Windy & Cooling Water
It’s late October on Long Beach Island and the wind is blowing. It’s blowing all week. What else is new? Strings of unsettled weather has tied up boats for most of this month. The shorter days (longer nights) and chilly temps have dropped surf temperatures to around 60°F. The back bay is in the low to mid-50’s.
With the temp drop we have had a drastic change in the averrable species. As expected the warm water species skedaddled! Blowfish, Pompano and Kingfish rolled out! The steady small bluefish bite has faded as the mullet run wrapped up. A few stragglers may remain, but for the most part, the mullet migration has passed.
A coastal storm and gale are now in effect, bringing more rough surf and persistent northeast flow today, going easterly tomorrow (Thursday) and then westerly on Friday. The westerly, north -westerly flow sticks around for the weekend. Expect powerful swell on Friday (3-5’+). It lingers and fades Saturday (2-3’+) with much smaller surf come Sunday (1′ range).
Best Bite Right Now: Tog and Sea Bass
For anglers looking to stay active, the best bet continues to be blackfish (tog). Solid tog fishing at the Barnegat Inlet, along the rocks, bulkheads, and local docks with green crabs and sand fleas has anglers tugging on a mix of sizes. There’s keepers too.
Offshore bottom fishing is a great play when the weather allows. Sea bass and porgies as well as triggerfish are hanging around the deeper water structure. Recently the best action has been in the 90–100’+ areas. Most of the inshore reefs and wrecks have been hit or miss. There it will be a better pick of tog which will only improve as November rolls in.
Looking Ahead: The November Shift
While the surf bite is slow right now, the striped bass are not far off. November’s fall migration should fire up soon in the local waters. November is historically a month full of great fishing.
Some quality fish are staged up to out north off of Monmouth County. Anglers have been getting into some classy bass up that way fishing live bunker and bunker imitations. Think big plugs, flutter spoons and rubber swim baits.
As far as LBI beaches go, recently we have only heard of one local surf side striped bass. The 34″ over-slot was caught by Pat Gallon. Only other surf side reports are themed around no more kingfish, no blues and some pests… dogfish.
Until the surf comes to life, striped bass local to LBI can be found in the bay and inlet. JP stopped in the shop this week and reported great fishing in the bay this past weekend using Tsunami swim shads (rubber swim baits) catching under, slot and over size striped bass.
Gear up for the fall now here at Fisherman’s Headquarters open daily and fully stocked up with fishing rods, fishing reels, fishing tackle and we also offer full service fishing rod and reel repair. If not close by shop online at FishermansHeadquarters.com.
