NJ Fishing report-2018

[SkunkBoat]

Monday- W winds around 5 kt, becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas around 3 ft.

Monday is re-opening day for black sea bass in NJ. Looks like decent weather for the V20s. If you can get out there, the Shark River Reef is the place to go for bigger fish and numbers. There are mahi around the pot markers and today there were reports of BFT breaking water and tormenting anglers.

[SkunkBoat]

Originally Posted by SkunkBoat

Monday- W winds around 5 kt, becoming SE in the afternoon. Seas around 3 ft.

Well that couldn't be farther from the truth....wind ENE at 23knts seas UGLY

[SkunkBoat]

Got out to Shark River Reef this afternoon. Actually we ran across to Monster Ledge and trolled for tuna/mahi for a while. Got 3 little tunny(aka Bonita) and 2 small mahi. Then anchored on the Stolt and caught a limit of Black Sea Bass. I got a pair over 4 pounds.

[SkunkBoat]

SR Reef again this Sunday---WOW it was a parking lot!
We passed it by to go looking for mahi and tuna in the Mud Hole. Got 3 small mahi and one nice 7 pounder on the pots headed to the Monster Ledge. Also had a half dozen little tunny (Bonita) that kept it interesting. Had a cedar plug get broken off on a hit, 3 year old wind-on leader broke in the middle.

Got to the Ledge and got nothing, headed back thru the pots on the way to SR reef. Got a nice surprise with a double of schoolie bluefins! They weren't big but they were legal and tasty!

Got to the northeast edge of SR reef and drifted the first rock mountain without a boat on it. Lots of big porgies and sea bass. A lot of throwbacks but we did OK. Bluefish biting seabass in half on the way up.

Went north to the Arundo and anchored. Got 4 seabass all bigger than anything at the reef. A few ling also.

[bgreene]

Great fishing and pics !! We are at the parking lot and had a great day Sunday too.

Lots of fish......excellent weather.

[Giorgio]

Well done and nice pictures !!!

[SkunkBoat]

Sunday 11/4- got out the inlet about 6:45am (late). There was already a parking lot off Sea Girt. Everyone out in 60 ft, fish finder just absolutely lit up. No bunker on the surface. Trolled mojos no luck. No big bite going on but some guys picked up some nice fish. A buddy of mine got a double with the bigger one 47". Thats all they got.
We took off for the Shark River reef to look for tuna and catch some sea bass. No tuna around. Caught a dozen nice seabass picking thru the throwbacks...they have to be 13" now....

Headed back in to catch the afternoon bite....no afternoon bite....

[SkunkBoat]

Straight out past the red can in 65-70ft on Mojos.

https://youtu.be/HeztCzPqBgs

[Giorgio]

I just saw your video, nice and love the stripers.

[SkunkBoat]

Got out Sunday for stripers. Trolled one nice bass on a mojo early then tried snagging bunker & live-lining. Had one bass run off almost immediately but failed to hook it. After that it was all dogfish munching our baits. This was off Spring Lake and later Mantoloking.

Monday we blew off striper fishing and went to Shark River reef in flat seas. On the way out we ran thru a dozen whales (humpbacks and minkes) and a thousand dolphin eating sand eels. National Geographic kind of sight. Tried jigging for tuna but nothing. Moved on...
My brother and I got 25 keeper sea bass. Had an owl sit on a rod tip and stare us down for 5 minutes. Headed in at 2:30.
Ran into gannets diving and fish busting...thought it was tuna... I hooked up right away on a jig...no screaming runoff....it was a 25 pound striper! 8 miles out! jigged & released 3 more in the 20 - 25# range and called it a day.