Tough day porgy fishing

[porgylber]

I went to bed Monday night expecting to get up and sneak in a few hours casting for blues and fluke in M.I. Then the golden email arrived. Afternoon meeting canceled. So I hauled it to the dock to hop on a ns party boat to catch some porgies.
Weather was beautiful. Sea was like a lake. One problem. The pork chops didn’t cooperate. About 40 people on board. By my count, 6 porgies were landed. If it was a sea bass trip, a million were caught and returned. Most were small, but there were some hefty ones mixed in.
A nice surprise was all of the winter flounder landed. Easily 25-30. That, along with a few ling helped matters.
Here in NJ, the main porgy body is extremely late this year. The past 3 years were incredible, especially in terms of size as well as quantity. So…I guess a bad year was due to happen.
Hopefully things turn around in October and November before whatever is here begins the migration to the offshore wrecks.

[RAMMFISH66]

I am waiting for the end of October to go on the Prowler for porgies. Did real well 2 years ago. Here's hoping. See ya all later. For now, fresh water will hold me over at lake Tappan. Nice Carp, white/yellow perch too. Lotsa them. Some good size cats too. That's what happens when when you use nightcrawlers. Mixed bag

[tautog]

All from Breezy point east and north. Very few on our side which is why I have been sacrificing to the toll gods this year.

[porgylber]

All from Breezy point east and north. Very few on our side which is why I have been sacrificing to the toll gods this year.

They’ve been catching them for months now in the usual haunts, Long Island Sound, Moriches Bay, Gardiner’s Bay, etc. Along with Rockaway and east on the South shore.
Still one of the great mysteries in life. Why won’t they make the short swim from Coney Island/Rockaways to NJ waters.

[Jigman13]

The porgies they're catching out east are massive too. I fish the south shore beaches of Montauk with hi lol rigs and bail plate sized pork chops.

My buddy in long beach fishes breezy. He said you cant get away from them they're so thick out that way!

[bulletbob]

I am waiting for the end of October to go on the Prowler for porgies. Did real well 2 years ago. Here's hoping. See ya all later. For now, fresh water will hold me over at lake Tappan. Nice Carp, white/yellow perch too. Lotsa them. Some good size cats too. That's what happens when when you use nightcrawlers. Mixed bag

His last report stated he was not going to fish for porgies this year... Tells you something about the porgy fishing in NJ this year so far ..

Looks like some of the head boats will be fishing for blues after fluke shuts down....Either that or take off until sea bass opens...

[bulletbob]

They’ve been catching them for months now in the usual haunts, Long Island Sound, Moriches Bay, Gardiner’s Bay, etc. Along with Rockaway and east on the South shore.
Still one of the great mysteries in life. Why won’t they make the short swim from Coney Island/Rockaways to NJ waters.

In my opinion NJ is more on the fringes for certain fisheries... When populations of certain fish are high we see a good "overflow".. When populations are down, there are still plenty in their "home "range, but the borderline areas don't get them..

[tautog]

Funny thing is we were catching 12 inch scup on every drop off Hatteras in 100 feet in late June. The fish have no issues with even warmer water down there. Seems like they are actually pushing the pink porgies and ringtails out of some spots.

[porgylber]

Funny thing is we were catching 12 inch scup on every drop off Hatteras in 100 feet in late June. The fish have no issues with even warmer water down there. Seems like they are actually pushing the pink porgies and ringtails out of some spots.

No doubt. I regularly follow and read reports from a charter operation in Key West, Florida. Every now and then they catch porgies. They are huge, easily running 4-5 lbs plus. So, warm water is not an issue for them.

[tautog]

Key West porgies are likely not scup. Scup used to stop north of Cape Hatteras but seem to be making a good showing in the depths off North Carolina now.

[porgylber]

Key West porgies are likely not scup. Scup used to stop north of Cape Hatteras but seem to be making a good showing in the depths off North Carolina now.

You are correct. After researching I now know more about scup, red porgys sea bream than I ever thought possible!
Perhaps we should fall in line with other states that call them scup!

[bulletbob]

Key West porgies are likely not scup. Scup used to stop north of Cape Hatteras but seem to be making a good showing in the depths off North Carolina now.

Interesting.. I didn't think scup would range that far south in any numbers in summer... Maybe there is some sort of preferred food thats become abundant there, and there is no need for them to range north...

[1captainron]

[QUOTE=bulletbob;563024]His last report stated he was not going to fish for porgies this year... Tells you something about the porgy fishing in NJ this year so far ..

We had over 500 fish on Saturday Bob and bust our ass everyday to get it done, because one boat who decided to wait and take some time off means the fishing is bad? Check some of the NY boats out of the bay reports, fishing couldn't get any better, just have to fish where they are biting:mad:! Common man.....:mad:

[tautog]

Interesting.. I didn't think scup would range that far south in any numbers in summer... Maybe there is some sort of preferred food thats become abundant there, and there is no need for them to range north...

I have fished there for 20 years and have only seen them the past 5 years. This year we actually ran away from them on two spots because you couldn't get through them to the triggers and vermillion snapper. A single 12"-13" every time you dropped down even on relatively thick gauge 2/0 hooks. At the same time, pink porgies are becoming more rare in certain areas.

[bulletbob]

[QUOTE=bulletbob;563024]His last report stated he was not going to fish for porgies this year... Tells you something about the porgy fishing in NJ this year so far ..

We had over 500 fish on Saturday Bob and bust our ass everyday to get it done, because one boat who decided to wait and take some time off means the fishing is bad? Check some of the NY boats out of the bay reports, fishing couldn't get any better, just have to fish where they are biting:mad:! Common man.....:mad:

Glad you are getting them in big numbers cap... Lots of guys on the NJ side aren't this year ... I figured that might be a reason Scott said he wasn't porgy fishing.. You are out there every day, I'm not. You are the expert and I am certainly not!
If the fishing is good, hey I'm wrong and should have said nothing, but usually by this time, they are pretty much everywhere, in the bay, in the shrewsbury etc... Just not seeing many reports... Glad the porgy fishing is good, hope you have a great showing on them until sea bass opens up... bob