It is an amazing time to fish the Jersey Shore. From Barnegat Bay to the Raritan, big bluefish and false albacore have been causing havoc on light tackle.
Down south, Capt. Steve Purul from Reel Fantasea Charters in Barnegat is the first indicator for an amazing fall season about to begin. Capt. Steve has been sitting on a variety of fish — blues, false albies, stripers, blowfish and other bottom species he is still trying to identify.
Capt. Steve said the abundant inshore false albacore action has been one of the best he has fished in years. The power and speed of a false albacore is the closest you can get to fight a tuna this close to shore.
Reel Fantasea Charters is in the thick of things and as Capt. Steve said, “these normally offshore species are now literally within a stone’s throw from the beach.”
With an amazing season about to begin, don’t miss out on some of the best action found anywhere. Capt. Steve offers open boat trips for anyone who loves to fish, so check him out at www.reelfantaseafishing. com.
Capt. Allen aboard Reel Class Charters from Point Pleasant had a few run-ins as well. The crew hooked into some gator-size blues taking bait before a frenzy of false albies took over and kept them fighting for a while.
Great action on light spinning rods, and the crew had fish on most of the day feeding right behind the boat. All albies took spearing or tsunami soft plastics.
Raritan Bay anglers did well from the Ammo Pier to Sandy Hook. Across to the Verrazano side, false albies and big blues have been in hot pursuit, chasing big schools of spearing most of the week. Remember, these fish are feeding on spearing, so diamond jigs, soft plastics and most metal lures will do well. To stay on all the action, log on to www.njsaltwaterfisherman. com.
Albies are powerful and super fast. Usually you only get a few casts at albies before they outrun you. What we are experiencing right now is an angler’s dream. With big bluefish and albies rounding up bait fish, marinas and docks all over the shore are starting to swell with bait-like spearing, peanut bunker and sand eels.
Bait fish know they are trapped, and most anglers see the signs and can smell it in the air. They are starting to lose sleep at night, dreaming about what tackle they need, what days they can take off from work, and even talking to themselves.
Some will take the scenic route home from work in hopes of seeing birds working off the beach, just because they are hooked on fishing. Bass are coming. Are you ready?
Fish on!