11.30.12 Great day on the water.....bass everywhere right off the bat

      Great way to end November! Started out at first light on the end of the outgoing and were greeted with birds, bait and bass right from the start. Got busy working the Tabory Slab Fly down in 30 foot of water and got them to bite back to back to back. Everything was on the move so by the time a fish was gently released they were gone from the screen. A little later on it was bass on top on rainfish and or silversides. Stayed with the big flies and went to a red/white Montauk Monster and got them to think big and blow up on the flies run just under the surface. The bass ranged from 20- 30 inches. 

     It stayed hot up and down the beach for about three hours and then it just got lonely and quiet on the outgoing tide. Moved around looking and casting under the floating birds that were waiting for something to happen. You couldn't have asked for a better morning- flat seas, calm winds, and active birds, bait and bass- and not one bluefish! I knew things were over as I looked over from my seat on the poling platform and saw a seal staring at me. As I looked at him, two more popped up- lot's of food and temps of 44 degrees have them coming in for the winter. 

Looking to get out and finish up this 2012 fall run. Give me a call 732.261.7291 or drop me an email colin@theaverageangler.com.  

Bait

Bass

11.29.12 Found a mystery box at my doorstep this afternoon

     This afternoon I got home from picking up the kids from school and wasn't surprised to find a box sitting on the front stoop. With a wife and a teenage daughter who order on-line often it's a regular sight. However I was surprised to see that the package was addressed to me.
     Once inside I looked at the return address and couldn't recollect the out of state senders name or address. I quickly opened it, thinking for a moment about Ted Kazinsky the Uni-Bomber, and found a beautiful selection of large flies ( 12"+) and some other "apparatus" that I won't mention just yet. Let's just say from my early investigation that this "package" could really change the way fly fishing guides fish for stripers from a boat.

Tomorrow I'll be out there giving things a go.....I can't wait to see this stuff in action.

Thanks mystery sender!

11.28.12 We'll be seeing more of this "Emergency" beach replenishment up and down the Jersey Shore

     Towns up and down the Jersey Shore have a 6-month green light, also called a permit waiver, from the NJDEP to do the work needed to bring the beachfront towns back to pre-Sandy conditions. Some of that work will be to return the sand to the beaches that washed up along the boardwalks, roads, and properties along the shore. Today at near low tide I decided to try my luck at the end of the outgoing tide. Post Sandy the structure along the beach holds plenty of water at low tide with chest high sloughs just feet from the beach. I tied on a sand eel pattern in black and worked a few cuts and bowls that looked more than promising. After a while I figured the pictures I could get from today would be more valuable in the future than a striped bass caught today.
     In Bradley Beach workers are removing the six feet or so of sand that got pushed up along the boardwalk and trucking it closer to the beach where foot by foot the beach is being raised and extended seaward. It won't be long before the new structure, that Mother Nature made, will be altered by the replacement of the sand. I have been anticipating good surf fishing with the "new" beaches, the only problem is the bait and fish haven't came in close enough yet.
     I saw some birds working out a-ways today and I believe that the sand eels are around and that there are fish on them. I am hoping to get out in the boat in the next few days and see if we can get into them. In the meantime I'll keep plugging away, not literally of course, at the beach while are still in prime shape for what's left of the 2012 fall run.
   

