New York Metro &
New Jersey

October 15th, 2004

I Think We Told You So...

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Bad news for those of us who feel like it’s important to protect large striped bass.  The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s (ASMFC) Tech Committee recently came up with some pretty high mortality numbers for larger, older stripers.  In fact, the mortality numbers for fish in the 8 to 14-year range were well above the threshold for corrective action.  Regardless of whether or not the mortality rate for smaller stripers is less than they expect (we don’t have these numbers yet), and the ASMFC decides not to take immediate action, there certainly seems to be rampant overfishing of the older fish we had hoped Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Management plan would protect.  Since the variable population analysis runs behind any real-time estimate, mortality on larger fish might be quite a bit higher considering the effect on the population the commercial increase has had, as well as the bag limit increase in Massachusetts.  NOT GOOD!     

I can’t help but say we told you so…  Instead of reducing fishing mortality, a move that nearly three-quarters of those commenting on Amendment 6 to the Striped Bass Management Plan in 2002 requested (including the CCA and the PFLGA), the Management Board kept the mortality target essentially unchanged, and that facilitated increasing the coastal commercial harvest by 100-percent of its historical catch.  The shortsighted move also allowed states the option of going to a two fish bag limit.  Thank God New York took the conservative approach or the mortality numbers would have been much higher.

Yea…  We saw some bigger stripers around this year…  A healthy year class coming to size.  But the numbers clearly show that we also killed a tremendous amount of those large fish so don’t expect to keep seeing them.   Angelo Peluso spoke in last week’s column about the offensive photos of dead cow bass and how they don’t exactly paint anglers as responsible stewards.   There are a lot of them…  Especially as of late…  Angelo was right on…  These photos certainly don’t help convince decision makers that gamefish status is a legitimate conservation tool instead of an attempt by one user group to take the resource for themselves.   While its an unpopular notion, anglers kill a lot amount more big stripers than commercials do. 

So what happens now?  We’ll have to wait and see what the ASMFC comes up with…  It’s clear that something must be done to curb the mortality on large fish…  Is a slot limit the answer?  Many argue that it won’t work in a state with a large number of anglers like New York.  The potential for wiping out whole year classes before they’ve had a chance to spawn a few times is most certainly there as smaller bass are easier to catch and there are a huge and growing number of people getting into the sport.  More than likely, we’re looking at greater size and bag restrictions in 2005…  I certainly hope this is enough to remedy the situation as we already blew it on Amendment 6. 

Enough of the cynicism… Let’s get on to the reports:  

In southern New Jersey the bass fishing on the marsh flats is beginning to really heat up.  In Central New Jersey the albie fishing remains very good and bass are beginning to show up in the surf in the early morning and dusk hours.  Mid-shore and offshore, the big bluefin tuna have shown with a vengeance to the point of where they’re taking flies readily.  Getting one is a while different story.  Northern New Jersey and the New York Metro area had marginal albie fishing this week.  Surprisingly the best fishing has been inside the bite while the traditional rip lines and beach areas have been on the slower side.  Big bluefish are abundant both inside the bays and out.  Striped bass fishing has gotten much better as well as some larger fish can be found on the sandbars in the early hours and on the rip lines later in the day.  Jamaica Bay is loaded with peanut bunker and the big blues and schoolie bass are on them.  In Western Long Island the South Shore is hit or miss with albies but the bluefish seem to be at the usual spots daily.  On the North Shore, monster bluefish have been feasting on bunker in the harbors and have been readily taking flies worked under the schools.  Schoolie bass have been showing in the early morning hours in the harbors but can be found along the grass lines later in the day.  The East End was surprisingly tough this week…  Plenty of albies being caught but not in the numbers typical for this time of the year.  Bass boils are occurring but not with the frequency expected. 

Stand-by for lots of wind this weekend…  Honestly, it doesn’t look so hot for flyfishing, but these guys are wrong a lot of the time.  Like today!  (Thursday).  Of course I canceled based on a faulty weather report.  When will I learn?  Regardless, do what you can to go fish.   

