Barnegat Light B &T - Fishing report-04-30-10-By Bob Misak
The bluefish have this week moved into every nook and cranny from the inlet to Oyster Creek and guys are having a blast with them. Out on the beach things are looking fantastic with keeper bass all over the north end and though no 30 lb. fish have tipped up the scales at the shop, several twenties have came and went. “Dumb luck Pat” emerged from the shadows last week, and he already has 15 stripers off the sands with six or seven being nice sized eaters. If he keeps this up we’ll have to start calling him, “Pat”. And if he keeps going he’ll be “fisherman Pat”. I sure hope he doesn’t gain more weight, or he’ll get another nickname. Anyway, all the sharpies are catching fish at will and the shop is ready for a warm, busy weekend with fresh clams, green crabs, and the supplies you need to get out and cash in on the good fishing. The guys had a blast in Loveladies the other night tossing Avas with tubes and slamming one blue per cast, and they were 8 lb. fish and bigger.
I got a call from Chester and the old dudes, Grandpa Al and Mustache John, (you know why they call him Mustache John? Because he has a mustache) and they were totally wiped out from slamming big blue dogs off the 6th St. Dock. The tog finally moved on the jetty rocks just in time for the season to end on Saturday. The spawning season is here for blackfish, and the boys up top say it’s for our own good. I guess I’ll have to wait until July 1st to eat another tog. The bass are also in the inlet and guys sneaking out there at night and plugging are getting some nice fish too. The inlet was so full of bluefish that you could catch them with one of your socks.
In Barnegat bay the story is the same with the bluefish invading the mouth of Oyster Creek and the middle grounds. My daughter-in-law Brooke fished down there on Wednesday night and she hooked into a good 10 lb. blue that yanked her around the creek for a while. She says “it was mere child’s play”, but I know better than that! Now the only one in my family who doesn’t fish is my mom, but that’ll change as soon as we fill her in on the money she could pocket in the derbies.
Outside in the ocean just north of the inlet bass continue to be caught by the guys trolling and jigging, and a lot of keeper bass are showing up. Right now everyone is stoked that the blues are here three weeks earlier than last year, but I figure it will take about a week and the loss of a few expensive plugs before the first bluefish complaint comes sliding in. Oh boy, if I only had a nickel for every time I heard someone say” “damn bluefish”. So everybody who’s anybody should be fishing right now, wind or no wind. But be careful on those jetty rocks. I understand that three guys had to be helicopter lifted off the north jetty this week, and they’ll all be fine, but watch those tides. They come up quickly on the full moons, and it doesn’t take much for you to find out what the Atlantic Ocean tastes like. And just a reminder on that note; please wear those cleats!
Barnegat Light bait and tackle is this week mourning the loss of one of our own; Steve Hoeger suddenly passed away unexpectedly this week and to say the least, Basil and Nicky are devastated upon hearing this saddening turn of events. Steve taught Nicky’s girls how to catch their first fish, as well as hundreds of other up and coming young fishermen on the island. Stevie’s memoriam can be found on the site, and he will certainly leave a void at the shop. With that said, come on down to Barnegat Light bait and tackle and load up on goodies, and head out and grab some of that hot action, and keep your fingers out of those blue dog’s mouths. Good luck and great fishing to everyone.



Barnegat Light Bait and Tackle
1501 Bayview Ave.
Barnegat Light, NJ
(609) 494-4566
Website www.barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com
Email info@barnegatlightbaitandtackle.com