New York Metro &
New Jersey

July 2nd, 2004

Beating Another Dead Horse

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I have to admit I’m a little annoyed about something…  I hate to beat yet another dead horse, but after hearing the outcome of an informal pole done at one of the local flyfishing club meetings, I think it’s worth bringing up the saltwater angling license issue yet again.  “Uhhh…” I can hear the collective sigh, and the “enough already” murmur…  I’ll try to be brief.

Now, I can understand the opposition to a saltwater license when it comes from the industry -- party and charter boat captains, tackle shop owners, marine manufactures etc…  These guys (in my opinion incorrectly) believe that a $25 license will cause an approximate 10% drop in business – less guys buying stuff and fishing because of the financial and logistical burden of having to purchase such a license.  I think I already covered, in this venue and others, that if you’re going to dump the money that it takes to fish anywhere really, an extra $25 a year is negligible, especially compared to the benefit it will bring anglers.  In states like Florida, the number of anglers actually increased exponentially once a saltwater license was establish.  Anyway, I cover this in detail in a recent article.  Will be glad to send it to anybody who requests it.  Now, what I don’t understand is when a seemingly conservation minded club collectively rejects the notion of a saltwater fishing license.  What the… who the… where the???  I don’t get it!  Who are these people?

How can any conservation minded fly angler possibly be against a tool that most definitely will improve fisheries enforcement, fund a more effective and better managed Department of Environmental Conservation Marine Division and more importantly give hundreds of thousands of anglers more political clout?

Again, I’ve covered this before but I will touch on it briefly…  NO!  THE LICENSE MONEY WILL NOT GO INTO THE GENERAL FUND!  I don’t understand why people keep saying this.  It will be used for what it is intended for, just as hunting and fishing licenses moneys have been going into the DEC conservation fund for the last 60-years.  There are both federal and state legal mechanisms in place that will insure this (if you want an explanation of how, again I’d be glad to send you the full text of the above mentioned article).  If license money is pilfered or used incorrectly by an agency it is in direct violation of both state and federal law and there’s hell to pay.

SO WHY????  It’s inconceivable to me that this New York flyfishing club could take a position against a saltwater license.  Could it be that this all boils down to the “cheapskate argument?”  The “I’m too selfish and shortsighted to pay my share for more clout, better enforcement and better management of a recourse that I take advantage of” argument?  How sickeningly New Yorkish… Flyfishermen spend a tremendous amount of money on gear, trips, boats, fuel etc. every year.  It’s pathetic that any one of us is unwilling to put down $25 more for the future of the resource… 

I challenge anyone out there to give me one good reason, other than the mentioned “cheapskate argument” to be against a saltwater license. 

Maybe I take this stuff a little too personally but when you fish in an area that is infested with scumbag poachers thumbing their nose at you every day as they bail one short after another, you might see this issue in a different light.  I’ve done everything I can in my power to at least get a few offercers out there enforcing the law.  As a result I’ve had my boat vandalized and in all likelihood, it was probably the same poachers who sunk my SeaCraft last year.  During meetings with the DEC all I got was “We can’t afford to put a marine unit out there…  You’re not going to get it until we have a saltwater license.”  Meanwhile the atrocity goes on unabated while “cheapskates” complain about having to pay “another tax,” when all they’d be doing is paying a small amount to protect something that they take advantage of regularly. 

In truth, I believe (and truly hope) that a New York License is coming down the line.  The need for additional funding is so acute that the Marine Resource Advisory Council is currently holding focus group meetings involving stakeholders to discuss a saltwater license, as a potential way to meet budget needs.  I, for one, am going to be letting decision-makers know that there is a section of the fishing population that thinks it’s a good idea and an overdo one!

Now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, let’s get on to the reports:

In Southern New Jersey, the flats-fishing was more difficult, but there was success nonetheless.  In central New Jersey, reports of big bass under the bunker schools continue to filter in and while water temps warm, they’re still getting them to eat a fly during the pre-dawn and early evening hours.  Surprisingly, Northern New Jersey and the New York Bight continues to get morning and afternoon busting-fish-under-birds scenarios.  Jamaica Bay has begun to clear a bit, but the water is so warm, it’s mostly cocktail bluefish and the occasional schoolie bass.  The fluke bight in some of the mud flats, however, has turned on and when all else fails these things can be a lot of fun.  The western and central North Shore areas have been sporadically good with some days producing many schoolies and others, nothing.   Not much in the way of bunker up there so not to many big fish around.  The South Shore has been providing for some great sight fish opportunities and there still seems to be an abundance of bait around.  East Hampton continues to offer one of the best years in recent memory for sight fishing.  Montauk was very good early in the week, but slowed down towards the end (right when I got there by the way).  Offshore, things are beginning to really heat up with school bluefin showing at the offshore lumps and bonito are abound as well.  Things are only going to get better on this front.