11.27.12 Nice quick to trip to Atlantic City, took a look but didn't wet a line

     I left a slow beach bite up in Monmouth County hoping to maybe wet a line in Atlantic City and pick up a striped bass as the fishing has been a little more steady down here. Last weeks NE blow dirtied up much of the Jersey Shore's coast, bays and rivers. Well, the Absecon Inlet remains the same even after a few good days of a strong W wind. I got down to what was left of the boardwalk at the foot of Oriental Avenue just a few blocks from the new Revel Casino. You could tell that Sandy had hit this area pretty hard during her stop just about a month ago. Most of the area was yellow- taped off but I made my way to the water and found it well, close to unfishable. It was Yoo-Hoo colored and I just couldn't bring myself to throw flies- that coupled with a waiting lunch at Angelo's restaurant on the other side of the city in Ducktown- and I was on my way after a short walk and a few pics.
     After lunch my wife and I stopped at Atlantic Antiques Bookstore on Atlantic Avenue hoping to find a book on fly fishing or fly tying. After some help and searching by a store employee they found a book titled "Fishing with Ray Bergman". I collect old fly fishing books and for $5 this would fit in just fine.
     As always, the Borgata was great- rooms newly redone, Noodless restaurant a two night favorite, free comedy club show, comps for Bread and Butter, and some great dealers and company at the blackjack tables. We lost about  $100 dollars between us over three days with me at the blackjack table and my wife at the Sex and the City slot machine.

Now it's back home, and back to the start of some great fishing till Christmas!

11.25.12 Off to Atlantic City with my wife for a few nights

     Heading down with the wife for some rest and relaxation, a little time at the tables, and to scout the Absecon Inet. Hopefully I'll hit the jackpot and land one of those South Jersey bass.

11.24.12 I'm sorry, but I laughed so hard so many times I have to share this

My favorite line is, "It's called sisque...."

11.24.12 Saw some real good signs...but no fish this morning

     Got down to the water in the dark hoping the early edd tide would produce best. I started out with the beach and rocks to myself and loaded a black Snake Fly to tempt some striped bass, hopefully. I made my way out to the end of the rocks and made a few casts letting the fly move in the rip as I high sticked it along. There was an E swell and as I watched the waves approach I knew I was 1) going to get soaked, or 2) swept off my feet. I felt the spray first then the bucket of water soaking followed by the strength of the water as it washed around my ankles. Luckily I was still upright. As I turned to walk back to land I noticed Joe fishing the pocket behind me.
     I think I first met Joe two years ago when I noticed him on the rocks and pulled my camera out and starting shooting. We fish the same waters and spent many a late night last winter catching stripers together into February. He's a fly fisherman and tyer too. This week he managed a real nice 34" fish that I saw a picture of this morning.

34" bass from this past week       Joe Pheifer photo

                          


     We were both a little cold this morning, especially me after the shower, as the 52 degree water temps and the 39 degree air temps, coupled with the 25 mph W winds penetrated our clothes directly and indirectly.
     The tide was right, the time of day was right, I think the flies were right.......but, a lack of bait and fish were what was why there was no bite. Joe did manage a small one that unbuttoned at his feet. Later on we both agreed that the water was off color to stained probably from the sustained NE winds we've hand for the last week. It should take a few W wind tides to clear things up.
     BUT, what was great to see, was the birds. There was good bird action going on 1-2 miles off the beach. It was reminiscent of the bird action I saw last fall coming out of Barnegat Inlet. Sand eel kind of bird action. It lasted steady from first light till a little after sunrise, and then it more sporatic.
     This week looks a little windy, but at least the wind is coming from the right direction. Below is from NOAA-

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM EST THIS MORNING THROUGH
LATE TONIGHT

TODAY
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KT. SEAS 4 TO
7 FT...BUILDING TO 6 TO 7 FT THIS AFTERNOON. MAINLY IN E SWELL
WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 12 SECONDS.   

TONIGHT
W WINDS 25 TO 30 KT...DIMINISHING TO 20 TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 4 TO 7 FT...SUBSIDING TO 3 TO 5 FT AFTER MIDNIGHT.
MAINLY IN E SWELL WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD OF 11 SECONDS.   

SUN
W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO
4 FT. 

SUN NIGHT
W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS
2 TO 4 FT. 

MON
W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 KT. SEAS 2 TO
3 FT. 

MON NIGHT
W WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT. SEAS
2 TO 3 FT. 

TUE
NW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT...INCREASING TO 15 TO 20 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. SEAS 2 TO 4 FT. A CHANCE OF RAIN. 

