Shark River Reef

[rossg]

I am planning on running to Shark River Reef from Shark River.I understand the bottom fishing could be good(tog,ling).And when it warms up Mahi/bluefish/pelagics.
Anyone have advice,numbers,experience to share?
Thank you
Capt Ross
The Lady J

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Ross,

You are absolutely dead on.

I often anchor up or grapple into a wreck. I chum with bunker and get the bluefish going. It has been great out there the past few years. When we are tired on that, we switch to bottom fishing. I have done ok with ling but great with nice size sea bass.

And yes, it is a cool spot because if things are not happening there, the Mudhole is close by. There are tons of pots out there that hold Mahi. I like that reef and it has a lot less fishing pressure on it.

The fluking is not that good in general.

I fish it a lot.

What would you like to know?

Thanks,

Capt. Ed

[IrishAyes]

Capt Ed,
I was going to give the SR reef a shot for fluke this year.  Will it be a waste of time?  I was going to try it for a tourney figuring big fish in deeper water...I have been fishing 6 miles out for the past half dozen years with good luck on bigger fish (4+ pounds on average) but the past 2 years my spots have been absolutely loaded with doggies.

What's your opinion on trying the reef, if I may ask?  It will be early season when I want to give it a try.

Joe

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Irish,

Last year I did real well with sea bass and blues.

My buddies dove soem of the wrecks and said there were fluke but we could not get them to bite.

I am going to give it a try in June for sea bass and see if the schoolie tuna hang around there. I will be studying the Roeffer's and Terrafin charts real good. Right now, I think that the Mud Hole wrecks are a better bet.

What specied do you want to target (fluke for the JCAA tournament)?

Stay tuned,

Capt. Ed

[IrishAyes]

What specied do you want to target (fluke for the JCAA tournament)?   

Gee Capt Ed, I can't give away all my secrets   

[Capt. Ed]

Good One!

I love that area to fish so we will stay in touch.

Good luck in the tournaments. All the nice fish I have caught for the early tournaments came from the Shrewsbury Rocks or behind Clam Island down toward LBI.

I hope I brought some of the nice weather from California back to NJ.

Have a good weekend,

Capt. Ed

[IrishAyes]

Capt Ed,
Seems like you brought back great weather!
Let's hope it stays this way and warms up the water, gotta get dem fish movin.

Thanks for the info and will stay in touch.  It was either 2 or 3 years ago (will have to check my logs) I went to fish the Shrewsbury rocks for the JCAA tourney in June.  Water temp was 47 degrees! Moved to Sandy Hook and caught some decent fish there but nothing to brag about.  Water temp there was 60!  About 5 years ago (again-log)my boat placed first out of Shark River.  7 1/4 pounder.  That was the year they moved first place to $1200 from $1000. 

Joe

[Capt. Ed]

Hi Joe,

Nice win!

I look forward to seeing you in Atlantic City. I am all signed up nad ready to go ...

Best of luck,

Capt. Ed