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!
Awesome September weather rolls on! With schools back in session the broader area is significantly less congested and fishing is just as good, if not better! The mullet run continues strong and the beach, inlet and bay are bustling with well rounded variety.
Tune in my latest fishing report video from this afternoon…
With the mullet run in full effect here are some NJ Mullet Run Tactics for fishing right now!
For specifics on other approaches right now take a look at my previous report blog from 9/5 (link below) where I detail solid suggestions on targeting inshore hard tail pelagics (false albacore, bonito, spanish mackerel), back bay blowfish, spot and weakfish as well as a couple options for the surf. There blues, kingfish and fluke on the beach. And some big fluke as Dave Werner and his class showed us! See the report video for details.
PSA1: The beaches are opening (some already are) to 4×4 access. Stay tuned for a detailed LBI 4×4 Beach Buggy Access Info blog coming in the next few days.
PAS2: Oyster Creek dredging which started in mid August continues, but is schedules to wrap up any day. The work is being done to clean up the shoaling in the Buoy 38 – 40 area in the western area of Oyster Creek Channel. Boaters have run over the dredge pipe so if you are unaware, please slow down and proceed with caution. The dredge monitors VHF 13 if needed hail.
PSA3: Another round of beach replenishment is coming to LBI this fall. Equipment is already moving into position and sand will be pumping most likely later this month. First on the south end, Beach Haven and Holgate, and then up to the north end; Harvey Cedars as well as some of Loveladies and North Beach. I started writing a blog on the topic of beach replenishments a couple years ago which I never finished. Earlier this summer, when I learned about this fall action, I resurrected it but haven’t found time to complete. I’m hoping to find some time and post sooner than later. Maybe before the end of the year. Be on the look out.
PSA2: The Ship Bottom Wawa is currently closed for renovations. It is scheduled to reopen on Friday October 4th. If plan be is hit the 7-Eleven just a stones throw away… think again as it closed in the fall of 2022. Plan accordingly.
The New Jersey Mullet Run is a distinct segment of Jersey’s Fall Run. It’s the starter fluid that fires up the Shore’s inlets and beaches. As summer winds down the days get shorter, less sunlight and cooler nights get the air and water temperatures trending colder and the weather starts to turn. This transition it when things flip on and the Jersey Mullet Run comes alive.
The run can be short, so get after it and strike right away when the mullet start moving. Some of the fall’s best fishing can take place during the season’s first couple Nor’easters so surf anglers should be comfortable, ready to fish and able to capitalize in stormy conditions. It’s also important to point out that Mullet Run Tactics can be effective even when the mullet run is over.
There are basically two different NJ Mullet Run Tactics than anglers can choose… Bait Up & Soak or Pack Up & Plug!
Bait Up & Soak
Mullet can range in size from finger muller (small baits ranging from 3-5″) up to corn cobs (large baits weighing a pound or more). Cast net your own bait or buy fresh / frozen from the bait shop. Mullet can be fished a variety of ways; whole, chunk, strip.
A classic skewer style mullet rig is the most popular way to fish a whole mullet in the Jersey surf. These have a 1/0-5/0 size double hook which has has a slot for the rig’s stiff wire skewer to be attached or detached. This allows the hook to be fixed at the tail of the bait which is where bluefish tend to strike. Some of these rigs also have a float added for attracting color and also bring the bait up off the bottom, away from the crabs and gets it to swim in the current.
TIP: When rigging be sure to slide the mullet back down and either settle the hook as deep as possible into the bait (as shown in the photo above) or put one of the two hook into the tail. Be sure to always have at least one hook exposed for best hook ups.
Other popular rigs are the classic bluefish chunk rig (shown above with a half of mullet chunk) as well as the Doodle Bug, Fire Ball Rig and a Hi/Lo or One Drop rig. These rigs can be used to fish a whole mullet, a chunk of mullet or a strip of mullet. Below shows a strip of mullet fished on a simple hi/lo rig with 3/0 hooks which is perfect when small cocktail blues are present. These rigs will also catch fluke when cast and slowly retrieved off the surf.
Mullet is awesome fished live on a plain hook and it can also be deadly fished live off a popping cork on top or a small egg weight on bottom. It all comes down to what the situation calls for.
Pack Up & Plug
Plugging (casting lures) during the mullet run is very effective because mullet tend to swim in tight to the beach and they are a small-medium size bait. This makes it east for anglers to match the hatch.
Match the hatch!
Size: 3-5+”
Profile: Big head for their size
Colors: White, Silver, Blue, Grey
Movement: Distinct v-wave,
Depth: Tends to hang around the surf line in shallow water
Mullet move in a unique way, in schools on the surface, commonly in tight to edge. Their wide nose puts out a v-wave on the surface. Some perfect matches are wake bait – metal lip swimmers and Red-fins as well as floating poppers, Bomber Wind-cheater, light swim baits and darters.
