish back in the bay and out on the ocean well out of casting range. Saturday blew in with the wind ordered by John McMurray out of the north west, but he forgot to specify velocity so we ended up with 15 to 25 knots for most of the day. Saturday night the Saltys trip to Jones Inlet was a well attended event by 22 members, who fought the wind and the tide to no avail. We even had fireworks for our event but no fish. The bait guys managed a few porgies but it was a non fish day at the inlet. Sunday the ocean was beaten down by the wind and the bait stayed out on the water, so the winners were a kayaker or two who went out on the tide and wind ( I hope they got back) and the clam guys who managed some blues and small stripers. Water temperature was down to 66 at Jones Inlet and 68 at Shinnecock. Where are all the albies gone? Long time passing or are we on to the steady three week delay as we experienced most of the summer. Bait is in the water, fish are picky, and the weather is strange, so there should be a long fall season. Or else they will pass us all by and go south for the winter. Late flash.. Albies on the west side of Shinnecock on Monday morning. Boo Hoo.

Capt. Brendan McCarthy of Urban Fly Guides sent this along

Hey Ralph.
how are you? finally getting the hardtails here. were up well today but were PICKY and ended up with just one for Alex Powers and Bailey from Urban Angler. some super sized bluefish around and some bass, but nothing great. getting geared up for the Fall Run here in Montauk. And although I can't believe it is labor day already, I am pysched for the blitz-o-rama. still have some days left in Early Sept and some weekdays in Late October, other than that, bring it on. see ya out here soon.
Brendan
Urban Fly Guides
917-847-9576

Capt. Jim Levison of Double Haul Charters had this to say

Hi Ralph

The East End continues to get ready for the fall run. Some reports of albies around Montauk but not real fishable yet. Lots of bluefish up to 6-7lb around Gardiners Island. The predominate bait is still peanut bunker. Some reports of bay anchovies around but I have not seen the big pods of them that are needed to bring the albies in big time. Could be any day now. The water is still a bit cool and probably will not get much warmer. Also some reports of bonito and Spanish mackerel around some inlets but it has been hit and miss. The conventional guys at Montauk are bringing big bass in every day from the rips. Till next week.

Capt. Jim