New York Metro &
New Jersey

July 9th, 2004

Summer Doldrums?

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Yea… The hot, muggy and painstakingly slow period between mid-July through mid-August is most certainly around the corner. It can be a real bummer. Lots of small bluefish around and some schoolie bass willing to hit a fly in the early hours, but that’s pretty much it in my neck of the woods. I still find comfort, and a little bit of fun in breaking out the 5-weight and fishing the creeks for these critters. I’ve also had some luck spotting fish in some of the ocean sand flats when the conditions are right, but actually catching them is a different story. Regardless, it sure beats the winter and by this time of the year I can definitely use the rest, not to mention the time to catch up on responsibilities.

But what the inshore summer doldrums mean to some can mean something completely different to others… “What’s that?” You might ask… TUNA! Tuna, tuna, tuna at the midshore lumps. For those with the knowledge and the wherewithal to get to these pieces, these next two months are very good ones. And if you head south to Cape May the action can be down right extraordinary.

With the advent of new and dependable electronics, websites that can track and show you warm water currents, and reliable weather forecasts, every year more and more small boats are making the trek out to these previously inaccessible areas to chase school bluefin.

So stop feeling sorry for your big fish-deprived self and get out and try something new this year. Book a bluewater trip with on of the Reel-Time sponsors. Check out Shore Catch Guide Service or Fin Chaser Charters. Captain Ralph from Island Charters is also running offshore trips. These guys have already begun making successful runs out there. Word is out that the school bluefin are in! Yellowfin can’t be far behind. If you really want to experience the hardcore run of a serious pelagic, now is the time!

Now, about those reports…

In southern New Jersey the flats action still remains good with some larger fish showing up with the full moon. In central New Jersey the previous week’s bass fishing has turned into almost all bluefish, but offshore, Gene Quigley and crew are beginning what looks like a stellar tuna year. In Northern New Jersey and the New York Bight, there have been some schoolies on top in the morning although boat traffic has been a problem. Later in the day schoolies and bluefish can be taken along the riprap during moving tides. Jamaica Bay is producing its fair share of schoolies with a few larger fish in the creeks, but it seems to be an early-morning-high-tide-combination thing. In Western Long Island, according to reports, the South Shore is offering some good sight fishing opportunities in the Bay flats. The North Shore is mostly bluefish with a few schoolies along the sod banks and grass lines. The East End fishing still seems to be holding up well. The flats were very productive this week. Mostly schoolies, but there have been a good amount of shots at fish over thirty-inches. Reports indicate that Montauk picked up as well this week.

Still, more good weather this weekend. I’m off to Nicaragua tomorrow morning but will be back next week. So catch’em up for me… Go fish.

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

From the Southern New Jersey area, Capt. Bryan DeLio from Iowa Fortune Guide Service reports continued good shallow water action:

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

The planets were aligned this past week offering some spectacular top water action for both my Fly as well as light tackle anglers. With the approach of the full moon as well as on the waning moon we had good water pushing through out the back country and that will always translates into great skinny water Striper action. As was the case on the moon prior good sized tightly packed groups of Bass made their way into their usual shallow water haunts only this time they were not showing them selves as readily. Most of the schools this week could be spotted as they pushed water/waking as they made their way over the thin water sections of the flats making it easy to pole the skiff in front of them offering good head on or ¼ angle shots as they would approach the boat. As we hit the full and the waters were high the bass could be found laid up in wait for the flush of newly hatched baits to make their way off the grasses as the waters recede and laid up bass are often the biggest bass, spookiest Bass and most explosive when taking topwater. Most Bass through out the week jumped in size from weeks prior with only a few smaller fish in the 22"-24" range but the bulk of our catches were between 31" and 33" with my Friday and Saturday trips catching nothing under 10lbs taken almost exclusively on top water both on the fly and 6lb light tackle gear. Water temperatures still hold big temperature swings ranging from 75 - 58 degrees (not a typo) and with it being 4th of July this season seems to have all the potential to rival last season which was the best in recent memory when waters stayed cool and larger spring run bass never left the backcountry. Rule of thumb is that if they are still here now there are here for the summer, times are good As is always the case all Bass this week were photographed on released in great shape. www.iowafortune.com

From the Central New Jersey Area, Captain Gene Quigley reports a good showing of tuna offshore. Check it out:

John,

Things have definitely came alive on the midshore lumps this week as we have been nailing small Bluefin tuna, Bonito, and Skipjack tuna. The weather has been tremendous and the conditions are perfect. Calm blue water, lots of life and hungry tunas!

