Island Beach State Park, Ocean Co., NJ - 5/27/12

[jay348]

Reporting back with a skunking unfortunately, but I figured I would post a report anyway.

I hit the road early this morning and got to the park gate around 5:45. I was the first car w/ PA plates to arrive today, lucky me! I was greeted with...the new weekend admission rate of $20! I wasn't thrilled about this; but hey, I already made the drive.

High tide was around noon, and I fished out front for most of the morning...wind was coming from the south. I fished the middle of the island without a bump, so I decided to move south. On my way to the car, I saw this cool little guy...

I made the hike down to the north jetty, and fished from the rocks for a bit. No action for me, but another guy was catching a bunch of smaller fish (tog I believe?) from the inlet. Altogether, I only saw one bluefish and a couple skates caught from the surf. Plus the crowd was growing steadily as the morning went on...fishy spots were becoming limited.

My last spot of the day was on the bay side, and in retrospect I should have spent more time here. I saw some surface activity from smaller fish and had a couple follows from some very thin fish I've never seen before (needlefish?). A pair of nice blues even cruised past a few feet away, but naturally I was fumbling with my line and blew my shot.

Overall, the weather was good, but the fishing slow. I really haven't fished back bays before though, so this gave me some food for thought for the next time I head east.

 

[Fishidiot]

Great report - wish I coulda joined yuh.
I usually hit the NJ shore in May but this year just had too much on my plate - will have to wait till fall. As you discovered, beach trips between Memorial Day and Labor Day get a bit more expensive (and complicated) I usually stay away during summer, although June can be a great fishing month. The backbay is a fun and different change of pace and often very good fishing in spring. It's much better if you have a kayak.

 

[marcq]

This spring has been not as good as past springs. The wind has been keeping the bunker off the beach and the warm winter did not help. Nice report that's one of my favorite places in the fall.

 

[springer1]

The backbay is a fun and different change of pace and often very good fishing in spring. It's much better if you have a kayak.

I've fished the beach in IBSP alot, but never the bay. Do you just park in the lots behind the dunes and walk across the road and thru the brush in order to wade & fish the bay ?

 

[Fishidiot]

springer1 wrote:

The backbay is a fun and different change of pace and often very good fishing in spring. It's much better if you have a kayak.

I've fished the beach in IBSP alot, but never the bay. Do you just park in the lots behind the dunes and walk across the road and thru the brush in order to wade & fish the bay ?

Yep. There are trails and canoe/kayak access spots.

 

[springer1]

Thanks !

 

[Swattie87]

I fished the surf in Fenwick Island, DE on Sunday morning as well, albeit with traditional surf gear and bait. Heard reports of some nice Stripers being pulled from the surf down there the previous week. Fished from first light until about 9:00 am when the beach patrons started showing up. Also took a skunking. There was a pretty strong tow from the south (influence from TS Beryl maybe?) and I found it difficult to hold bottom with 4 oz's of weight even. Eventually ended up chucking 6 oz's and that held, but still no fish.

Half surprised I didn't see any surfers...there were some legit 5-6' breakers with long rides to be had...not so good for surf fishing but Sunday was the only morning I could get out while we were down there.

 

[1wt]

$20 on weekends really stinks!!

I love IBSP, but I always pack a spin / plug rod if too windy.
In the summer, you really can't catch that much from shore unless you fish after dark. Try dark, start at sunset and fish until daybreak? The fish cruise the shallow water with the cover of darkness?
In Nov, Dec, and the first half of Jan, the striper migration has lots of fish twenty feet from shore, good daytime on outgoing .... at the first wave dropoff. Great fun with a fly rod. Usually small fish, 15" to 25" or "rats" as the locals call them?

Now you've got me all excited, so I'll have to tie some Deceivers and put the sink line on my 8wt!