04.18.19 Skunkfecta......

     Was dying for the boat to be ready today. Had all the boat gear in my truck and stopped by only to learn.....next week. Gave it a go- Raritan, well Sandy Hook Bay, out front, and the Delaware......zilich, nada, not a tap.

     There's fish to be had, just not getting them. Below is a pic of one of the big girls that was caught, and released, in the Delaware River today. Now that is what I am looking for! Actually I don't think I would be able to land it with the current river conditions on the fly. Sadly, the river is just starting to

settle down after last weeks rains, and more is scheduled for this weekend. Below are the current conditions that I am following. Gauge height was coming down from 15 feet yesterday....thats a lot of water. 

04.17.19 Sums it up....

     Got this from a friend. Guess it says it all. Hopefully boat will be ready tomorrow for a quick run. If you're ready so am I. Call or text to get out- of course fly only and catch and release too.    

           
                   

04.16.19 A little over there and a little over here....

      Started the day unwrapping the boat and dropping it off at Gateway Marine in the Highlands for spring commissioning. Tune up, new water pump, good overall check and should be ready to splash by the end of the week. Fishing has been real good for the boats so its a good time to go. Now most anglers are using shads and some plugs so its not game-on-fly fishing but the fish are in the bay, and some out front, so it could be a fun trip to go on the hunt. Call or text 732 261 7291 to set something up.

      Since I was in the area I checked out the bay but the honking west wide had white caps and rough water in the Rarity, not to say they don't chew in snotty weather. I decided to go inside and check out a river where there was protection from the wind before it went more north. Fish for 1-1/2 hours on the outgoing and had great conditions (when not in the turbines) but couldn't find a bite. Water was a bit off color and there was some salad here and there but I was hoping to break the seal of the season. 

     I knew the tides in the Delaware were favorable and I had good timing, but with the recent deluge of rain I figured it would be high and off color, with occasional trees coming down the river. A quick 50 minute ride and I was in the water hoping some bass were seeking refuge in an eddy and were hungry. It was high, and way off color, and there was debris floating by. Below are the USGS tables from today in flows and turbidity. I didn't care, learning a new fishery, so I have to put my time in regardless of conditions.

     Fished for about an hour hoping a Deceiver would get a bass hugging the bank......noe, stuck continues. Can't wait till it drops and gets a little more clear. Tis section is running at....59,000 + cfs.
On the way home found some cool fishy art so I stopped to make some cool pics. Back at it in a day or so.

04.12.19 First good scout trip....

                                                          

     First time out for a scout on the Delaware. Found some good spots, talked to some good guys, now just have to put a lot of time in and figure out tides, flows, turbidity, and signs of bait and fish. I made sure I got my New Jersey fishing license which allows me to fish both sides of the river. On the Jersey side the season is "closed" from April 1 - May 31 below the Calhoun Street bridge, however, across the river, the season is open and you can keep a slot fish from 21-26", or close to that, during the Jersey closed season. Doesn't seem like it makes sense to me but thats the regulation.

     Its back to the remembering that I'm fishing a river and backcasts do matter. Of course the higher the tide the less room you have behind you.

     Above is my new "home jetty". A little different from the Jersey Shore but its as close to a groin was I could find. High tide is high here, with a current tidal range of 10 feet, which fluctuate with the river flow. That's 10 feet between tides, so it goes out quick and comes in quick. When your on this "'groin" the water is waist high when you are out there on the high tide, a little different then the shore.

    So far I have fished dead low, and full flood, in the dark and at first light, ad it full sun. Haven't had a tap just yet, but I'm enjoying the process, one day I'll go tight.

04.11.19 I guess I have new spring striper "home waters"......

     All I have to is look out the front windows of my house in Titusville and I can see the Delaware River through the trees. It may be only 1,000 feet from my house but I'd have cross River Road and then swim across the Delaware and Raritan Canal to get there. There are access points a mile each way and the Trenton Makes Bridge is 7 miles downriver from the house.

     The bulk of my Delaware River fishing has been way, way up river at the start where the West Branch empties from the Cannosville Reservior and the East Branch from the Pepacton. Over the years I have smallmouth and shad fished far more south between PA and NJ.

     The Delaware River is one of the highest producing spawning ground for striped bass, behind the Chesapeake and Hudson Rivers. There are several factors that affect the spawn such as water temperature, salinity, and quality. They say, kind of like in others rivers and bays, and the ocean too, that 50 degrees is the switch....well looking at the below USGS chart we are at that point.

