New York Metro &
New Jersey

October 3rd, 2003

An All Too Familiar Story

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Guest Reporter: Ralph Burtis

Here I am once again because John is unavailable. I’m not one to get on the environmental bandstand and start preaching to everyone, but an article from a Rhode Island Newspaper arrived attached to an e-mail this week and set me off. Can you imagine navigating the streets of NYC without traffic signals or stop signs. Imagine trying to navigate your way into an unfamiliar bay or harbor without navigation markers. Imagine no enforcement for traffic violations, speeding or law breaking while you’re trying to live a safe normal life in our metro area. Well, what do you think goes on in the fishing world on the water. Recently three Rhode Island companies (2 trap net companies & 1 fish dealer) were prosecuted under the Lacy Law for illegally trafficking and falsely labeling striped bass for a dollar amount of about $120,000.00. The three companies were caught selling more than 30,000 pounds of striped bass to companies in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Canada and elsewhere. Special agents from the National Marine Fisheries Service conducted the probe, with assistance from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. The case was prosecuted by the Rhode Island U.S. Attorney's office, and the Wildlife and Marine Resources Section of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.

I’m sure you’ve read John’s articles about pouching in the metro area, well it’s true. Ask just about any fly or light tackle guide and he’ll tell you the same thing. Obviously, it doesn’t just happen here (NY Metro area) it happens all over Long Island and that’s the shame of it. Unfortunately, fish are only fish and really don’t sit very high on the political ladder, with that other areas of law enforcement come first in New York. In my opinion, the only way any of this can possibly change is with a change from all of the people involved in fishing. The bumper sticker that says “I Fish, I Vote” really says it all. Most fishermen and fisherwomen don’t really exercise their right of free speech. They wait for the other guy to do it. Folks, if we and I mean everyone wants something to change, then we must all do it together. That means fly fishermen, spin fishermen, conventional fishermen, commercial fishermen, everyone must get on the same page and work towards a common goal. The fishing population of our state is so fragmented that we have no political weight at all and with that, the lowly fish gets the bottom rung of the political ladder and next to no enforcement without major harassment from some very energetic individuals. Imagine what would happen if more than a handful of people pitched in and pulled in the same direction. Just my 2 cents.

Let’s get on with what I’m supposed to be here for, the reports. While the weather wasn’t prime this week, it was good enough to let everyone get a few days  of great fishing in. This week has surely proven that the fall run is in full swing. Isabel has come and gone and everyone’s fears of the storm blowing the bait away has proven to be unwarranted. Endless bait clouds are appearing all along the shores of New Jersey and Long Island. I heard reports of peanuts so thick on the Jersey shore this week that blues were pushing them onto the beach to be stranded. I witnessed acres of blues and albies busting bait this past week at Montauk in typical Montauk fall run style. Bass made a few guest surface appearances, but mainly remained down with  water temperatures being as warm as they were. They reached the mid to lower 60s as the cold spell came through at the end of this week and you know what that means, busting bass throughout the New York and New Jersey areas. I heard the Metro also had good fishing this week, but I received no official. But, with all this action it seems most guides don’t have time to send in reports, I for one have can vouch for that.

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 report:

Ralph,

ALBIE fishing is simply fantastic right now here is central and south Jersey - what more can I say. We have been slamming them for weeks now and it seems to just keep getting better. Tons of bait, lots of fish. Heading up to do some Salmon and Steelhead fishing this weekend -- need to wash of some salt..........Had out Phil Marini and Joe Steer yesterday and they put around 16 in the boat in a few hours on Baby Angel flies and Jiggies. My partner Jim has been fishing the afternoon shift and doing just as well.

Talk to you all next week.

Capt. Gene Quigley
Shore Catch

No reports this week.  Email John if you're on the water.

Western Long Island

No reports this week.  Email John if you're getting out...