Rather than diving into specifics here , I’ll reference a detailed blog on the best mullet run lures. For more on top producing fishing lures for the Jersey Shore Mullet Run check out this blog article…
A lot of game species chase mullet. The main game here are striped bass, bluefish, fluke, weakfish and occasionally speckled trout and redfish. Yup Jersey surfcasters get a mini window each year.
School sizes striped bass that are mostly made up of residents striped bass that have hung around the area all summer long. There’s also a better class occasionally with fish in the 30″ but rarely in the 40″ range during this part of the run.
Bluefish love mullet and get active during the run. Commonly small class ranging from the year’s young (snappers) ranging up to cocktails in the 2-4# range and occasionally there’s times where bigger blues can show up to the party.
The 9th Inning of fluke normally coincides with the mullet run. It’s one of the best time to fluke fish the surf and inlets in search of large class fluke.
Fishing the jetty’s is a great option to find exiting mullet. But if creeping the rocks… Be Careful!!! Rocks are slippery but there’s more to consider. This time of year the region gets long period tropical swell energy. What look like a calm flat ocean can sometimes have very spaced out inconsistent wave action. The lully set waves can easily catch an angler off guard.
September is here! With cool dry air and easterly swell in the water, it sure feels like fall! The new moon was Tuesday and it marked a new stage in the season’s progression, an exit from summer. I’ve shared recently that the bait is staged up and abundant. Some is moving out front; peanut bunker, bay anchovies, spearing, soon to be mullet!
Yesterday might have been the best weather day of the week for those looking to get our front and fish the ocean via boat. However areas of the bay in the leeward side of the island and sod banks will offer protection. The surf will be a little churned up but that isn’t a bad thing for surf anglers. The second half of this week, we will have onshore winds and easterly swell. A large slow moving low pressure system offshore will keep the conditions sloppy and fall like. Expect 3-4’ surf on the beaches Thursday – Friday – Saturday, then fading Sunday. The tropics are waking up so all should keep an eye and ear out for developments.
Tune into my latest LBI Fishing Report video…
Current Fishing Info – What’s on tap?
My morning charter yesterday wasn’t bad today. We had a fun trip starting out with quick action with small blues on light tackle. After a few minutes everyone aboard caught a few and we went to hunt albies. It was sloppy with the north easterly blow making it more challenging but we founds some not far from Barnegat Inlet. Since the trip’s main focus was fluke we didn’t spend too much time with the albies before running out to the Barnegat Light Reef. First drift we had a 20″ keeper, a handful of shorts and some perky sea robins. The fish were not cold to the touch, so the bottom temperature was not cold. That was great news and most likely the reason the bite was active for the rest of the trip. The cold bottom was a curse for most of the summer season.
We finished the day with three keepers up to 21″ in about a three hour fluke session drifting the reef. Somehow I caught all of the keeper. The best action for me was on the jig. I was using a Magictail Round Head Jig 6oz Glow baited with 8″ Gulp Grub, rigged with a naked 6″ Gulp Grub teaser above. Salmon (orange) and Fire Tiger (orange /chartreuse) were best. Pink shine and white glow, my two favorites over the past couple of years didn’t come close in terms of productivity.
September Offers Lots Of Good Fishing Opportunities
We are in the final stretch of the fluke season, but in my opinion, some of the best weeks of the season. NJ summer flounder (fluke) season closed on Wednesday September 25, 2024. There’s still good fluke fishing right now in the bay and inlet. The west side of the bay as well as the main thoroughfares linking the open bay to the inlet are great spots to fluke fish all season long and they are producing right now.
With water temperatures hovering around the 70 degree mark, both in the bay and the ocean offer an active bite. With regards to the bay even on both side of the tide.
Summer Flounder
This is not just a boat game. Surf and jetty anglers get good late season fluke fishing too. The inlet is a great area to fish as all fluke departing Barnegat Bay in route east funnel through. These same fish can staged up along the sand beaches feeding on shellfish and other baits (fluke love mullet) in the pockets and wash.
Tautog
There’s action but mostly smaller critters. Anyone looking to go is just about guaranteed to get into an active bite but go into it knowing you will need to earn a keeper size fish. While the water is still warm in addition to the tog, there are sheepshead, triggerfish and porgies as well as smaller class of black sea bass on nearshore structure. We expect tog fishing to only improve from here. Once colder weather and water settles in the tog bite will be prime.
False albacore, bonita and Spanish mackerel as well as mahi are present in the nearshore – inshore – midshore waters. If wanting to hunt these fun and fast small pelagics feeding under the small quick moving bird plays you have to use light tackle. The only way to effectively use small lures which are needed to match the hatch, is to fish light line and a light outfit (rod/reel) to long cast.
