40 20.525 N / 73 54.141
Anglers all across the Garden State have been getting snake bit by one northern coast hot spot – the Rattlesnake. It is said the name derived from the odd shape of the rocky mass in that it appears like a rattlesnake coiled and poised for a strike. Make no mistake though, this hot spot definitely doesn’t bite (certainly not based on fluke reports from recent seasons).
Comprised of sandstone rock, the grounds lay east of the Shrewsbury Rocks, approximately near the three mile line. The substrate is covered with a plethora of anemones, coral and sponges that act as attractants for bottomfish such as blackfish, sea bass, porgies, ling and cod. Plenty of crabs, sea worms and mussels also colonize the area, providing ample forage for bottom feeding species. General depth ranges down to 55 feet making bottomfishing prospects easy to target.
During April and May as well as in November and December, blackfish stick tight to the area on their spring and fall migrations. The shallower waters allow for using tog jigs and lighter weights for more sporty action. During the summer months however, the place is a big fluke factory. This is structure fishing at its finest, so break out the 2- to 4-ounce bucktails to jig and bounce over the rocks to find doormat fluke hanging between the rock outcroppings.
Black sea bass also stage thick around the rockpiles during the summer months through October before they move out offshore as anglers can fill a bucket full of 1- to 2-pounders using clam baits. Porgy fishing has been red hot in recent years in the area, with August through November putting up true “dinner plate” pork chops that can weigh over 3 pounds. In recent summers, ling have moved in to colonize the area. A simple bottom rig with size 2/0 hook can have you into a cooler full of baseball bats up to 3 pounds.
While bottom fishing is tops at the snake, late summer months can have speedsters zipping through. Little tunny, bonito and even Spanish mackerel cruise the area, easily trolled up on Clark spoons and Ava jigs dragged behind the boat. The party boat packet will follow the bluefish schools during both day and night junkets as the area seems to attract choppers through the summer months, caught on both jigs and chunk baits.
Striped bass anglers usually work over the nearby Shrewsbury Rocks and poke out to the outskirts of the Rattlesnake to troll mojos and shad bar rigs, but be very wary of the three mile line limit line as it can be easy to drift over into the illegal striped bass waters, and the Conservation Officers have no mercy for ignorance of your lat/lon.
With the naturally formed rock ledges providing a fish haven, the Rattlesnake holds plenty of promise for Jersey anglers throughout the year.
