Jersey Shore (IBSP), Ocean Co. NJ, 5/19-20/15

[Fishidiot]

The reports lately have been that the NJ shore has seen one of the strongest spring bluefish runs in many year's memory with big gators crashing the beaches and back bays - had to check it out.
It's been awhile since I've hit the shore and I'd not seen the Barnegat Inlet area since Superstorm Sandy, which devastated Seaside Heights and vicinity. With some trepidation, I drove over the bay...but was delighted to see the town has recovered very well. The roads are still being repaired and mostly single lane, but the homes looked good and Betty and Nick's and other sites were back in business. Great to see!

Fishing Report - Island Beach State Park:
Weather: Humid and foggy on Tues with air temps in the 70s; Wed was partly sunny with air temps in the 60s and a nice west wind. Water was green and clear and 61 degrees. Ideal conditions. Fish did not cooperate for me. Had some blues nip at my fly at the North Jetty but couldn't stick 'em (which is unusual). Tried all sorts of typical flies, big and small without so much as a bump in the surf either incoming or outgoing tide. The fish just weren't in. Saw few fishermen and few fish caught - a few blues but no bass. No bait in the wash although local reports described large schools of bunker last week.
Disappointing fishing, but it was great to walk the beaches and see that the park and community have bounced back from the storm.

 

[CLSports]

I see that fox (or maybe more than one) just about every time I am there. He is almost like a tame house pet now. He is so used to the people.

I guess you can't always trust those online fishing reports . . . "You should have been here yesterday . . ."

 

[JohnPowers]

why I gave up the surf. you have to live close and fish a whole lot. too much driving for nothing. think about it. you get skunked at valley shame on you. get skunked at sandyhook its because the fish were off cape cod. don't talk to me about the sun coming up on the beach. seen it a thousand times. the guy who held the striper record for years fished 200 days a year. can you tell....I hate the surf.

 

[afishinado]

JohnPowers wrote:
why I gave up the surf. you have to live close and fish a whole lot. too much driving for nothing. think about it. you get skunked at valley shame on you. get skunked at sandyhook its because the fish were off cape cod. don't talk to me about the sun coming up on the beach. seen it a thousand times. the guy who held the striper record for years fished 200 days a year. can you tell....I hate the surf.

^ lol.

I haven't given up, but I share your sentiments. I can only fish when I get a regularly scheduled day off and not when the fish are in. Plus it's a two hour ride for me and lotsa tolls and gas.

Even when their supposed to be "in" they're out! Fishidot drove a long way and fished hard and smart, I'm sure, but had nothing to show for it.

Here are the reports for the beach he fished (I razzed him this morning):

Here is the report from B&N today:

5/22/15 UPDATED 7:02 AM Nice day, breezy, but out of the northwest so good for fishing and bunker to come in close. Big blues and some keeper bass in the dark last night, no word yet this morning.

UPDATED 8:21 AM Just got another report that they are nailing big blues on bunker south of the bathing beaches in IBSP.

UPDATED 8:08 PM Already got a report that the blues are hitting good this morning on bunker and metal, and got another report from last night that the bluefish hit hard, and were huge, after 9 PM as well.

UPDATED 6:06 AM Non-stop bluefish again at some times during the day at certain areas. Few bass mixed in with some pods of bunker showing out front as well. The Barnegat is still LOADED with good bluefish. Fluke starts tomorrow.

Yesterday's Report: UPDATED 7:06 AM They nailed the bluefish, although they are mostly in the 5 pound range now, on the dropping tide again yesterday and I would expect this morning will be the same. Conditions are pure perfection. Get out there.



There is no justice in fishing...you just have to keep pitchin' and stop bitchin'.... :lol: l learned that long ago.

 

[RyanR]

CLSports wrote:
I see that fox (or maybe more than one) just about every time I am there. He is almost like a tame house pet now. He is so used to the people.

I guess you can't always trust those online fishing reports . . . "You should have been here yesterday . . ."

Actually the reports have really been true. I work with a guy from Monmouth County that fishes the Jersey salt 3-4 times a week. He's been telling me (and showing me his photos) almost everyday about how great the fishing's been, especially for bluefish. Within the last week a 50lb striper was just landed at IBSP, saw the photos myself on his phone. He's been after me to go with him after work but I haven't had the time.

 

[afishinado]

^ no doubt. But you must be in the right place at the right time. The more time you put in the more chance you have, but if you just chance it and chuck it once in a while you often come up empty.

As JP wrote above, go to Valley and your guaranteed to be casting over fish. Go to the Hook or IBSP and you may be casting over sand and seaweed for miles around.

SW Fishing from a boat is a whole nuther ballgame, you can search freely for fish until you find them or your time runs out.

Anyway, it's all fun and rewards are high if you do hook a decent blue or certainly a huge bass.

 

[Fishidiot]

:lol:

Yep - it's the nature of surf fishing! And, I was fly fishing, which doesn't up one's odds of hooking up either. Nevertheless, the reports are consistent - it has indeed been a great month for bluefish along the NJ shore (much like the fall run of bass in 2011, when I also missed the fish), but you have to time it right. Most of the time, you'll miss it. . .but when you hit it right, it's an unbelievable experience. I've hit enough blitzes to stick with the game. I'll be back in the fall.

BTW: The fox is one of many, I saw several that day. There have always been semi-tame foxes on IBSP. There are signs not to feed 'em, but obviously they're used to it and will sit ten feet away and watch you expectedly as you get in and out of your car. Sometimes they will wander out on the beach looking for scraps.