LBI Fishing Report May 18, 2017

The Jersey coast is alive with bass and blues showing daily in the ocean and bay. The recent south winds did not offer perfect conditions but anglers worked through it and produced catching quality bass and bluefish. They are being caught from both the beach and the boat. We anticipate this to continue with prime time Jersey Shore fishing the next four weeks. Here’s some recent reports…

The surf has blues and bass cruising the suds. Anglers are catching fishing bait and lures. The bass seem to be getting larger (upper 40″ range) and the blues seem to be getting smaller but there are some racers mixed in. Sloane Endick got this bass of the LBI surf recently.

Store staffer Kelley went out after work yesterday and found some life in the dark. He locked into a good size bluefish on a NorthBar Bottle Darter.
Click here to buy Northbar Bottledarter Lures


Store staffer Dan D plugged for a couple hours in the evening. He found some bass plugging. He reported, “Who needs a boat when you can smoke them on the beach… persistence pays off. My exploring trip paid off big time.” Here’s his biggest.

 

The troll bite has been a slow pick but at times there’s signs of greatness. A couple have picked up fish live-lining too. Dan Rosetto got this one on the troll yesterday. He reported, “There’s bunker around. By the by weekend the snag might be good, if there isn’t 1000 boats blowing them apart.” We got a nice bunker delivery yesterday from our local gill net boat and news from them was sweet and sour. “Lots of bunker patches stretched along LBI and IBSP. There was an active whale the other day. The reduction fleet seine boats are actively working and pounding the bait.” Let’s hope they meet their quota quickly, skip town and there’s some bunkers left for the bass to set up and feed on.

Jeff Warford went out on the bay for an afternoon-evening session yesterday. He reported the blues were thick and active. “They were good size ones and lots of them chewing hard! We crushed them on plugs.” I was stoked to hear Jeffie got out and had a safe and successful trip. Our last outing wasn’t. Getting hooked while on the dock loading up puts a damper on a trip really quick. Thanks to Dr. Todd for the emergency help!!!

Eight year old Wyatt Spalding weighed in a 11.36 pound bluefish yesterday.

 

A local angler Tom shared this report, “I fished the inlet and it was kind of a dud. Not the usual elbow to elbow lineup and only a small handful of fish to be had. This certainly has not been the epic season as it’s been the past few years. None the less the weather was perfect and the smell of salty air makes it all good.”

Reel Reaction Charters – Last Minute Opening

The big bass are here and we plan on targeting them by artificials, live bait, and trolling.  I have been pretty busy with my son’s baseball schedule with less time on the water, but that is changing as his season is winding down.  With that, I was able to squeeze a last minute opening for Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.  With favorable ocean conditions, we would most likely plan on fishing for Ocean Striped Bass, but working the inlet is also an option.

If interested, please call/text 609-290-7709 or book through the website (www.reelreactioncharters.com).

Capt. Brett Taylor

Bass & Blues On Beach & Boat

Now that it has settled down more anglers are getting back out and reports are flowing in. The fish are on the chew both on the beach and boat. Here’s some recent reports.

Bass along the beach is getting better.

Fresh off the surf, John Murry stopped in the shop to get a new tip installed on his Lamiglas surf rod. While here John reported bass and blues on bunker. John said the fishing was good where he was on the mid-island surf.

Another angler was in and reported fun fishing with his son on the bayside, small blues.

The crabbing is red hot.  Customers are raving on the blue claws right now.

The Inlet was good yesterday.  Got word from a couple customers who had fun there on bucktails and plugs.

 

Some good reports today from the boat guys. We heard there’s bunker patches along the beaches of LBI and IBSP. Here’s a nice one from Mark Finelli of Laura Sportfishing. Mark reported catching a couple on the snag and drop today out of Barnegat Inlet. Looking to get out on the water with Mark? Give him a call… 8563416562

 

Paul Sowney Jr sent in this photo of a nice bass. Caught and released off the LBI surf yesterday.

