Soft Plastic Perspective

Soft plastics are one of the best games in town for fall striped bass and shops like Fisherman HQ have a variety to put anglers on the bite. The mainstay of selecting the right lure depends on the type of bait the fish are feeding on. Striped bass are very opportunistic and aggressive feeders, especially during the migration as the need to fuel the migratory muscles and pack on calories for the winter drives the feeding. The use of plastics work in both the skinny backwaters, inlets as well as the beaches out to 3 nautical miles.

Spearing, anchovies, and smaller baitfish are mimicked perfectly by 3 to 4 inch Fin-S, paddle-tails, swim-shads, Zoom baits, and several Gulp baits. Depending on situation and depth 1/2oz, 3/4oz, and 1oz jig-heads will suffice for using these baits. When the fish are on larger baits such as mullet and bunker, the larger 5 to 6 inch swim shads will do. 1 to 2 oz weights or lure sizes may be needed to get down to the depths of feeding bass. Anglers can slow retrieve this lures or work them close to the bottom and when the bass are schooled – it’s usually game on for these types of baits.

If we get a run like last year, sand-eel impressions are also fantastic lures for migrating bass. These can be either added as a teaser or used as the main lure. Jigging metals with soft plastic sand-eel teasers work great when are bass feeding on these types of baits. There are quite a few manufacturers that have soft plastic sand-eel body types and these are an absolute necessity for anglers targeting November bass.

Next time your in the store, check out the soft plastic options to add to your arsenal!

Capt. Brett Taylor – Reel Reaction Sportfishing

LBI – Fishing Report (Barnegat Bay)

We have been averaging 6-10 keeper fluke per 4hr charter and now that school is out I’ll be running. 6 days a week. This year we will also run some shorter evening bay sunset and ocean sea-bass sunset fishing from July 1st to August 31st.

Our most recent trip had 10 keepers for the day: We were off Monday due to the weather – but Tuesday ran a double with regular client Bob Dodds and his two PA buddies. The guys had very tough conditions due to the rain last night. We ended with 3 keepers and only about 15 shorts. The afternoon trip fared much better with new clients from California Jeffrey Lambie and his son Arthur. We worked a few different areas and put 7 keepers in the box. The father and son team released a few other keepers, but what a difference from the morning. Great job by 10yr old Arthur at catching his 1st keeper fluke!!!

FishHQ has a wide selection of fresh and artificial baits which we have been using to consistently put clients on fish so check them out.

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ Reel Reaction Sportfishing LLC ~ 609-290-7709

reelreactioncharters.com

Reel Reaction Charters – Fishing Report

If you plan on fishing the bay, it’s best to cast net live baits and hit the inlet area. The fluke or summer flounder fishing in the area has been absolutely exceptional for us this year. In our last 3 trips, we boxed 35 fluke and all within the 5hr time limits. When time permits, we have been adding some blackfish action with quick 1-fish limits.

Currently, we have some weekday trips available in September for fluke and we will start running our 3 hour twilight skiff trips for Striped Bass, Weakfish, and Bluefish along some of backbay areas. These trips will focus on light-tackle artificial action with the potential for the NJ Striped Bass Bonus Permits.

October & November will be here before you know it for Striped Bass and Tautog!!

Currently, we are booking for September, October, November, and December. If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH. Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Reel Reaction Charters – Fishing Report

The bite in the backwaters has been exceptionally good this year with our charters averaging 6-7 keepers per 4 hour trip. We will start targeting the ocean fluke soon in our Parker Sport Cabin, but as for now we are staying in the bay with the bite going on. Our new 20 foot skiff coupled with the MinnKota trolling motor has been amazing on the fluke bite!

We were out Friday July 3rd and the Bob Reim charter boxed 14 keeper Fluke to 5 pounds. The bite slowed a tad for July 4th with the Ralph Rodio charter boxing 6 keepers, but rebounded for July 5th. With the Don McCoy charter hammering 8 keeper Fluke to 6 pounds. On most trips, we are releasing close or over 50 fish.

Yesterday’s action was an EPIC bite with Jerry Fanelli crew boxing their 9 fish limit in just under 4 hours and the afternoon trip was similar with John Wittlieb and his wife Jenna bringing home 8 keepers – one shy of another 3-man limit. Jenna lost a nice one, but they will be out again with me next week.

We have very limited dates left for July, but August has a much better mix of dates available. August is generally a prime month for the ocean fluke bite. If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE! It’s “no worries” fishing. Just come aboard and FISH. Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Reel Reaction Charters – Fishing Report

I have been off the water since Father’s Day (6/21/2020) as our newest crew-member decided to come 3 weeks early. Jakob “Jake” Sawyer Taylor was born 7pounds 1oz and 20 inches long. We are all a little tired, but doing well. I will be back on the water 6/30/2020 and will continue doing 2-3 trips a day until September.

Our fluke fishing in the backwaters has been amazing with 6 to 10 keepers per trip coming with regularity and we have been catching on both vessels. The skiff is a little more conducive/productive as we can get into less pressured areas which have been “loaded” with keepers.

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE! It’s “no worries” fishing. Just come aboard and FISH. Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Here are some pics of our recent trips.

