Fishing Frecast for New Jersey for May 26-June 3

[Destroyer]

Brought to you by On The Water fishing magazine.
Please support their sponsors if you can. www.onthewater.com

May 26, 2011

By Michael C. Shipton:

In my book, there is nothing like the trials and tribulations of spring fishing in New Jersey. Each and every day is an adventure. Weather patterns have a shelf life of about 15 minutes in the spring, which in turn, makes planning a fishing trip comparable to the allies***8217; preparations prior to D-day. But the variety of species available this time of year, makes it well worth the effort. Next to the fall striper run, this is my favorite time of the year for angling. For most anglers, the biggest concern is which species on which particular day is the most viable target. Be it striper, fluke, blues or weakfish, the opportunity to catch is there. Drum anyone? They are here and waiting for an appetizer of fresh clam. Next week we can throw in sea bass to the equation. And don***8217;t get me started on the salt free opportunities out there. The trout stocking program in NJ is second to none and this season has shown that their stepped up seeding efforts have produced a banner crop.

One of the best breeding grounds for black drumfish has always been the Delaware Bay in the late spring. And my sources (specifically Chuck Hinchcliffe at Off the Hook Bait and Tackle) tell me that weather, moon and tides are all combining to make this one of the best drum seasons in recent memory. The 2nd annual ***8220;Cape May Drum Tournament***8221; kicks off Friday June 12th at Off the Hook Marina. I predict a record turnout and a record catch, so for all you drummers out there, better add this one to the schedule. According to Chuck, The drum bite is on and will only get better in the next couple of weeks. Shawn Hawthorne, from the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia weighed in with a 70-pound black drum last weekend. Oh yeah, they are definitely here!

Jumping up to the center part of the state, striped bass seem to be your best bet right now. The gang at Lacy Marine informed me that the striper bite off the Ferris wheel has been consistent. Slow trolling white Tony Maja Bunker spoons will increase your chances of a strong hookup. Jack Johnson weighed in a nice 28.13-pound bass caught on a white spoon and Greg Plichta brought a 32-pound linesider caught with a similar setup.

Offshore or inshore, Dave Arbeitman is the man to see for your angling needs in and around Brielle. As the owner of the Reel Seat on Green Street, Dave always has the latest and greatest baits, tackle and most importantly information about area hot spots. The striper bite is still strong up north per Dave, with the best action coming on those using bunker spoons or doing some light chunking. Dave also told me that the fluke bite is starting to pick up with the water being a little warmer than usual for this time of year. Most of the activity has been in the upper rivers and a little at the Sea Girt reef. On the beaches, pluggers using pencil poppers have getting a steady pick of linesiders with some nice bluefish in the mix. Sounds like it***8217;s time for me to switch to a wire leader. Those plugs can get expensive!

This week, it***8217;s been blues and striped bass at IBSP with the latter being taken using just about every tactic known to the angler who prefers to fish with their feet in the sand. Getting through those pesky blues has been a task in and of itself but there have been some nice stripers taken by the persistent. Bunker has been all over the place and the surf finally cleaned up on Wednesday.

When people head to Atlantic City, it***8217;s usually to hit the tables, catch a show or partake of one of the fine eateries that are popping up all over the city. But here is a little know secret about AC that most of us locals have known for ever. The fishing is as good as it gets there. And if you're there and need to get a fishing fix, head over to One Stop Bait and Tackle on Atlantic Ave and ask owner Noel Feliciano for the best place to soak a line. This week, Noel informed me the T-Jetty was the place to be. The action was definitely in the back bay, with stripers and blues heading up the menu. And here is some news, kingfish and even some blowfish have been taken as well. Bloodworms are the key and One Stop is possibly the best shop in New Jersey if you are looking for bloods. They always have em at a reasonable price. So next time you are heading to the gambling halls of Atlantic City, don***8217;t forget to pack that tackle box in the car.

The weather along the coast has finally started to heat up just in time for the unofficial open of summer this Memorial Day Weekend. If you want to get on the water with the kids and not experience the pain of owning a boat, I have just the place for you. Head on over to Somers Point and get on board the Duke O***8217;Fluke with Captain Brooke Koenke. This forty foot pontoon boat sails twice daily from Bay Ave and may be the best bet for partaking in the summer flounder action without needing your own boat. Captain Brooke will provide the bait, you provide the angling expertise. It***8217;s as simple as 1-2-3. No tackle, no problem. The Duke will provide you with everything you need for a small rental fee. All you need is a snacks and the will to fish. When I spoke to Captain Brooke this week, he told me that each trip was getting better with a handful of keepers and many throwbacks on every trip.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Memorial Day is finally here and so is the kickoff to another great fishing season. I sincerely hope you are ready for the summer season ahead. It will be crowded no doubt, so take care whether you***8217;re on the land or at sea. People have a tendency to get keyed up after a long hard winter and for many, this weekend will be the first time they have the opportunity to get out on the water. Make safety your primary concern, know your surroundings and exercise caution at all times. Nothing can ruin a great weekend or summer faster than an accident. With that being said, there is no better way to spend some free time than fishing in New Jersey. So, get ready, get set, GO FISHING!

[productsmarine]

I sincerely tell you..........

Thanks for wishing