New York Metro &
New Jersey

June 4th, 2004

Bluefish and Their Bad Rep

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Like the proverbial girl in high school who never deserved it, bluefish have most certainly acquired a bad reputation.  Maybe it’s because of their ability to bite through mono, stealing that fly you loved so much…  Even if you manage to calm down enough to get a wire leader on, their ability to destroy beautiful and time intensive flies can certainly be frustrating.  Maybe their bad rep came from the fact that they’ve bitten a finger or two in the past…  Or perhaps it came from the perception of the species as an unselective brute, attacking whatever it encounters -- Bullies of the playground so-to-speak.  Quite often they’ll bight the tails off of bass as you try to get them in…  Hey, maybe they’re just cursed by the high status of the company they keep.  There’s know denying that bluefish are seen as second class citizens compared to the majestic striped bass, speedy false albacore, colorful weakfish or even the tasty fluke. 

A real bummer that these fish are perceived in such a way… But what most people see as bad qualities in the fish, I see as good ones…  First of all, they allow me to use all those used and beat up flies that I’ve kept around for several years, because usually they’re not selective and they’ll eat anything that’s got a little color or flash in it.  In other words, they’ll continue to pounce on a fly until it’s down to the bare hook.  So, the presence of bluefish is a good excuse to clean out the old fly-box.  Secondly, because they are perhaps the most vicious and aggressive fish in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, they make a tremendously fun sportfish.  These fish are so ferocious, even when their bellies are full they’ll continue to tear through bait, regurgitating it, just so they can continue to have “fun” doing it.  Much like human beings continue to fish even when we have no intention of keeping fish for the table.  (okay, maybe that was a stretch, but still applicable in my book).  

There have been too many days to count when bluefish have saved the day.  They always seem to want to eat when nothing else will.  While I have to admit that catching 2-to-3-pound bluefish on every cast can get monotonous it sure as H beats getting skunked.  Try breaking out the trout rod and fishing a small popper/gurgler and I guarantee you’ll have fun.  I’m not a big fan of killing fish I catch, but when there are thousands of these 2-3-pounders swarming the bay, taking a few home, I assure you, causes minimal harm…  Now these morons that kill 10-big ones…  That’s a different story.  What they do with them I have no clue…  When they get that big you certainly don’t want to be eating them because they are full of oily flesh as a result of a lifetime of chomping on bunker.   Anyway, the in-laws love me when I bring a few small filets home.  If prepared in a day or two of when they were caught they are absolutely delicious.   My wife has a killer recipe for a smoked bluefish spread that is to die for…   (Send me an e-mail and we’d be happy to share it with you).  And me, I just throw them in some tinfoil with salt, pepper, onions, a slice of lemon and mucho butter and toss them on the grill.  They are so naturally good you don’t need to do anymore!     

Now…  Barring all the previously mentioned good qualities of the bluefish, let’s talk about its real merit.  Right around this time of the year, for reasons I’m not quite sure of, big bluefish come up into really skinny water and cruise in line formation.  Sometimes they will deviate from their course and go in a big circle for a minute or two.  Very strange behavior, but very cool to observe.  Often times they get so shallow they poke their tail fins out of the water, and if you didn’t know better, you’d think you were looking at a permit.  When they get in this shallow water they spook easy and don’t eat as well than if they were in the open.  But if you can get a popper in their vicinity, then they will most certainly get angry enough to hammer it.  We’ll, I had two solid hours of that kind of action yesterday and let me tell you…  I LOVE BLUEFISH!  When hooked in skinny water they jump, tail-walk and go for drag burning runs…  I’m talking 10 to 15-pound fish in this flat!!!  Will I tell you where it is?  No way man!  Finding out that stuff on your own is part of fishing…  However, I will tell you that it’s happening in more than just one place this week!!!  So “don’t be dissin those bluefish”…  They’re a ton of fun!

Now let’s get on to the reports:

In New Jersey guess what…  Lots of bluefish around and plenty of schoolies.  Still no sign of the weakfish and the situation has anglers scratching their heads…  If anyone has more info/theories out there I’d love to hear them.  Bunker are beginning to accumulate on the ocean side of Jersey and any day now it’s going to bust open.  Raritan Bay has slowed a bit in the bass front, but there have been a good number of weakfish around and the blue-fishing has been excellent as well.  Outside from Sandy Hook to Breezy Point, we’ve seen tons of 3-to-5-pound bluefish, saving the day for those not able to find bass in the back.  Over in Jamaica Bay, big blues have invaded some flats and schoolie bass have been right there with them. Big bass can still be taken by those with the patience to fish big flies under the bunker.  Not many fish, but if you get one it will be a “hog.”  The South Shore has been seeing and abundance of blues in the Great South Bay and plenty of schoolie bass just about everywhere.  Some weakfish are beginning to show but the big run has still yet to happen.  Not so many reports from the North Shore, but from what I have heard there are plenty of schoolie bass around and flyrodders fishing the beach have been doing well on certain tides.  Out east things have opened up.  Plenty of schoolies and some larger fish cruising the flats in East Hampton.  Some big fish have shown up on the South Side and flyrodders have apparently been doing a number on them.