Fishing Report – Reel Reaction Charters – More Fluke

We have been running charters nearly everyday and have been using our shallow water vessel to hit the extreme backwaters to find keeper Fluke to 6 pounds. 4hr trips have been averaging 4 to 10 keepers and our last 3 trips had 10, 9, and 9. So the Fluke fishing has been off the charts. The key has been finding the right water temperature for keepers to bite. This week we will start running 2 trips a day until September 6th, when school is back in session and we go back to afternoons and weekends.

We will start hitting some of these same areas for schoolie Stripers in the evening / twilight as this is when they come alive. I have to do some more scouting before we roll these trips out – these will be perfect for light-tackle / fly fishing. More on that in the future!!

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Fishing Report – Reel Reaction Charters – early June

First, I want to thank all of my return and new clients for waiting for the state to allow us to run trips and our phone has been ringing off the hook as we have been running everyday.. The fishing has been excellent as most of our charters are picking 30 to 45 Fluke with keepers numbers ranging from 2 to 6 keepers per trip. With certain tides on the skiff, we have been adding in some Striped Bass action and filling our Striped Bass bonus tags (24-27.99 inches). The new skiff has performed amazing allowing us to hit areas that do not get pressured.

On the ocean front, the Sea Bass fishing has been excellent as reported from local captains. Our Parker Sport Cabin is back up and running as we had a slight issue which was delayed our Sea Bassing – due to the slow COVID shipping of the engine part. We will continue to run everyday (2 trips per day on weekends) and starting June 15th will begin running 2 trips per day through September. With two vessels, we can target inshore to 30 miles, backwaters to 1 foot depths, and everything in between.

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Fishing Report – Reel Reaction Charters May 2020

I hope everybody is getting through COVID as we are in a holding pattern unable to run charters for March, April, and HOPEFULLY on a small part of May. The Tog fishing for April was absolutely outstanding as I ran Tog trips for my son, wife, and father. We released a good amount of fish over 9 pounds and tried to keep only males as the females have been busting at the seems with eggs. Striped Bass in the back, although many shorts, have been very fun to catch on light tackle.

We added a second boat for the 2020 season and beyond – this is a shallow water skiff able to go in depths of 7 inches, but offers an ultra stable platform. Special 3 hr and 4 hr trips will be offered along with a variety of pickup locations (Barnegat Light, Waretown, Ship Bottom, Barnegat). I plan on focusing mainly on artificials for Striped Bass, Fluke, Bluefish, even Weakfish and will offer evening charters.

I’m tentatively planning on running for May 15 (Sea Bass opener), but still waiting for the NJ Governor’s official “GO” for charter and headboats. Once up and running, we will be running 7 days a week from June 18 to September. May 15th to June 18th will be mostly weekends and the occasional weekday – Sea Bass, Striped Bass, Bluefish, and Fluke (when it opens) will be the main target species.

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Fishing Report 2020 – Reel Reaction Charters

White Perch Action:

It’s been an extremely mild winter, but I still can’t wait for Spring. I did have the opportunity to use the kayak and hit some of our southern backwaters for White Perch. Grass Shrimp has been the key for strictly White Perch – Bloodworms producing less Perch, but more Striped Bass. Areas in Beach Haven West might start producing with warmer winter waters.

WINTER Maintenance: For most anglers, this is the time of the year to do REEL MAINTENANCE and I have personally used FHQ for some of my reels as they offer great workmanship and ultra-fast turnarounds for reel servicing.

WINTER HAPPENINGS – Fishing Shows and Scheduling 2020 trips.

There are some potential new happenings for 2020: We are about to pull the trigger on a 19ft Flats/Skiff boat as part of our shallow water fishing fleet and mobile charters; AND we are in the process of adding another USCG licensed captain with a center console, among other things.

If our new skinny water boat is ready, we can hit the shallows for fly-fishing and light-tackle action on Striped Bass as we will be able to run in little as 7 inches of water

2020 SPLASH DATE

Our tentative splash date will be April 1st and we will be targeting Striped Bass, Winter Flounder, Bluefish, and Blackfish (State & Federel regulations dependent).

Booking note – Early July may be a little challenging as my son has a 5-day baseball tournament, but we will roll with the tide for that. Other than that – we are running 7 days a week from June through September.

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Fishing Report – Reel Reaction Charters

It has been another good couple of weeks of fishing out of Barnegat Light. We have been doing well on Striped Bass and Tog when we can get out due to the winds/weather. This weekend looks a little tough, but hopefully it changes. There was a very good Striped Bass bite this past weekend with both of my charters limiting on their slot tags and each trip averaging 30 to 45 Striped Bass. The sizes of the Stripers have ranged from 20 to 29 inches and almost all of action has been on metal jigs or plastic shads. I have a few “Tog only” trips coming up, so we are planning to hit some of my choice snags and will be using both white and green crabs. Our facebook page always has the most recent fishing reports…

If the Striped Bass are still around, we will continue to target them as our NJ issued slot tags expire 12/31/2019. Tog fishing is also an option and we have Green crabs and White Leggars (when available) are included on all Tog trips. Our Tog setups feature G.Loomis rods, Lamiglas, and St.Croix with fantastic feel and excellent backbone for muscling the big boys out of the wrecks. 

If the temperatures stay above freezing, we are planning to run into the New Year and having the heated cabin makes a world of difference. I have the following dates available: 12/21, 12/22, 12/23, 12/26, 12/29, 12/30, 1/4/2020, 1/5/2020 – only if the temperatures stay above freezing.

If interested in booking a charter, book through our site (reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709.   As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, bait, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709