The Bluefin are small, (perfect 11 wt rods) but man are there a ton of em! Most fish are averaging around 15 pounds with the occasional 20 to 25 lber mixed in the bunch. Over the weekend went 15 for 16 on the school Bluefin, and managed 2 Skipjack tuna and one lone Bonito. The charter of Dave Fulton and Marc Blackfan has a similar day also with over a dozen school Bluefin and two doubles!! Fish are eating 4 to 5 inch Mushmouths and Baby Angels. Blue & White and Red & White seem to be working best.

Further south larger Tuna have moved into the Cape May area and these fish are going anywhere from school size to over 100 pound and have been showing daily up on top feeding. The next few weeks down there should really be solid and we will be starting offshore charters out of that area this weekend.

Capt Jim has been working inshore area and had out Scott Gibney and Ron Luehrs at the beginning of the week and they found plenty of bluefish inshore on bangers and deceivers. No big bass as it looks like this run is over now. The last really big school of bunker we saw was last Sunday and is was right on the beach. Peter Diamond was out with Jim mid week and found 8 LB bass on the jetty tips and bigger blues about five miles out.

Nice…

From Northern New Jersey we hear from Captain Paul Eidman from Reel Therapy this week:

Hi John-

Water temps have been in the mid 60’s which has kept us in stripers. We continue to have success with Slot sized bass eagerly taking Chartreuse and white Jiggys or half/halves. Depending on the conditions, sinking or intermediate lines have been working best. Early and late is the way to go for bass.

There’s plenty of Taylor sized blues around, with the occasional 8 pounder thrown in to keep you counting your fingers. Tons of small baitfish in the NY Bight area right now, and we have seen frigate mackerel on top, cow nosed rays, jacks and porpoises off of Sandy Hook this week.

Time to practice your casting anglers cause this means False Albies are right around the corner! We have dates available.

Good Fishing!

Paul

There has been a pretty consistent bight at Breezy Point the last couple of weeks. Only problem is that it starts at 4:45AM and ends at 6:00AM. There are lots of poachers out there and lots of just plain boneheads who think it’s just fine to troll 20-feet from you right through the school while you’re working it… No thanks… I’d rather just catch schoolies on the inside. The action doesn’t last once the trolling fleet comes out anyway. We’ve been able to spot some fish in the sand flats but it’s very difficult to get them to eat.

Inside J. Bay, schoolies and bluefish can be taken on the surface along some of the productive sod-banks, and the creeks have been fishing pretty well in the dawn hours. No reports from over in Raritan… I take that to mean it’s very slow.

Western Long Island

From Western Long Island Captain Barry Kanavy from Natural Anglers checks in with this South Shore report:

Yes, it's flats time again. Our clear crisp sky's have been perfect weather for stalking stripers and blues in the skinny water. An abundance of fish have moved onto the flats and have been feeding aggressively, for the most part. This past full moon saw a slowdown however things have picked up again. Flats fish can been finicky at times requiring numerous fly changes until you find exactly what they want. Or you can throw the kitchen sink at them and they'll eat it, But ,"that's fishing", go figure. As always most importantly is delivery, presentation and nerves of steel as these fish chase down your fly right before you eyes. One way or the other spending a beautiful day on the flats is an experience you won't soon forget, to say the least. See you on the water, "skinny water" that is, and please don't forget
to check your backing, Mr. Big is out there somewhere.
Captain Barry Kanavy
Naturalanglers.com
516-238-7642

From the North Shore Captain Robin Calitri checks in with this report:

I fished Salty Flyrodder Arthur Tasker and his buddy Willie out of Cold Spring Harbor. They each had nice bass and a few blues in shallow water on flies and light spinning tackle.