 

 

 

Matt Polito reported a good day yesterday. “It was a nice day on the beach catching bluefish on the LBI surf.” Here’s a photo of one yellow eye.

 

The Grundens Deck Boss Boots are in. Stop by and check them out. One of the only made in the USA boot available. Retail $99.99

Hi Flier 38 lb Striper on Mojo Today

Here’s Bob Danyluk of Flemington NJ with a 38 pound striper that freight trained that white Mojo hanging out of his mouth. We were trolling in 60 feet of water off of Seaside today. 52 degree water, lots of bunker around.

Here’s the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH-Nhmf8_9I&feature=youtu.be

Going to get interesting. We have room on trips sailing every day targeting these big bass in the ocean and/or the blues in the bay. The weather is mint all week.

Capt. Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674

hiflier.com

Reel Fantasea Fishing Charters – Big Bass have arrived!!

As predicted the Westerlies delivered on the promise of “West is Best” with bigger bass making the mix to the already abundant big slammer bluefish!
Anglers aboard the Reel Fantasea scored Bass into the mid 30lbs range while employing Maja #4 Green spoons. Scaling down to the lighter spinning tackle utilizing various artificial baits continued to keep the rods bending with big slammers blues.
The week ended with the weather taking a steep tailspin with high winds and torrential rain but the wind has come back around the dial to the more favorable NW which should play well again into this up and coming week’s fishing. [finger’s crossed]
Looking forward to this week with the weather and the month of May continuing it’s progression!!!
Remember to visit us on Face Book and like and share us please.
Wishing everyone fair winds and calm seas,
Captain Steve Purul
Reel Fantasea Fishing Charters
609-290-1217

Soggy Saturday Fishing Report

In recent days the striped bass migration has arrived with quality bass cruising our local waters. Still the bluefish beat down continues. Boat and beach fishing has been great. Coming off the full moon we’ll have the spring’s (possibly the year’s) biggest run of fish in the next four weeks. It’s prime time!

While the weather is sour today the ten day forecast is ripe. We are stoked  for what the coming weeks will offer.

The last couple nights were great ones to be on the Island’s surf.  The conditions were prime (clean white water) with a nice gentle sweep. The fish were present and feeding! Here’s some reports…

Todd Luber reported a solid night slinging eight ‘n bait! We fished most of the outgoing tide till about 2:30. Four bass between Brendan, Matt and I. All quality fish in the 36 to 40″ range. I was lucky enough to beach three. Brendan got one. Matt arguable got one of the biggest blues we have seen this season at 18 pounds on the boga. Missed numerous others fish and several blues in the mix. Memorable night!

Yesterday Matthew Polito stopped in the shop, got a new set up and hit the mid-island surf. We got a quick review… “I love the new setup! Shout out to Greg at the shop for helping me gear up. The Tsunami Airwave Elite matched with a Penn SSV handles great. Thanks for helping me get on the fish last night!”

Buy the Tsunami Airwave Elite Surf Rod Here

Buy the Penn SSV Spinfisher V Here

** Remember, Sunday, May 14th is the last day to use code FHQ20 on www.fishermansheadquarters.com for 20% OFF all items on our WEB STORE ONLY! **

The crew here at the shop had a fun couple of nights. The night shift two days in a row have been good. The mid-island surf is producing! Blake got a nice bass on a metal lip last night. Willie, Kelley and I were into blues. Last night I walked into the same area I fished the previous night and morning (both were productive). First cast, missed a bite. Second, third and fourth cast each had a fish. It was a really consistent bite for about an hour then it tapered off to a slower pick. My MVP was a bone white Super Strike Rattling Swimmer aka Bottle Plug.