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 from Iowa Fortune Guide Service checks in with this Ocean/Atlantic City report:

This week really dished pure fall like conditions bringing us cool overnight temperatures and in turn cooler water temperatures and a week of great fishing.  The dominant factor in the SJ backcountry has become all about the Bass. High 50’s water temps got the Bass on the move and tracking exceptionally well allow us to get to get out in front of good size schools as they slowly made their way across the shallowest of water giving my clients prime shots both with light tackle and those on the fly. Not uncommon through out the week getting on to Bass tailing and rolling in the shallows as the fed with out worry, a truly and always incredible site.  Bluefish in the 3 - 6. LB range are still popping up in mass feeding blitz’ in the skinniest of water and are willing to pounce on mostly any thing placed in front of them.   Most Bass this past week have all been in the 24"-29" range for the exception of later in the week when a good mass of small schoolies (12”) joined in the mix. Still a common occurrence through out the week has been when the Bass where brought to the boat on the deeper flats they had good size friends lurking below. As far as action out front we are still waiting for the Albies to start their westward migration as the baits will start to poor out of the inlets offering angles a plethora of choices for their angling adventures. The cool air temperatures that are predicted for the next week should get the bass increasingly on the move that in combination with prime tides as we approach the new moon should have the Bass and the water moving through out the SJ backcountry fairly predictably and the Bass should continue willing to show themselves as they move across the shallows.

The guys at Shore Catch Guide service report weather dependant but ridiculously good inshore and offshore opportunities when the weather permits:

It had been up and down here along the Jersey Coast and it is all weather dependent. Good weather equal Albies and big Blues, Bad weather and we have been stuck at the dock. The days that we did get out have been banner, with blitzes up and down the beach from sun up to sun down. Many of the big schools of albies have pushed out of the Sandy hook area and are now between Shark River and Barnegat,
 
Offshore the Bluefin fly fishing is about as good as it get, only problem is that we have only been experiencing one day (if we are lucky) a week where we can run to the midshore grounds due to the high winds.
 
Bass are starting to show in the surf in the AM and at dusk, and the bait is thick as can be.

Jamaica Bay is beginning to show its fall colors.  Lots of big blues in shallow water chasing an inordinate amount of Peanut Bunker.   There have been some schoolie bass in the mix as well.  As the weather gets cooler expect the larger bass to come in and take advantage of the bait concentrations.  Towards the mouth, the albie fish has been pretty good…  In fact, much better than the action on the outside.  There are lots of albies in the bay, but they are tough.  Nevertheless, the ones we have been getting are quite large.  On the outside, keeper sized bass are taking flies on the sandbars and the rips are just beginning to hold stripers. 

From the Raritan Bay side Capt. Joe Mattioli from On the Bite Charters reports lots of blues and albies:

Hi John

 Blue fishing is unbelievable! with fish 3-9lbs Blitzing peanut bunker for hours. Half/half clousers and crease flies are the ticket.    Albacore are still here and are up to 10lbs rs. They have been very eager to take epoxy flies , olive or chartreuse.  The Bass should be on the feed any day now  I have dates available.

Spoke with Captain Frank Crescitelli from Fin Chaser Charters yesterday and he reported unbelievable offshore action.  Apparently big bluefin are making most hardcore anglers look like wimps.  Those with the bravado to target these behemoths on a fly are getting spooled.  Even conventional stand up gear anglers are getting hundreds and hundreds of yards dumped off their reels before realizing they’ll never turn the fish.  Frank described a scene where 4 standup rods and a flyrod were all dumping line at the same time.  Doc Sherman landed a 70-pound bluefin on the fly and Frank broke off a smaller one at the boat.  Frank described plenty of fish that they never even got the opportunity to see.  Plenty of big albies in the 15 to 20-pound range are out there as well and Franks clients have been having a blast with them.   

Western Long Island

Outdoor artist Bob Giordano reports plenty of bluefish action in the harbors with some schoolies bass on the prowl as well…  Check it out:

Sunday morning got out super early, (4ish), and looked for bass within
the harbor and found them under some cover taking a handfull of
twinkies less than 22" on black clousers. Before dawn, went over to
Lloyd Harbor where I've been taking some decent bass up top and worked
hard with top water stuff for 1.5 hours, raising a few and taking one
to 27" on a Chartreuse Crease Fly.  Wind then kicked up big time out of
the north and I decided to head back into the harbor to see if the
blues were working. Under bunker in the bend in the harbor, plenty of
fish to double digits for the fleet working live bait. With the amount
of boats, moorings, wind, etc. I quickly took one gator on a large
bunker fly at 9lbs. and then got outta there as I hate fishing among a
crowd. Moved into a cove in the lee and picked over plenty of schoolies
in less than 5' of water on a Chartreuse Ultra Hair Clouser. Nothing
bigger than 25" but great on the 6wt. Total for the morning dozen bass
and the lonesome gator. Plenty of bunker still hanging around the
harbor and hoping some larger bass make way into the area soon. Blues
are literally everywhere. This is by far the best large bluefish season
in years with more large bunker in the area than I've seen since moving
in from Montauk in '97.

