Hi All,
I just got back from the bay side of IBSP. Not much happening I was just trying out a few more flies to see how they look and work on an actual line. Fished for about an hour and a half, the water is getting warmer but today's wind was really gusting out of the south west hard, to much gusts to throw anything out there. I did notice that the birds were working today. I could not see what they were hitting but I would have to say a good possibility would be spearing. They were right at the edges of the dark water (deeper)and the shallower flats. If the wind was not ripping I would of made the trek just to see if anything was hitting them from below but like I said the wind was really ripping across the bay with gusts around 19 mph.
All is good though the water is crystal clear and I would guess the water temperature to be around 45. I have to pick up a small thermometer just so I can get my facts right for you guys. I did hear that fish were being caught in the Toms River by Island Heights but even that is slow. I would say it is about a week behind this year. Next week if the temps stay the same the water should be closer to 50 in the back bays and stay there on a regular basis. Once that happens the fish should be starting to bite more.
Starting next week I will be hitting the back in the early morning and or early evening to see if any bass are home and hitting on their nocturnal schedule as oppose to hitting on instinct. Still even so if you do go try using small jugs and fish them slow and low as the eel grass back there has not started to grow so you can let the lure hug the bottom. They should work if you a white beck tail with some sort of curly tail but not to big this time of year. I was talking to a guy coming off the beach and he had a huge bucktail with a curly tail hanging off the back the whole thing had to measure 8+ inches, way to big.
Remember this time of year is still LOW, SLOW, and SMALL.
Happy Catching
Paul
