From The Surf 11.03.10

[ped579]

From The Surf

11-3-10

The Mainland Angler with that “ALOHA SPIRIT”

By Paul Danielczyk

Well its fall and the fish are all around especially the striped bass.  The blues are hitting plugs and whatever bait is around like there is no tomorrow.  The thing is, all the main reports are pinpointing one area, what is up with that?

I took a ride the other day to Sandy Hook to pick up an Access Pass for our National Parks and stopped in a few areas that I use to haunt just to see what is going on.   I stopped at a number of places along Ocean Ave. and talked to a number of guys especially at a couple of beach clubs along the strip.  Guys, they are catching just like we are here in Ocean County.  I had my dog with me so it was an easy cover to strike up a conversation with some of them.

I was told that they are catching bass in the same manner as we are catching down here.  The thing is they are not spreading the word.  Those beaches are void of fisherman because there is silence coming from the locals and those that fish that area.  If I were you guys up north I would try any number of the beach clubs.  They are closed for the season, but many of them have large parking lots (that are open) with access to the beach.  One of the ones I stopped at had 3 cars in the lot and one was mine.  I was able to gain access to the beach and was presented with a jetty right in front of me.

There are many areas that are just waiting to be fished and fished productively.  All up and down the New Jersey coast fishing is at its peak season right now and by the looks of it, should last into December.  Bass and blues are all over the shoreline.  Anglers have been pulling some nice size fish right at their feet.  The bait is all over the inshore and most are inside the bar in the trough that is easy to get at even with a fly rod.

I have been going to Island Beach State Park simply because it is in my back yard.  It has been so crowded that I was making up excuses why not to go.  Well this is to all you guys from Pennsylvania and northern New Jersey try expanding out a little and try up the coast a bit as I know it is easy to get to from 195.  Once you realize it is so easy to get to and for the most part free, I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.  

As far as what to use for bait it is all the same this time of year.  Bunker, clams, poppers, swimmers, and metals are the choices of most surf rats.  Yes I still like IBSP but I am thinking of trying up north more often.  The beaches are a lot wider and the jetties for the most part are non existent like they used to be but that is alright.  Branch out a bit and explore new places as they are producing and producing well right now.  Don’t be afraid to try a new place on your own.  Yes it is great to read all about places that are having blitzes but in reality this is happening all over this time of year.

I know this article is vague on the hot spots simply because people are just going to the these spots and not venturing out to some very good areas that are holding fish in quantities and are not being fished at all.  Try Googling Sandy Hook and follow the map south, you will be amazed at all the beaches that are available to anglers this time of year.  A good spot would be right at a place called Donovan’s Reef.  There is plenty of parking and the parking lot has easy access to the beach as well.

Going further south Monmouth Beach has a pretty cool breakwater that is easy access from a large parking lot.  I am not trying to get everyone to leave me alone but I have to wonder why there are so few anglers not taking advantage of these great fishing spots.  No reports coming from them?  One has to wonder if these are a well kept secrets.  Try some of them and let me know.  You might even get me to travel north more often.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Tacklebox Joe]

No reports coming from them?  One has to wonder if these are a well kept secrets.

 

[SurfJockey]

Good write up Paul!

[ped579]

Thats right...When was the last time you heard of a report coming out of Monmouth beach area?  I have heard some but most have been sketchy at the least.

I know a number of guys that like to fish or used to fish locally but I have not seen them for a while even when we were having our blitzes.  ZI will have to look further into it, but my guess is that they are all up north having fun.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Art Berkman]

Guess where a few of us are going this Sat 

Going to start at IBSP and work our way north to MBTC.

Will report back !

[ped579]

Sounds like a great day Art.  Will you be walking onto the beach or driving?  If you are driving and have the experience on the sand start at the first access road.  That will be Gillikins.  From there heaad south there are plenty of holes along the way.

I would be interested in hearing how your trip ends especially around Monmouth Beach.  That area sounds good and it is not crowded at all.  At least it was not during the week.

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

Except for the beach clubs the parking sucks up north. Their way of keep us off of 'their' beach. 

Oh yeah, the fishing can be great up that way. 

[Art Berkman]

Sounds like a great day Art.  Will you be walking onto the beach or driving?  If you are driving and have the experience on the sand start at the first access road.  That will be Gillikins.  From there heaad south there are plenty of holes along the way.

I would be interested in hearing how your trip ends especially around Monmouth Beach.  That area sounds good and it is not crowded at all.  At least it was not during the week.

Happy Catching

Paul

Paul we are driving & yes we have experience in the Sand.

Re MBTC has been good to me in the past.Will report back.
 

[ped579]

Joe I understand that but there are places to park in a lot of areas if you just look for them. 

I was at a local B&T down here and we started to talk about the fishing up north.  Well there were a couple of guys that were kind of upset that I knew about that area.  When I mentioned this article they got even more upset.  Why I asked?  They don't want the word to get around that there are fish being caught up there.

I can see that this might turn into a winter project.  Looking for parking that might not be there.  We all have to remember that that area is not IBSP.  That is why we have to remember that is why we got started in this sport.  Mobility...Most of us have all the great equipment needed to fish but a lot of us don't have the bags to carry the artificial lures that we need, especially when away from our vehicles.  I have one, but it rarely gets used because I drive onto the beach and use my vehicle as a tackle box.

This type of fishing is a lot different, but not impossible.  If you do fish that area take notes on all the conditions that you caught fish.  ie; beach condition, location, weather, water conditions and current directions.  Tides; low, high, incoming outgoing and it might help to log in the moon phases as well.

You also have to do your ground works as far as looking for bars, rips, troughs and any other structure you might see.  With out knowing these little differences it might mean the difference of catch and fishing.

Why am I and others catching fish while others are just buying bait and having no success?  It is because we take the time to do our work, looking and listening about the places we want to fish.

Surf fishermen are patient, we have to be, we don't have electronics to help us find structure and fish.  I think if we did the sport would not be same lure that it does. 

Surf fishing to me is a way for me to relax, exercise, and have some of the most fantastic friends that exists in any sport.  We might not be the sharpest pencil in the box but our erasers have been for the most part unused.

Sorry for going on, but I am bored and this rain is not going to stop till Saturday.  Watch out for us old guys we can be anywhere.

Happy Catching

Paul

[Art Berkman]

MBTC gate was closed yesterday 

Not good