long beach island Archives - LBI NJ Fishing Report

Reel Reaction Sportfishing – Fishing Report 9/15

Wow, what a great Fluke season as we put a ton of keepers across the deck of the Jenny Lynn and I would like to “thank” all of my summer clients for making it possible. The winds and weather have not been so cooperative so far for the month, hopefully it gets better. September is a transitional month offering cooler water temperatures and signaling the start of the migration. There are some Albacore and Bonita within distance and we are available to target these the rest of the month. In October, November, and December, we will be targeting Striped Bass and I provide 20-30 “live spot” on every charter which are included at no charge. Just a reminder, I picked up my allotted 50 Striped Bass Bonus Tags from the state of NJ for the season and we be using them from September through December. These tags allow us to harvest 24 to 28 inch Striped Bass. With school in session, I’m running weekends and weekday afternoons starting at 230pm.

This past week I had repeat client Bruce Connor of Illinois and his daughter Emma of Washington DC on a 5 hr Bay & Inlet charter, which was supposed to be an inlet/ocean trip. With higher than expected winds of 15 to 20 knots, we stayed in the backbay and were only able to work part of the inlet as the conditions were very tough. We didn’t catch a large quantity due to the conditions, but managed Fluke (released due to regulations), Sea Bass (released due to regulations), Sea Robins, Triggerfish, and a 36-inch Bluefish. Great job by both anglers on a very challenging day!!

If interested in booking a charter, book through the website (www.reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, 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

LBI Fishing Report July 30th

It’s settling down and the sun is out. The Barnegat Light Buoy is fading and the trend will continue to ease.

I got some fun surf this morning before the lifeguards came out. While walking up the beach one drift I stopped and talked to an anglers soaking a line. He reported a little bit of weed (most was up on the beach), snappers stealing bait and two kingfish. He mentioned that 4oz was rolling with the low tide sweep.

Grey Colston stopped in this morning and shared he was into fish before the blow, “I hope it continues. The inlet was consistent with tog and fluke and the surf had kings.”

David Ho got a good size fluke today. He said, “Fishing was good. The water was chocolate milk but the fluke are on the chew. I got a new personal best, 28″ fluke! Alex (23.5″) and John (20″) both caught too.”

David cuahgt this 28" fluke fishing the BL Inlet — David Ho caught this 28″ fluke off the rocks today.

Rich Beverley also reported fluke on the rocks. Here’s a photo of a 19.5″ flattie he got bucktailing.

Barnegat Inlet Fluke Fishing — Rich got this keepers bucktailing the inlet.

Still some good blues around… “Not a bad way to end my six week vacation!” Mike Hovan reported. Here’s a bluefish he recently caught off the surf.

LBI surf fishing for bluefish — Still some bluefish cruising the surf.

And a couple bass! Dave Hershberger posted this photo of a resident schoolie. “Lagoon striper!”

Kids love striped bass fishing. — Fishing is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are going to get.

Reminder, the JCAA Fluke Tournament is next weekend.

Here’s some recent photos from the Miss Barnegat Light!

Fishing Transitions into Summer

As the spring season winds down and we transition into summer new fishing opportunities arise… Read On!

Crabbing has been on fire all spring and it continues! We are looking forward to an awesome summer of crabbing. Here’s a photo of Richie Southwick with one of many nice blue claw crab hauls. Richie is doing great with the feisty blue crabs.

This is the last push for Black Sea Bass! The NJ Black Sea Bass Fishing Season closes Sunday June 18th. It will reopen on July 1st with a bag limit of two fish at 12.5″

The Carolyn Ann III reports, “The last two days of fishing were pretty good. Still a lot of shorts to weed through but the keepers are there! This Sunday is the last day for us to go Sea Bassing as the season closes. Starting Monday we will be targeting everyone’s favorite flat fish, the summer flounder aka fluke. Come aboard!”

Austin Pounds shared this yesterday,”Fluke are in the wash! Toss out a 1/2oz bucktail topped with a Gulp white swim mullet and they are all over it.” Austin has been targeting and catching fluke off the surf all season. He has some really nice sized fish to show too. This surf based fishery traditionally is great all summer long. Just a heads up there’s a possibility that we’ll get some upwelling. Depending on how drastic the temp swing is with the event, it could effect things. A quick cold snap in the water temperature due to upwelling shocks fish and can lock jaw a bite like a flip of the switch.

