New Long Branch Fishing Pier

[Gerry Zagorski]

How about that!

https://patch.com/new-jersey/longbranch/amp/31681479/long-branch-will-build-all-new-fishing-pier-into-atlantic-ocean

[Fishfulthinkin]

I like this!!! We used to fish off the old pier in the 70’s catching whiting, then have some cocktails in the pier bar. Good days!

[Broad Bill]

That is great news! Shocking but great! With all the money New Jersey recreational anglers pour into state and federal coffers, it about time a decent pier is in the plans to promote a legacy recreational activity. If it's draws fish anywhere near how the old pier did, it'll be an incredible success story. That area, proximity to structure in deeper water, lights at night attracting bait fish, crabs, lobsters attracted to the pilings and blackfish attracted to the crustaceans, it was a fisherman's dream. Some of the best fluke fishing I've ever seen came off that pier, especially in the fall when schools of big fluke came inshore for the beginning of the mullet run to store up energy before beginning their long journey off shore. I'd bet if we see sand eels return in numbers, you'll reestablish a night ling fishery as well with maybe a token whiting thrown in the mix. The ling / whiting fishery every night if you had a high tide was literally off the charts with triple headers coming up routinely. As soon as it got dark, sand eels would flood in and ling and whiting would follow. It was like clockwork. Plus it was a relatively cheap way for a family or anyone to spend a day at the shore with a chance of catching dinner or a fish of a lifetime. People who never knew the old pier have no idea how incredibly great it was. Good to see someone finally made the decision and financial commitment to replace it, never thought we'd ever see that happen certainly in my lifetime. Kudo's to the state and Long Branch for making this commitment. Job well done!

[SplitShot]

I like this!!! We used to fish off the old pier in the 70’s catching whiting, then have some cocktails in the pier bar. Good days!

I can't believe it's almost 50 yrs ago but I used to do the same thing!! Feels like just yesterday :D

[AndyS]

That was one of the great things about Southern California, all the piers ! No one seems to talk about the old Casino Pier in Seaside before Sandy took that away. Hopefully this project gets off the ground and isn't derailed by major cost overruns, that along with a few Nor'easters.

[Capt. Debbie]

Can they bring in Whiting from a hatchery too? Wow the memories!

Last time I fished LB Pier was a wintery Thursday night w/ first run Star Trek TV shows on afterwards. :)

[shbeachbum]

Can they bring in Whiting from a hatchery too? Wow the memories!

Last time I fished LB Pier was a wintery Thursday night w/ first run Star Trek TV shows on afterwards. :)

My opinion is with the beach replenishment and the notched jetties, the old pier atmosphere can not be duplicated.

[Broad Bill]

I don't see a 500 ft pier any different than the fish magnet arguments people used about wind farms or oil rigs. Pilings will attract forage, forage will attract predators, night lights will attract baitfish and baitfish will attract predators. The question is how far out will the pier go into the ocean. Will it extend 100 ft or 450 ft. If it's out as far as the old pier, it'll be fine. The surrounding contour of the old pier was all sand, no structure and fishing was incredible.

[catsmeow]

Wow just turned 79 and remember the winter night trips for whiting. My memory of it bring cold and a tough place for a kid to fish. Used to retreat to the warm restaurant. Also remember some tough winter trips out to the scotland light trip. Still fishing around the hook in my boat for summer fluke. I think whats the one thing that never changes. The tide. Tight lines !

[bulletbob]

I don't see a 500 ft pier any different than the fish magnet arguments people used about wind farms or oil rigs. Pilings will attract forage, forage will attract predators, night lights will attract baitfish and baitfish will attract predators. The question is how far out will the pier go into the ocean. Will it extend 100 ft or 450 ft. If it's out as far as the old pier, it'll be fine. The surrounding contour of the old pier was all sand, no structure and fishing was incredible.

Outside of the Whiting/Ling, I'm not sure I would describe the fishing there as incredible... There were fluke/blues, other things like kingfish ,blowfish, a porgy once in a while, and believe it or not in those days no one really fished much for blackfish at the pier.. It was often picky during the warm months, with a lot of sea robins, dogs, skates etc, The winter Ling and Whiting made that pier famous,.. outside of that, I dunno, you could do as well or better at a good jetty.

Even when the ling/whiting were in solid you had to be out at the end of the pier preferably in a corner spot most nights... those fish were seldom along the sides in any great numbers..
Still, I think its a great thing that there will be a new a new pier to fish from in Long Branch.. hopefully, it will be a little more kid friendly and easier to fish from than the original was.. It certainly can't hurt the town thats for sure.. It will bring revenue to local business for certain.. I hope its reasonably priced , thats important these days. Working families not making big money can use a break from the crazy prices they have to pay for everything. bob

[Detour66]

This is great! There are lots of rocks off of Long Branch that hold fish.

