Tough start to Novemeber. Went fishing this morning with Steve from the fly club. I was all excited as it was suppose to be perfect weather, no wind and a normally good tide for fishing.
We left the dock at 8:00 am with the tide right around dead high.
I knew it was going to be a tough day when I saw the water in the marina. It was very brown and it was the top of the tide. (not good)
We headed to the back bay hoping to find some larger stripers that normally move into the back this time a year and figured the full moon tides would make it the right time.
Water was really ugly every were we went with about a foot of visibility. Did find one area were we had 2 to 2 1/2 feet of visibility. We worked it hard and Steve caught a 15 1/2 striper on a pink/white jiggie.
We tried some creek mouths were the water was half way decent but with the strong currents coming out they were soon very muddy and had a lot of weed.
Steve got another little guy off one of those on a small green/white clouser.
We moved to a couple of points that had nice rip lines, but again clarity and weed were a problem. Steve got one more 17 incher here.
Myself, I had two hits and no hook ups on the day. We had 57 to 60 degree water and with all the bass that were around last week, it was very slow. Even with the poor water conditions we should of had a few more fish if they were around in any numbers.
With nothing other than few spearing and glass minnows around, I think the fish coming in look around and seeing very little bait, they are out with the next tide or two. The fish we are catching have sea lice on them so they have to be coming in from the ocean.
After 4 hours of slow fishing, we had enough and headed in.
Painfully slow trip today with Peter. We left the dock near the top of the tide and headed to the ocean to see if it cleared up a bit. (NO IT HAD NOT) Water was still very brown. No signs of life around the inlet other than all the tog fishermen. Our chartreuse flies were out of sight after about a foot and half.
We shot to the back bay where we worked a number of nice out going tidal flows at the mouths of some creeks. They should be good as gold this time of year. I got the only hit, hooking a 15 inch striper.
We tried a couple of rip points and Peter had one hit and a miss. I was just plain painfully slow. No signs of life, with a perfect tide. The whole trip we only saw a few glass minnows that we spooked with our fly lines. If there were fish around we would of had some hits. It can't get any worse. This is normally prime time.
Had a great weather report for this morning with light winds. Left the dock at 9:00 pm with one person fly charter with still a good amount of incoming tide to go. We headed to the inlet and found the rocks cluttered with tog anglers anchored along the jetty and the water still very dirty. There was cleaner water in along the beach so and worked it for about an hour with out a strike.
Wind started up a bit so we decided to try the back bay areas and creek mouths. We worked a number of areas finding the best water that we could. Water ranged from 54.6 to 56.2 fairly clean, no signs of bait or fish and didn't get a strike.
Right before the tide was to start out we started tried a small creek. With the super high tide the water was way over the sod banks so it was a bit difficult to keep the boat in the creek. We just started talking about how poor the fishing was when I hooked up with a nice striper on that same chartreuse fly that I have been using for the last three weeks.
Felt bad that I caught the first fish of the day and had to have my charter net it and take the picture, but at least it gave us some hope that other fish might be there.
On John's next cast he hooked up and landed a 17 inch bass on his hit-man fly (clouser type fly made with synthetic materials) and we though we hit the mother load.
We kept working up the creek where John had three more hits and one follow right up to the boat, but as soon as the tide started out, it roared out and the water started getting very brown and full of weed.
We then made our last move to a point where I hooked a small bass that got off before we could net it and John landed one more small guy. Wind kicked up even more and we headed in.
I think we did as good as we could under the conditions, but it is still painfully slow for this time of year.
Probably the most beautiful November day you could get for fishing. Had a Father and son light tackle charter out today and we left the dock at 11:00 am to catch the last of the incoming tide and work the out going in the back bay.
Again the water near high tide was still very brown. We shot to the back and started working up a small narrow creek with the tide still coming in. There was zero wind and it was actually hot. We were down to shirts and still felt warm. Worked the creek all the way up catching and missing a few small bass along the way.
Not hot action but we would get hits here and there with a fair number of followers. Worked it up to where it was 2 feet of water and too narrow to turn the boat around and worked it back out with the tide with the same action here and there. Fish were all small.
With the tide running out we tried a couple more creeks but only had some hits and misses. On our last move where we picked up a few more bass before heading back to the dock.
Father and son had a fun afternoon after catching 11 bass on a beautiful afternoon and we never needed to put the jackets and sweat shirts back on. Not many warm, calm days like this in November. It was a real treat.