My three favorite and best producing lures this season and previous years…
Color is the least of my concern. I’m most particular with the weight and size/length. Fish the smallest possible. On calm days I use the smallest sizes (3/8, 1/2, 5/8) and these are fished on my lightest rods. When fishing windy days I will go up to the 7/8-1oz sizes. I would suggest staying away from anything over 1oz and larger than 4″ unless you are fishing a heavy rod or looking to fish deeper in the water column. I refrain from both in this scenario
With regards to rigging, light line and leader is a must. I prefer 20# braid with a 20# fluorocarbon leader which connect via line to line knot (FG, double alright, uni to uni). I tie a perfection loop at the end of the leader and then loop on the jig. There’s no hardware needed and I can quickly change the lure if needed. I’m not a fan of jewelry (terminal tackle hardware).
In The Bay
Blowfish and weakfish are active in the bay and should offer good fishing all month. Also fluke (mentioned above), blues and striped bass are on tap.
Blowfish are a fairly easy approach; anchor up in 7-10′ of water in the heart of Barnegat Bay, drop a chum pot down and then a rig (small long shank blowfish hooks – Blowfish Rig) baited with clam and/or small pieces of Fish Bites. You very well may catch spot, croakers and some spike weakfish.
Targeting weakfish is a little more challenging. They are occasionally caught by accident/bycatch when targeting fluke or blowfish. To best target them you’ll want to anchor up and chum with live grass shrimp.
Fishing for blues and striped bass is best done earlier or late in the days with light tackle utilizing plugs in the 3-5″ range. Expect this fishing which was really great all summer to continue if not get better as we exit summer.
On The Surf
Kingfish, fluke, blues and a stray striped bass are surf side opportunities. Fishing a small hook rig baited with live bloodworm or Fish Bites is best for kingfish. Catching fluke on the surf is easy use a Gulp baited jig, with or without a Gulp teaser or a simple hi-lo rig baited with Gulp. Fish slowly yet actively working the pockets of water in the cuts and troughs. Blues will hammer any type of lure, but I suggest fishing an epoxy jig or a 4-5″ Jerk Bait. Striped bass and fluke will also eat these two.
Chris Moffitt shared the first surf side striped bass we have heard about in a weeks. Bass have been active in the bay and inlet all summer long and we are looking forward to an increase of linesiders in the suds as the mullet run rolls on.
Speaking of the mullet run, here’s mullet run blog from 2018 that is just as valuable today as it was then.
The 70th Annual LBI Surf Fishing Classic kicks off October 5th with the opening day seminar at the Ship Bottom Fire House 9am. Registration has already begun so now is a great time to sign up and score the free goods while supplies last! Be sure to participate in the main event as well as the Surf Master Catch and release division. If you have questions or want to learn about getting into surf fishing and the event I welcome you to stop by the seminar. See you there!
Since my last post, Ernesto gave us a weekend full of waves and that has petered out into the new work week. Monday’s full “super” moon gave us extreme tides/currents which will slowly wane. The water temperatures have been somewhat stable and warm making fishing more active and consistent.
The past couple days we have had a taste of fall with some northwest flow and cool dry air. The outlook shows somewhat fair winds and fair seas. So now is a great time to get out and enjoy what’s left of summer… Let’s go fishing!
On the fishing front, we are still playing the same old record with a new addition. There’s a variety of species from fluke, bluefish, striped bass and weakfish to tog, sheepshead and triggerfish. Recently we’ve had some larger (then the common summertime cocktail 1-3 cocktail blues) size bluefish. ALSO… Albies were cracking the past two days! Now is also prime time fluke fishing with great opportunities in the bay, inlet, surf and ocean.
Just a heads up the tropics look clear however towards the end of the month things very well may get active again so keep an eye out.
Prize Categories: 1st – 5th Place Single Heaviest Fluke: (Entrants may take a only a single place) 1-2nd Place Single Heaviest Fluke Female Angler (18+) 1-2nd Place Single Heaviest Fluke Jr Angler Ages 12 and Under 1-2nd Place Single Heaviest Fluke Jr Angler Ages 13-17 1st Place Single Heaviest Fluke Land Based/Kayak Angler
$1,000 BONUS DRAWING: A random tournament entrant who weighs in a legal sized fluke (18”+) will be selected to win $1,000 thanks to sponsors: Fisherman’s Headquarters, Jingles, The Boatyard and Beach Haven Yacht Club
Entry Fee
Private Vessel: $225 (Early Bird Entry $200 Before August 10th) Land Based/Kayak Angler: $60 (Early Bird Entry $50 Before August 10th) Miss Beach Haven Angler: To Be Announced
Single Entry Calcutta
Private Vessel $300 Single Angler $60 Calcutta Payouts: Single Entry Calcutta Makes you Eligible for the following prizes 1st and 2nd Single Heaviest Fluke (1 Entry can win both places in Calcutta) 1st and 2nd Combined Three Heaviest Fluke 1st Place Heaviest Sea Robin
The good weather window this past week has come to a close and a big powerful swell is here. Hurricane Ernesto slammed Bermuda early Saturday morning and tracked northward. It is a very large somewhat slow moving storm that has sent the greater region large long period swell. The forerunners showed up Friday evening and all day Saturday was pumping on the beaches. Expect the same all weekend and into the early part of the work week.