Another report came from Austin on the beach shark fishing. “And so it begins! They are here so gear up and soak some whole bunker. We got our season’s first sand tiger off the surf yesterday.”

Another surf sharking report came from ApexAnglers… “The 2017 NJ surf shark season begins with a bang! Two personal bests. Dan’s largest sand tiger to date measuring 8’2″. Seconds after Dan’s fish a 6’2″ sandbar shark takes the 9/0 with an eel. Then towards the end of the night a massive 7’7″ sand bar shark. The largest we’ve seen and possibly the largest caught off the surf in NJ. What a super successful early season trip. The action will only heat up from here.” Check out Apex Anglers for more details on NJ’s premier land based shark fishing guide service.

Sharking inshore/offshore has been good. We’ve heard reports of a couple large makos. Numerous customers reporting blue sharks out the wazzoo making for frustration but action non the less. In the past week we got some positive news on threshers 3-6 miles off the beach.

Like always, Joe Shute Lures are pulling tuna! These lures are about as consistent as they come. Don’t leave the dock without ’em! Store staffer Dan DiPasquale got offshore recently and has this report to share… “Our first offshore trip of the year resulted in our first bigeye. The good water we were after unfortunately pushed off making it all very difficult. Fished three different canyons with a water temp of 59-60 degrees. Took a couple hours but we finally got the right bite. It went for red headed Joe Shute. Nice way to kick off the year on the boat, still very early. There is a very good bluefin bite and yellowfin bite to the south of us right now, hopefully we get another good push of water soon!”

The striped bass bite off northern NJ as been very good this week. Lots of anglers out of the northern ports reported an awesome bite. Many local anglers headed up that way to get in on the action and had a blast. Both Waterman Charters and Shore Catch Guide Service has been dialed in on the bite. Here’s one report from Captain Gene from Shore Catch, “Last night was one for the record books! Epic cast and blast on topwater poppers. Kept one for the table and released over 20 all over 40 pounds.” Now that’s some great fishing. Below is Captain Gene boat side releasing a quality striped bass that fell for a pencil popper.

Pete Utschig wanted to share this post. The photo below is a beautiful striped bass that Pete caught one morning earlier this month. He had three nice bass that morning.

Moments like this, shared with friends, family, and even strangers is what makes it all worth while! It’s been a tough spring up and down the east coast. Besides some very spotty big fish bites the bass have been almost non existent. We need to WAKE UP!!! No more excuses or pointing fingers. We need to educate our friends and neighbors to stop killing breeder bass. We need to protect our precious resource and pastime. Until regulations change we can’t stop the endless charter boat slaughter, but if you have friends going on a fishing trips take five minutes to tell them about your love of fishing. Explain why instead of fishing in their local bay or inlet they have to steam 3 miles out to find the only body of fish we have left. Try and convince them to keep one fish per group not five fifty pound fish. We all love fishing for different reasons. I love it for the smile on a kids face when you hand him your pole on the beach and let him reel in his first fish. I love the 4am excited call from a buddy that you helped teach how to fish after he gets in on his first reel big fish bite. I love meeting guys just like me who just want to travel, laugh, (drink a couple cold ones) and catch fish. I just love fishing for the fun of it! Let’s protect our resource before we lose it forever!

With a sad and heavy heart I share the news on the recent passing of John Sweet. I had the pleasure of knowing the kind, generous man who did so much for others. He’ll be greatly missed in our community. Here is John’s obituary from Maxwell Funeral Home.

John F. “Tiderunner” Sweet, 78, of Ship Bottom, NJ passed away June 14, 2017 at his home. Born in Camden, NJ, son of Helen and John Sweet. He moved to Cherry Hill and married Lois Zuzga Sweet who passed away too soon. Together they had three children, Susan Lucas, Amy Smalfus, and Jane Faiola. He is survived by 9 grandchildren: Zachary and Melissa Johnson, Alexander, Nicholas and Gabriella Faiola and Rachael and Amanda Smalfus and Alexander and Victoria Duffy. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan Duffy Sweet, of 31 years, and her children, Christopher and Kathryn, who have been a great blessing to him.