Gotta love these fall sunrises and sunsets...Tight Lines.

Also reporting from the North Shore is Captain Robin Calitri:

I had the opportunity to fish with Terry Brykczynaki on Monday, Oct. 11.  It was blowing so hard out of the North that we had to switch plans and fish Huntington instead of Montauk.  I knew that Terry was disappointed but it was a matter of safety.  We stopped at our first spot and Terry warmed up on schoolie bass on the fly.  We the found tons of Bluefish eating everything in sight.  Terry landed one that weighed on the boga at a true 16 pounds.

Eastern Long Island

Captain Robin Calitri also reports from Montauk:

Dave Berman, cousin John, Pete Grenfell and I enjoyed a beautiful day on Wednesday October 13 out of Montauk.  We found plenty of albies off Shag but some had lock jaw.  Fish were caught, missed and cussed.  We ended the day with an evening bass bite off the point.  In true form, David took a keeper bass.  There were bluefish a plenty and two of the three anglers had a slam. 

From the beach, Reel-Timer John Papciak checks in with this report:

I actually called my trip short and came back from Montauk early this morning. Its rare to have high NW winds and a booming surf, but this is just what we got over the last few days. I didn't even bother to take the fly rod out of the truck. I'm feeling a little silly having tied all these flies - most have yet to get wet since 10/1. I walked the south side a number of times from Sunday-Monday and only beached a few bluefish on metal, though I heard of some action over by caswells on Saturday. I did however manager 4 fish at night to the low 20s fishing darters and needlefish. But even here, this was tough fishing and I got washed off the rocks more times than I wish to be admit here.

So I took those vacation days unused and placed them for the last weekend of October. Thats a full moon, not my first choice, but there could very well be some sand beach action by then.

All in all, I sum up the action thus far as a major downer. Sure, there have been some wild innings with big numbers, butI miss the days gone by where there was some real quality mixed in with the small schoolies. This year, so far, I'm just not seeing any respectable fish being dragged up the bluffs.

From the Shinnecock area, Salty flyrodder Joel Filner reports from the beach:

Something new always happens when you fish regularly at the same
place for the majority of the season. Just when you feel that you did
see it all the unexpected happens and we all wonder at the change and
try to reason it out.  The reports from Montauk for the majority of
the week up to Friday were all very positive and filled with news of
big stripers, albies, and nice sized blues all from the surf, albeit
the conditions were compared to 42nd street and times square on new
year's eve. No serious encounters but some very serious fish brought
in. Saturday Montauk died. Shinnecock however is suffering from albie
patches, where in small groups they come through on both tides
feeding aggressively but with a definite diet in mind. Stripers are
around in the back bay on the outgoing and some keeper sized fish
landed on the fly Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  I fished Friday
afternoon, after shutting the computer down at 3 to try the turn of
tide and a shot at the albies. Just like some famous trout, the
albies followed my fly, sneered, and veered away. Not once.. not one
fly.... 5 flies later and an hour and a half of watching them cruise
through and not bother to hit.  Then the new factor occurs. Albies
porpoising in the channel sipping bait like bass and just moving at
moderate speed(for albies) through the channel. I was not alone in
this adventure in nature's perversity. and we all went fishless. The
delicate phrases of pain resounded along the inlet rocks. And again
on Saturday morning, limited by a Honey do day, still showed the
albies in their gamboling mood. Crab hatches were the assigned
reasons for the strange behavior. Again before first light and on the
outgoing the back of the bay was good for stripers. Montauk with
Amanda on Sunday was a blow out and that included the masses on the
shore on the south side  fishing in the lee of the north west wind.
The Shagwon beach was affected by the winds which made up to 15 knots
seem nice. Monday morning I sipped my coffee on the beach and left
the fly rods in the car as the wind gods who visited last year came
and ruined another nice day at the beach.

We’ll end this week’s Fishwire with that great report by Joel…  See you on the water (hopefully!).