     I remember in 2012 I was on assignment for The New York Times about striped bass fishing in the Delaware at Trenton. I made the below images of a sure fire way to catch them, saki rigs catching river herring and then live-lining them. You knew the fish were there when the boats would formulate a line below the piers for The Trenton Makes Bridge. The river herring are now protected so you don't see as many anglers out there or at least using a snag and drop technique.

     The Delaware River is tidal up to Trenton so, like the ocean and bays, tides can affect the fishery. Now this little intro comes with zero, none, zilch, actual striped bass fly fishing on my part. I know guys from here that grew up fishing here and I see them down on the beaches and jetties, they, of course know far more than I do. But, exploring and learning something new is exciting to me and I look forward to wetting a line, maybe as early as tomorrow. 

First I have to remember to get a NJ Freshwater fishing license though......

04.09.19 First real time out......skunked

     So I find early season is best, well first when the fish and bait are around, but second when the water has warmed over the mudflats from a good days sun. Today I had my window and is was cool and cloudy all day and just as I was making my way to spot number 1 the heavens opened up. Had a ENE wind with the incoming tide. Hit spot #1 and thank God I didn't park in the lot because when I was coming out it was locked. I spoke with a guy who did park inside the other evening and got locked in and had to get a $50 ticket in order for the police to open the gates and let him leave. That night he said he caught about 50 shorts, "So $1 a fish ain't too bad".

     Spot one didn't produce for me or the handful of guys that were there. Since I'm out west now I thought about going GSP north to the Turnpike to Route 1......but this was my night to fish. I headed to spot number 2 and joined about 50 of my striped bass friends, some from NJ and others from across the pond. Again nothing for me and nothing for the guys to my right and left but I spoke with two guys and each got one, one a keeper. 

     And in an effort to really catch a fish I hit the river and the end of the incoming and the flip of the tide. Casted for an hour amongst the tons of happily flipping bunker. Two other guys there the same time and came up blank also. One did say the night before a 20 inch bass was taken.

     And to not sound like a no-fish-complainer the fish are here. Those guys that are fishing smart.....like tonight ......after a hot and sunny day should do well. Also the boat guys are on them, maybe too good. I heard a lot of "conservation" during the winter but I'm seeing a lot of dead bass pics from the head boats and charters on their websites and social media. Below Capt Jim Freda and his mates found the bass out front. Capt is owner of Shore Catch Guide Service and has boats and trips going now.

     I should be in by April 20th so drop me a line or a call if you'd like to give it a go on the fly. 732 261 2791. I'll also be wetting the drift boat in the Delaware River near Trenton so if you'd like a shot at that we'll set something up. 

03.28.19 Wrong tide and time but nice to get out....

      Busy spring as school is winding down to the last month and the lease is up for the apartment in Red Bank. The weather was supposed to be nice and although my window of opportunity put me on the water around 8 am and on the low tide it felt good to find my gear in the basement, put on the no-leaking Simms waders, and give it a go. 

     Found a few guys soaking clams and worms and they were enjoying just being out than catching. I found the bar that came off the flat and worked the area for about 45 minutes before heading in. Action has started to heat up in the bay for the die hards. Mostly smaller fish on the beaches but guys out in the boats are finding marks. These fish tend to be bottom hanging and looking down thats why bait makers, bunker chances, clams, and worms, do better than flies early season. 

     One thing I remembered while out in the water, remember, if you are like me and have a stripping basket set-up for the bay and beach make sure you grab the right one. I grabbed the one with holes, which isn't perfect when wading up to your waist. The water intrusion just make the fly line float and adds resistance when shooting line out of the basket. This week we should see a warm-up and the low er tide mornings will make the flood tides onto a warm muddy bottom better for fishing in the afternoon. Enjoy!

03.27.19 Almost time.....

    And so it begins. I grabbed the above picture off social media of an early season schoolies that fell for a clam. Its usually bait that gets the early worm, with worms one of the baits that gets the early fish eating. The bay is starting to heat up and the bunker have already started to invade with early reports of bass following them in. 