Once things settle down we are looking forward to picking up where things left off with good fishing in the area.
The past week things were significantly better than the week before. Ocean fluke was sharping up with the reefs and wrecks producing Many areas have an abundance of sea bass as well as ling and most snags have tog too. The sea bass have made fluke fishing in some areas frustrating. We really wish we had the two fish summertime (July & August) bag limit like 2022. Just a reminder NJ Black Sea Bass closes at the end of August. Fluke is open until September 25.
In the bay there are plenty of spot and anglers targeting them are starting to catch some blowfish. Maybe we get a strong late summer showing? Still plenty of fluke, bluefish and striped bass in the bay. Crabbing and clammer are also to great options.
In the inlet anglers are catching tog, fluke, stripers, sheepshead, bluefish, striped bass and weakfish. Take your pick just be careful out there. Its not suggested to fish the outer portion of the jetty while the swell is in town.
We have a full moon on Monday so expect extreme high tides. Not sure that we will get the extreme lows too. Be on the look out for the mullet to start moving even more than they have during this next lunar cycle. Ocean water temperatures are warm ranging in the upper 60’s to low 70’s.
The ocean has settled down from Debby’s moderate swell and wind event. Fortunately the waters have warmed up and with it, fishing has picked up. We have a great run of tranquil weather this week. Now is the time to go fishing and enjoy summertime fishing the waters of Long Beach Island. With the lighter winds and also west winds, be sure to have some quality big spray on hand! Our two favorite very effective all natural bug repellants are Captain Rons and Incognito Mosquito.
Tune into my latest fishing report video from Sunday night….
The warmer inshore – nearshore waters are promising an awesome second half of August. Since this past weekend’s blow the action has been good, significantly better than the cold water lockjaw fishing many experienced at times the past few weeks.
Summer flounder aka fluke hang around the LBI surf, inlets and bays all summer long. Right now is prime time to target them from the beach or boat. Store staffer Mark Finelli Jr found solid life on the Surf City recently but nothing keeper size. Work at it and a keeper to two are in there. Open sandy bottom areas (clam beds, inshore lumps) are great places to find fluke this time of year as well as the many wrecks and reef sites.
There’s tog, triggerfish and sheepshead around most of the near shore structures. Lance Kim had a great day fishing the Barnegat Inlet rocks, landing five sheepshead.
Kingfish are biting in the surf on live bloodworms, FishBites. It doesn’t hurt to fish a combo, a small piece of both real and artificial. Just don’t crowd the hook point. Using the same small hooks/rigs and bait as surf fishing for kings will yield spot and croakers on the bayside. There’s also a shot at snappers, blowfish, spike weakies and sand perch too. The spot and croaker fishing has been phenomenal recently using sabiki rigs tipped with FishBites. Now’s the perfect time to load up on spot for the fall run and they are also great baits right now for striped bass and doormat fluke!
Store staffer Frezza and Grey got on some light tackle striped bass fishing the bayside. They caught all their fish on 3” NLBN lures. Fish Heads Alumni Bill Bassant caught this striped bass (below) fishing light tackle in Barnegat Bay.
Weakfish are being caught by anglers who are dialed in and targeting them. John Bonner caught this one the other morning.
Screenshot
Public Service Announcement
Be on the lookout for a swell from an offshore storm coming up this weekend. Boaters transiting the inlets should always know the tides and current windows for safe passage. Outgoing tides with the addition of powerful ocean swells can make for a treacherous ride.
August offers a good variety of fishing opportunities to saltwater anglers fishing the Central Jersey Shore, Barnegat Bay and the Long Beach Island area. During this time of the year the waters have a large variety of species from the fluke, bluefish, striped bass and tog to weakfish, sheepshead, triggerfish, kingfish and more!
Tune into my latest fishing report update video for more information about what’s biting…
Here in the first week of August on the south central Jersey Shore fishing front we have the same situation as most of July. Chilly ocean water temperatures and warm back bay temps making for radical temperature swings through the day’s tide cycles. This is much more prominent and important to track and consider when fishing areas closer to the inlets. A good steady bite can go from hot to cold in a matter of minutes. The opposite can also play out.
