New York Metro &
New Jersey

September 3rd, 2004

Here We Go Again

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Late last week, the results of a study of U.S. saltwater recreational catches were released to the public. To make a long story short, the paper pointed out that recreational fishermen catch a lot of fish and concluded that to properly manage fisheries, both commercial and recreational sectors had to be adequately regulated. Duha!!! We know anglers as well as commercial fisherman must be regulated. The paper reached an accurate, far from earthshaking conclusion. Hardly worth a second look.

However, the next thing I knew, my inbox was flooded with press releases and emails from recreational fishing groups claiming that environmental groups, specifically Pew, had hired corrupt scientists to manipulate the numbers and come up with false conclusions in an attempt to stop anglers from keeping their just share of fish. Ridiculous! The study determined that five percent of U.S. marine catches are recreational. That figure is larger than the previous estimates, but nonetheless, the paper is peer-reviewed; its conclusions appear scientifically valid, and not a distortion of the data or an attempt to use science to justify an existing position. But, angling groups went on to label the paper an “attack” by environmentalists. No matter how hard I try, I can’t figure out why is it an attack to display data on recreational landings? What a strange reaction from the angling community to a paper that basically claimed that millions of anglers do in fact have an impact. People have recognized the need to regulate anglers for years.

Unfortunately, this sort of knee-jerk reaction has become typical from the sporting community. Folks are responding to the report by saying, "we have minimal impact... It's not us... We won't accept further size and bag limits... The data is flawed. etc..." This is not only false, but it’s creating the perception, once again, that anglers, like commercials are just another greedy user group protecting or perhaps trying to procure a greater share of the pie. No matter how you look at it, that's the way everyone else sees it. Unfortunate indeed that the angling community has taken the low road here when they could have said, “Yes, we do have an impact and we're willing to accept restrictions like we have been doing for 20-years...” Instead, the latest round of press releases are sure to drive yet another wedge between enviros and anglers, two groups that, for sure, have common goals. Unfortunate indeed.

It’s a fact that most commercial fisheries are regulated by strict quota caps, while anglers are regulated by size and bag limits. The problem here is that number of anglers continues to increase (exponentially in some states) while the commercial fishermen and their catch remains static. It only follows to reason that millions of anglers are having an increasingly substantial impact on sportfish stock. However, despite the obvious scientific reporting of those facts, one angling representative made the uninformed comment in a national newspaper that the report was “a whole bunch of malarkey.” How embarrassing to us all.

The art of regulation is balancing the desires of the angler with the biological realities. Environmentalists and some angling groups recognize that, and I think we're getting there (but we’d get there sooner if some of these folks sending out these “anti” emails would take up golf).

Now let’s get on to the reports:

In south and central New Jersey, Albies and bonito are showing in greater numbers every day. Inshore there have been an abundance of bluefish as well as the stray bass here and there. False Albacore, while a bit late this year, made their annual arrival in the Northern New Jersey and New York Metro area this week. Some days they were exceptionally thick, while other days they were nowhere to be found. Cow-nosed rays also kept a few anglers happy as they ate flies at Sandy Hook and Breezy Point. In Western Long Island, there were many albie sightings but no confirmed hook-ups. The North Shore continues to lack the seasonal bonito that should be abundant about now. In their place are a mix of cocktail and very large bluefish chomping on peanut bunker. As of yet, still no albies at Montauk, however, it’s rumored that the Moriches and Shinnecock areas are seeing a good amount. Some bass are still being caught along the beach in Montauk, but the big run is right around the corner… Stay tuned.

Big swell headed our way this week… Be safe out there.

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

From the Atlantic City/Ocean City area, Captain Bryan DiLeo checks in with this report:

Both for my Fly clients as well as light tackle anglers the surrounding waters dished up a mixed bag of Bass and Bluefish. The bluefish are nice in size for this time of the year ranging from 2-4.lbs and willing to take both top water and subsurface artificials with out hesitation. Mixed in with the Bluefish were some nice Bass in the 20"to-30" range also willing to blow up on a well placed top water. Getting through the Bluefish to get to the Bass  is always a challenge with the key being working the parameters and down current in combination with keeping the presentation slow, fast always equals Bluefish. We had good water through out the backcountry this week and with late day falling tides it translated into good skinny water Striper action. Bass were very willing to show them selves readily as they balled up huge schools of peanut bunker into the drained corners of the basins.  As far as action out front as a change of pace, we ran on Saturday offshore and it too also dished up a mixed bag of fun light tackle action consisting of 11 Albies and 7 Bonito, very fun and all just a short boat ride away.  Water temperatures stabilized on the warm side ranging from 70-76 degrees. www.iowafortune.com

