Winds of change fishing report
By Chris GatleyEditor's note: Capt. Chris Gatley can be found with his fishing clients chasing striped bass in front of the Statue of Liberty, or heading offshore to the Atlantic Ocean canyons off the NJ/NY coast for tuna. His articles on cutting-edge fishing techniques can be found in The Fisherman Magazine, and he's a regular presenter at key sports shows during the winter months (when he's not pursuing whatever he can find in East Coast rivers).
The winds of change have shaken up consistent patterns here in the northeast. The southerly migration of fish has begun. One of the coolest fall events to unfold along the northeast happened this past week at Island Beach State Park in New Jersey. Surf fishing can be slow and boring. Too many times, fishermen line the beach to watch insane fish feeding melees just outside of surfcasting range.
This past week, schools of big 15-20 pound gator bluefish pushed one to two pound bunker and smaller bluefish up onto the beach, eating them along the way. Using the sandy beach as their feeding edge, these schools of ravenous bluefish ate voraciously for hours as people were casting everything they had into the action.
I could hear pandemonium in the background as my friend called me with live reports as the drama was unfolding.
I could hear guys in the background yelling "Look at that 15-pound bluefish trying to eat the four-pound bluefish."
This is the action that creates die hard passionate fishermen here in the northeast. This is what draws us out during a windy, northeast storm. But, it's far from over.
In fact, this is the action the winds of change will bring to each of us here along the striper coast of the northeast for the next couple months. Get ready, it has begun!
The inshore scene has people talking. The onshore winds have jumpstarted the striped bass migration, putting anglers on striped bass earlier than expected.
For all of us here in the northeast, the striped bass is one of the most sought after species. Stripers can be caught on various tackle such as fly rods, jigging, trolling and with bait which is why it's so alluring. Plus, they eat well too.
Currently, the bass bite off Montauk, N.Y. is good provided you have a boat. Fishermen using live eels are catching the most fish. False Albacore and bluefish are a great distraction and prevalent but it is the striper that consumes the minds of northeast fishermen.
Right now, the hot places to be for striped bass are the eastern portion of Long Island Sound, Montauk, N.Y. and the Block Island and Martha's Vineyard areas. As October rolls on, look for more striped bass to appear along your beaches as they begin migrating south. The tuna bite off of Massachusetts remains good with the tuna bite to the south very tough to find.
Spotty catches of bluefin inshore are being reported. The big groups of fish hanging off of New York City and North Jersey have moved on. Strong East and Northeast winds have moved the bait around; displacing that big pile of fish. Find the bait and you'll be the man (or woman).
To the south, the canyon fishery is offering a good wahoo bite just inside of the Poorman's Canyon while the white marlin bite in the Wilmington Canyon is very good.
Charlie Langan, Charter Boat Coordinator for South Jersey Marina in Cape May, N.J., said "Our charter fleet is heading south to cash in on the white marlin bite."
Charlie went on to say "Ballyhoo and Iland Lure combinations are taking most fish."