Due to the upwelling’s chilly ocean waters anglers on the water have had a marine layer most mornings which some days persists through the day. This is advection fog. All boaters must be aware of it and know how to safely navigate the waters. Fog is challenging and will bewilder any novice operator. For your safety and the safety of others, if you don’t understand and know, don’t go out!
How long will this continue?
I see a short term break with onshore winds Wednesday and Thursday. This will hopefully offer a rebound in surf temperatures as onshore winds winds push the surface waters into shore creating downwelling (opposite of upwelling, cause of the cold). BUT! I don’t think we are totally out of the cold. Stiff southerlies are currently in the forecast for Friday and Saturday, then west south west Sunday and Monday. At that time there looks to be lighter winds in the forecast. But a lot can change especially with the remnants of Debby coming up the eastern seaboard. Keep your fingers crossed for anything but hard southerlies day after day and we will be ok.
The cold waters have resulted in a great summertime striped bass fishery this summer. There’s bass throughout the bay chasing peanut bunker (what’s left after many large large fish kills in lagoons due to low oxygen) and mullet.
Local caught fresh mullet is back in stock! Weakfish, fluke, bass and bluefish… they all eat them!
More recently fluke fishing has been better at times. I expect now until the end of the season to be strong. But anglers need to play their cards right in order to capitalize. Fish deeper areas that are consistently cold or fish shallow areas where the fluke will lay up to warm in the sun. These deeper areas could be the main channels (ICW and thoroughfares) in the bay as well as the many holes and sloughs. These shallow areas could be the many pockets in the flats or edges and table top shelfs along a channel edges as well as the rolling sandbars in the surf. Also bluefish are around the bay, inlet and surf spicing up the action.
Kenny Huff
The bay is loaded with spot and they are aggressive for their small stature. Small hooks baited with just about anything will get bites. Worm or artificial worm options are best. Many who are looking for blowfish are catching a bunch. There are plenty of areas to fish for spot from LBI’s landbased bayside access points.
Weakfish are also on tap with some nice ones around. Mostly spikes in the mid-bay with some better size class fish in the classic weakfish honey holes. Reports from the north end and south ends (around the inlets) are promising.
Owen Alquist
Fluke and tog at the Barnegat Inlet are good. There are plenty of both however primarily shorts. Some anglers are working and finding keepers. This is a prime time to find big fluke near the Inlets as they making their way out of Barnegat Bay. It seems that tog fishing has started off strong with quantity but not quality. Maybe once we progress into the month of August we see a wave of fish move in and take up residence along the jetties. Sheepshead, trigger fish are also here.
This end of July fishing report wrap up cover a quick overview of the current fishing in and around the Long Beach Island and Barnegat Bay waters. The fishing during the month of July (as well as June) was dominated by cold water temperatures. Fishing activity and success has been very dependent on working through these challenging conditions to trigger strikes when fish for the most part have been lethargic. The past week we had a warm up of water temperatures; however in the past 24-48 hours we have seen a break in the warming water trend. How low does it go? How will the fishing action be effected? Only time will tell. Right now it doesn’t look like the 30 day low will be touch so that is great news. A little more on this topic at the end of this post.
Here is my latest video report from Monday afternoon…
Currently on tap in the local fishery…
Fluke fishing has ben more active recently in all of the areas; surf, bay, inlet, open bottom ocean, reefs, wrecks. This is the time where the inlet, beaches in the vicinity of inlets and the ocean get going with quality size fluke. This year has been a weird one so it’s hard to say how things will play out. But there is no denying this is my favorite time of year to be fluke fishing. It’s a prime time and we should have a great shot at quality fluke fishing from now to the end of the season (ending Sept 25th). Yes the bay is full of fluke, primarily smaller sized fish but there are keepers if you work and weed through them. On a recent charter we earned two keepers, both on Gulp. We had more fish on live minnows but no keepers. When the water was colder the live bait excelled for me.
Below is a photo of a recent weigh in from Gavin Black… a 10.5# summer flounder.
The bay (north, mid-island and south) are loaded with spot. These make for fun light tackle fishing from the many bayside bulkheads, docks and crabbing piers found on Long Beach Island. Now is the time to load up the pen with premium fall striped bass baits. Use small hooks baited with live bloodworms (in stock now) and/or FishBites Bag’O Worms and/or a great new product Bait Fuel GO2 Bloodworms. With this same approach an angler can fish the surf side and catch kingfish which are in the suds. With the great spot activity it is surprising that more blowfish aren’t being caught. Yes there are some around; however, not as strong as past years. There are some spike weakfish in the bay too.
