I hear ya Swattie. When I drive up to 2 hrs 40 min to the NJ part of the ocean, I go with the intent of using the most effective methods possible and I don't have to have tried it to know that in most situations fly angling isn't one of them. I've watched a number of fly anglers along the NJ shore while I cast lures or fished bait. I don't think I have seen a fish caught yet from Corson's Inlet to Sandy Hook. Reports on this Board are usually not encouraging either. Out on a boat, on the other hand, I have seen fly anglers do quite well for stripers; that looked like fun. From my observations, good days with a fly rod at the NJ shore while fishing from shore seem to be few and far between. Apparently, there are some good days, but from my perspective they represent a lot of effort and expense for so few returns on the investment. Change my mind, if you will.
Cape May NJ Beaches, Cape May Co. 9/1-9/4
- Thread starter tztrout
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BrookieChaser
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SC, reading the water is where I have trouble. I've been going to my spots on low tide to get an idea of the bottom structure.
Mike, your assessment is correct from my experience. Though I'm as stubborn as an old bull, so I'll either catch fish on a fly rod or I won't catch fish at all.
Mike, your assessment is correct from my experience. Though I'm as stubborn as an old bull, so I'll either catch fish on a fly rod or I won't catch fish at all.
^+1 😳 😢
Mike,
The reason I fish is have fun, and I have the most fun taking up the challenge of fly-fishing, so that's what I choose to do. And this is true with many/most on here. I haven't had the time to hunt recently, but when I did, I chose to hunt with a bow.
It's not always about bringing home the game or fish, it's more about enjoying the challenge and spending a day out in the woods or on the water.
Fly-fishing the surf is not near as pointless as you posted above. Since the "run" is the run, timing is everything. If a fly angler lived close by and was able to fish the surf when things were happening, then one could catch fish on a fly rod with regularity. If an angler just makes a few trips randomly on their day off, like me, the odds are much lower to have a good day catching.
Did anyone wonder why "SurfCowboy" is named SurfCowboy?
He posted some really good info in a couple of posts above about fishing the surf. And if you ever visited his fishing/tying room at his home, your head would spin seeing all the pics of huge stripers caught on a fly rod. As he stated, if you put in the time, pay attention and are dedicated, you can be successful.
I'm of the same frame of mind. ^
I love fishing beaches and jetties and have done so in countless places from Texas to Maine. These days I tend to stick with the fly rod just because that's how I prefer to fish. However, I won't hesitate to pick up a spin rod if conditions - usually strong wind - make FFing impractical. It's a four hour drive for me. I'm gonna fish. Nevertheless, I've had many days when I couldn't catch a fish on the fly....but spin guys with bait were not connecting either. September is a good month to have a multitude of shots at different species, as this post attests.
I think I'm an experienced beach and surf fishermen who knows his bait, structure, and game fish habits...and I still readily regard this game as largely chance and timing.
The last few surf trips for me have been rough, but I think I'm due to hit it right again. I'll keep going back. It's not a game for the easily discouraged.
tztrout
Active member
I fish the salt once a year, on the family vacation, always from shore, and always with a fly rod. Been doing it for the past 25 years. The first 3 or 4 years I caught nothing. Eventually, learned where the fish might be found, best times, tides, etc, and the fishing got more consistent. I learned that flounder hit the best just as the tide begins to fall; if there are shad or herring popping near shore, the weakies are close by; and that even when conditions might seem perfect, the fish don't always cooperate!
The beach in October is the best time to be on a beach. Fish or no fish it has a zen quality to it. Surf fishing is the biggest crap shot out there but it's still a very enjoyable outing. I must admit I have never caught a thing from the beach with a fly rod. Back bays, big bays yes, Ocean never. Part of the problem is I never fully commit to the fly rod on the beach.
SurfCowboyXX
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- 502
Mike--
This might help a little bit.
First, fish LBI and points North. There isn't enough water close to shore out front (beachside) to hold bait and fish regularly below Absecon Inlet.
When you can fish obvious structure like a jetty or outfall, do it. Remember that the rocks from the jetty spread out like a fan beneath the water at the tip from all of the jostling from the surf over years. There is a lot more to fish than what you can see from the surface.
When you can't fish obvious structure, look for a rip in the shorebreak. You can find a rip by looking at the sandbar and seeing where the waves consistently DO NOT break. This is where the water is being funneled back out to sea after the waves break on shore. This water will have less foam and whitewater than the sandbar and flats, because it is deeper and waves break in water that is 1/2 as deep as the wave is tall. The fish will sit either in front of the sandbar or right behind it, adjacent to where the rip creates a "cut" between the sand bars. Fishing rips is easy. Cast into the rip and pay out fly line while the rip takes your fly out to sea. When you get it near the edges of the sandbar, start working it (though always be ready for one to take it on the drift).
Finally, spend time on the beach early in the morning or just before dark, so that you can see where the bait is materializing. Learn where the mussel beds and clam beds are. Find the deep holes.
I swear that it isn't as hard as it seems. The most important thing is keeping a fly in the water and believing that something is going to eat it--that way you're ready when it happens.
This might help a little bit.
First, fish LBI and points North. There isn't enough water close to shore out front (beachside) to hold bait and fish regularly below Absecon Inlet.
When you can fish obvious structure like a jetty or outfall, do it. Remember that the rocks from the jetty spread out like a fan beneath the water at the tip from all of the jostling from the surf over years. There is a lot more to fish than what you can see from the surface.
When you can't fish obvious structure, look for a rip in the shorebreak. You can find a rip by looking at the sandbar and seeing where the waves consistently DO NOT break. This is where the water is being funneled back out to sea after the waves break on shore. This water will have less foam and whitewater than the sandbar and flats, because it is deeper and waves break in water that is 1/2 as deep as the wave is tall. The fish will sit either in front of the sandbar or right behind it, adjacent to where the rip creates a "cut" between the sand bars. Fishing rips is easy. Cast into the rip and pay out fly line while the rip takes your fly out to sea. When you get it near the edges of the sandbar, start working it (though always be ready for one to take it on the drift).
Finally, spend time on the beach early in the morning or just before dark, so that you can see where the bait is materializing. Learn where the mussel beds and clam beds are. Find the deep holes.
I swear that it isn't as hard as it seems. The most important thing is keeping a fly in the water and believing that something is going to eat it--that way you're ready when it happens.
