Told You, Things are Moving!

 Big Mullet in the Ocean!!

Shadlife

 So many of these around before the rain. I looked at the water last night, it was in great shape at high tide. Stripers should be on the move! 

Autumn action

 You never know when a little Autumn action is going to pop up!

The Autumn Blues...

It has not been the best bluefish year. I did not put too much time and effort into bluefishing this year as a result, but I do love seeing one once in a while. There are no other fish like them. 

Lots of Little Ones...

There are lots of small bass around. Everywhere I stop seems to be crawling with little baby bass. It is a great sign for the future but I am looking forward to hanging a few nicer sized fish. 

 

Saltwater Spey ShadLife

 I got into a bunch of Hickory Shad the other day. I think they are a pretty fish. There are tons and tons of bait around and I am certain there were a few stripers in the mix but it was all Hickories for me. If I am fishing from the bank there is a really good chance I am throwing my Salterwater Spey... its pretty awesome. 

Quarantine Restoration

    

    2020 has been a crazy year. All of my plans sort of went haywire. Quarantine seemed like a perfect time to restore the old Whaler. I have been meaning to "put in the work" for a number of years but somehow was always too busy. When sanding her down for a new prime and paint I noticed that the anchor punched a hole in the fibreglass within the anchor box. Both sides of the stern had cracks in the glass that looked like they were letting water in. I probably could have just patched up the problem areas but that is not how I do things. I love this boat so I did it right. I cut holes in the glass and removed all of the wet foam. Reformed and patched the glass. I primed and painted her that good ol' Boston Whaler Blue. It is far from a new boat, but for a 1966, she ain't looking bad. 

 o

 

Rocktober is Upon US.

The water is cooling and the fish are moving.  It is really starting to feel like fall. Schoolie Bass and small Bluefish seem to still be on spearing.   

Fall is Beautiful 

 

The Season is Upon Us.

2020 has been rough, but I am hoping for a great fall. The mullet run is on. There are a ton of small fish around to keep you busy. Plus everywhere is beautiful right now. Get out, while I try to get back into the blog game. 

At the Beach..

 Stripers continue to be caught throughout the oceanfront in Monmouth County. The fish seem to be on sand eels for the most part. There are a few fish in the keeper range being caught, however, I have only landed very small fish to about 25". I have not been out as much as I would like and have only been fishing from the beach. I will be out here and there this week. I have to say it has been a little boring. I have not found the excitement I have come to expect from a fall run, which is partly my fault for not getting out enough but also partly because it has been plain old boring.  This week should be pretty decent. 

PreFreeze Stripers.

Stripers are here on Monmouth County beaches! There have been many blitzes on peanut bunker up and down our coastline. I have yet to see any really big fish come within casting distance of the beach, but it could happen. However, there are plenty of big fish around, you just need a boat to reach them. I have been too busy to get out on the boat to hunt some of these monsters but maybe next week. Over the last 24 hours, we have experienced a dramatic drop in temperature. You could see the steam pouring off the ocean. This drop should get the bait moving. Get out and fish! 

However, if you do get out and fish please respect all fish. These two bait fishermen caught, killed, and left about 8 spiny dogfish on the beach. Striped bass exist within an ecosystem that took millions of years to evolve, every indigenous organism plays a vital role within that ecosystem. You can be almost certain that needlessly killing any organism in that ecosystem is ultimately bad for striped bass. 

The Are Still PLENTY of Bass Around.

There are plenty of bass still around!! Schoolies mostly, the farther 'out-back' you fish the smaller the fish. There are definitely a few keeper-size fish in the mix, if you don't go too far 'back!' I have not put much effort into fishing the ocean yet, but have been thinking about it. I have been fishing mostly at night and think its the best bet this time of year.