Bluefish continue to race around the bay, inlet and surf. At times mini blitz feeding frenzies pop up. These cocktails are chasing peanut bunker, small mullet, spearing and bay anchovies. These same baits the resident striped bass are feeding on. Speaking of striped bass… The striped bass fishing over the past month has been great. We always have a summertime striper fishery but this past July was one for the record books, both the quantity and the size class. Tons of light tackle fun! I’ll chalk it up to the chilly water temps.
This chilly water has also kept a good body of tog in the coastal waters.
Tomorrow August 1 NJ’s Tautog Fall Season opens!
Anglers fishing the Barnegat Inlet jetty have been reporting tog all summer long, especially those looking for sheepshead (at the right location and time there are a few sheeps to be had). Store staffer Max was hunting sheepshead but all he caught was tog, one was 6#! That is a really good size one considering the time of year. Game time for tog! Tomorrow, August 1st NJ’s Tautog Fall Season opens!
August 1- November 15th: 1 Fish Bag At 15″ minimum size
Chart below shows the past 30 days of data at the Barnegat Inlet tide and temperature gauge. This shows the water temperature fluctuation from the outgoing bay waters (warmer) and the incoming ocean water (colder). The more radical the swing from highs to lows the further the bay temp is from the ocean. Moreover the large swings portray upwelling events as they come and go. It shows a large part of July had cold ocean water due to upwelling.
While at the ICAST 2024 show I saw cameras and product reviews going on in every which direction. Each time I passed the Daiwa booth I saw angler after angler high sticking on their demo machine. In disbelief, I forced myself to walk by what the industry considers the best of the best professionals. On the last day of the show, I had a free window at their booth since our Daiwa rep had to leave early. After reviewing and tinkering with all of their great products I took some time to talk to Daiwa engineer Takuya Oda in from Japan about rods, reels, drag and technique. After our talk he said “shoot video please”! This is for the high stickers out there!
Proper technique and form for landing big fish on light tackle is not all about brute strength. Fish more efficiently and effectively with proper technique for MAX pressure with less effort! It’s important for anglers to learn and understand how to maintain control, increase endurance all while protecting expensive fishing gear from damage.
In the video Daiwa’s super accurate 1/10th pound scale with on screen display really allowed for some interesting looks. I played with the unit for some time. I really had my head spinning when I tried to put the same effort in at different angles. With one approach it was almost 10# and then same effort high sticking was 3.5#. Wild! Not only does the high sticking angle not put pressure on the fish it puts the rod in jeopardy every time. The key that most don’t get is utilizing the power stroke, mid and back section of the rod.
With regards to slow pitch fishing, the rods are soft and parabolic so the angler must use the drag and gearing of the reel as well as only a small portion of the rod’s butt section as the lever since the rest of the rod is soft and folds over for working the jig. As shown in the video at about the 50 second mark there is a good amount of pressure put on the fish with the under the arm approach.
Remember, I could not crank the reel and I could not (was not allowed to) adjust the drag or thumb the spool. So I could have put significantly more pressure using any of those three, but that wasn’t in the cards for this situation. It also was not what Daiwa was trying to convey with their display.
As far as proper technique, I would say whatever is the most efficient approach is the right approach. To each their own. What I have found over the years of fishing and not being a muscle man… technique is everything . Brute strength hardly ever wins. From what I see on the water, in photos and videos TOO MANY times anglers are mistakenly working against themselves and the tackle rather then focusing their efforts on the fish.
While the rod and reel on the display (machine/gauge) was a slow pitch style outfit, what the engineer and I wanted to share is how high sticking is a Major No No! It risks breaking the rod and also doesn’t help the angler. It actually hurts by putting less pressure. That is because the rod tip will never have more power than the mid and butt section. We also wanted to share that there is a proper way to rest during a long battle, while still maintaining maximum pressure on the fish but little exertion from the angler.
One other point I tried to make was how the angle and positioning of the angler changes the pressure put on the fish while not changing the effort exerted by the angler.
I really wanted to link up a stand up rod, popping rod, classic 7′ inshore rod and a surf rod to demonstrate proper technique with proof from the gauge/display. But it too was not in the cards.
All of the above is information on fighting fish without belt and harness. It would be a disservice to leave out some info on stand up fishing. So I dove back into my fishing catalog archives to share some great info from the 90’s. Here is stand up fishing info from Dennis Braid founder and innovator at Braid Fishing Products. Think Braid Stand Up Fishing Belts! Dennis first made a rod belt in 1983 and over time, took it to another level. He was one of the best stand up anglers and not a monster. Actually Dennis was a small guy but used technique to get the job done.