No charter tomorrow and hoping for more good weather. I want to get out and get a few on the fly for myself.
We got that nice weather again. Not quite as nice as yesterday but close. Peter and I left the dock at 12:00 noon with the tide still coming in and decided to check out the inlet before heading to the back bay. Might just be some bigger bass nosing around the rocks. Found the water there still very dirty but visibility was getting better.
While fishing there was a large school of adult bunker that went by. We fished it for awhile, dropping flies below. I foul hooked a bunker while stripping the fly. We got no hits and nothing seemed to be under or working the bait as it just swam by undisturbed and marked no fish under it.
We shot to the back bay and worked up a shallow creek near the top of the tide. Creek had 3 to 5 feet of water in it and we worked it slow with the electric motor so we wouldn't spook fish. I hooked the first bass on that same old chartreuse fly. (it now has now caught over 80 stripers) At a hundred I will retire it.
We kept working our way back and missing and picking away at small stripers.
Peter was catching on a small brown and chartreuse clouser with some gold flash in it.
After catching 6 fish in the creek and the tide going out pretty good we moved to a couple of other spots that had current breaks. Here we caught 6 more bass and one sea herring about 17 inches long.
We had a fun afternoon and were back at the dock by 4:30
Got out this afternoon with father and son fly charter. It was their first time fly fishing in saltwater as they are trout fishermen use to much lighter wt. rods.
Another super day weather wise. Cloudy, no wind and very warm for November. Left the dock with the last of the incoming tide and the water was the cleanest and that I have seen it in a while.
We headed to the back bay creeks and before we started fishing I instructed them on how to cast the heavier sinking line and how to strip the fly and also about strip setting the hook (instead of lifting the rod to hook.)
Found the fishing in the creeks a bit slower than the last few days. It might of been that the water was very clear and you could see bottom in many places.
The dad got the firsts bass on the old stand by chartreuse fly. (his first striper ever)
Then his son got his first striper ever, on a chartreuse fly.
Fishing was a bit slower and the tide didn't have much power to it. We tried a few spots with some hits and misses. (Due to the old trout set) as we kiddingly called it. It was hard for them to break the old habits that work well for trout.
By late afternoon they were getting the feel of casting the sinking lines and their casts showed marked improvement. We also found some fish that were hungry. With the water so clear, I switched them over to clousers that were a little less bright and they started getting some small bass again to end the day.
They had a great time and were impressed with the fight of the small bass and couldn't imagine what it would be like to get a really big one hooked up and can't wait to get out and try it again.
Took a ride over to the Ferry jetties about an hour or so before high tide and the water was up pretty good. Wind was from my back.
Then later on the way home I stopped by Cape May harbor. Here is looking across toward the Lobster House.
Sorry for the quality of the photos but it was hard to take them into the heavy wind and rain.
Next one is across toward Canyon Club.
The last two are looking toward Harbor View. The sailboats are around 30 feet long.
Still have not had a chance to check on the boat. Power lines were down on the road to the marina and they would not let any traffic down the road. I believe it is OK as marina is on the leeward shore. Heavy wind still but no major waves on that side of the harbor. Wind is a not quite as bad but it is close to low tide.
Here are some more pictures of the harbor. First shows two of the sailboats that were moored in the harbor in yesterdays pictures. Didn't think they all of them would make it as the up and down on lines is tough even if you have gear to protect the lines.
This little boat is still holding in there. When I saw it the day before the storm it had a mast but the side stays were very loose and the it did not look good for a light wind. Mast is broken off.
Plus a few from the north end of Poverty Beach. This moring waves came over the dunes a little in a couple of spots. These pictures were taken at low tide.
This afternoon should be the worst with the high tide. Atleast Cape May tucks in a little to the south so our wave damage isn't as bad as the islands that het it head on.
Never got to get to the boat all day as they had the road closed, so I hope I still have one.
Late afternoon I checked the harbor as the tide was coming in and the wind picked up.
That blue boat I showed early is now sunk at the mooring and this 30 footer broke lose and is now on the beach. Heard another boat that was more broke lose and sunk as it pounded on pilings and bulkhead around the marina on this side.
Checked the beach front on the high tide and only a little was coming over into the street so I think we will make it. Hopefully the wind dies down a little for tomorrow.
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