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LBI Fishing Report – Sept 2, 2017

We couldn’t ask for a worst afternoon on the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend. We should all be out fishing, having a great time with cold drinks, enjoying family and friends. Instead there’s a monsoon! Tomorrow (Sunday) looks to clear up, offering a nice second half to the day. Then Monday backs it up with sunny skies allowing the end of summer celebration with grill and chill reminiscences.

Once done having a relaxing time this weekend, it’s time to open an eye to the forecast models. We all need to see where Irma is tracking in the coming days.

Here’s some recent fishing reports…
Crabbing and clamming is and has been very good this year. Jeff Sprague stopped in today to grab some bunker. He said the crabbing continues. “Last outing we had a bunch of quality size males! The family will enjoy our Labor Day Crab Off right, crackin’ and picking jimmies.” Other reports came in too. Don Brown reported, “the best softshell season in years! Come get some at the Greenhouse Cafe… breaded and fried, grilled or sauteed before they are gone!”
Don also reported lots of bait and snappers in the lagoons. Others reported bait out the ying yang too. Baby bunker, spearing and mullet are roaming around. With the fall like weather as of late it will be interesting to see when the move will take place.

NJ Fluke Season Is Coming To An End

Only a couple days left in the NJ Fluke Season! Let’s make the best of it. The fluke are here in the bay, inlet, along the surf and on the reefs. We got word Friday that the Garden State South was producing. Seems like the last couple of weeks that has been the hot spot. With the sporty weather some anglers are staying inside and finding fish. Here’s Mike Hovan with a nice pair he caught recently.
Here's Mike Hovan with two nice fluke.
Here’s Mike Hovan with two nice fluke. 
Some anglers in the shop today took advantage of our End Of Fluke Sale – 25% Off Spro Bucktails and Berkley Gulp Baits. This sale was first released to our email subscribers and is now open to all blog readers. To take advantage of this limited time sale, at checkout – you must mention seeing the sale post on the fishing report blog. If not already, be sure to subscribe (Go to our homepage, towards the bottom “Sign Up For Our Newsletter”) to get first dibs on,specials, sales and members only exclusive promotions.  Note the sale is live in our webstore so you can order now.  Free Shipping Over $75, Otherwise $2.99
One angler loading up on bucktails and Gulp shared this morning report, “We were out in the ocean fluke fishing and got the beat down! It was rough. Super sloppy and tight together. We tried our best but only managed a couple shorts.”
Local angler and shop regular Steve George of the Berkeley Striper Club has been on the fluke (landbased) all season long. He recently posted this photo of some carnage caused by the voracious bluefish that are in our waters. “Here’s the full story on the chomped fluke… Hooked up and started reeling in like I’ve done hundreds of times this summer. During the retrieve, halfway in my rod doubled over. It felt like it got snagged hard on something. Turns out a big bluefish pounced on it. I was able to actually fight the two of them in. Approached the rocks I could see a 30″+ demon eye bluefish hanging off the end of the fluke. He broke the surface and then bit down, turned and swam off. Pretty amazing visual and a site to see! You just never know what you might come across and see on the water.”
Here's the fluke that fell victim to a hungry bluefish.
Here’s the fluke that fell victim to a hungry bluefish.
Here’s the Friday fishing report from the Carolyn Ann III, “Fishing was decent today. It was a little rough in the morning but it smoothed out and the afternoon was beautiful. Lots of action with shorts and some nice keepers. Only a few days let, so get them while you can!!! Now to till the end, 3/4 day trips departing at 8am returning at 2pm. Wednesday Sept 6th starts the one four hour half day trips for porgies and croakers.”
One local gill netter stopped in to drop off a small load of fresh bunker. They reports lots of sharks in the area, “Spinners, blacktips, hammerheads, browns and sandtigers.In the mix with the bunker and blues we caught a pair of nice size cobia as well as some chub mackerel.” When asked about albies or coakers, “A few coakers here, expect more of them soon. They usually hit the beaches around now. Any day the fat alberts could show.”

Still reports of redfish floating around as well as some news of weakfish. The redfish reports seem to be focused around mid-island while the weakfish are coming from the west side of the bay.

What’s the word with local dredging?

Here’s an update on dredging from Jay Mann’s “The Fish Story” Column   at the SandPaper. Jay shared news on the Little Egg Inlet and Double Creek Channel dredging as well as LBI beach replenishment projects. Be sure to check out his article.

It has been too long! We can't wait for the dredging to begin.
It has been too long! We can’t wait for the dredging to begin. Photo: Pamela K Spaugy

New Product – ODM Surf Belt

From the makers of awesome surf rods and great surf bags… check out this new arrival. The ODM SurfWave “Quick Release” Surf Belt! This new surfcasting belt features a unique design with an extra heavy duty build. Check out this Limited Time PromoBuy one ODM Surf Belt (yes it comes with the carabiner clip and small utility pouch) and get a FREE Daiwa SP Minnow Lure.

The ODM SurfWave Surf Belt is the ultimate surfcasting wading belt. It's fully adjustable and easy to put on yet super secure and heavy duty.
The ODM SurfWave Surf Belt is the ultimate surfcasting wading belt. It’s fully adjustable and easy to put on yet super secure and heavy duty.
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Author: FishHead.Greg

A Long Beach Island native with life long experience fishing and navigating the local waters, Greg is a distinguished Master Captain (the highest qualified operator license), holding a US Coast Guard Masters 50T Near Coastal License with Towing Endorsement. Raised in and now managing his family's bait and tackle business, Fishermans Headquarters (Since 1962, The Saltwater Fishing Bait & Tackle Experts) Greg is daily immersed in fishing. He is the Chief Contributor of FishingLBI.com (Long Beach Island's best fishing report blog) as well as the Admin for the shop's social media pages (on Instagram and Facebook). Be sure to follow!

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