Stand Up Fishing
Aboard almost all sportfishing boats, you’ll find Braid fishing belts and harnesses or another brand of product utilizing the innovation from Dennis Braid. Nearly everyone utilizes the the fish-fighting tools and accessories that have made the stand-up big game angling possible. Here’s our selection of fish fighting belts, butts and harnesses.
Back in the day skippers and fishermen together learned was that parabolic glass marlin rods and primitive harnesses of the time were nearly ineffective. Too much brute strength was required to grapple with the giant yellowfin, limiting the game to body builders or salty masochists.
Demands spurred innovation and pioneers first adjusted to shorter rod lengths. Then reels with powerful lower gear ratios and two speed gearing. Certainly huge advancement in spectra line technology, and innovative bucket harnesses.
Each element, in progression, meant the fishermen could actually procure a mechanical advantage. The new shorter rods could gain needed leverage on huge fish, especially when they were ‘straight down’ below the fisherman. The lowering of gear ratios was only one step. The movement to two speed reels provided either speed or power on demand as needed, giving even more control to the anglers regardless of physical stature.
By full utilization of the angler’s body weight, spreading out of opposing forces at the pivot point, and using all various elements of rod, reel and manpower to the fullest mechanical advantage, is the true science of fishing.
Braid’s Pro Tip: If you fish 30-pound tackle or heavier,always use a gimbal mounted rod. With the rod butt inserted in the pin of your rod belt, all your efforts are put toward managing your fish, not ‘white knuckling’ the foregrip as the rod twists and turns in your hand. And you don’t need new rods, just replace the butt caps with gimbals.
Fish Fighting Technique
You can break stand-up fighting techniques into two types: simply hip pivot or knee pivot. Hip pivot methods are associated with 50# class gear and lighter (belts and kidney harnesses), while the knee pivot method is related to the 80-130# class tackle (with bucket harness and butt plate gear). Of course, you’ll use the hip pivot at times while in your bucket harness, but only when a huge fish is not exerting its full force.
Dennis prefers this version of the hip pivot method. Stand with your feet a reasonable distance apart, knees bent. You want the weight of your body over your heels, but not so much you are truly flat-footed. You’ll want your weight distributed just enough so you can move left or right or back on the balls of your feet. In other words, you must have balance. With your left hand comfortable and high on the rod’s foregrip and your arm fully extended, keep your arm fully extended, keep your back reasonably straight. When you “pull” on the fish, you do so by pivoting at the hip. When you lean back, turn your body slightly to the left, the force is lower on your body, not up in your arms and back. The key to maximize your power is to grasp the rod as high as possible on the foregrip. In doing so, you are as close to a direct line pull as is possible with rod and reel.
The same effect can be maintained with a kidney belt and harness, as long as the rod is adjusted to approximately a 45 degree angle to the water This gives you enough play to lean forward, draw back, short stroke or lengthen your stroke as needed. Of course, when you’re connected to a harness, you won’t need your left hand to do any pulling on the rod. It rests on the reel and distributes the line on the spool while cranking.
Once you settle down on a truly giant fish with a Braid Belt and bucket harness (Power Play or Brute Busters), you’ll be able to exert maximum force on the fish and still be there at the end of the fight to tell about it. With the fish on the run, all you need to do is get into a semi sitting position, leaning back against the force of the fish. This way you counterbalance the pull and don’t over-tax your back, arms and legs. With your feet about 24 to 30 inches apart, knees bent, with one foot slightly forward or behind for balance, you can raise the rod by squatting. As you elevate or begin to stand, you take quick half to full cranks on the reel to gain whatever line you can. Repeat the squatting-to-lift, standing-to-reel pattern over and over. The bucket method allows you to put a ‘finishing’ amount of pressure on the fish close to the boat for tagging or gaffing.
It takes practice to perfect the method and it is vitally important to keep your knees braced firmly against the gunnel of the boat. Its crucial to have rod harness properly adjusted. Set up with your knees slightly bent. You want to have the rod at about a 35 to 40 degree angle so when you lean back, your rod raises and gives you lifting power. A rod adjusted too high does just the opposite. The key is to exert maximum force, with a minimum of effort… it’s what stand up fishing with Braid belts and harnesses are all about.
The past few weeks have offered some of the best summertime striped bass anyone could ask for! Prime time fluke fishing season isn’t great but anglers are catching at the right tides and locations using the technique and baits they want. Bluefish continue to make their presence known offering light tackle fun at times in the bay, inlet and surf. Kingfish, croakers and spot round out the local panfish menu.
Anglers are meticulously tracking water temperatures to best approach each outing. In the peak of summer, cold water is the last thing anglers should be battling but that is the cards we are dealt. [For more info on the chill check out this recent post.] Fortunately the radical upwelling has subsided some so we expect fishing to improve.
