It's a good place to fish because it has easy access, however, it is not the easiest to fish and not the most productive.Thanks for the Detailed Info PF! t^ chrz I Never Fished the Inlet or the River so when you say move Closer to the Memorial for Fluke being the bottom is more Sandy where the River meets the Inlet,where is this Memorial Located at? I have been checking out Aerial Photos of the Inlet and where it meets the Ocean,what would be my Lure of Choice over near the Mouth of the Inlet where it meets the Ocean? I have some 2oz. Sand Eel Imitation Lures similar to a Diamond Jig but with a Bucktail and a Sand Eel Design and Various Plugs and 1 to 4 Oz.Jigs along with Numerous Size Crippled Herrings and Similar Casting Lures...I am more of a Lure Fisherman than a Live Bait kinda guy,especially in my Freshwater Bass Endeavors which is how I mostly fish near me in Middlesex/Monmouth County ... Thanks, Ray Oh,and that Pic DFJ is Surely a One of a Kind and Looks Freakin Cool as Heck! cfzd I`m just Glad I was Not on the Water at that point in time...;)
If you are going to fluke fish, move down towards the bend by the Memorial. The bottom where the River meets the Inlet is much sandier and seems to hold more fish and more quality fish. Less likely to get snagged as well, although, there is a sunken cable or something in there right near where the metal wall starts and the wooden boardwalk ends. That end is in shambles though right now, so be careful. They have been doing "CONSTRUCTION" since they knocked the building down and had some flooding damage so some of the area is roped off.
The key to dragging bait and fishing in the Inlet is to find people on both sides of you who know how to fish with the current. You want to cast 45 degrees up current and work it until you are just in front of the person to the other side of you. If you have people on either side who know how to fish the Inlet, you will not have any problems. However, when you get a weekend warrior next to you, they will inadvertantly tangle into you. You have to play around with the weight too. You can usually play around and tweak it just right so you get snagged much less. Sometimes, I leave everything in the car and observe a little before I start fishing. I will walk around and ask what size weight everyone is using before I start to fish. If that person is getting snagged alot, I will aim for something lighter or vice versa. The time you spend observing, saves you the time having to retie and switching tackle.
If you are looking for some sea bass and the occassional blackfish, stick to the wall and closer to the rocks. You don't have to cast out too far. The sea bass seem to hold just a few feet off the wall.
As for other species...they will move through there. Always have a shot at a school of blues moving in or out. The stripers may or may not be there.
If you are game, give the PP Canal a shot. A little harder access and harder to fish, but it can be more productive than the Inlet for blues and bass. August will also bring a good showing of tog in there.
Good Luck!
TT^
The Memorial is closer to the River side or west end of the Inlet. When you get there, you can't miss it. From the PPB side if you are facing the Inlet, you will want to go to the left.Cool,Thanks Again and I`m ready to try a catch something! t^ You know the ~ol saying,A Bad Day of Fishing is Still Better than a Good Day at Work! LOL! ;D Plus I am thinking of hoping on the Norma K on Monday and the Cock Robin on Wed. TT^ I`ll just make sure the Wifey has enough $$ to keep her and the little one Happy until I return from my voyage... hhppy One more question if you don`t mind,Any Good Night Fishing around there? Any Bridges or anything to key in on at Night... Thanks Again Pf! J.R.
All of the lures you mentioned are worth trying. It is tough to get to the mouth or out to the Ocean on the jetty, but you can do it. I have found the Rapala Xrap color Ghost Glass to be very productive, also Mambo Minnows or any similar lures. Fin-S or equivalent with and without jig heads work well too. Only problem is the blues will tear them to shreds.
You really have to see if you can see what bait is in the area and try and match it. If not, trial and error.
You can lure fish for fluke as well. Bucktail tipped with Gulp 4" swimming mullet work well.
TT^