Jimmy Nacion reported a solid night Thursday, “Fish on! Both bass and blues on the mid-island beach. Steve-o and I has bass up to 35″ and blues up to 16 pounds. The Northbar Bottle Darters were the ticket. We also got them pulling on bait. At least 30- 40 fish between the two of us.”
Buy the Northbar Bottle Darters Here

Bass fishing in the boats has been good. Once the weather clears we expect fishing to be awesome. Anglers are catching trolling spoons. Here’s some recent reports…
Captain Mike Villanova of No Limits Sportfishing said,  “Yesterday afternoon we had the opportunity to take Keith Tindall from Jerry’s Diesel out for an after work trip. The northeast wind had the ocean sloppy. The Inlet was loaded with bluefish but we decided to stick out the conditions and try for a striper. We marked lots of fish but couldn’t get anything to bite. After about an hour we finally connected with a nice one, 48” for our first bass of the season!
David DiGangi sent in this photo and report… “I caught this 45″ bass on Thursday at about 9:30 am trolling a white #4 Bunker Spoon with a complete Tony Maja rig and wire line. We were just north of the Barnegat Inlet in 40′ of water.”
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Since 1984, the Bureau of Marine Fisheries has been involved in an intensive program of artificial reef construction and biological monitoring. Artificial reefs in ocean waters along the New Jersey coast provide a habitat for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, fishing grounds for anglers, and underwater structures for scuba divers. This past Wednesday, the famed ‘Perfect Storm’ rescue ship, the Tamaroa, was sunk off the coast of New Jersey to become part of an artificial reef that is enhancing fishing opportunities off the coast of New Jersey and Delaware. Peter Clarke sat down with Bob Bostock to discuss the sinking of the Tamaroa as well as New Jersey’s Artificial Reef Program. To listen to the podcast go to this link…

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Lighthouse Sportfishing Barnegat Bay Report 5/12/17

I just got off of Sedge Island, located on Barnegat Bay behind Island Beach State Park, after spending Thursday overnight into Friday with some of my AP Environmental Science Students. Sedge Island is rich in history.  An over 100 year old hunting shack has stood the test of time and weathered every coastal storm Mother Nature has thrown at it. Babe Ruth stayed at Sedge and it is without any doubt it is the pillar to which Ospreys and Peregrine Falcons have made a historical comeback after the detrimental effect of DDT which was banned in 1972. And it was one man, Pete McLain, who had the vision and determination to bring these birds back from the brick of extinction. Knowing that hunting and conservation could co-exist, it was Pete who had the name of the New Jersey’s Departmental of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish & Game name changed to Fish & Wildlife. Pete is no longer with us, but his legacy is remembered every year with when from the wintering grounds of South America  the first Ospreys returns to Sedge Island in March. Thanks Pete! Now with the fishing report.  It was great to see my students get into some of the bluefish action today.  They landed a handful of blues from 2-4  pounds, broke off one much bigger, and landed a schoolie bass. I had Paul Karner out earlier in the week flyfishing with no success.  Seems like the 40 deg nights put the blues off a little. With the full moon passed us the big bass are starting to show up off the beach.  All we need  is a little warming of the ocean to blow the bite wide open. I have some magic hour dates open later in the week as well as Sunday May 21st.