The past few weeks have offered some of the best summertime striped bass anyone could ask for! Prime time fluke fishing season isn’t great but anglers are catching at the right tides and locations using the technique and baits they want. Bluefish continue to make their presence known offering light tackle fun at times in the bay, inlet and surf. Kingfish, croakers and spot round out the local panfish menu.
Tune in to my latest fishing report video, recorded after a fun Monday morning fishing charter…
Inshore & Surf Fishing
As the water temps tick back up we begin to see a rise with the inshore fishing front. The fluke fishing both on the beach and bay has been better this week than the previous few.
Fish Heads store staffer Grey had a limit of fluke which has been hard to come by this year. He was fishing the North End of the Island at the Barnegat Inlet using 6″ Pearl White Gulp Jerk Shad rigged on a 1/2oz Magictail Big Eye Jig. We’ve also had numerous reports of keeper size fish being caught in the ocean on our local wrecks and reefs fishing 45-70ft of water.
Plenty of kingfish are cruising the surf and being caught on both Fishbites Bag O’ Worms and live bloodworms. Fish the bowls and cuts with baited small hooks and you’ll find them.
Update 7/25/24 2PM: Carl Hartman from American Anglers reported a good productive morning fishing the LBI surf. He said, “I had a solid hour bite with a mix of kingfish and spot.”
A few cobia are plodding the local bunker. There too… whales and a couple TUNA! Yes, a 82″ bluefin tuna first beached in Surf City yesterday chasing bunker. Check out the video here. It then later washed up in Harvey Cedars. One lifeguard shared that bunker, whales and tuna chicks have been present. Seems like some fishy waters… How many more tuna are near shore? This time last year we had some nearshore too.
Midshore / Inshore Fishing
It took time to get going but the inshore and mid-shore fishing has ramped up. Both yellowfin and bluefin tuna are hammering jigs, casted poppers and crashing bars and bally on the troll.
The inshore / mid-shore lumps and some wrecks have bluefin ranging from school size up to 80″+ hammers. Some big 100# yellowfin have made for some epic late July tuna fishing. Areas like the Little Italy out to Lilian, Resor out to Atlantic Princess, Chicken Canyon and Triple Wrecks have had fish.
Fish Heads store staffer Grey caught this one a couple days ago on the jig fishing about 20 miles offshore.
Jigging and casting poppers, stickbaits and Ron-Z / NLBN straight tails are effective and on slow days boats are picking fish on the troll too. Side trackers and splash bars as well as the classic Joe Shute or Hoohead over a ballyhoo is hard to beat. Season in and season out, they are top producers.
Offshore Fishing
The canyon tuna fishing for yellowfin and bigeye has been good over the past week. Some nice water slid into the Hudson where guys have fill the fish boxes with yellowfins trolling, jigging and popping. A little ways north of the Hudson a few guys were catching bigeyes on the troll up to the 130-200lb range. On the bottom fish front, solid Golden and Jumbo Bluelines have been caught around the Hudson and Toms canyons in the 350-500ft areas.
About a week back, Tyler Wilk of E-Fish-Ent Custom rods weighed in a 23lb Blueline that was only 8oz off the world record on a 250g jig.
There’s also been a few Swordfish around with daytime fishing seeming to be more productive. Jeff Warford of Wolfpack Tackle landed two solid swords over 100lbs fishing in the daytime along with a mess of Yellowfins and a few Mahi.
Beach Haven Charter Fishing Report
Fishing report for the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association by Jim Hutchinson Sr.
The fishing in the Long Beach Island area for the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association is entering its typical mid-summer selection of fish. There is one surprise in the mix, however. After several years of absence, croakers are making an appearance once again.
There have been multiple reports of croakers in Little Egg Inlet along with various locations in the bay waters. Although these fish are on the small side, they provide great drop and reel action, the keeper sized fish make for great fish fries. This bay action is a terrific way for youngsters learning to fish.
Captain Max Goldman who works on both the “Star Fish” and the “Miss Beach Haven” has noticed these croakers in the bay and adds there are also large numbers of small fluke and baby black sea bass in those areas. On his trips to the nearby artificial reefs in the ocean he has been seeing a pick of larger black sea bass and some keeper fluke.
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” reports his trips will now be in the ocean as his bay action for keeper fluke has slowed. He has been running two trips daily for the past couple of days with his anglers averaging 20-30 short fluke each trip. His recent trip with the Michael Futterman crew managed to box a pair of solid keepers to 22-inches. Captain Brett especially complimented Jakob for a “phenomenal job on the jig.”
Captain Gary Dugan of the “Irish Jig” had a charter for fluke this week. He reports everyone caught fish. Unfortunately, even though there was steady action, none of the fish were big enough to go in the cooler.
Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org
609-494-5739 
