New York Metro &
New Jersey

September 10th, 2004

To Fish or Not To Fish...

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That is the question…  With the unreliability of weather reports these days it’s always difficult to make the call.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told folks to forget about coming down from the city, or elsewhere, because of a wind or rain forecast that didn’t look promising, only to wake up to flat-calm not-a-cloud-in-the-sky conditions.  And then on the other hand, there have been numerous times where I’ve said “let’s give it a try” despite unfavorable wind and sea forecasts, to find that low-and-behold the Nation Weather Service was actually right!  Man is that a bummer…  Especially when you have one or two guys looking at you like you’re a jackass (which you totally are) from the window of their car while it rains sideways…  Such was the case this morning. 

After being blown/rained-out for several consecutive days I said “screw it, I’m going fishing.”  A 4:30AM wake-up and an extra large cup of coffee later, I’m putting fuel in the boat during torrential downpours, wishing I’d just slept in.  I decided to fish regardless, torturing a father and his son with a run into wind and needle-like rain, only to find a barren Breezy Point.  Instead of giving up and cutting my losses like I should have, I spent the next two hours searching here and there for phantom breaking fish that had skipped town because of several days of east wind…  The rain never really let up, but I kept saying optimistically, “look’s like the sun may come out.”  I finally admitted defeat and headed back, this time into a wind against tide short chop.  Even less fun than the ride out.

I think we’ve all been there…  Frustrating to say the least.   But you’ve got to do it…  If not you run the risk of the truly unthinkable; that awful situation where you’re taking the LIRR over the bay and you realize you’ve made a horrible mistake… You’ve trusted the National Marine Weather Forecast!  Despite the 20 to 25-knott east wind prediction, the water below you looks like orange glass as a fire-red sun peaks over the horizon.  In the distance you can make out wheeling birds over breaking fish.  You press your sullen face to the glass and harshly whisper…  “what have I done!” while the person next to you looks at you like you like you’re a nut.  You quietly sulk the whole ride into the city, only to find that your boss is not in the office, but calls to let you know that he’s out there hammering them.  THE HORROR!!!

And what’s with those 10 to15-knot forecasts?!?!  Which is it man… 10 or 15-knots?!?  There’s a big freaking difference!  And how about when the mechanical woman on the VHF radio is saying NE wind around 10-knots while you’re out pitching and rolling in a wind blown chop while the wind is cranking at at-least 20-knots…  Kind of makes you want to yell “look outside dummy!” at the radio.  

Sorry…  Just needed to vent... 

Let’s get on to the reports:

Schoolies and small blues are still rather consistent in South Jersey while albies and bonito have been showing up with more frequency off the beach.  Hurricane Francis sent in a swell that made getting out to the off and midshore lumps difficult.  The following east wind made the rest of the week really tough as well.  In central New Jersey, there were a good number of albies to keep anglers happy.  The same can be said for Northern New Jersey and the New York metro area, however, after all this east wind, we may not see them for a while.  One angler this week hooked into a nice mahi within sight of the Breezy Point jetty.  Bay anchovies are becoming pretty thick and I expect if the weather doesn’t produce Victory at Sea conditions , we’re going to have some good days in the near future.  In Jamaica Bay there are huge amounts of cocktail blues taking advantage of the beginnings of the peanut bunker run.  The water is still very warm back there so don’t expect to see bass until things cool down significantly.  Lots of cocktails in Raritan Bay as well, with the occasional schoolie bite up against the structure.  Albies made a good showing on the South Shore of Long Island this week with lots of guys getting good numbers on a flyrod.  Out east the albies have arrived as well, although not in the numbers we’re going to be seeing them in the next few weeks.  Lots of peanut bunker our there as well as a huge amount of rain bait.  It’s going to be a bang’em up fall…   

Weather looks okay this weekend.  Behold…  The fall run is upon us!

