Link to NJ Coastal Water Temperatures
http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/catl_tmap.html
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Surf Fishing Tips
July 5, 2013
By John Pettinelli
Hope springs eternal and each day I head down to the surf I have thoughts of hooking that big one., I imagine just throwing a line out there with some bait and just reeling in a big fish. Well, it rarely happens that way!
As I enter my third season of surf fishing I've gotten a little smarter and wiser. Before you ever cast your first line here are some tips that I recommend.
Surf Fishing Tackle
The biggest tackle box with the most expensive gear is unnecessary and generally a waste of money. The secret to surf fishing is local knowledge, reading the surf, the birds, the bait fish and patience, not the amount of tackle in your box.
Depending on the season (check with a reputable local bait store) I keep the following gear handy.
- Long Leader Surf Rigs with 3/0 hooks and a small float to keep the bait off the sand away from sandsharks, skates and crabs! The rigs I buy come complete with three way swivels and sinker holder. It's OK to buy ones with fancy streamers and skirts but not necessary.
- Three and four ounce pyramid sinkers depending on surf conditions
- Three and four ounce Sputnik sinkers for times when the surf and tide is really strong.
- A package of elastic tie down string for times when you are using surf clam as bait. A couple of quick turns around the clam hold it securely to your hook. This is a must for casting the clam the proper distance.
- Flat Head saltwater fishing jig. Ask your local bait shop for size recommendations.
- Artificial surf bait. Currently any artificial PINK bait is hot. Some examples are the GULP 4" Pink Saltwater Swimming Mullet and the ZOOM Pink 4" Bubble Gum Salty Super Fluke.
- Saltwater Surf Casting Lures. Current hot lures include Deadly Dick #1 Long and Acme Kastmaster.
- Saltwater Surface Poppers. Current hot poppers include Tsunami Timber Lure Needlefish and Yo Zuri Sashimi 3D Popper.
Wildwood Fishing Report
From Fishing Reports Now, July 3, 2013:
No boats ran from the docks at No Bones Bait & Tackle in winds and rains, Fred said. So nothing was reported about fishing, though summer flounder catches had picked up in the back bay previously. Weakfish had also been caught there, and more weaks had been drilled from Hereford Inlet. The shop’s rental boats are available to fish and crab on the back bay. Baits stocked can include minnows, and they were scarce previously, but Fred wasn’t asked if that was still the case, and anglers can telephone to ask. Baits carried include frozen peeler crabs in brine, good for weakfishing, spearing, mullet, herring, mackerel, different amounts of frozen clams and all the usual.
A break in winds is needed, but if winds give, the back bay’s fishing should be fine, said Mike from Canal Side Boat Rentals. Previously summer flounder and weakfish were docked from the bay. Crabbing could be better from the waters, but the blueclaws were trapped. Mike wasn’t asked whether minnows are stocked, but they were carried the last time he was asked, for last week’s report. Baits include scented and unscented squid strips, scented pink and green strips, trolling squid, tube squid, pints and quarts of salted clams, non-salted clams in both 1 pound and 9 ounces, whole mackerel, filleted mackerel, mullet, spearing and herring. No. 2 crabs for eating are for sale for $12 per dozen live or $16 per dozen cooked. The blueclaws are cooked to order, as fresh as can be.
-brought to you by John Pettinelli
No boats ran from the docks at No Bones Bait & Tackle in winds and rains, Fred said. So nothing was reported about fishing, though summer flounder catches had picked up in the back bay previously. Weakfish had also been caught there, and more weaks had been drilled from Hereford Inlet. The shop’s rental boats are available to fish and crab on the back bay. Baits stocked can include minnows, and they were scarce previously, but Fred wasn’t asked if that was still the case, and anglers can telephone to ask. Baits carried include frozen peeler crabs in brine, good for weakfishing, spearing, mullet, herring, mackerel, different amounts of frozen clams and all the usual.
A break in winds is needed, but if winds give, the back bay’s fishing should be fine, said Mike from Canal Side Boat Rentals. Previously summer flounder and weakfish were docked from the bay. Crabbing could be better from the waters, but the blueclaws were trapped. Mike wasn’t asked whether minnows are stocked, but they were carried the last time he was asked, for last week’s report. Baits include scented and unscented squid strips, scented pink and green strips, trolling squid, tube squid, pints and quarts of salted clams, non-salted clams in both 1 pound and 9 ounces, whole mackerel, filleted mackerel, mullet, spearing and herring. No. 2 crabs for eating are for sale for $12 per dozen live or $16 per dozen cooked. The blueclaws are cooked to order, as fresh as can be.
-brought to you by John Pettinelli
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