After about a year and a half without rain yesterday we finally got some. Adding to that it looks like we'll be getting hit with our first nor'easter this weekend. I know Bill Wetzel out in Montauk is licking his chops in anticipation.
The question is is this a great storm to kick things off or is it an early storm to kick you off the couch and go fishing? My thoughts? It's still early. I think it's a week early. The Captree Fleet is still catching sea bass, bonito and albies. If the big bass had cleared Montauk and hit the South Shore then maybe you'd have a shot around Sandy Hook. There's been no reports of anything going on in the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn of Long Island.
Always there or moving under the radar? Chuck Many was out a day or so ago and found them. His caption said, "Like clockwork. Right on time". So he believes this week is moving week. And that may be true for fish hugging the bottom moving south, ready to pick up a drifted eat as they migrate. For the shore anglers? Not so much, but that's why this upcoming storm has the possibility of getting them all juiced up and maybe coming in for a meal.
As far as coming in for a meal? I haven't heard of any bait "push" yet. When I was down there the other day there was nothing at my feet and no birds looking and picking. The ocean temp in Belmar is 69 degrees, that's warm.
So plan your fall harvest Saturday and get out there in the snot on Sunday morning before the football games begin. If it's not the storm, at least you'll be out there.
PS- No more Beta word stuff, looks annoying.