SHREWSBURY ROCKS, NJ

Although more noted for its October to near Christmas cow bass corralling, the Shrewsbury Rocks arena plays to variety of fisheries throughout the summer months and throughout the cooling weeks of September that will keep rods bent and boxes full.

Situated nearly dead center between Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach with Lat 40.3434434 Lon 73.9593035 readings, the area is considered the largest natural expanse of scattered rock bottom formations in the mid-Atlantic region (there is a much smaller spew of rocks off Elberon). The two distinct markers are the “Can” approximately one mile off the beach and the “Gas Can” at the outer boundary. Both are easily recognized by their green colors. Depths range from approximately 15 feet to 55 feet with some deeper reaches to almost 60 feet along the outer edge leading to the Rattlesnake. The Rocks are nine miles south of Sandy Hook, ten miles north of Shark River Inlet, and 15 miles from Manasquan Inlet. Easy rides, to be sure, but with gas prices being at current levels, many anglers who trailer their boats are opting to launch and ride from the former pair of attack points.

Stripers are still players during late summer and will range anywhere from eight to 20 pounds, with the occasional 25-pounder being decked. Bass will be caught on the best-preserved bunker chunks and heads, with live eels taking a toll as well. Slowly trolled bunker pattern plugs that will track from 20 to 30 feet will also do a smackdown.

Blues remain the bane of the site’s striper hunters, especially from late summer well into October, because they will eat anything and everything meant for linesiders. These aren’t cocktails to be enjoyed though. Rather, these are gators that need a good wrestling as they’ll pull the Boga anywhere from ten to 16 pounds, maybe even a few pounds more.

Fluke in excess of ten pounds are nailed along the structure every summer through the September closure and are caught on peanut bunker, spot, bergalls, snapper blues and two- to six-ounce jigs sweetened with a whole squid, sea robin strip, salmon belly, or a four- or six-inch Gulp! Swimming Mullet, six-inch Ripple Mullet or Belly Strip in chartreuse, pink or pearl white.

Tog compete with bass for popularity from November through the Yule, but are also in good numbers and sizes during late August to the six-fish limit re-opener. Green crabs and white leggers are the tickets to tog from keeper length to ten pounds or better.

Triggerfish and porgies are a blast out here and are clam strip crazy right into October. Besides great light tackle fun, they are frying pan delights. The gray triggers pulled are up to four pounds, with porgies from, by law, nine inches to two pounds. The best part about dropping a bivalve-baited rig to the rocks below is seeking these targets of opportunity. The scup limit is 50, with no limit on the triggers. Yeah, a lot of potential cleaning board labor, but you won’t find better eating.

November annually witnesses a rapid influx of bluefin at The Rocks, and these will range from footballs to teenagers to giants. Catching is another thing though, as the fish don’t hang around for long and are especially particular about what they will strike. Jigging or plugging, opinions agree that it can be an exercise in utter frustration. However, several are caught every year. As Capt. Ken Gallop of the Big Kid says, “Like anything else, you have to be in the right place at the right time. They’ll show at The Rocks, just be ready and give it the best you got.”