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| Mon., Oct. 6, 2008 |
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| Moon Phase: First Quarter |
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Next Full: Oct. 14 Next New: Oct. 29 Sunrise: 6:58 a.m. Sunset: 6:29 p.m. |
| More Info |
| Double the Fun Striper and Flounder Fishing from the Raritan Bayshore By Mark Marquez II Posted 3/14/08 |
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Every March is the same for New Jersey saltwater fishing. It’s like hurry up and wait. Winter is ending, and striped bass and winter flounder seasons are opening, the first seasons of the year. So it’s time to wet a line, right? Well, If only the fish felt like biting. At first, water temperatures are too low, bottomed out in the high 30s or low 40s But give it time. At some point between the middle and end of the month the water reaches 45 degrees, making the fish begin to perk The mud flats from South Amboy to Sometime in March, when the water temperatures rise, the crabs and bait From then through April and the first days of May the bayshore is hands down one of the state’s best places for early season fishing, and one of the best fisheries period. What’s more, both stripers and flounder run rampant here, unlike anywhere in Jersey. Good things come to those who wait. Surf fishing is an excellent way to connect with these fish, because the flats run adjacent to the shore. Multiple catches of stripers, even occasional big ones to 30 or 40 pounds, per surf angler are not uncommon. Neither are 8 to 10 flatties per day. A mix of both species is often the rule more than the exception. The catches last until bluefish invade by early May, making it difficult to get baits past the choppers. |
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Once the striper and flounder fishing turns on, the bite can take place on any tide, Chris said. High outgoing water, almost the top of the tide, is best, but anglers also score at all different times, including low tides. For the stripers, most anglers dunk sandworms or clams on a fish-finder rig. For worms, use a 4/0 or 5/0 hook, and for clams, at least a 6/0 hook. Save your fishing with plugs or lures for later. The fish are pointing their noses toward the mud, looking to Hoover up an easy meal. |
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In late March or early April, pods of bunker start schooling through. When the bunker appear, striper anglers use 7/0 or 8/0 snagging hooks to catch the menhaden for striper bait. |
 The Cliffwood Rock Wall. Photo courtesy of Crabby's Bait and Tackle. |
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For flounder, most use a combo of bits of clam and worm on the same hook. Simply use a flounder rig, and don’t be afraid to use ones with large hooks, because the flatties can be decent-sized, Chris said. He’s also seen flounder anglers draw in the fish by throwing crushed clams or mussels in the water. Flounder are known to be attracted to debris and stirred up bottom, in search of food, even to the point that anglers will bounce the rigs on the bottom a bit to send up clouds of smoke that the flatties will investigate.
The blackbacks will sometimes nibble, chew, examine and reject baits. I’ve seen flounder anglers treat the hooking of their baits like art, using only certain parts of the clam, like the strips on the edges they call the lips, and hooking them a certain way. That’s only learned by experience. I’ve had expert flounder anglers sitting beside me in crowded waters, where the fish were difficult to catch, and they’ve looked at my rod in my hand and told me that I was getting a bite that I didn’t even notice. Again, that’s experience, or lack thereof! But that’s one of the reasons flounder fishing is fun: the challenge. For stripers, an 8- or 9-foot medium to medium-heavy rod is perfect. Striper anglers will know when a linesider hits. That’s one of the reasons striper fishing is fun! The same rod can be used for flounder, but when specifically targeting flounder, anglers prefer a lighter rod with a more sensitive tip.
The shore along the Cliffwood Bogs, a swamp, also produces. The Keyport bulkhead is another place to fish and is only two blocks from the store. The Keyport fishing pier is another and is free and includes public bathrooms. One thing that Chris asked is to please pack out whatever you bring in, respecting the residents from the area. Litter has been a problem. Man, when this fishing is on, it’s as good as anywhere. And the ability to catch two favorite species side by side is unusual. Double the fun. |
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Chris wasn’t asked about details of flounder rigs and baits. But flounder fishers can be some of the more artful anglers, because these fish can be some of the more finicky feeders.
The fishing is accessible at many places along the bayshore. But Chris recommends Cliffwood Beach and the Cliffwood Rock Wall. Cliffwood Beach offers plenty of parking, and the rock wall includes limited parking. 