He lived Medford, NJ with Joan for 18 years just prior to Ship Bottom where he resided for the last 14 years. His passion for fishing was well know, and he served as President and Treasurer of the Long Beach Island Fishing Club. John initiated a fishing program for the LBIFC for wives, children and significant others called the Powder Puff Derby. He was an active member of the LBIFC for over thirty years and served in many other capacities: teaching fishing at the Surf City Library, teaching casting and fishing at the Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs and participated in numerous fishing tournaments throughout his life. He has many “winning plaques” because of his knowledge of the surf and the correct fishing gears to use. He leaves a huge emptiness in the countless lives he has touched. He was an active member of the Ship Bottom Fire House, and served as a Fire Police. John volunteered at Southern Ocean County Medical Center for 8 years where he helped out in the Same Day Surgery Department. In addition, he was an active member of the Kiwanis and participate in their many events. John was active in St. Francis of Assisi Church serving as a Eucharist Minister as well as assisting the Secular Franciscans in their activities. John was loved and respected by all and he deeply changed many lives for the better. He always wanted to be remembered “as doing his best for everyone.”

A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Francis Church, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach Twp., NJ 08008 on Thursday, June 22, 2017, 11AM. Relatives and friends may greet the family from 10AM to 11AM in the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Francis Food Panty at the same address as the Church.

LBI Fishing Report June 5th

Good fun Jersey fishing in early June with anglers catching both inshore and offshore.

Mary Lee stopped by for some fresh bunker this morning!

It’s the same story here… Good fun Jersey fishing in early June with anglers catching both inshore and offshore. The main target species inshore are fluke, sea bass, striped bass and bluefish with the occasional sharpie stalking weakfish. The offshore guys are sharking and tuna fishing.

Here’s some info to supplement the recent posts.

Some nice bass are around! Captain David D on the Hi Flier caught a nice bass trolling off IBSP today.

John Hildreth got some Penn Reel parts from us last week. He sent in an email with a photo, “Perfect timing. I just got the reels fixed and got this one!”

J-Bird and Greenie got first place in the Beach Haven Marlin Tuna Clubs striper tournament this past weekend. Here’s J-Bird double fisted with a pair of bass. He reported, “Catching bait was a struggle and fishing was a slow pick. There’s nice fish around but you gotta work for them!”

Jim and Rich from Waretown aboard the 50/50 had a great week and weekend. They started off with a 60 pound bass then finished up the weekend with three more nice classy bass. They reported, “We are fishing the three mile line off of IBSP and the waters north of the Bathers Beach. Trolling Mojos is working best for us.”

There bass on the beach too. Yesterday, Jason Hoch weigh in 25.94 pound 42″ bass.

The blues are trending smaller but there are a couple good size ones still around. Store staffer Luke got this bluefish off the LBI surf after work today. Luke said there’s some bass mixed in up to 15 pounds.

Doug (@dremluk_d) got this bluefish this weekend fishing the Inlet.

Charles Mosley sent in this report today, “Caught some blues on the Inlet Jetty yesterday early morning.”

Carman sent in this report yesterday, “I caught a 22″ flounder in the Barnegat inlet using a high – low rig and cut squid for bait. That was the highlight of the day! I’m sure you can guess what’s for dinner tonight!”

Robbie Vallone and his father Carl fished Oyster Creek Channel today. They had multiple fluke with the biggest 21″ 5.9 pounds on Gulp! Here’s a couple other fluke reports…

Drew Knapp tagged us in a fluke photo post, “First fluke of the year and the first for Luey. Beauty of a day on the water!”

Store staffer Dan D. reported, “Scored big time tonight right before the wind set in! Caught some fluke and managed a quality weakfish. All fish released.

Shop alumni Sam Wisnewski won the Captain’s Cove Flounder Tournament (eastern shore of VA) this past weekend with a 4lb 121oz fluke. The master bucktailing flounder pounder still has the magic touch!