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

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

New Jersey

From Southern New Jersey, Captain Bryan DiLeo checks in this week from the Ocean/Atlantic City area.  Check it out:

“Both for my Fly clients as well as light tackle anglers the surrounding waters dished up a mixed bag of Bass and Bluefish once again. The bluefish have literally filled the backcountry and are of nice in size for this time of the year ranging from 2-4.lbs and willing to take both top water and subsurface artificials without hesitation. There have been some nice Bass in the 22"to-30" range also willing to blow up on a well placed top water but getting through the Bluefish to get to the Bass has been the challenge.  We had good water through out the backcountry this week and with late day and early morning falling tides that translated into good skinny water action. Through out the week we got onto good size Bass waking, especially at first light, in some very thin ( 8"-12" ) water but tracking fairly unpredictable with the bluefish dictating their path and very often beating the Bass to the fly or artificial. Bluefish or not Bass willing to show them selves as they balled up huge schools of peanut bunker into the drained corners of the basins is always a sight to see and brings an excitement that will make the most seasoned angler weak at the knees during that "cast that counts" as the Bass approach the boat. In addition to Fall running Bass the action out front will also be on the increase as the Albies start to migrate inshore and will offer fly and Light tackle anglers good shots at these speedsters all with in a few miles from the beach so the days of mixed bag fishing will be upon us. September and October also will offer anglers their best shot at the NJ slam.  Water temperatures stabilized on the warm side ranging from 70 in the AM to 76 degrees during the PM.
Fall is coming up upon us quickly and dates are beginning to fill up. For a list of available dates shoot me an email. Short notice trips are getting tough to book these days and advanced notice is highly recommended. Currently all of my weekend dates are already filled through November.”

From the Central New Jersey area, the guys at Shore Catch Guide Service report excellent albie fishing and increasing action on the offshore front when the weather permits:

John,
 
“Things have busted wide open down here and it all about ALBIES!!! Had out Rick Vereblouu and Chris Dries just before the heave and them roped the albies on surf candies and jiggies. The two had over 20 fish in the boat by noon and them decided to go out and chase some 10 LB blues. After around another dozen or two of them we headed to the barn. Since then the weather has been somewhat uncooperative. I am heading up to the Cape to fish the Bay for Bluefin for the next five days. Hopefully I will have a good report from you when I get back.
 
Offshore things are still rollin with bigger Bluefin coming in the boat and many Dorado being taken under the lobster pots. Hope you have a good week!”

All in all, not a bad week.  The days where the weather and swell weren’t too bad were very productive.  Lots of albies in and around both Breezy and Sandy Hook.  Some even came into Jamaica Bay, but as usual, were really difficult to catch.  Jim Tynan, on his way back from the Ambros Tower, spotted a couple of cruising mahi and managed to get one to eat a fly.   There were also a few ocean sun fish swimming around this week.  Lots of rain bait around so the albie fishing should be good again once the wind and seas have settled down some.  I’ve seen a few mullet and some big blues have been chasing them, but not in real good numbers yet.  Expect the white water bite to pick up real soon.  Perhaps by the weekend.  May be worth a good hard look at the surf this weekend.  The bait situation looks pretty good for the fall run in Jamaica Bay, however, right not don’t expect to find anything but small blues.  Same situation over in Raritan Bay. 

Western Long Island

On the South Shore, Captain Barry Kanavy from Natural Anglers mentioned that there were a good number of speedsters around.  There have also been a ton of 2 to 6-pound bluefish blitzing rain bait just off the beach.  Nothing to report from the North Shore, but the unofficial reports have been zero bonito and a lot of bluefish, some of which are quite big. 

Eastern Long Island

The guides didn’t send in any reports this week... Perhaps because the weather wasn’t up to snuff. However, the forum is full of reports of albies showing in the back and front side. Below is a forum report from a Reel-Timer who got into some albies over the weekend:

“Due to high winds over past 2 days - headed west toward Gardiners out of Montauk harbor for an afternoon bite. As we approached Bostwick area, found hundreds of large blues (#8-12lbers) milling around in the wind churned waters. The action could be classified as quite pathetic for an experienced fisherman but since we had two novices onboard - they enjoyed the non-stop action with top water plugging. Once the tide turned the big school dissipated and we head around the western side of the island, in the lee, to avoid the pounding winds.