On Wednesday I had the pleasure of fishing the Harp family from Michigan. Mom, Heidi began the hot hand in Lloyd Harbor on the long wand with small blues. Then it was 4-year-old Madelyn who caught fluke, and blues on the spinning tackle. Dad, Aaron was getting skunked. After a while we found some fish in Northport and Dad caught a blue. Later on we found a nice concentration of fish right up in the grass and Aaron cleaned up on small bass and blues. Not to be outdone Madelyn managed a bass and thus ended the day with a grand slam of fluke, bass and blues.

Eastern Long Island

Captain David Blinken from North Flats Guiding reports good flats action in East Hampton with plenty of bait still in the flats and plenty of good weather offering numerous shots at stripers.

From the South Side, Captain Jim Hull from Light Tackle Challenge, despite a short lull, has gotten back into some big fish. Check it out:

Hi John, With the full moon behind us and the arrival of larger summer bait on the heave, fishing seems to be improving. Some great visuals and takes now. The quality and numbers of fish this year is outstanding. Get that big one on the reel quickly then pump up and reel down. Jim

Checking in from the East End shoreline is Reel-Timer John Papciak:

Thursday night July 1st I fished Montauk's north side. Had the wetsuit on and made it out to some of the better rocks. I used a 10 wt and a sinking shooting head. I threw a variety of larger deceivers for a big fat zippo. No signs of bait or fish whatsoever. Before the tide was gone, went back into the truck and got out the spinning gear and threw darters, but that failed as well. Generally, if you cant get em on flies, you wont get em on plugs unless wind and/or reach is a factor.

Friday night I opted for a new venue and fished the Napeague - Accabonac area. Had about 15 bass on dropping water under a bright full moon. I was fishing white deceivers in the 4 inch range. Sizes of all the fish were small, from about 20 to 28 inches. There were a few fish popping, but not as much as I had hoped. No weakfish. The water was way up and I had to park the truck and do more walking/wading than driving. Somewhere along the way I noticed a leak in my breathables - better now than November.

Before calling it quits, I stopped by some of the lighted docks and jiggled flies into the shadowlines. I broke off a few fish in between the pilings. By now, false dawn was approaching, and I opted for a few hrs of sleep.

Sunday morning I drove the sand along the montauk town beaches, and threw pencil poppers. There are still some larger fish around, feeding on shad, but they can be very picky. On this morning, only one fish was caught that I was aware of - 38 pounds.

Also checking in from the shore a bit farther west is Salty Flyrodder Joel Filner. Check it out:

The early bird catches the striper. The striper catches the sandeel,
the crab pattern catches the striper, the bluefish eats almost
anything, and the sun ruins the fishing in the morning. The pattern
from last Friday until Monday was 4 to 6 am works for all forms of
fishing. At the Shinnecock inlet the ocean side was great for the
weekend in the pre-dawn hours and first light on the bay side. Bait
all through the water, mostly sandeels, and some spearing, but active
feeding fish that would retire off shore once the sun came up. You
could see the pods of bait and fish about 100 yards off the shore on
the incoming at 7 am, but on the incoming early they were wallowing
in the wash. Keeper bass, and schoolies. The bay side worked with
smaller fish but again the sun stopped most of the action. Warm
water, 60 degrees in the ocean, and 62 on the bay and a sultry 68 on
the Peconic encouraged the activity. The new moon made hopeful
thoughts of cinderworms but honey do and the department of labor
stopped the early evening activity for this weekend. Fished the
flats on the Peconic on Sunday, noting fish moving to my fly,
ignoring it, follow it, and then swim away. Two hours on the incoming
was teasing enough, and my Amanda trained eyes actually found the
moving grey shapes but could not get them to do more than bump. The
early evenings were also successful for most of the shore fishing and
keeper bass were caught on the fly in the surf, not by me but by some
very reliable sources. See you next week.

Joel

That’s all for the week… See ya next tide…