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.
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| 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.