Nick Perello on the Pension Plan of the Beach Haven Marlin Tuna Club had a epic day on the water yesterday. The crew went four for five on bluefin tuna. Two 20 pounders and a double header! Released giant and kept this 224 pound fish. New personal best.

Chris Degennaro on the Kaley Marie went out and had a great trip yesterday too. Chris reported, “Great first canyon trip this weekend. We went six for six on bluefin up to 100 pounds and got a big eye!”

Shore Catch put their clients on the tuna this weekend with their first trip to the tuna grounds. Shore Catch reports, “The bluefin are here and we’ll be on them every chance we get. Get in on it!”

Blue Runner Sportfishing is off to a great start for their 2017 offshore canyon fishing season. They caught their first mako and bluefin in NJ on May 11th. Now their first bigeye tuna of 2017 on June 3.” As always Captain Mark and crew are dialed in!

Lots of boats went out sharking fishing this past weekend. Most all reports we heard back were blue shark, blue shark, blue shark. These local boats fishing 20-40 miles off were covered up in bluesharks. We heard of a couple big makos from anglers fishing waters south of our area. Lets hope the makos flood our waters soon.
14th Annual 2017 Berkeley Striper Club C&R Spring Tournament Results
By Steven Perna

Our tournament and its C&R format was once again a huge success thanks in large part to the generosity of sponsors like Fisherman’s Headquarters. With the changes we made this year to the tournament we were excited to be able to maintain participation levels equal to prior years as we continue to be responsible stewards of the resource.

One hundred percent of the monies raised through this tournament will once again be used to fund the BSC Fisheries Defense Fund which is designed to fund efforts that focus on effective management of striped bass, help provide a clean and productive habitat, and to protect important forage fish in the goal of enhancing our recreational fisheries. We are particularly proud of our continued financial support of ongoing striped bass research through donations to the Marine Biology Departments of Monmouth University/University of Massachusetts Amherst and Rutgers University Department of Marine Science. All told, we have donated over $50,000 in the past 13 years to organizations and research dedicated to the preservation of striped bass.

This years tournament went off without a hitch. The results, listed below, show the winners of the competitive divisions. In addition we also had 6 lucky participants who won one of the “Grand Prize Packages” supplied through the fabulous donations of our sponsors. The fishing during the 5 days of competition was challenging and we received a total 31 fish submissions during the tournament all released to fight again……

Surf Division:
1. Shawn DeVenchenzo 42″
2. Zolton Egyed 40″
3. Bruce Caporale – 38″

Boat/Kayak Division:
1. Sean Seraphin 44″
2. Bob Andersen 43.5″
3. Phil LaGrossa 43″

Once again your efforts have shown your commitment to being a conservation minded member of the fishing community. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.

LBI Fishing Report May 6, 2017

Rick Ziegler stopped in yesterday and picked up his prizes from the past Fall Surf Fishing Classic. Rick was the Bluefish Grand Prize Winner. In addition to the $1000 prize, he was awarded a Penn Slammer III Spinning Reel matched with a custom 9′ rod, a plaque and a Fisherman’s Headquarters $200 Gift Certificate.

Rick stopped back today and shared a report, “I love the new setup! Went up on the beach early but it was a little weedy. Made the shifted over to the bay and got ’em. The south end bayside, blues all morning on bunker. Whipped out an SP and got bit. ” Here’s a photo from Betty from PA who was fishing with Rick.

A number of anglers loading up on fresh bunker and chunking the surf. Similar theme from all those who reported back… blues on chunks, occasional bass. It seems today is a little slower than the past couple days but there are fish being caught.

Blue claws crawling and chewing lagoons and bay. Those soaking bunker are catching.

Picinic at the Point

It’s Thursday and since we don’t have fishing information to share… Let’s throw it back to the early days on LBI with a picinic at the Point. Here is a photo of a family enjoying the beaches of Long Beach Island taking a lunch break while fishing Holgate. Check out that vintage Ford Model A Roadster (’28/’29) with the ballon tires and all. It must have owned the beach! LBI offers offordable family so come on down and live the SaltLife” surf fishing.

c1952 Photo: Lindy Clements

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