Things are starting to turn in the Sandy Hook area. Despite the poor weather window mother nature has provided us, we are having success. Trolling with wire line and shad umbrella rigs off the bridge has provided steady action out front with bass and blues. If the blues destroy the shad rigs, I have switched over to the tube umbrella rigs and have landed triple headers of bass and blues on several occasions.
The scallop boats have been working the areas along the NY side of the bay and the bass are stacked up behind them in large numbers. As the deck hands shuck the scallops on the boat, they discard the remains over the side. This acts like a moving chum slick and the bass go into a feeding frenzy as they follow the boat. Trolling with rigs or eeling will not work when the bass are turned on by the "guts" of scallops or clams. You will need to be prepared to drop some clams down to the bottom in the area of the draggers if you plan on having any success. I usually go prepared with clams when I fish the bay, however, if you do not have any clams on board, hold up a case of beer and the scallops boats will usually be happy to make a trade. Be careful not to get in the way, however, or you may get a flying scallop across the bow.
