Those Fabulous 50s & 60s Return to the Jersey Shore
While surfcasters are itching for a breakout, North Jersey boaters have been leaving ports from Raritan Bay down to Shark River to find success with good-sized stripers coming in from the east along the South Shore of Long Island. Word is there are surfacing bass beginning to appear (and disappear) along Raritan Bay, while spoons, mojos and live baits are finding a few takers out along the front lines. Reports in The Fisherman Magazine from this time last year show this is about the time of the annual opening bell, and with the next full moon on Halloween there’s hope to trick a few treats in the next few days. A long period swell reaches area waters today which is forecast to continue into Sunday night thanks to the offshore Hurricane Epsilon, which in itself could very well push a few more of those fish from the east to the west in along our feet. There are stripers in the inlets, back bays and rivers of Central and South Jersey too, many silvery in color and showing signs of sea lice which is a good indication that these too are ocean fish. The age-old seasonal question rings loud and true – do you want to be there when it all breaks open or simply wait for the reports to begin the search? If you’re looking for a better success rate from shore or close to it, the tautog bite on local jetties, bridges, canals and sod banks continues to keep rods bent with the single tautog bag still in effect. Try sand crabs, greenies, fiddlers or Asian crabs.