Looks like more good weather this weekend…  Can’t believe the luck we’re having… Go fish!

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

From the Atlantic/Ocean City area, Captain Bryan DeLio from Iowa Fortune Guide Service checks in with this report:

6/21 - 6/28
The winds and weather made things tough this past week especially for those throwing the fly. Though we got onto Bass each trip last week we did not find them feeding at the ferocity as they were in the weeks prior.  Most Bass last week seemed to be traveling in smaller tighter schools and were very selective in both the skinny water as well as the deeper 3-4ft flats.  Most fish caught ranged in size from 24"-31" and taken almost exclusively on top water both on the fly and light tackle alike. With the bad weather seemingly behind us for a while we are certainly perched for what should be a great week up coming. Good tides and full moon approaching look for the Bass to be on the move as good moving water should push not only existing bait into the back country but it will also be flushing all the new bait that will hatch on the full (i.e., Shrimp, Crab….) that will bring these Bass into the skinny water to feed. As is always the case all Bass this week were photographed on released in great shape.

From Central New Jersey Captain Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide Service reports continued big bass action along the beach and an burgeoning offshore scene.  Check it out:

Lots of good stuff happening down here right now, including Bluefin and Bonito out on the mid shore lumps!
 
The Striper fishing still remains red hot with 30 pound + class fish under the Bunker Schools stretched from Manasquan to Long Beach Island. Getting them to eat flies on a regular basis in another thing. Best shots for us have been early in the morning just before sun up and then again right before dusk. Livelining is definitely the way to go if you want consistency and numbers with these cows.
 
More important however is the arrival of the BlueFin Tuna, Bonito, and Dolphin (mahi) here off the southern and central NJ coast. Water conditions out there are perfect, cobalt blue water stretches as far inshore as the twenty fathom curve and we are spotting many fish on the surface making it classic topwater fly rod action. The fish are on the small side right now - 25 lbs for the Bluefin, but man can they pull!!
 
Capt Jim has been scoring big every morning inshore with the bass. From here on in it will be pretty much all bluewater charters for me, either to the Mudhole on the Parker, or out of Cape May on the 38 Fountain Ugly Mug.

Lots of schoolies with the occasional keeper in the mix on the outside.  Some spectacular blitzes again this week.  With the nice weather the boat traffic has been pretty bad.  The lack of etiquette has been atrocious.  But if you can get out there early (or late) enough you might find yourself alone with these fish.  What’s odd about this year is that there have been very few bluefish in the mix.

Captain Frank Crescitelli from Fin Chaser Charters has been doing well with schoolie bass on the structure spots as well as outside chasing birds.  He’s going to be focusing most of his efforts in the coming weeks on fishing offshore. 

Western Long Island

From the South Shore Captain Barry Kanavy from Natural Anglers checks in with this report:

South Shore flats fishing has been a blast this past week. There are
plenty of fish to shoot at and for the most part the fish have been
aggressive. Small flies have worked best. I'm expecting some crab fly
action with this coming moon. Cool temperatures have kept water temps
down, so these fish are frisky. If your looking to bend that rod. Quit
wish'en go fish'en!
and don't forget to check your backing.
Captain Barry Kanavy

John Papicak reports that fishing from the shore of the back bays between Jones and Fire Island has been poor.  He did some outgoing and then some incoming tide trips at night. John reported getting 1-2 fish per night and nothing over 10 pounds, very little signs of bait, and no tell-tales sounds of fish feeding.

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

Hey John,

Things have been rather inconsistent up here on the North Shore, prior to
last weekend it was a struggle to pick up a handful of fish. However, this past
Sunday on the last of the flood, caught a bunch of schoolies in and around the
Huntington Harbor area. Probably totaled a dozen or so to 24" all taken on
sparsley dressed Chartreuse Clousers in fairly shallow water. More bait coming
into the area so I hope it remains consistent. Looking for larger fish, haven't
seen any bunker around which doesn't help......Good Luck.