[Broad Bill]

Outside of the Whiting/Ling, I'm not sure I would describe the fishing there as incredible... There were fluke/blues, other things like kingfish ,blowfish, a porgy once in a while, and believe it or not in those days no one really fished much for blackfish at the pier.. It was often picky during the warm months, with a lot of sea robins, dogs, skates etc, The winter Ling and Whiting made that pier famous,.. outside of that, I dunno, you could do as well or better at a good jetty.

Even when the ling/whiting were in solid you had to be out at the end of the pier preferably in a corner spot most nights... those fish were seldom along the sides in any great numbers..
Still, I think its a great thing that there will be a new a new pier to fish from in Long Branch.. hopefully, it will be a little more kid friendly and easier to fish from than the original was.. It certainly can't hurt the town thats for sure.. It will bring revenue to local business for certain.. I hope its reasonably priced , thats important these days. Working families not making big money can use a break from the crazy prices they have to pay for everything. bob

Bob,

Going to disagree with you on this one. Fluke fishing was phenomenal off that pier. One day in the fall there were 15 fish landed over 8 lbs. with 6 of those over 10. I personally have caught 4 fish over 8lb, one over 9 and lost a fish in the mesh basket they used which easily went 12 plus. Someone had dead fishing line wrapped around the basket and after I got the fish in the basket, the guy helping me lift the basket didn't realize the line was on the basket, line caught onto one of the pilings, basket flipped and the biggest fluke I've ever seen up until that time was gone. Black fishing was limited to high tides but if you cast underneath the pier during the high tides around the pilings there were big blackfish to catch. Weak fishing when we had anchovy runs along the coast was sensational at night. Ling and whiting I agree were the headliner but there was great fishing for many species on the pier. The hot spot was the front but there were many caught on the sides especially next to the automatic chum grinder they had on the north side. And when fishing was slow, the bar / restaurant had the best clam chowder I think I've ever tasted. Would be good to see another ocean pier in that area and I think the fishing opportunities will be just as good as the original pier.

Bill

[Broad Bill]

This is great! There are lots of rocks off of Long Branch that hold fish.

And those same fish will come in at different times to the pier if its extends far enough into the ocean for the reasons stated earlier. That's what made the old pier so good, it was around great structure and attracted a ton of forage.

[hammer4reel]

Hopefully it’s built better than the one in Ocean grove which is now barricaded off

[duranautic al]

sorry bulletbob...you are 100 percent wrong on this one..a fisherman did NOT have to be at the end of the pier in a corner to catch ling/whiting...once again your pessimism has overridden your memory

[Fishin Dude]

Artists image looks a lot nicer than the fishing pier they just built across Lake Carasaljo in Lakewood.

[bulletbob]

sorry bulletbob...you are 100 percent wrong on this one..a fisherman did NOT have to be at the end of the pier in a corner to catch ling/whiting...once again your pessimism has overridden your memory

Ok, the sides were terrific... All the guys crowded the end of the pier, especially the northeast corner just for the companionship...

Look I was there.:rolleyes: I lived not far from the pier in the early 80's...

it was long ago but my memory isn't that bad yet.. the guys at the sides of the pier never saw the numbers the guys fishing the end saw, especially the NE corner which was THE hot spot... There were fish there along the sides, but the majority of the fish were caught on on a fairly long cast off the end , and it was always like that..
The end was ALWAYS crowded, and most guys typically fished along the sides only if they could not find a spot on the end of the pier. Why even bother fishing the sides??.. You might as well just fish off the jetty the was right along side the pier on the north side, and save the entrance fee...

[bulletbob]

Bob,

Going to disagree with you on this one. Fluke fishing was phenomenal off that pier. One day in the fall there were 15 fish landed over 8 lbs. with 6 of those over 10. I personally have caught 4 fish over 8lb, one over 9 and lost a fish in the mesh basket they used which easily went 12 plus. Someone had dead fishing line wrapped around the basket and after I got the fish in the basket, the guy helping me lift the basket didn't realize the line was on the basket, line caught onto one of the pilings, basket flipped and the biggest fluke I've ever seen up until that time was gone. Black fishing was limited to high tides but if you cast underneath the pier during the high tides around the pilings there were big blackfish to catch. Weak fishing when we had anchovy runs along the coast was sensational at night. Ling and whiting I agree were the headliner but there was great fishing for many species on the pier. The hot spot was the front but there were many caught on the sides especially next to the automatic chum grinder they had on the north side. And when fishing was slow, the bar / restaurant had the best clam chowder I think I've ever tasted. Would be good to see another ocean pier in that area and I think the fishing opportunities will be just as good as the original pier.

Bill
I won't argue, never saw days as you describe, but of course that doesn't mean much.. I will say however, that a LOT of fishing on the NJ shore was as you described back in those days... The pier was good, but so were an awful lot of other places during those years..

[bulletbob]

Did some research- the new pier is going to be 172 feet shorter than the old one, which is pretty substantial.. I was hoping it would be as long or longer, but you know what they say about a gift horse........

