Surf Fishing Ocean County ??

[hook]

Happy New Year !!
Is there any Surf Fishing Ocean County area this time of year? If so any suggestions on bait/plugs?
Thanks

[Pfishingruven]

Sure...any of the usual places.  Should still be some holdover and resident bass around.  Small pieces of clams or the usual fall lures worked very slowly will work.

It will be slow going, but still possible to catch!

Good luck

 

[NJ Guy]

Happy New Year !!
Is there any Surf Fishing Ocean County area this time of year? If so any suggestions on bait/plugs?
Thanks

island beach state park as for baits i have seen very little action my last 2 times out in the past 2 weeks. I usually park a large rod/reel with a heavy high low rig out and then walk the beach casting metals which seem to be producing the best results especially those with a green teaser


Good Luck

[ped579]

There are fish around and the Fall techniques are pretty much over with.  If you re read Matt's post you should of picked up on the key word he used small.  This time of year when the water is getting colder the metabolism rate of the fish that holdover is slowed way down.  Because of this, especially the bass, food is looked upon as the smaller the better simply because it takes less energy to digest the smaller morsels of food.

I usually drop down to a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook with small bits of clam and just let it sit.

You might get lucky yet with small metals with teasers fished real, real slow.  But in my opinion forget he metals and go bait for a while.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Noworries2009]

Was on the beach today but just for a walk between 11-noon. Water looked nice & calm with 15-20 NW wind.Just scoping out today. Nobody around, kinda peaceful. 

[ped579]

To add to my post above, the fish are here, but with the weather so cold and the wind off the charts no one is really out there fishing.  So, lets go a little further with the rig i usually use in the winter.

The best one I found is the hi - lo rig with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook.  I make my own rigs so I can change the height if the hooks as I see fit.  Most of the time I tie the lowest hook about 6 to 8" above the sinker and another 18 to 20" above the first hook.  This way the bait will be at different depths.  I will also alter that to bring the upper hook closer to 3' above the first hook.

The bait of choice in the cold weather would be fresh clams but they are hard to come by so the next best thing would be salted clams cut into small bits just enough to cover the hook.  It might not seem like this is enough especially when most are use to putting on the whole clam but it is winter and the water is cold and the fish do not want to exert to much energy.

So I hope this helps, as I am waiting for the wind to stop and the wind chill to get closer to what I am use to seeing in my freezer at home.  I have my beach buggie pass already and it seems like this year the numbers are all over the place I have a very high number in the 4000's; nice shade of purple too.

Hope to see some of you out there on the beach soon.  We should start a new club the Polar Bear Beach Buggie Association.   

Happy Catching

Paul

[NJ Guy]

To add to my post above, the fish are here, but with the weather so cold and the wind off the charts no one is really out there fishing.  So, lets go a little further with the rig i usually use in the winter.

The best one I found is the hi - lo rig with a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook.  I make my own rigs so I can change the height if the hooks as I see fit.  Most of the time I tie the lowest hook about 6 to 8" above the sinker and another 18 to 20" above the first hook.  This way the bait will be at different depths.  I will also alter that to bring the upper hook closer to 3' above the first hook.

The bait of choice in the cold weather would be fresh clams but they are hard to come by so the next best thing would be salted clams cut into small bits just enough to cover the hook.  It might not seem like this is enough especially when most are use to putting on the whole clam but it is winter and the water is cold and the fish do not want to exert to much energy.

So I hope this helps, as I am waiting for the wind to stop and the wind chill to get closer to what I am use to seeing in my freezer at home.  I have my beach buggie pass already and it seems like this year the numbers are all over the place I have a very high number in the 4000's; nice shade of purple too.

Hope to see some of you out there on the beach soon.  We should start a new club the Polar Bear Beach Buggie Association.   

Happy Catching

Paul

do you ever use any floats or beads on your rigs

just curious...i do on occasion pending currents ect ect ect

[IrishAyes]

Don't forget to get the newest fishing accessory needed this year...the federal registry. 

[ped579]

Already in my frozen little hands.  I printed out the online copy and I am good to go.  Waiting for the real thing to get here about 30 days or so.

BTW, when you fill out the form don't just fill in NJ if you think you will be fishing some other state check it off as well.

Happy Catching

Paul