SANDY HOOK REEF, NJ
When the autumn run of sand eels begins in late September, the bluefish and stripers will be right with them, and one of the first and most productive locations to encounter the bait and the blast of buster bass and blues is the 1.4-square-mile, 40- to 60-foot deep Sandy Hook Reef.
Situated 1.4 nautical miles offshore, the area is 5.2 nautical miles from Sandy Hook Inlet, 11.3 from Shark River Inlet and 17.9 miles from Manasquan Inlet. The reef includes a piece of the famed Shrewsbury Rocks formation and itself is comprised of approximately 95 percent (in excess of two million cubic yards) rock in the form of demolition concrete. The mounds of hard stuff are natural attractants to both prey and predators. The 65-foot tug, 110-foot tanker and 45-foot deck barge deployments serve as additional draws both to the launces seeking cover and protection and the linesiders and slammers seeking sustenance in one of its most plentiful and calorie-rich forms.
Although blues and bass are in the area during the summer months, their respective numbers accelerate exponentially from late September through October as the southbound migrants arrive. November through December is also a very prime time for stripers.
The game now is all about jigging with both the diamond variety and those formed to look like sand eels. With the former, either flat or hammered chrome finishes anywhere from two to ten ounces will bring fish over the gunwales. With the bass in particular, it can be a trial and error endeavor when they get picky and want something extra, and then it comes to experimenting with tube tail colors.
With the “sand eel” jigs such as those by Run Off Lures, the color closest to the forage’s natural color works best, but again, tail color can, and inevitably will, come in to play when conditions or the sheer abundance of bait make it necessary to offer something slightly different than the ordinary. These jigs work best here in the four- to six-ounce weights.
No matter which type of jig is employed, the addition of a teaser will definitely increase the chances of a hook-up.
The late September through autumn yellow-eyes rampaging through the Sandy Hook Reef and into the Shrewsbury Rocks will range from five to 15 pounds, with those close to 18 pounds not uncommon. You can expect jig-blasting bass from 24 inches to 40 pounds and yes, heavier ones will show, especially during November.
Although the entire 1.4-square-mile expanse of the Sandy Hook Reef is incredibly productive, two hottie locations are 73 56.00/40 21.700 and 73 56.400/40 21.600.