Screaming drags,

Capt. Alex 609-548-2511

Make An Appointment To Catch Your Big Bass. Hi Flier Sportfishing

If you want to get into some big stripers you have to read the weather windows. After the messy rain and wind blows through this weekend, the switch to NW wind is already in the forecast by Sunday/Monday. Followed by low velocity and variable winds on Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fri. It looks like from Monday on, it is going to be a nice ocean. This season, that’s half the battle….more like three quarters! Sure, it would be nice to fish the weekend with some bluebird weather but it’s not happening, so you have to “make an appointment” to be in the weather window if you’re going to get your big bass. There are 25 to 40 pound plus fish being taken every day from Seaside to Long Branch a few miles off the beach. There is no snag and drop bite yet, so we need to troll with the heavy artillery. Wireline outfits with bunker spoons and braid rods with Mojos. It’s a very effective “means to an end”. It puts fish on the line, in the boat, and on the table. Pretty soon the bite will transition into snagging bunker early in the morning and then trolling after that but right now it’s all on the troll.
The forecast is not so critical when we are staying in the bay to target the bluefish that are here in good size and numbers. We could target either or both in the same day. Catching them every day on lures and bait. Three to fifteen pound fish.
I still have Monday May 15 afternoon available 1PM to 7PM. I am considering using a vacation day on Tuesday May 16 at my day job to exploit the glaringly beautiful weather that is forecasted. Leave at 6AM and return at Noon or later. Sailing again on Tues afternoon. If I am to book Tuesday, though, I need to know today (Thurs) or tomorrow (Fri) morning the latest so I can put in for it. Keep in mind, if you are on the Tues morning trip and I don’t have the afternoon booked we are going on SAFARI! As far,and as late, as we have to go to put fish in the boat. Thurs May 18, and Fri May 19, sailing at Noon returning around 6PM. That’s all of our availability, the next day we have open is not until Thurs afternoon, May 25.
These dates are available for charter or sign on as an individual and we will make an Open Boat trip. $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. $600 for the whole boat if you charter it with your own group.
Capt. Dave DeGennaro
Hi Flier Sportfishing
732.330.5674 cell
hiflier.com

Classy fish along the beach!

Some good reports off the Island surf today. Bass and blues…

Store staffer Rob was on the beach and got fish. Todd Luber reported “Decent morning chunking the surf. Got this one and dropped one. The old man got two nice bluefish.”

More fish pulled yesterday! Anglers slow trolling along the beach are catching classy fish.

We had some nice fish weighed in yesterday from Carmine Tocci. He checked in a good one (41 pounder) that went for a green Tony Maja bunker spoon. Carmine was trolling off of IBSP.
Fish Head’s Alumni Yonnie got out for an after work sunset session. Yonnie said, “Bass reports bass are here!”

Bill Tallman and Jack Reynolds got em good yesterday…  Bill reported, “What a night it was! A little sloppy out but me and Jack found some fish quickly. After working some marks we put the first fish of the year on the deck. The marks disappeared, so we moved looking for more. Found what we were looking for… Double header! Two fish pushing 50 pounds at the same time.” Check out the two photos below.

Coyle Brains reported, “The big bass have moved in on most of the inshore lumps.” Fishing aboard Drop Off Sportfishing they landed a pair of 30 pounders.
Here’s a couple photos from the More reports of blues and bass off the surf and in the bay.
Chris Masino got a racer off the surf.
John Delsordo got a full moon bass, bunker chunking.
Darren Hutchinson got his new personal best last night. He wanted to give a shout out to store staffer Blake for the hook up on a custom Blake Darters!
Looks like the drum bite picked up some stream on the full moon. Marc Taggart got a good one. “Not a bad way to spend a couple hours.”

Another report came from Wes Bouchelle, “Thanks to Big Nasty Nate for showing me the drum grounds. Got my first over 60 pounds from the scale.”

Here’s an update from Stew Hitchner, the former captain/owner of the Pez Machine. Stew and family packed up and headed out to Hawaii. It looks like they are enjoying them selves. Check out the photo below of Allison & Stew “On the meat… Three for four on ahi tuna yesterday. What a fun day!”

Public Service Announcement

Just a heads up, the lane in front of the store which was once a shoulder is now a through lane. No idea who at the Dept of Transportation thought it was a good idea but it has proven to be very  dangerous. There has already been a couple accidents.

Today or tomorrow (May 11-12) the speed limit will be lowered on county roads (Long Beach Blvd and Central Ave) Barnegat Ave is always 25mph. May 22 the traffic signals will be turned on across the entire island.
As always drive with care. Keep your eyes out and pay attention. Watch out for those who are not.
Info from NJ Fish and Wildlife on the State’s Striped Bass Bonus Program…
The Striped Bass Bonus Program will reopen on September 1, 2017.  Applications for individuals and party/charter boats are currently being accepted. For more information, including application forms and instructions, visit https://www.njfishandwildlife.com/bonusbas.htm on the NJDEP Div. of Fish and Wildlife website.