Good weather this week…  So get out there and fish!

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

Captain Paul Eidman from Reel Therapy checks in this week with this report of Northern New Jersey Action…  Check it out:

Fishing over the past few days has been tricky, especially when the big bass rise right up to the back of your fly then slowly submerge like some u-boat.  We are still banging away at the small stripers in the Navesink and Shrewsbury and have had a lot of fluke in the 20 inch range eat our flies. As usual, Memorial day weekend brings with it another push of much larger bass in the NYNJ Bight and we are spending more time in the deeper water as temps are rising fast.  Some dates are still available for June.
Catch em up!
Paul

Captain Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide Service reports a pick up in the bass fishing and plenty of blues around keeping anglers happy:

Hey John,
 
Here the scoop down here in Barnegat Bay / Manasquan Area. The Weakies are still non existent, however the Striper fishing is picking up tremendously and we are getting lots of fish on small jiggies in the Bay around daybreak and dusk. Had out Greg Cuzzo and his wife Liz the other day and they have about three dozen bass to 28 inches in around five hours. Scott Gibney also was out this week and landed his first ever bass on the fly.
 
Capt. Jim has been out doing just as well with his clients and Jim has also been out front scoping out some of the Big Bass under the bunker schools.
 
The blues are still here in total force as well up on the flats and it seems more and more keep coming in every day - This week we had blitzing fish pretty much every afternoon in around two feet of water to 4 to 6 LB blues - All on Small Bob's BANGERS.
 
On the surf scene our guides have been doing well behind Barnegat Inlet with bass up to 28 inches and with blues in the 4 to 6 LB range.
 
We are expecting the Bass bite out front to go literally haywire after this full moon phase as the next few weeks will be spent targeting 25+ LB fish on deep sinking lines and big bunker flies.
 
Talk to you next week!

Reporting from the Keys, South Jersey Guide Captain Bryan DiLeo from Iowa Fortune Guide Service checks in with this report:

This weeks report will be wrap up another great trip to the lower keys with the action on the increase every day. As light winds descended upon us for the past week the Tarpon bite went from selective finicky fish to feeding on the move migrators willing to play with both my light tackle and fly anglers alike. Each day we had consistent shots at to 50 to 100 Tarpon a day usually coming at us in singles, pairs, or in groups of 15 fish in 10 to 15 minutes intervals allowing just enough time to get set up again for shots at the next wave. With the gin clear water we could key in on approaching fish 200 + yards away as they cross the white sand patches, a sight that will make you weak at the knees with excitement. Showing almost no interest in anything last week, seeing a lot but jumping one to two fish a day, to this week jumping two to seven fish a day and landing about 50%. Most Tarpon through out the week ranged in size from 50-110lbs willing to take a well placed crab pitched in their path for the light tackle guys and traditional Tarpon Fly patterns (Tarpon Bunnies, cockroach patterns in browns yellows and blacks…) for my fly clients. Packing up and heading back to SNJ and will be back on the water searching for bass on the shallows starting June 3rd were the action should be moving into the usual summer time patterns that will keep the bass action coming at us for the next few months.

As mentioned, plenty of schoolie bass in the flats of J.Bay and some monster blues…  Man I love them!  Live liners continue to catch some really big bass so by all means, they are there!  Takes a patient fly-angler to target them, but they results can be fantastic. 

Over on the Raritan side, Captain Joe Mattioli from On The Bite Charters reports good action in his neighborhood:

Hi John
 
The Fishing in the Raritan Bay is excellent with Stripers Blues and Weakfish on hand.  We had a Bluefish invasion over the Holliday weekend and enjoyed the very best top water fishing. We had fish smashing poppers and popping plugs for hours while these fish were blitzing Bay anchovies. We also got weakfish up to 10lbs and bass to 18lbs. I have dates available.
 
Capt. Joe Mattioli
On The Bite Charters

Also heard from Captain Brendan McCarthy from Urban Fly Guides this week…  After a very successful spring in the New York Metro area, Brendan is moving his operation out East and will be reporting from that neck of the woods:

Hey John,

Heading to East Hampton to get my flats boat in the water as I am starting that fishing this Sunday. Will be doing both places for a week or 2. The bad news is the striper fishing has mellowed (although we got a 9 pounder yesterday and a 21 pounder the day before!!)but the good news is that the BIG blues are here and in the shallows. Thanks for the heads up yesterday to their arrival. Caught a bunch on poppers in 1 foot of water, up to about 9 pounds. caught some double digit ones yesterday as well under Bunker that was getting slammed for hours. Really cool. Hope you are well and see you out there fri and sat. will post photos to the NY/NJ board later this week thanks Brendan

Also headed east this week is Urban Angler’s Peter Chan:

I just wanted to recap how impressive the striper fishing of the previous 2 weeks has been around NY Bight. Sighted fish up to 4 feet. In beautiful brown silver. Many pre-spawn. Sometimes in less than 12 feet of clear water. Almost no wind in the mornings & mild tides. Fishing was so good at so many spots. As my friend described it: "This is better than the herring run at Montauk." I'll be content if Gardiner's Bay fishes half this well.

