The big ones are slowly but surely coming into the area. Depending on the reports, my next trip might be for the bruisers. I know the snappers are better for the table but I just can't get excited over 1-3lb bluefish. Kinda like robbing the cradle imo. This is the first year I've really avoided Fluke fishing. The new size limits just makes it too expensive to do if you do the math. I've done one trip out of the Atlantic Highlands this year. $65 and I came home empty. Caught 12 shorts though and I'm talking 17.5in fish. Pissed me off.. Due to my work schedule, looks like the end of this month or the beginning of October will be my next trip. I'll let the fishing determine the target. I'll fish for anything that's running hot.
I tried to head out this morning as I also will be tied up for a few weeks due to work. We've had a shitton of rain lately, and it showed in the backwaters...... very muddy & loaded with freshwater..... suffice to say fishing sucked.
Mother Nature is shutting down the fishing this weekend. 5-8ft waves and 25kt NE to E winds all week. Looking at next Saturday.
That's what we've had here all week...... but FLOOD tide this sunday, so I may try to hunt for Reds in the grass before football. Unless the surf is real good
Sun E winds 15 to 20 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 6 to 9 ft. Mainly in E swell with a dominant period of 9 seconds. A chance of rain late. I'm hoping the captain is just going to reschedule, if not, I'm skipping this one.
Maybe you'll catch a break with this Capt. Normally, its the luck of the draw and no refunds but you never know. I had plans on going on Saturday out of Pt. Pleasant on a party boat. Looking like next Saturday now.
Mother Nature ain't f'n around this year apparently... Sat NE winds 20 to 25 kt. Seas 9 to 12 ft. Rain likely. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.
I tried to hunt for tailing reds in the grass during the flood tide on sunday...... well "sight fishing" in coffee colored water (LOTS of rain lately) with NE 10-15kts winds, clouds and rain doesnt work so well. Caught 1 17" trout right away (he became fish tacos tonight) , and that was it. Only saw 1 tailing red, but the tide go SO HIGH that most marsh grass was completely flooded over and too deep. Then I came home in time to watch that great JETS "performance".
In case you are ever in need of something to haul some extra gear behind your kayak, my son is helping out getting this product off the ground. Really nice if you ever do weekend trips, can fit a lot of gear in them. They also have an insert so you can use it as a cooler. http://dryakinc.net/
Finally, Nature decided to let the fall fishing season begin! Heading out on Sunday for bottom fishing. Gonna pass on the Gorilla Blues this year. Can't really do anything with 10-20 lb blues except let them go. Waay too oily.
They're fun to catch on topwaters though Was thinkin of heading out this morn, but missed the morning bite staying up for that METS bullshit game last night. May try some night fishing this week with the moon phase (should be a good bite) around work, we'll see Waterboy, that looks cool, but I usually travel pretty light on the yak (3 rods, a small box of lures and some soft plastics) and a "fishbag" I could see where that could come in handy i if you were doing a camping trip or similar, but I think at that price it may be a tough sell
Thought the same thing about the price myself. I have a feeling they will sell some here and there before they finally get bought out by a company that will mass produce and be able to bring the price down to where they will hit a broader piece of the consumer market. I plan on heading down to Flamingo late winter, probably February some time, and kayak out to one of the small keys and camp out for a few days. A light weight hammock, a small tarp, couple of rods and not much else but the dryak will come in handy for that.
How'd you do? I had a charter on Sunday. We didn't find the ling, but we had a good pick of flounder and big ass porgies. Had a couple 10 lb blues come in as well. So many nice seabass we had to throw back too.
Pretty good day overall Kerley. We had a steady pick of Ling all day long. Wifey boated 2 really nice Cod and I chipped in some Porgy. I'd say we came home with about 10# of fillets all toll. First time I've ever fished in over 200' of water. The way the SeaBass were hijacking bait, I can't wait for next week's start of the season. I had to throw back a 5lb SeaBass. Man, that really hurt! Wifey came in 2nd in the pool with her Cod. She got beat out by a monstah Cod though. Arms were hurting after all that crankin! We were on the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar.
So did you do a private charter? If so, what's the going rate up there? I may head up to visit my brother and would like to catch some big Stripahs! (if it's cost effective) I can bottom fish for seabass all winter here (although you guys get bigger ones)
Nice. Yeah fishing in 200' can be a bitch. You got to load up on heavier tackle. Once we got on some fired up Amberjacks in 185'. They were eating 12" Vermillion snappers we'd pull up That was interesting. I was sore the next morning
I feel ya! I would get a lite nibble (Begalls) and then strike. If I missed, I was pissed cause now I gotta crank that bitch up from 225Ft just to check bait! By the end of the day and several Aleve's later, My arms were sore as hell. Monday wasn't exactly a high energy day for me. Thank goodness the workload was light. We were fishing the deeper wrecks just to keep the SeaBass off our baits. They're in season starting Oct. 22nd. and its shaping up to be outstanding too!
yep, that's when using braid and sharp hooks is important. Now imagine pulling up a porgy then having a 40#+++ "Reef Donkey" double you over the rail of the boat. I had one literally straighten out a 100# snap swivel en route to his escape.