As we headed through the shallow cut of the Cartwright flats, heading southeast, we spotted some birds working and as we venturned closer - we made no mistake about the blasts and slashes that were going on under the birds - i yelled out "ABLIES for sure" and grabbed my light tackle spinning (10lb fireline) rigged with a small metal lure and fluro leader. The visible pod showed at least 20-30 fish feeding furiously as we know these fish do. The pod would attack in 5 second bursts then dive down deep to regroup and plan for another attack. My first long cast past the school lead to 2 instant hits before the 3rd ended in a solid hook-up. Fought the fish and landed with smiles around the boat. A quick pic and classic torpedo release sent the albie back to his friends. After this fish, we lost the pod and only blues were hanging around so we opted to head back to the dock around 4pm.

What a great day to end the summer and begin the fall magic of Montauk.”

Forum regular “Tuna” reports some early arrivals as well. Check it out:

“Last year at this time, I'd hear of some hints and get my hopes up... only to wait for Them to show up near the end of Sept. Before last Friday, I had my hopes up again because of hints like:
* Frank saying blues spit up bay anchovies, and a maybe sighting
* Josh having a maybe sighting
* Dave C sending me a picture of one caught not far from M Place
* And, of course, the annual Harvey sighting (I make fun of these, but he is plugged in, so I always consider the reports possibly true).
Unlike this year, my hopes were not dashed and they showed early, although in small numbers. Friday, I saw nothing on my way to the P... Place, but when I got there, there were a few birds and boats in the rips to the north and when I got there DanD and I both thought we saw Them. 5 minutes later I had my first. What a rush the first one is each year - line screaming, freakin' fish doing quick circles around the boat. For the next hour plus I had a few more shots, the blues joined in, then it died. I looked at Outer S... Somewhere but saw nothing and then went to G... G-Spot Island and saw nothing too. Back to Outer Somwhere for some fall like afternoon blue fish feeds. Got out a little earlier Saturday and saw a pod of Them at Inner Somewhere. Gave up after a few shots and went to the Place. Found Them in small pods north and east. Got my first visual strike (a sideways runner) and landed that and another small one. The pods seemed to be moving North and West but after an hour I lost the plot. Then back and forth between Somewhere and the Place. In early afternoon I saw a few pods half way out to Outer Somewhere and got another great visual strike - a slow moving one behind my fly, just cruised up and slurped it in. Yup, there were some around - not a lot, but a lot earlier than last season.”

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

“Thursday morning I received the okay to resume fishing. Friday
morning the inlet and ocean were reallllly acting up and only a few
shots all morning at albies. Of course Thursday was the best day of
last week. Saturday morning the winds were up and the surf was very,
very high, at mid tide breaking over the jetty and the campers moved
from the front to the back side of the park. No fish. Sunday morning
was calmer in the inlet however the surf was still 8 to 10 ft on the
incoming and a large pod of blues circled in the inlet giving ample
opportunity to fly and spin. The east wind at 25 knots was not
pleasant but helped with the casting out to the blues. Quite a few
hookups and a lot of fun in bad conditions. Monday of course was
Honey Do day and whilst enjoying my tea and scones the albies came in
at the top of the tide and late afternoon were there in some real
numbers. Today as I sit in New York they did their circle for
breakfast, 6 to 8 pounders and a lot of fly guys hooked up with a
gentler wind and tons of bait. Don't worry, I will be back on Friday
and that will be in time for the tail winds of Frances to keep me
from hooking up. I need a tug.....”

Reporting from farther west is Reel-Timer Frank Mizzo. Check it out:

John,
Fish Moriches and the North Shore (Shoreham area) and only blues (cocktails) have been seen on the North Shore. Pods about 100-300 yds. out but no bunker in sight. Small schools of sand eels/spearing only.
In Moriches the snappers are sporadic (7"-9") but no cocktails yet. Haven't heard of any albies in the area and haven't seen anything of note.

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