Eastern Long Island

Capt. Don Kaye of Shinnecock  Guiding sent in this report:

The 'fishy' stars for this week are the False Albacore. They arrived in good numbers and our first session chasing these 'speedsters', resulted in more than 15 hooked with nine brought to the boat and quickly released! A couple fell to small spin lures but most took flies.... Long runs and screaming reels. There are enormous schools of baitfish still in the Inlet and Bay, consisting of 'Peanut Bunker,' Spearing and Anchovies. The wind storm on Tuesday dirtied the water a bit and the angling slowed down for a few days, but there are plenty of fish around. 'Matching the Hatch' is still the key to hookups and there are enough Bluefish around in the mix for variety. The Fall angling at Shinnecock is off to a great start!
Capt. Don Kaye,
Shinnecock Guiding
631-7288175

Salty Flyrodder, Joel Filner sent in this report:

Friday night the bait and the bass were in the back of Shinnecock, in large clouds of food and moderate clouds of food eaters. The only successful fly was a large bunker pattern as the bass just wouldn't take the smaller match the hatch size. Saturday morning the incoming tide albie watch was on and the wall of the inlet was lined with expectant fly fishers. All hooked up and caught except for me. Even
several for the other guys and still not one for me. Nice size fish, up to 10lbs but mixed in were the smaller albies in the same school, about 1.5 to 3 lbs. Just luck as to what one did get. And they were albies not frigate mackeral. Flies were mostly epoxies, small deceivers, green, white, chartruese, brown, tan, and a touch of pink. I used them all and still didn't hook up. Came back in the afternoon on the turn of the tide for very spotty fish and went home frustrated on the day. Sunday morning the wind and the ocean were roiling and there were small groups of albies on the inside surfacing intermittently or else out of casting range. Still no fish for me. Went home to complete the Honey do day as promised. Warm water, 72 degrees, and more bait than I have seen at one time all in the back and lining the inlet hiding from the ocean. On the surf side on Saturday, pre dawn and up to the top of the tide nice bass taken on fly and lure. Sunday the surf was not on with the wind and the wave activity. Fish are safe from me as I am away next weekend.

Joel

Jim Wu sent this report to John which got forwarded to me:

John,

Beautiful September stripers in Montauk.   With a group of five fly fishermen over the weekend, we took six fair fish, 27-33, the largest, 11lbs on the boga grip, along with numerous smaller bass.  Most action was towards evening, and by the end, the bass shined purple and pink and gold, like the sky. Eric M., yet another veteran trout angler, got happy with a 28 inch striper on his first day of saltwater fly fishing.   We waded and fished floating lines and intermediate sink tips, drifted Abrames style multi-colored flatwings, 3-6 inches, through pocket water in the rocks, heavy surf rolling through, targeting individual bass spread out on the drop
and small pods hanging or cruising outside at low tide.  The concentrated action occurred as we set up and waited for larger groups of bass to climb up on the shelf with the rising tide.  Some stripers were showing themselves on the surface, with splashes, rolls, and all out head over tail cartwheels chasing 4-5 inch baitfish, bigger than the typical silverside, skinnier than the typical bunker, but white and silvery in the bright afternoon light. Sharp sighted and skilled casters were able to place their flies right on the stripers' noses and nailed them.   Multiple fronts pushed through, chopping up the weather, but even on the dreariest day, I hooked up with a large bass deep in the dropping tide on the edge of the shelf; at least it felt large, but I'll never know, because it took me into the backing in seconds, I tightened, then it snapped, spitting back half a leader and a
chipped fly line.  Lesson:  set your drag with purpose, and re-set it. Also, there were many sizable carcasses strewn along the shore after dawn action, and a surf angler from Maryland carried off a big twenty pounder, jigged up from the sand in one of the coves.

Jim Wu

With the fall run in full swing, it’s  time to take some of those sick or personal days and get out there and experience one of the wonders of nature. Remember to send in your reports and John will do what he can to get them posted.
Until next time;
Good weather and great fishing,
Ralph Burtis