Eastern Long Island

Spoke with Captain David Blinken of North Flats Guiding this week and he reported excellent sight- fishing.  Stripers have been abundant from Sag Harbor out to Gardiners Island.  David reported lots of unidentifiable small fry in all the bays and estuaries, lots of shrimp and lots of sandeels.  Hookups with 26 to 28-inch fish have been common, but there are most certainly shots at fish in the 35-inch range.

Jim Wu reports from Montauk that the shore fishing has remained the same from last week:

 Stripers everywhere, thick enough to spot'em on the inshore flats, which means pretty thick.  Catching bass as close as 12-15 feet.  fairly big, too.

Jim

From the South Side Captain Jim Hull checks in with another report of big fish on the South Side:

Hi John, This report period started out real well with Richard taking out Jerry for his personal best bass of 20lbs. Peter began his two day slugfest with Pete with 3 dozen fish to 20+lbs. After some sleep and a righteous softshell crab lunch he took along Florida guide Dan for some fast action with 20 double headers landed on fly. Ken and Tom had a great day with a dozen fish to 36 1/4". Ken came back next day solo for more and landed two beauties of  25lbs. each and others as well. High pressure and waxing moon with gin clear water made the last 3 days a challenge but we still managed a few bass each day with some good ones dropped. Some Bluefin Tuna were sighted but were not reached in time for a cast. We are prepared with a 12wt in the gunwhale. Pump up and reel down. Jim      

Father west we hear this week from Captain Don Kaye from Shinneock Guiding:

The winds returned to Shinnecock this past week. Persistence does pay off and angler Bruce Jabbonsky joined me and braved the 25+ knot winds. Only saw a few Bass on the 'roily' flats, but Bruce managed to capture and release more than a dozen Bluefish, which were 'busting' on baits between the Bay's waves. The fish fell to both Bruces' own hand tied flies as well as some light tackle lures. Tough conditions on the Bay sometimes has it's rewards! Capt. Don Kaye.

From the shore Saltie Flyrodder Joel Filner checks in with a report of a darn good weekend:

Saturday morning was fog enshrouded, quiet, wind nominal, silent
water, and not too cold on Shinnecock bay. A perfect morning on the
outgoing at the honey hole.  I walked half way across the flat to the
eastern border, carefully taking compass bearings to get me back to
the jeep. Quietly walking and casting a yellow gartside gurgler,
letting it sit then double strips; then sit; then double strips; then
watch the swirl and the attack. One big bass did a run, making noise
in the fog on the water, and finally in to be freed. 31inches. Waited
for 5 minutes and let it all calm down and walked out to the drop off
and began to cast again. Same action, new fish, bad fisherman who
didn't check his tippet after the big fish and pop went the line and
the fly. Followed the edge around to the middle of the flat at the
ditch where the fluke come to feed. Casting with a green gurgler as
my last yellow one went with the bass and a swirl and a strike.
Another big bass, 30 inches, made the run to the channel and came
back. Checked the fly and tippet, changed the tippet and stayed at
the channel. Lost the green one to a blue fish after a nice run, and
then the fog lifted a bit, the sky brightened, and the next half hour
was quiet and I walked off the flat at 630 with a smile on my face
for the rest of the day. Sunday someone turned the wind back on, a
beautiful morning but the west wind made it tough.  Fished the flats
for an hour with nothing happening except the wind and went in for
breakfast.  The inlet was quiet for both days except for some
reasonable hits on Saturday afternoon and Sunday evening, and on the
Peconic bay side Saturday was very good on Jessops and near the ferry
slip. Warmer, up to 53 degrees on the ocean and over 60 on the
Peconic bay.

Also fishing from the shore, but farther east, Reel-Timer John Papciak checks in with this report:

Out east in Montauk, things are a bit better, but I am fishing the ocean. The week of the new moon was good (of course, I was out of town and did not fish) but things appeared to slow considerably over the last 7 days or so. I got shut out fly fishing the south side rocks last Sat night - and it was perfect: good tide, not too rough. I ended up switching gears, moving a few miles to another spot, and then went back out with spinning gear. I threw darters and needlefish and ended the night with about a dozen bass to 15 pounds, but most around 7-10 lbs. I must have been in the right spot - a guy that fished next to me told me he had a 47 pounder the previous night, and a picture from the tackle shop later confirmed this.

There is a good bit of bait all along gin beach to shagwong, and then around the point leading to Big Reed Pond. Terns have been working this area for several weeks now. They were almost blitzing last Sunday afternoon. But I just dont see any fish on them  - strange.

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