Western Long Island

From the South Shore Captain Barry Kanavy reports increasingly good action…  Check it out:

Hi John
 The beautiful weather over Memorial weekend has given our summer
season a kick start. The South Shore if flooded with stripers. Most
Bass are a healthy school size. With an occasional lunker. Intermediate
and sink lines with deceivers have been the ticket. We did manage to
connect with a few Weakfish feeding on the top in the early morning,
yellow and red deceivers with a super slow retrieve work best. Bluefish
are having a great year so far. It's always a blast hooking up with the
toothie one especially when they get up in the double digits. This
happy angler ,Dana and his fishing buddy had a big day recently with a
mix of Bass and Blues.

From the North Shore Reel-Timer Bob Giordano checks in with this report:

Hey John,

A quick test ride out on Sunday found a lot of murky water from the
consistent Northerlies along with weeds in Huntington Harbor. On the early incoming
picked up two schoolies on Chartreuse Clousers and Deceivers, one dink "Beautiful
fish" and one chubby schoolie, "really healthy." Fish in Lloyd Harbor as well
as Huntington. Nothing going on in the rip off Sand City just yet. Didn't see
any bait and those reports from your neck of the woods are starting to upset
me.  Got the Monkey off the shoulder but was a little disappointed as these spots
fished reel well last year same time.  At least I didn't get bageled.

All the best,
Bob Giordano

Eastern Long Island

The Eastern section of Long Island is really beginning to show its colors.  Spoke with Captain David Blinken of North Flats Guiding today, and he said that lots of bluefish are in, although smaller than usual for this time of the year. Bass are on the flats from Peconic to Montauk and their eating grass shrimp and other small bait like spearing and sandeels.  When the weather permits, sight fishing has been quite good according to David, and there are lots of bigger stripers abound.  David further reports that the occasional hickory shad are taking flies.

From the South Side, Captain Jim Hull reports of another good spring for BIG bass…  Check it out:

  Hi John, A real good year for big fish on the east end. More big fish being seen than previous years. On a favorite beach in Shelter Island, I witnessed a 16" Searobin devoured by a 35lb. class bass and subsequently hooked hooked up another. We had my career best sight fish bass of 43" landed after a perfect cast by my sport. Ken Hawkins had a great Memorial weekend with several big fish landed and one leviathon of a cow hooked and lost to a rock. This was a fish of a lifetime hooked in 3ft. of water and played skillfully, we just couldn't coax her out of her rocky home. She severed the heavy butt section on the leader. It's just the begining of what is starting as an epic season. Pump up and reel down.  Jim

NICE!!!

James Wu checks in with a report from the beach:

John,

Stripers are oceanside near Montauk Point, coming in waves, in large schools as well as in ones and twos, and several large bass have been reported taken.  I personally landed and released a keeper at Ditch Plains, about twenty feet out in moderate to heavy surf, East wind, near low tide, using a sink tip ten weight line, swinging a seven inch yellow and green flatwing in the surf, Wednesday morning before Memorial Day, hours after dawn under overcast skies.  I have also seen schoolie action at Kings Point.  In the evenings, you can see bass feeding on the flat at 3 Mile Harbor inlet and take them on black Clousers.  I'm fishing and guiding out of my Striper Camp in Springs this year, so if anyone wants an update on fly fishing the beaches around Montauk and East Hampton, call me at 917 941 6664.

Also reporting from out East is salty flyrodder Joel Filner:

What a difference a week makes on the water. Friday morning, the
ominous clouds and thunder just as I was about to embark onto the
flats sent me back home. Saturday was an equally nice day with winds
just howling at 25 knots out of the north west, right at the flats,
so after an hour of floundering, went on a beach exploration. The
Inlet was active with spincasters pulling in small blues on a
regular basis and we watched as a large school fish worked off shore
well out of reach as the bait, bunker, teased the birds in a half
mile long strip of activity. The boats, limited in numbers  by the
winds, all worked along the pod successfully to our beach bound
chagrin.

Sunday morning was a magnificent morning, gentle winds again out of
the west, and fish. Very picky fish. The only fly that worked was a
shrimp pattern, both the ugly one and the pretty one. Bunker in the
bay but well out of wading and casting range. And I watched as 4 deer
swam across from the Indian reservation to eat the $10,000 trees
planted along Dune road. Then as I was driving east to the old
fishing hole I watched them head back to the reservation. Three nice
stripers and a wonderful show from nature.

Monday morning was one of those terrible mornings. Skunked, blown out
from the wind that now shifted from west to east southeast, a true
lefthanders wind, and the tide blown as well. 25 knots just came up
at 630 and stayed until I left the water at 8. Still no cinder worms.
The water warmed from 49 on Friday to 51 on monday and large amounts
of sandeels were around and noticeable for the first time.  A month
and a half ahead of last year. The Salty Conclave should prove to be
good fishing this coming weekend. Must be Lefty's influence.

Joel

That’s all for this week…  See you out on the water…