October 19, 2011

Received: Oct 19, 2011 2:07 PM Subject: Bunker and Gators

We ran to the Monster Ledge area of the Mud Hole yesterday. Heard one guy on the radio that trolled a 40 pound bluefin. We trolled one false albacore in the clean 63 degree water. Lots of draggers. Not much in readings. Tried chunking for a while, but no hits. Ran to Little Italy next, the machine blacked out with what turned out to be all dogfish. Ran due West from there in hopes of finding any kind of life along the beach. We found pod after pod of bunkers being wooshed and rushed by big gator blues. Worked them over for a few hours in hopes of finding a bass in the mix, but it was all blues for us. Found out later they caught some big bass off of those same pods in the morning. Now, three days of wind, and then we will be back at it Sat., Sun. and Mon.

~ Capt. Dave DeGennaro, Hi Flier Sportfishing 732.330.5674

Received: Oct 19, 2011 12:27 PM Subject: fishing report

Fished yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, in ocean out of Barnegaut Inlet. Ocean calm, gorgeous day, water has cleared up, caught a cooler full of croaker in 44-55 feet of water but nowhere else. Was hoping to find weakies and blues, but only caught one snapper blue. Caught a mystery fish that looked like a croaker in body, snout and mouth but slimmer and with brown zebra like stripes. Obviously I let it go. What is it, a baby drum?

~ Ed K

Reply...

It's not a Black or Red Drum... It's a Kingfish which is a member of the drum family. Kingfish patterns may be striped or more like your blotched version. Fish have color and pattern variations that depending on genes (heredity) and habitat. There are Northern Kingfish, Southern Kingfish and maybe some combinations of both.

We also see this color/pattern variation in many of the Fluke we catch during the Summer that come off sandy bottoms with very light top body color and maybe just a hint of spots. Then at other times, Fluke from muddy bottom come up with very dark tops with pronounced spots. Fish want that chameleon effect to camouflage into the habitat.

~ Fish Head Greg

Received: Oct 19, 2011 4:36 PM Subject: fishing report

Went to beach...heavy wind, and crazy big surf. Caught all the 11 to 14-lb blues I wanted on lures. Got a 22.5-lb 40" striper on a bunker chunk I was drifting in the surf. Going to be a GREAT FALL run.

~ MF

Today, Martin Supsie of Forked River weighed-in a 21-lb 11-oz Striped Bass today for the LBISFC that he caught in Barnegat Light using Bunker at 3:00 PM this afternoon.

October 18, 2011

Received: Oct 18, 2011 5:35 PM Subject: BHCFA October 18 Report

Some stormy weather has made ocean fishing in the Beach Haven area an iffy situation over the past week. When boats from the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have been able to make their way out to the inshore reefs and wrecks, they have been finding some solid fishing for blackfish, sea bass, triggerfish, and some porgies.

Captain Fran Verdi on the “Dropoff” reports he has heard stories of some striped bass being landed in Little Egg Inlet. With the water temperatures still in the 60’s, Captain Fran is hoping that some forecasted cooler weather materializes. For information on the 25' "Drop Off" contact Capt. Fran Verdi, (609) 868-8970, or Email: fpvmdv@comcast.net

There are several striped bass tournaments coming up in the next few weeks for anglers fishing from boats. They include the Redman’s in Tuckerton on October 21, the Sea Shell out of Beach Haven and the Italian American Club out of Little Egg Township On October 28, and the Stafford Township PBA based in Manahawkin on November 11. Captain Fran is booked for the PBA event but may have room for the other contests.

(If you contact any captain for a charter, please mention that you read their report on the Fisherman's Headquarters Fishing Report. Thank you)

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association (BHCFA) can be found at www.BHCFA.com .

~ Jim Hutchinson Sr.

Received: Oct 18, 2011 4:50 PM Subject: Ship Bottom Oct 18th

I fished the beach in Ship Bottom from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM this morning. Small bluefish were like piranhas. You could not keep your bait on for more then 5 minutes. The guys fishing nearby did not seem to have much going on either. The only other fish that I caught were skates who loved the clams!

~ Rob Papile

Received: Oct 18, 2011 7:37 PM Subject: Fishing Report

Big bass and big bluefish showed up in numbers today off Seaside under the bunker. Thirty to forty feet of water being the most consistent. We-Ketch-Um

~ Daniel S.

Merchantville Fishing Club member John O'Connell of Vineland weighed-in a 22-lb 13-oz Striper today for the LBISFC that he caught in Barnegat Light using Bunker at 5:45 AM this morning

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