“No mo’ flukin”-Fishing report-09-07-10-By Bob Misak

[jackdaniels]

“No mo’ flukin”-Fishing report-09-07-10-By Bob Misak
The past weekend brought us the most beautiful weather we have seen all summer and participation was huge up and down the coasts of Ocean County. The fluke season is now over for the season and compared to last year anglers probably did a bit better, but few boats actually came in with limits per anglers on board. I guess we just got so “used to the noose” that there isn’t any sense in complaining about it anymore. On a lighter note though, they are almost decided on giving us a break for next season, which would certainly mean bringing the size limit down an inch. Upping the number of 18 inch fish would do little, in my opinion. Certainly it’s too early for anything to be etched in stone, but a 17 inch year would mean a lot as a ton of fish from 17 to 18 inches went back into the water in 2010. This would help out the head boats immensely after the beatings they took the last two seasons on the regs. On Saturday when we were out we heard of the rolling waves out off the beach and though boats went out, there were a mess of guys that weren’t doing well on the radio conversations. I’m thinking the storm that passed had something to do with the bite being off, but we weren’t having any trouble catching fish where we were; in the bay blowfishing. The blowfishing continues to please and although we didn’t break 50 fish like the last two weekends, Don Golden and myself did put 25 good sized puffers in the cooler, as did my son Bob fishing next to us on Chris “cracker” Graham’s boat. The bay was slightly choppy but nothing to bounce around about, and Jr. caught himself a baby cobia about 16 to 18 inches long. That fish had to be released of course, but like I said, “you never know what is on the end of that line when you’re fishing a chum slick. Some of the others fishing around us were telling us that the fish was a remora, a “hitchhiking fish that hangs onto rays and other bigger fish, but after doing a bit of on line research, it was in fact a cobia. I do know that we caught some awesome large blue claws on the rods, so crabbing will remain strong for a bit yet. It’s a great thing to do with the kids on a cool weekend, and if the crabs are here you may as well capitalize. The jetty was basically quiet with the huge rollers coming in the inlet so the tog fishing out there took a back seat for a few days, but everything is calming down now, so you’ll be able to venture back out there this week. The sheepshead fishing is about to hit it’s peak, and anyone who wants to hook one of those relentless fighting machines should go now. Green crabs or fresh clams on a high low rig will work for you, but if you don’t have a big net with a decent length handle, you’ll disappoint yourself, as these fish can go 20 lbs, but most are from 10 to 15. The triggerfish have taken a vacation, and I think they eloped with the weakfish somewhere. The guys over on the 6th st. dock are catching keeper togs now, so if you don’t want to make the trek to the jetty’s end you can head over there. But again, you’ll need that long handled net to get up over the rail, unless Ray Frazier or “Mustache John” is over there, and chances are they will be. They practically live over there, and they’ll be in their favorite corner over by the lagoon entrance. Tell em’ I sent ya, and I’ll deal with their whining later. Basil has green crabs, and I know because he had one hanging off his finger in the shop the other day, and he was screeching like a newborn baby. The boys at the shop are readying themselves for the bluefish invasion that is likely on the beaches this week, and they have bunker as well as fresh clams for the kingfish that are hanging around the finger jetties at high tide. There are also some sharpies catching bass at night, and that bite will be on and off until next month when the stripers move in and the derby starts, The wrecks are quickly filling up with sea bass too, and the head boats are back on the mega-blues as well, so a trip out there will make you happy, and you might whack a 10 lb. tog if you’re lucky. So we’ll see you down at Barnegat Light B &, where Basil’s comedy is always a great way to start a day. Good luck and as always, great fishing to everyone and be safe.

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


Ben Schneider shows off nice blowfish he caught in bay with his Dad Sander


Bob Misak shows off a small cobia