It is game time in the Garden State, and the fall striped bass run is about to turn on at any moment.
Atlantic Highlands: Capt. Ron Fishermen landed a few keepers this week to kick off the 2009 fall run. Lou Ciavatti, 84, kicked off the fall fishing with the first bass — a beautiful 22-pounder. Capt. Ron had another four keepers and a couple of shorts, with a few good readings with fish close to the bottom.
With rumors of a bass bite, Capt. Don Sr. from Keyport along with Don Jr. and Sgt. Treavor worked their way toward Belford. The crew found birds working along the way, only to meet up with big yellow-eyed bluefish the whole day. AVA-17s and top-water plugs produced all blues, sore arms and no bass, but I am sure a great time nonetheless.
Sea Bright: Capt. John aboard Reel Fun charters also battled giant bluefish all week. Capt. John said the bluefish have invaded the Raritan Bay by the thousands. Light tackle top water lures and metals worked best. Bluefish are now in the bay from Belford west backing into Keyport chasing peanut bunker and rain fish.
Capt. John is seeing the first signs of bass starting to show around the Sandy Hook Channel and will be testing his luck with sandworms and eels. After last Sunday’s full moon and that hard northwest wind, water temperatures have been steadily falling (58.2 degrees in the bay), and that is a good thing for stripers.
Perth Amboy: Capt. Mike aboard the Sea Hawk continues to find action with porgies and sea bass. Patrons picking steady with high hook this week at 32 porgies and a few sea bass up to 3 pounds.
Brick: Capt. Rich aboard Jersey Hooker Outfitters found some good bottom and has been fishing structure in 35 to 55 feet of water, nailing sea bass, porgies and many keeper blackfish. Capt. Rich continues to pick the action off the bottom, loading up coolers with a nice mixed bounty.
Belmar: Capt. Ross aboard Lady J also worked the bottom and found a bite that lasted for three hours. The Lady J landed blackfish up to 8 pounds and released over 70 fish to fight another day.
Brielle: Fish Monger charters with Capt. Jerry and crew along with Carl Fischls and the boys from C&F Fishing Team Charter strike again. With limits of sea bass again (inside state waters), another eight-limit trip in a row for the team. That is amazing inshore fishing. The Fish Monger picked away at hungry keepers and shorts everywhere they went. The Monger put 45 keepers in the box on the last trip to finish the guys’ six-man limit. They have also been mixing it up with porgies, a couple of triggerfish and keeper blackfish to go along with the sea bass.
By day’s end, the team ended up with 150 keeper sea bass (the six-man limit), seven porgies, three blackfish and two trigger fish.
When you get the call, be ready to go. Fishing only gets better from here, inshore and offshore.
Fish on!