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. 

                 

12.24.18 Interesting stomach contents from early December....

    So as a fly fisherman, well I guess most fisherman, you try and match the hatch, or at least have some idea what the bass are eating. Frank R. from down south was fishing the back bays in early December and caught a keeper for there table. He shared the stomach contents on Facebook after cleaning the fish.

     We see it ate some sand eels and what looks like a killifish or maybe a small weakfish?, not sure. But what I was amazed at was the amount of grass shrimp that were in its stomach. While I know crabs and shrimp are staples in their diets I wouldn't have guessed that in early December shrimp would be on the menu. I guess that shouldn't surprise me though as I heard that the two keepers caught along the Jersey Shore beaches this fall had a mix of sand eels and sand fleas in them. 

     As far as a report. Well, I am done two weeks ago. Here some guys here and there catching the 20 inchers depending on the day, time, and tide. If you are new here make sure you go to The Fly Fishing Show thats coming up in January. It'll feed the fix and break that long gap till April-May. 

12.15.18 Seven years ago.....

     I have to say thats one thing I like about Facebook. Every now and again an old post will pop up telling you about a post from days past. This one popped up yesterday of a cold outing from seven years ago this week. You can read the old post HERE. Funny thing is I wonder who the no show friend was, I bet Richie.

     And whats sad about that post is that guys were still catching fish, and keepers as well. If you look at the above picture its Deal back in "its hey day" when there was still a pier on Phillips and a place we called "The Hump". Lots of good memories and times there.

12.14.18 Well that's a wrap....literally

     I guess now moving forward I should plan on posting weekly. If people know there's a post a week maybe they will continue to come- so let's figure you should check each Friday- that's not saying there won't be more posts in between, but by Friday there should be something up. It will keep you into the game since "its over" now, and at least for fly fishermen, and it won't start up until April at the very earliest. In 2019 I'll be taking my drift boat in front of my house for some spring Delaware River stripers!

     On Tuesday I got down to Atlantic Highlands Marina and picked up the boat and brought it to Gateway. Within a day it was winterized and wrapped and ready for its new winter home in Titusville. I did hit the beach afterwards for about an hour and found no life. Water was high, annoyingly all over the place due to beach replenishment and then an angry Mother Nature who tries to take it back. You couldn't fish a trough with a fly rod if you wanted to. 

     Lots of white water that started at the lip and then rolled up the scarp to Ocean Avenue. So either you take a beating, have your fly washed up or left and right, or try and catch fish that are buried in the sand. Just for the record......I'm done for good for 2018. Quit number two I think.

    I am also done with school this semester!! Took my 4-1/2 hour final Thursday night. I'll still have clinical through the holidays but won't return to class until January 23rd.....then its only a few months until I AM DONE in April. Tossing around the idea of going right into a doctoral program. Any pause and I might just lose momentum. Problem is my student loans are up to $85,000 right now- not sure what Dave Ramsey would say about that.

      My buddy Paul from Reel Therapy was out yesterday and found some fish a little south. The weather is nice enough so while it might be "over" its still fishing and good for the mind and soul .

12.07.18 "I get fish with a little help from my friends....."

...okay so I pulled the trigger a little quick yesterday. After school drop-offs I hit the local beaches. Cold, wind blowing, not much protection from the NW. Didn't see much. My mission today was bring the boat from AH marina to Gateway for winterization, however the hitch I had from the camper, more on that later, was too big. Have to do that next week. 

Leif Petersen photos

     I hit up a few buds who said they were into them good at sunup. One on the fly rod the other using a spinning rod. So, still having my stuff in my truck, and realizing it just may a first light bite, I decided to give it a go. 

     When I got there there was a few guys fishing and I walked to fish alone. One guy walked down to me and caught at least a handful on a small rubber shad. I was using a chartreuse/ white sand eel and just when I thought about switching up I went tight. Nice fish, good fight, I decided to change up 

anyway. There was some whale action, with no birds diving, so my intention was to maybe entice a bigger, keeper sized, fish into eating. That never came about. I made a move and went back to the

sand eel imitation and found a honey hole where three came pretty back-to-back. The water on the ebb was pretty boring and after seeing Leif's first light pics I wish I was there. It was pretty but I bet pretty cold too. If this is it, which I think it is, it was a good way to end, at least getting a half a dozen to hand.

12.05.18 "That's All Folks......"

 .....Quit #1. I'm done. Season predicted just as I expected. No "peanuts in the back", no "big body of fish in Long Island".....what did happen was the sand eel bite that mostly would/will happen in Ocean County. So, and after todays finger numbing shot I'm done.

     Okay, maybe not, but I hope so. I usually quit three times each winter. Got down around 6 and met up with Leif. Nice 28 digress, wind NE, not bad surf, just no fish. I fished for a while and made stops at Long Branch (x2), Monmouth Beach, Sea Bright (x2), and the Hook (x3). Not a tap on the end of the incoming and a few hours on the ebb.

    The Hook looked the most promising as the birds were active both diving and looking. I feel good with being done, almost relieved its over. Ocean County is your best shot for fish now.....before that "big body" arrives.

12.03.18 Had some company this evening....

     Gave it a go on the end of the outgoing for about an hour. Couldn't find much water. Saw this dark "thing" moving long side me and turned and found the above friend sliding down the beach. Game, set, match.

12.03.18 Quick trip before nature called....

   

     Made the early trip from the west and got down to the water at 640. Beautiful water. Lots of it white. Outgoing tide. Big waves breaking on the trough. I lasted about 20 minutes before I felt that outing-killer-rumble in my lower intestines......later, got to go. I wish I was able to hang around and bet about 9am it was really good for the fly rodder.

     I spoke with a buddy who got five a little north before he had to go to work. At 55 degrees on December 3rd who can complain as long as there is something biting.

There was a little surprise, well a big one, when an alive bluefin tuna washed ashore down on IBSP. I wonder if it was in on the sand eels and got caught up on a tide or was sick or injured and just gave up. And more about big surprises is the beast caught down in VA, allegedly 75 pounds.

514 PM update- fish came in at 52 pounds 10 ounces. Trick photography and fake news.