New York Metro &
New Jersey

September 5th, 2003

Big Surf on the Way

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Guest Reporter - Ralph Burtis

Another week of rain, I’m beginning to think the metro area got relocated to the northwest. We’ve had more rain this year than I can remember. It’s hard to believe that we had a drought last year. Speaking of rain and storms, keep your eye on this monster (hurricane Fabian) pushing north way offshore. We’ll be feeling it’s effects this weekend and of course it will take several days for the water to settle down before we see what happens to the albies. Several years ago, the albie season was terminated due to the two hurricanes that blew through in late summer early fall. Hopefully this year won’t follow that pattern. If you do go out (meaning in the ocean) this weekend, be sure you know the water well. With swells as big as they are forecast (up to 11 feet & that’s in deep water), it’s very easy to get tangled up in a big wave if you’re not in enough water. This is the time of year when the big bass and blues work the disoriented bait in the wave torn shallows. With waves this size, shallows mean anything to 12 - 15 feet of water. Beware, one false move and you’ll be swimming and that’s if you’re lucky. That said, be extra careful this weekend and don’t take any chances, the fish will be around for quite a while and you can get ‘em next time.

Everyone I speak with tells me the same thing, there is more bait in the water than they have seen in years. I have to agree and it’s not just inshore either. In the metro area, we’ve got spanish macs, bluefish up to 12 pounds and schoolie bass to the point your arms will fall off. Big blues are still busting tackle, and causing pain among those that are looking to battle with the big bruisers. I spoke with one east end guide today who told me many of his clients this past week have opted to tackle the big blues (up to 17 pounds) rather than look for bass. We all know, pound for pound very few fish in the northeast are as tenacious as blues. To continue with the east end action, albies are there, but mixed in with more blues, and with all of those teeth crushing bait, there’s very little chance of hooking an albie. It’s a guaranteed lost fly on every cast unless you’re using heavy mono or wire, neither of which albies will touch. The Jersey shore has been on fire this week for those that were able to get out, with more blues, albies and spanish macs. This fall season is working itself into what appears to be one of the better seasons in a dog’s age as was the spring bass season. All that considered if you don’t mind a little wind and rain.

I didn’t get offshore this week myself, but I did get a report from one Jersey guide. One day water temps were prime with Mahi to 10 pounds, taking flies as they stalked from below the offshore pot markers. The next day, the water was grungy and the beautiful yellow / green fish were gone.

This week’s guide’s reports are a bit skimpy. I‘ll blame that on a couple of things. One, the weather hasn’t been what we all would like to see, with that there hasn’t been a lot of time on the water. Two, the internet is so loaded with viruses lately, everyone’s afraid to open mail. I did manage to talk with a few of the guys and get the following information:

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

Capt. Paul Eidman  of Reel Therapy called this in

Loads of  spanish mackerel  on the bay side of  the hook, blues & schoolie stripers are blasting peanuts. Some very large blues 6 – 8 lbs are taking large bunker   patterns in Raritan Bay. Light tackle action - A recent Reel Therapy light tackle  charter had a very impressive 62 schoolie striper day.
I have dates available

Capt. Paul Eidman
www.reeltherapy.com
Discover Central NJ's Great Outdoors!
Saltwater Fly Fishing/Light Tackle Charters
Guided Kayak Ecotours
732 922 4077

Capt. Gene Quigley of Shore Catch Guide Service had this to say

This has got to be the best start of an albie year that I can ever remember. Some days this week, albies have been so thick it we didn’t have to  cast more than   15  feet to hook    up. The albies have been so aggressive that any fly close to the busting fish was   hooking up. On Sunday, in the fog and slop, Rit Thompson   had 7 albies in the boat by 10 AM and they stopped counting after that. My big  concern this week is the  upcoming  storm, we’ll have to see what happens after the it rolls through to see what if this great fishing will  continue.

Capt. Gene  Quigley
Shore Catch Guiding

Well, that’s it for this week. John will be back next week unless he and Daniel  ran in to  some  super fishing while they were away. Remember, be careful on the water this week end…. and send your reports in to John so he can keep  everyone up to   date    on what’s happening   on the fly & light-tackle scene in our  area.
Tight Lines;
Ralph Burtis

No reports - if you're on the water, email us!

Western Long Island

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

Hi Ralph,
Well....the good Lord giveth and the good Lord take-ith away. And in the interest of fair and balanced fishing reports...this was not a very good week in general for the flycasters of the central north shore. The weather played a major factor this week in the patterns of fish and the fishermen. As abundant as the bluefish schools and big bass were last week, this week saw a dearth of those same fish. Small bass are present, however, as well as roving bands of beach-feeding bluefish. The blues this week seemed to just pop up, rather than follow the patterns of the past couple of weeks. Bait casters had much better luck this week than fly or light tackle folks. Unfortunately, no news to report regarding late bonito or albies. But should my novenas be answered, the albies will be here soon. I am running out of candles! Stay well and stay into fish. Angelo

Capt. Jim Hull reports:

Hi Mark, I have some photos you might find usefull in this weeks wire. First is 12 yr.old Nick Kessler with his first striper ever, a 38" beauty. Next is Chef Robert with a 36" bass. And last is Chris Bastek with his personal best bass. I hope they will help.  Jim  Light Tackle Challenge

Eastern Long Island

Capt. Don Kaye of Shinnecok Guiding sent in this report

As the planet Mars slowly retreats from our view, the great 'speedsters' (Bonito & False Albacore) make there appearance along the beaches, inlet and Bay! The Shinnecock waters are 'blanketed' with a variety of bait fish. All manner of white baits, baby Bunker, spearing, sandeels and anchovies, draw these great gamefish to our area. Tiny flies and lures to 'match the hatch' are offered, to try and prompt a strike. Difficult to hook with all this bait around, the CHASE is the thing! Last session resulted in two 'Albies' and one Bonito captured and released. Stalking Striped Bass in the shallows is also effective as well as chasing schools of breaking Bluefish. Shinnecock's early Fall angling getting off to a super start!
Capt. Don Kaye
Shinnecock Guiding
631-7288175

Salty Flyrodder  Joel Filner sent in this report

Albies to the left of us, albies to the right of us, into the valley of the bait marched the six hundred or so fish coming for breakfast at the Shinnecock inlet. Friday was a good day with at least 4 fish hooked and brought to the jetty in the morning hours, and some stripers on the bay before first light. All on the incoming tide. All with moderate winds, but these fellows on Friday were out in front. On Saturday the phalanx of fly fishers outnumbered the spin casters 10 to one, as we all walked patiently back and forth along the wall waiting for them to show. Not one hook up and very spotty showings, with a little more wind out of the south. Sunday morning same time same station, a few more fly fishers than Saturday, a lefty wind out of the north northeast, but nary a fish caught. They would show and run, and not take the fly from anyone, and by 9:30 all was done. Monday was a holiday for workers so the fish came back in larger numbers, closer to the wall and hookups were the order of the morning. One Salty hooked up, lost his leader and fly, retied and hooked up, lost his rod tip but got the fish to the rocks with his hand on the tippet. We call it a success. Several others hooked but no landings, and when the rain came down harder, left the fish to several regulars who managed at least three more hookups and runs. We also watched two flyrodders in two separate boats fish the middle of the inlet drifting after the pods, with no hookups. Flies were as varied yet the same for all, some form of sand eel, shiner, white deceiver, chartreuse, olive, mostly small but some larger flies with similar success. Tons of bait in the water, more than showed all summer. and still holding at 68 degrees. This weekend will be the hurricane.. so the back will be the place to be.

joel