Manasquan Inlet Report - October 16, 2007

[Capt. Ed]

Hi All,

What a nice day on the water!

Broke the Manasquan Inlet about 10:00AM. Planned to hit the Sea Girt Reef, Axel Carleson Reef and then back north along the beach to the Inlet.

The water temperature was 69.5 to 70.2 deg. F. Incredibly warm! The water was clear (a bit green) and clean.

I brought one spinning rod with an Ava 47 with a green tube. Also one conventional rod (Tekota 500 on a Shimano Compre).

The bait was salted clams and Pro Cut Squid (white).

The rig was a high/low rig (2/0 baitholder hooks) and 6 ozs. lead. Probably could have used 4 oz. today.

Hit the southwest side of the Sea Girt Reef this time. All the sea bass you wanted. The keeper to throwback ratio was 2 Keepers out of three fish caught. Very good considering what all the reports said. I guess I was in an area not picked over. Only one humphead but the females had size. All Fish Released All Day!

Next moved over to the Axel Carleson Reef. Hit a snag I love to fish; my brother's artificial reef (thanks Anthony - especially for the numbers no one has - LOL); and the numbers I posted in the Member's Den earlier in the Spring. The fishing was drop and reel and almost all fish were keepers. Caught 2 smooth dogfish (no sign of spiny dogfish - that is good but tells me the water is warm). If you are not a Member of the Member's Den, start posting. There is great info in there!

Then went in toward the beach. There were small pockets of BIG blues up and down the beach from Casino Pier to the Inlet. There were many fisherman catching right in the suds! Encouraging for the surfcasters for once! Called some locations into Pell's (just north of the Surf Club; just north of the Old Thunderbird; and in Bayhead). Hit some larger schools near the Inlet. The fish were HUGE. Played a bit with some of the brutes and headed in.

To recap:

1. The water is warm. The conditions were ideal. Just a bit of a breeze to push the boat to cover ground. No need to anchor today. Caught some blackfish. That tells you the drift was basically nill.

2. Caught no Porgies or Croakers. I hate that. I like those little guys. Either they will be late or not at all this year on these reefs.

3. There is a lot of bait in the water.

4. Saw no false albacore or bonito.

5. Caught a few 2007 keeper Summer Flounder/Fluke. Practiced my technique for catch and release of fluke for the upcoming few years when we will surely be screwed. Picture below for the naysayers. BTW, why do some people insist that if you do not have a picture, the catch did not happen. Get a life!

6. Looks a lot like the conditions last year when we did not get into the Stripers until December and they stayed for a while.

7. There are a lot of Sea Bass still around. However, not the really big ones that cruise around in the Spring.

8. Where are the weakfish?

9. No sign of Winter Flounder either.

10. Many fish readings on the bottom. Had to jig the blues. I wish they were busting the surface as there is no better sight than a surface plug get creamed!

11. When you want to burn off fuel, the tank seems to last longer.

12. Did I mention how warm the water is? The ocean is actually warmer than the rivers and Barnegat Bay.

Good luck all ... all signs point to a good (but late) Fall run!

Capt. Ed

[IrishAyes]

Good report Capt Ed.  Nice catch.  I have only had a few trips where we did ok with the keeper seabass.  Most trips were six to eight inch fish.  Good to hear there are some spots that are producing.   

[ped579]

Thanks for the report Capt. Ed.

I am going to try to get out tomorrow over to Ortley Beach and see what' hitting.  I plan to use all surface poppers.  It looks like the possibility of rain on Thurs but the Barometer here shows no sign of dropping yet, we'll se.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Ped579,

If I were you, I would bring a few Ava (metal jigs) as everyone that was catching was pulling them off the bottom.

I can't wait for the surface action to kick in.

You may want to take a look up a block or two north of the Old Thunderbird or Brick Beach as well.

The fish were in close.

Good luck and talk to you everyone in a few days. Off to Detroit after jury duty.

Ed

[ped579]

Have a nice trip talk to you when you get back.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Pops Soul]

Another great report Capt Ed, So inspirering it might make me take off from work tomorrow, But you know how that works out "You Should Have Been Here Yesterday" If I had a Dollar for everytime I heard that!

[Luna Sea 5]

nice report, I like the comment about the fuel also..

[Hotrod]

Great Report Ed

[Treebeard]

Great informative report!  Thanks Cap'n!