WED
NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. A CHANCE OF RAIN IN
THE MORNING.  
 

11.23.12 Fished great looking water without a bump

     I thought that the sea would give up a few bass this morning, but it didn't. Beautiful water coursing through the new structure along the beaches. Outgoing tides are a pure joy to fish. At some places you can just cast and hold your fly and let the current do the work. You just have to adjust where you want it in the water column.

    I saw a ton of boats going north early this morning, I wonder if they marked fish, or more importantly bait.

11.22.12 Thankful for two and three year olds today

     I saw flag and stuffed fisherman on the last remaining pier of the recently destroyed Ocean Grove Fishing Pier. Someone had affixed two signs below it, "Down the Shore" "Everything is all right". For many down the Jersey Shore, things aren't alright, but they are getting along and moving forward. There is still so much work to be done to get peoples lives and livelihoods back in order. Today I am thankful that my entire family and I lives are intact and we didn't get hit as hard as others. At the same time my heart goes out to those affected then, and still today.

     

    This morning I got out on the mid ebb tide and it was a beautiful morning at the inlet, on the rocks, and along the beach. I covered a lot of territory and didn't have a bite until a couple of two and three old stripers made my morning by grabbing my fly in a deep trough just feet from where I stood. I have noticed that most of the fish that have been caught since the storm, although most undersized, have been fat and healthy. I'm not sure what the fish are on since i haven't seen steady signs of bait, although at times the birds have been active picking in the pockets and diving out off the ends of the rocks. 

     With the wind sitting down a little bit the last few days it's a great time to get out and check out the new "normal" of our local beaches. Mother Nature has pretty much erased the beach replenishment or beach "nourishment" as it is now politically-correctedly known as. There are sand bars, troughs, cuts, and rips along almost every beach. That can extend your fishing time as more water, and the fish, hold and stay around on the tides. Enjoy it now because the NJ DEP has given the green light for towns to do "whatever" they want for 6 months to get their beaches and beachfronts back to pre-Sandy conditions. That will mean pushing a lot of sand back into the structure along the beaches.

I have an opening for tomorrow so it's "Black Friday Bassing". Tomorrow is looking good for an early start so 6am-10 am walk and wade is $200 for one angler $250 for two. Includes coffee and breakfast, rods, leaders and flies- just bring your waders and you can be in the mall by noon! 732.261.7291 or colin@theaverageangler.com

11.21.12 Great day in Union Beach, and those "Dam Mormons"

     Great day in Union Beach. Started driving around looking to help and found lots of crews of contractors full steam ahead either demo-ing or starting the rebuilding process. We did find this home on Park Ave in need of some helping hands so we jumped in. Dave, the homeowner, is disabled and has had a bunch of groups and individuals lending a hand. As I approached the home I wondered why the area at the curb was clean and a big pile of debris was just outside the door. I met with a woman from the Calgary Church was working at the home and she said her group had put the stuff to the curb and "the, um, well, the Mormons did it." So from that point on, several times an hour and anytime anyone would ask I would say, "It was the dam Mormon's". I say it without malice as they, and several other in and out of state religious groups, have been boots on the ground and working hard for weeks.
So we spent hours either loading stuff into a dumpster which was across the street or making a new pile on the curb for the town to take.
   

     Further up the street I found two homes that have become a dropoff point for clothes donations and people would frequently stop and get out and look for items they need. A fair warning to those not affected by the storm is displayed on a fence.

     Union Beach really got hit hard. Just about every bay front home and business was destroyed. Below are pictures of Brook Street, which Flat Creek runs alongside coming off the Raritan Bay. Flat Creek runs all the way up to the PNC Arts Center and during Sandy and the surge it flooded and just swallowed up homes on either side of her for blocks upon blocks from the bay. Below is the foundation of a home on the north side of Brook Street, the home is gone, and the boat didn't come from the street. 

It was great to help out, sorry Paul that I missed you before I left.