 |
Current Report
May 4, 2008
Barnegat Bay bluefishing continues to be moving along at a torrid pace, although the fish this week were a little smaller than the jumbos we've had the last couple of weeks. Three to five pounds seem to be the norm right now, but still a lot of fun on ultra-light tackle. I made it out four times this week, and each day we found the fish ravaging schools of spearing on the west side of the bay. These fish are moving around and it takes some looking to find them, but once you do the action is non-stop.
The other good news is that bass fishing is finally showing signs of coming to life. It's still a bit slower than it should be, but the past two trips have produced bass on clams from some of the normal back bay areas. Best fish of the week honors go to George Selph, who landed the fat 38" bass in the picture from Oyster Creek Channel. George also landed our first keeper bass in 2007, so there seems to be a pattern forming. Now that the bass have started biting, it should get better with each passing day, so it's time to get out there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Past Reports
April 27, 2008
We had four trips this past week, and it sure looks like the spring fishing season in the bay is officially underway. Early in the week, bluefish started their annual invasion and if the first fish are any sign of what's to come, this may be even better than the great run we had last year. While there are a few of the typical 3-5 pound fish mixed in, the vast majority of these fish range from 7 to 10 pounds or more. Just unbelievable sport on light tackle! We've been using nothing heavier than 10# tackle, and everyone's been having a blast. Here's a picture of 8 year old Michael Masterson, who joined his dad Larry in landing a boatload of these critters. Think Michael is happy?
Striped bass have been a little tougher to find so far, but that should pick up any day now. We generally start picking up a few keeper sized fish during the last week of April, then it builds steadily from there once the water temps start stabilizing a bit. It's anybody's guess as to precisely when bass fishing will be getting hot, but if I were making a bet I'd say within the next ten days.
Weekend dates are getting pretty full through bass season, but I've still got a few prime mid-week dates available if you're looking to get out this spring.
April 4, 2008
Time to start fishing! We've been busy for the past few weeks getting everything ready for another great year, and it looks like we're all set to go. Fresh wax and bottom paint on the boat, reels all greased and tuned, new line loaded on the reels, and the boat is back in the water sitting at the dock and raring to go... I think we're ready.
We'll be doing mostly winter flounder trips for the next couple of weeks, but it wouldn't surprise me to see the bay come alive with all the usual spring suspects a bit earlier than normal this year. We've had an exceptionally mild winter, and while the bay water is still pretty cold it will warm up quickly once the sun starts heating up the shallows. When the water starts warming, the stripers, weakfish and blues aren't long in showing up.
There are a lot of folks predicting that 2008 is going to be a memorable year for stripers. The mild winter encouraged a lot of bait (and bass) to stick around all winter, and they'll soon be met by the northern migration of all those huge fish we've been reading about down in the Chesapeake. Weather permitting, May and June should be spectacular if it all comes together for us. I've still got a number of weekdays open in May and June, but weekends are getting pretty full so call me soon if that's what you need and we'll get it set up.
I think it's time to go fishing. Talk to you all soon.
January 23, 2008
We'll be resuming our weekly fishing reports once the season gets started, probably in early April. In the meantime, if you'd like to read about how we did last year, check out Fishing Reports from the 2007 season.
Fishing Reports from the 2007 season