     Last week we had a huge bunker kill in the Shrewsbury as either the bigger fish or seals had chased the large number of aunt bunker in and depleted the oxygen levels causing them to die. Below is a grab of the water temps in the Raritan Bay in Keansburg and I like to see that we are almost at 50 degrees depending on the tide. Tomorrow I might have a shot at getting the waders on and giving it a shot. It will be nice to just walk the sand and make some casts in the western part of the bay. 

03.01.19 Rivers and bays are open......

    It's time! Now the rivers and bays are open so early season striped bass fishing has begun. Above is the first of the year legal bass taken from the Mullica River and weighed in at the Absecon Sportsman's Center on March 1st. Guys our soaking worms and clams will have the first shot at the fish and in a few more weeks the fly anglers will get their shot. 

     There seems to be a growing population of anglers realizing the poor numbers of striped bass out there and are at least considering catch and release. Below is a screen grab from Facebook showing what happens when commercial anglers find the fish. I still don't know how the species survives and the with their heads in the sand can't see that something has to be done regarding responsible harvesting. I say, 'Make it a game fish".

     I'm gearing up for the spring ready to take first timers and experienced anglers alike out for some fun on the sand or on the boat. The goal isn't to just catch fish, but to learn the sport, improve you casting, learn about the species, and have fun. Call 732 261 7291 or email me to book a trip. School's done in April and I'll be brain free and ready to fish. 

02.18.19 Happy Birthday George.....

     So living about a mile from the place where George Washington crossed the Delaware enroute to The Battle of Trenton....we are all about George out here. We're enjoying the day off from school and work and the near 50 degree day. Looking forward to getting out there and the requests for my fishing schedules are starting to come in.

     I'll be doing walk and wade and boat trips starting in April so call 732 261 7291 to book. The particulars on the trips and pricing are on my website HERE

02.09.19 Striped Bass Stock Assessment news

     No surprise to most of us who fish without our heads in the sand that the Striped Bass Board of the ASMFC has determined according to the 2018 preliminary benchmark stock assessment that the striped bass stock is "overfished" and that "overfishing" is occurring. We have all seen the decline of the striped bass numbers over the years, with a marked decrease in the last five.

     While the naysayers point to the the Cape Cod Canal fishery and a weeks reports from the Captree fleet as proof "there's still a ton of fish around" they are stupid thinking this fishery is sustainable. Every dead fish is one less.....hundreds are hundreds less......thousands are thousands less.

     New York is taking some steps to help out, as I guess is Maryland. NY is trying to eliminate purse seine netting and banning reduction boats of bunker and Maryland is allowing 20 inch fish to be taken if charter boats continue with the mandatory circle hook use.

      Recreational guys are killing striped bass more than commercials, although the finger pointing and denials from both sides laughably continue. Poaching as always is on the rise...with mostly slap-on-the-wrist fines given for abusers. Now, every now and then an angler gets made an example and gets a few thousand dollar fine......but never gets cross prosecuted, like not for immigration status, but  will for child support payments or other warrants. Enforcement is a joke, the system, not the officers who do their best everyday.

     We continue to make strides but I still feel to little too late. The annual striper slaughter tournament put on by On The Water has gone the extra mile from to catch and release to negating the need for weigh ins......I like that move.

     It's early February, winter has been mild, hopefully remains the same, and spring rolls around sooner than later. The only problem looking forward as the bays and rivers are closed to angling is that soon the bunker chunk cold wether early season charter captains will be anchored up in the bays, specifically Raritan, to feast on the big females and smaller males, that are trying to make their way into spawning rivers for an easy take fishery. I say catch and release until June 1st except out front......that will save a lot of striped bass, or at lest give them one more shot at reproducing before making it to the dinner table.

Thanks to Capt. John McMurray HERE and Capt Paul Eidman HERE for staying involved in the fight and keeping us all in the lop.

01.24.19 Happy Belated New Year

     Well, and maybe I am speaking too soon, but I'll take this winter all year. As I write on January 24th its feels about 60 degrees out at 645am with some wind and rain around. I haven't fished and there has been no first 2019 bass for me although the die hards were out the first few weeks and have a few on the board.

     Right before the New Year Joe was out and landed this nice 26" fish that was on the sand eels. 

     This weekend The Fly Fishing Show returns to the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center Friday through Sunday January 25, 26, and 27. Its always a great show, especially for newcomers to the sport, to meet the legends and pros, watch some casting and fly tying demos, and pick up some gear or fly tying equipment.