Hailing from farther north, the guys at Shore Catch Guide Service report that things are getting better by the day:

John,

Things are definitely on the up and up here along the jersey coast as Albies and Bonito are starting to make a big presence along our beaches. The water south of Manasquan seems to be holding more fish as they water these is very clean, warm. and full of bait.

Offshore the tuna bite has been hot and cold with pockets of fish scattered in all the regular places. One day they chew, the next day they dont. We can however expect to see bigger bluefin in the 50 to 70 lb range start to enter the waters of the mudhole this month and the action should last right through November.

The time we have all been waiting for is here...Its ALBIE time in Jersey!

From the Raritan Bay area of Northern New Jersey Reel-Timer Larry Maier checks in with this report:

Raritan Bay has been fairly consistent with blues. The water is definitely off color – a lovely shade of brown, with about 6” of visibility.  But – there’s loads of peanuts – about 1 ½”  in size – all along the bayshore, and especially anywhere you have a creek entering the bay.  I’ve been fishing by the Earle weapons pier – it’s pretty reliable on either the incoming or outgoing tide, especially if you can get the dusk / dawn timing.  Best bet has been a large slider waking along the surface – there’s a lot of 7-8 lb blues, plus also a lot of 3-4 lb blues.   Lot’s of fun on a 6 wgt ……

Albies, albies, albies…  That’s all there really is to report about the area this week.  They’ve been in the usual spots pretty thick on some days and on others they’re nowhere to be found.  We even had a bunch make their way into Jamaica Bay.  Boy are they tough to catch when they come inshore like this, but if you ever hook an albie in 4-feet of water you’ll know the true meaning of line burn.  Some bluefish in the 5-pound class are around, making things interesting when the albies decide to disappear for a few hours.  There have been some bass under all the mayhem as well.  Captain David Azar hooked a few this week up to 7-pounds.  There were also an abundance of cow-nozed rays, which have a liking for flies if you put one in front of them.  Lots of bay anchovies arrived this week and it has really set things off.  There’s still a ton of peanut bunker in the bay as well.  This fall is going to be awesome!

Western Long Island

From the Montauk area, Captain Jim Hull from Light Tackle Challenge checks in with this report:

Getting back the Rhythm after some time off for mid-season break. It started slow with mostly school fish to 32" but the last few days have produced some very nice bass in the 20lb. class. There is a mass of 4" squid on the beach along with punk bunker and white bait. What we need for consistant fall blitz action is rainbait but that has been showing in fits and starts. A large body of albies are situated just west of montauk on the beach but the heave could change that.

From the Shinnecock area, Salty Flyrodder Joel Filner checks in with this albie report:

C'est arrive. Not on the weekend which at Shinnecock was
exceptionally slow, but on Monday morning on the jetty they were in
casting range with mouths sewn shut. One hookup reported but no fish.
Watched them come in and out with out a chance. Lefty (me) did not
attempt it as I am still unsure of my casting and handling with the
distaff arm. The weekend for the Saltys was a pleasant surprise, as
about 25 showed up at the Sebago Canoe Club on Sunday for a trial run
on a kayak or canoe. The very generous support of the club and
hospitality to our members should be noted. And only one mishap for
the day of 6 miles paddling and fish catching. Meanwhile Shinnecock
on Tuesday was unfishable with the surf surging over the wall and all
the fish and bait hiding. Wednesday morning found ten fly folk
looking anxiously on the water, with two sightings, no fish, but
small stripers in the back and some blues also in the back for some
activity. All waiting for the last two hours of the incoming. Will
return tomorrow as I hide from the Replicans in Southampton. And
tomorrow I might get a pass to cast with the right..

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

Eastern Long Island

No official reports this week, but on the “unofficial” front, the bonito fishing has been very poor.  A few pods here and there, but virtually uncatchable.   Filling the void, however, are some big bluefish.  On the South Shore, the albies were popping up here and there, but not like they have been in the New York Metro and New Jersey areas.