This sport is an art.

[NJJan]

I sat through a surf fishing seminar today at the sportsman show in Edison. I realized that all the surf fishing Ive done was nothing more than throwing a plug in the water and getting it wet. What really surprised me is that different plugs work at different depths, and that probably changes with the weather and time of day. Since a new boat, and repairing the one I have are both out of the question, Im gonna try to actually understand the nuances of fishing from the beach. I think I found the right place to get advice.
First question. The Raritan River is very close to where I live, so thats where I do most of my fishing. How is fishing a bay going to differ from fishing say Sandy Hook and south.

[ped579]

Hi NJJan,

Your question is a very good one and the area in which you are going to be fishing is a great area for both bay and the surf at Sandy Hook.

The reason why is fairly simple especially Striped Bass.  This species spawns in freshwater and the upper part of the bay and further up are brackish and even further up fresh. the perfect place for them to spawn.  They are there for other reasons as are many other species. 

Abundance of bait is another reason.  Raritan Bay is fairly shallow with many tributaries that make it ideal for bait like bunker to spawn thus making it a perfect dining area for many fish like Weakfish, Bluefish and of course the Striped Bass.

Once you start to learn what makes each species respond to feeding you will start to see why that area is so good.  As far as Sandy Hook it just happens to be in the right place at the right times of the year.


If I can give advice to anyone just starting out fishing the shore line or the surf is just, match the hatch.  I was very young when  I fished that area and I feel lucky to have done so.  It was easy to catch fish there for the reasons stated above.  I was hooked for life.  I since have learned to be patient and studied the beach and was amazed at what it had to tell.  I carried all that information over to other areas of our state.  Try fishing the Delaware in the spring for striper's up by Trenton and you will see what I am talking about. 

When in college I happened to take a couple of coursed in Oceanography by Prof. Stewart Farrel my eyes were opened for the first time and I began to realize how things were put together and the cause and effect on my sport I loved.

Sorry for the rambling but you have entered a sport where you never stop seeking answers to.  After every storm the complexity of the beach system changes dramatically and so must your thinking.

It is only the beginning, settle in and enjoy.

Paul

[Luna Sea 5]

 

[NJJan]

Thanks for the tips. You make a lot of good points that remind me of a couple books I read by Tom Brown, the Tracker from South Jersey. The long story short is that you have to know the many many things that are going on (tide, spawning seasons, weather, landscape, etc.)and put them all together to find the fish. Ive been told that the brackish water of the Raritan all the way up to Route 1 is a great place to fish. I just dont know what time of year that was.

[ped579]

Maybe this will help give you a time frame as to when to expect what.  Give or take a few weeks like this year.

http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=108

Happy Catching

Paul

[NJJan]

 
Thanks Paul.

[PeggyLee]

Hi NJJan, Keep in mind If you fish bait,live it better than dead, and dead is better than frozen and frozen is better than nothing.If you want to plug, try the early mornings and evenings at sunset when you probably will see more action.You will see the more time you can get out the more knowledge you will gain, especially at different stages of the tide and wind contitions.Good Luck, AJ

[ped579]

Good advice AJ...

[NJJan]

When I lived in Cape May, I watched a guy casting nothing more than a whole eel on a hook off a jetty. He caught fish after fish that way. I wish I would have looked at his setup a little better then.
 Ive also heard salted clams are the way to go.

[ped579]

He might of been using an egg sinker that was meant to slide out of the way once cast out.  I have seen that used with good success casting live bait that size and weight.

Paul

[NJJan]

Does that work just like a slide?

[ped579]

Sure does.  That was used before the fish finder rigs out on the market today.  The problem is that the egg sinkers use to chafe the line and cause it to break, but it was a very effective method and some still use it today.

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

Another down side of the egg sinker is if you need to use a different size weight you have to re-rig.  With the slider you only need to unclip the old weight and clip on a new size.

[NJJan]

What are the "Bait Poles" Ive heard talked about? Is that just a pole set out to pick up bait, or one set up to float bait over a sinker , like with a slider?

[ped579]

Hi NJJan,

In my opinion "bait poles" are nothing more than poles that are rigged to fish bait.  Weather you are using a slider (fish finder) rig or conventional stationary sinker.

When I am fishing the surf and set up for one spot fishing as in the summertime.  I will usually set out 2 poles with bait and play with other forms with another rod; it might be plugs or metal.

This way you can experiment to see what the fish are looking for.  With the two rods using bait you might want to have different bait on each and see which works best.

This also pertains to fishing from a boat as well.

Happy Catching

Paul

[IrishAyes]

Paul is correct.  It is nothing more than a rod and reel you have bait on as opposed to using a lure on it. It is not any particular pole at all, just what you are using on it at that time.

Therefore, any pole can be a bait pole or a plugging pole, depending on what you are fishing with at that particular time.

[NJJan]

Thanks. Really appreciate the responses. Now has anything been running lately? Im up in the air as to whether to hunt or fish one day this week. The beach is closer than the woods, and I dont have to buy the license, so Im leaning on fishing.

[ped579]

Hi NJJan.

There is not much running with any regularity.  I was over at Betty & Nicks to pick up some teaser tying stuff and nobody is catching much if anything.  Still hitting the beach is better then being inside by a long shot.

If I was going to try my luck I would pick tomorrow or Wednesday and here are the reasons.

1. The surf was really rough today and I am sure it played havoc with the clam beds and mussel beds, watch for shells to wash up on shore.  If you can remember where they are mark them in your memory.

2. There is a new moon coming and the tides will be higher than usual.

3. If you can pick the incoming tide and go about 1 hour before and 1 hour after.

4 look for the rips and fish either side on the inside of the bars.

5 if you can find fresh clams go for it if not salted ones will have to do.  If you know of any structure like jetties or groines you can pick up live eels and use them on the south side of the structure.

About the only thing you will find off the beach will be stray stripers this time of year.  But you have to fish smart.  3/0 to 6/0 circle hooks on a fish finder rid and just enough weight to hold bottom.

I hope this helps.  This time of year is rough but not impossible.  You have to fish smart.

Good luck.

Happy Catching

Paul

[NJJan]

Still hitting the beach is better then being inside by a long shot.

Agree, although my wife doesnt.
Thanks for the tips, Ill let you know how it goes.