Bait Soup time is here! Get ready for the SPOT.

[Guatemala Dave]

August 13, 2010, Bait Soup time is here! Get ready for the SPOT. Hopefully the super hot heat waves are over, right now we are in the midst of a dry nor'easter and possibly there could be a change in the seasons, but the fishing is here now. The flounder fishing has continued at a similar level as to the past couple months. There are plenty of fish still around, but there has been some mix up in the bite due to the extremes of water temperature that has been the result of the hot southwest winds and coldwater upwelling. What has turned on is the amount of baitfish and the amount of panfish that are available to those who don't need a giant fish to satisfy their urge to have something pull on the end of the line.

Of most interest to the Striped Bass fishermen out there is that there has been a good influx of SPOT into the back bays already. All the way back here in Absecon Creek there have been spot caught off my docks along with a constant stream of white perch. The perch are mixed sizes, but there are plenty that will cross a whole frying pan and make some great eating. The SPOT are a little small for the table, but just the right size to fit in a striped bass' mouth. I also have good reports out of Brigantine for SPOT since one of my best bait hunters brought over a tank full yesterday which means that they are spread out pretty well. I haven't heard much about SPOT on the beach front, but there are Kingfish in the suds and if you fish thru the dark on the beach a few Croakers are joining the mix. It would be good to see a big Croaker run for the month September since we are rapidly coming to the end of the flounder season.

Getting back to the bait, there are more mullet around of all sizes than I've seen in a long time. There are more and more reports of Bass busting these mullet on the sod banks in the back and reports of anglers getting bashed by them when they throw surface poppers into the melee. It is mostly an after dark thing, but when the conditions are right get ready for the fun to start whenever mullet are present. If you are tired of throwing back "short" flounder but want to stay on the water, consider filling a bait pen with SPOT. All you need is a size 10 hook and about an ounce of weight and a bloodworm or Fishbites artificial bait. You should find a willing supply of SPOT in any docking area around pilings holes ore banks. If you know that there are SPOT in the area and want to concentrate them even more a quart sized chum pot with clam chum will bring them around and keep you busy unhooking fish.

Even though you can make a bait pen on your own, you might find it easier to stop by and see the selection of cages I keep in stock from Blue Claw Mfg. They are made from Riverdale Wire and will last for years. I keep various sizes made with several sizes of mesh for keeping the SPOT, mullet peanut bunker or any other bait you might want. You can hook and line the SPOT and when they are scattered that may be the best method, but at times they school up, especially if they hit the beach and you can catch them with a quality cast net. For Mullet and Peanut Bunker or even Adult Bunker a cast net is usually the only option. I keep a complete assortment of FITEC cast nets in stock. I believe they give you the best bang for the buck and I personally use them so I can help you find the net you need and to throw it successfully.

[WAHOONBOX]

YOU ACTUALLY MADE ME WANT TO EAT A PLATE OF FRIED FRESH SPOT AT 9:51 AM THIS MORNING!


NICE WRITE UP!

[Guatemala Dave]

but they are just the right size for bait.

It was low tide this morning at 6 am and slow in the buisness department so I sat on the dock myself and caught over a dozen perch, a couple keepers in anyone's book and several border line fish that would make the pan if you are hungary.

The spot were biting too and a half dozen joined their brothers sisters and cousins in the bait tanks.

Not bad for One bloodwormand one cup of coffee in a half hour on the dock.