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| NW winds but no fish for me... |
I rigged up this week and loaded up on Saturday night to make my first surf excursion of the fall, not counting a few casts in October. I am not superstitious, but it should be a good season since this one started the way all the good ones do: with a skunk. If you don’t fish the surf much, seeing all the social media posts about blitzes can make it appear like this is an easy fishery. The simplest way I can break it down is with math. There is about 50 miles of what I consider prime surf zone in New Jersey, roughly Sandy Hook down to LBI (some might argue Brigantine, but I would not!). That’s a lot of real estate to cover. I covered about 8 miles of that 50 and saw zero fish caught, although I heard of success at first light for those lucky enough to find some sandeels dug in. Me, I got a little spiny dogfish at first light. I found those eels 6 miles from where I started, a couple hours too late for it to matter—though at least I have a starting spot next time I make the long drive. Jeff bailed at 4 AM after I was already on the road to meet him. He was feeling sick. For him to miss fishing, it had to be bad. I was texting with young Pete most of the morning, and we actually met up at spot three. We doubled our effectiveness by not fishing the same spots and just sharing intel. So together we covered even more (mostly) barren surf! I should have followed Pete to spot four, however. He got some intel that something was happening south of us, but it was already 8 AM, and I’d been casting since 5:30 AM, so I declined to follow. I was not willing to drive 40 minutes to miss a blitz. Pete, well, he found a great surf bass late in the morning. He even took PTO on Monday and got another. Man, I miss the flexibility of my old job sometimes!
According to the videos floating around, you would think there is an acre of bunker and 50 50lbers behind every wave! :)
ReplyDeleteSo on Saturday we had 4 LgMouths in an hour while fishing with the Grandkids. Was too busy keeping them engaged to really go after them.
Went back Monday, same time, same spot could not buy a bite. Fished 3 more spots on same lake Nada. Pulled a desperation attempt at the desperation bank and got 5 dinks, missed a good one and then the one I sent you in 30 minutes. Almost didn't stop at last spot. Rather lucky than good!
Do you think the slot is impacting the striper runs in a good way?
RR
I think there are potentially 2 scenarios playing out this year, RR. 1) This is the start of the run, and the bigger fish, per usual. There are plenty of slots in NY, so that could be it, just a delayed run. Or 2) these are part of the largest biomass coming through, and they are only really made up of two year classes that were strong. I guess time will tell. The bait is there, so the crew and I will have our days this year. Either way, I totally support a catch and release rule on all fish, per the recommendations of Stripers Forever.
DeleteOf course, I am going to have to catch one to release it ;)
DeleteI was told by someone in the bait business in South Jersey that this past spring Dbay surf fishing run was the strongest ever. Will be interested to see if that repeats next spring.
ReplyDeleteRR
I always joke half seriously and half sarcastically that the trout guides have it easy. Hey, maybe the trout are biting that day on the upper delaware, pennsylvania creek, spring creek, etc but they are still there! There is no offshore to migrate to, they won't make a 10 mile run up or downstream overnight. The mayflies the fish follow will not go to this or that part of the creek based on wind direction.
ReplyDeleteLike it or not from boat or from shore the fall migration period is often run and gun. The striped bass and baitfish are all flying south to winter offshore at the edge of the gulf stream. Some days I get the intel and make the drive to find the "blitz" I heard was a few bunker flipping around and you got bamboozled. Sometimes you are late to the party and sometimes you get lucky and stumble into something good.
I started surf fishing around 2014. The abundance of the 2011 year class and peanut bunker made for some easy fishing for a few years for a surf novice like myself. Then 2018 and 2019 sucked. The 2011 year class was mismanaged out of existence and the peanuts went AWOL for a few years (rumor has it the bunker letters may be to blame). I had to sharpen skills catching schoolies in the 90 minute sand eel windows. I'm glad to see now that the fishery has turned back around the past few years once again.
Pete btw
DeleteThanks for sharing, Pete. I hope the turn lasts.
ReplyDeletePete, last spring had tons of large and slot stripers on Del Bay beaches where I have a cottage. Didn’t work out well for me (got a few)personally, but it did for fisherman a town south of me.
ReplyDeleteThe other side of this is I used to get tons of shorts summer and fall fishing with Grandkids for spot and perch on Dbay beach. The rats have been eerily absent the last 3 years which is in line with YOY data I have read. We need a big year class soon IMO.