[Togfather2530]

That is great news! Shocking but great! With all the money New Jersey recreational anglers pour into state and federal coffers, it about time a decent pier is in the plans to promote a legacy recreational activity. If it's draws fish anywhere near how the old pier did, it'll be an incredible success story. That area, proximity to structure in deeper water, lights at night attracting bait fish, crabs, lobsters attracted to the pilings and blackfish attracted to the crustaceans, it was a fisherman's dream. Some of the best fluke fishing I've ever seen came off that pier, especially in the fall when schools of big fluke came inshore for the beginning of the mullet run to store up energy before beginning their long journey off shore. I'd bet if we see sand eels return in numbers, you'll reestablish a night ling fishery as well with maybe a token whiting thrown in the mix. The ling / whiting fishery every night if you had a high tide was literally off the charts with triple headers coming up routinely. As soon as it got dark, sand eels would flood in and ling and whiting would follow. It was like clockwork. Plus it was a relatively cheap way for a family or anyone to spend a day at the shore with a chance of catching dinner or a fish of a lifetime. People who never knew the old pier have no idea how incredibly great it was. Good to see someone finally made the decision and financial commitment to replace it, never thought we'd ever see that happen certainly in my lifetime. Kudo's to the state and Long Branch for making this commitment. Job well done!

Living in the past reminiscing, I get it. The fishing isn’t comparable today.

[catsmeow]

Having been there in the 50's i would agree with bob

[Broad Bill]

Living in the past reminiscing, I get it. The fishing isn’t comparable today.

Not living in the past, just talking about it which is allowed correct?

[hammer4reel]

Living in the past reminiscing, I get it. The fishing isn’t comparable today.

You probably should take up golf

[Togfather2530]

Yeah you’re probably right the golf is probably better today. They probably have better courses etc. than they had back in the day. I however don’t golf. I do, however, except the truth of what we are facing today. Once that peer is in there, let me know how many ling and whiting you catch. 🤣🤣🤦*♂️🤦*♂️.

[Togfather2530]

Not living in the past, just talking about it which is allowed correct?

Yes Bill I agree. You are totally allowed to talk about it. I just would not expect the same results on the new peer that you had on the old one. I hope more than anyone that those days return. Hell the fishing isn’t even meant that good with $150,000 boat and the best electronic equipment can buy lol. I don’t consider myself the best fisherman by any means, but I have gotten better over the years and it continually becomes harder and harder so that should tell you something

[hammer4reel]

Yeah you’re probably right the golf is probably better today. They probably have better courses etc. than they had back in the day. I however don’t golf. I do, however, except the truth of what we are facing today. Once that peer is in there, let me know how many ling and whiting you catch. ������*♂️��*♂️.

I don’t expect to see either of those fish there .
But there def has been more whiting and ling at the mud hole than in years .
A commercial friend of mine usually lets me know when to go .
We get enough whiting for one good smoke
And the whiting have been pretty decent size .

[Broad Bill]

Yes Bill I agree. You are totally allowed to talk about it. I just would not expect the same results on the new peer that you had on the old one. I hope more than anyone that those days return. Hell the fishing isn’t even meant that good with $150,000 boat and the best electronic equipment can buy lol. I don’t consider myself the best fisherman by any means, but I have gotten better over the years and it continually becomes harder and harder so that should tell you something

TF I agree, if my post implied the fishing would be the same that wasn't my intent. With that said, I think IF the pier extends far enough there could be a very good fluke fishery. I also think there could be some ling caught again, whiting is a different issue. I think with the resurgence of bunker and bass, there could be a decent seasonal bass fishery, limited but it could happen. I think black fish will be attracted and any other species attracted by jetties. Will it be the same fishery as the 60's and 70's, none are. Would it be great to have a decent ocean fishing pier, yes. That's all I was trying to say.

[Broad Bill]

I don’t expect to see either of those fish there .
But there def has been more whiting and ling at the mud hole than in years .
A commercial friend of mine usually lets me know when to go .
We get enough whiting for one good smoke
And the whiting have been pretty decent size .

Those are some beautiful whiting. If regulations are put in place to protect these fish from small mesh netters, I believe the fishery will once again expand in very decent numbers to the Mud Hole and NY Bite. But the regulations can't allow unabated netting with tens of thousands of juveniles left floating on the surface. If changes were made in fisheries management, which I have little to no faith there will be, to honestly manage stocks instead of managing commercial catch values, there'd be enough to go around for everyone. And in the case of ling and whiting, you'd see another world class fishery for bluefins in the Mud Hole in the Spring and Fall during their migration past our coast.

[hammer4reel]

Those are some beautiful whiting. If regulations are put in place to protect these fish from small mesh netters, I believe the fishery will once again expand in very decent numbers to the Mud Hole and NY Bite. But the regulations can't allow unabated netting with tens of thousands of juveniles left floating on the surface. If changes were made in fisheries management, which I have little to no faith there will be, to honestly manage stocks instead of managing commercial catch values, there'd be enough to go around for everyone. And in the case of ling and whiting, you'd see another world class fishery for bluefins in the Mud Hole in the Spring and Fall during their migration past our coast.

No doubt , have seen miles of floaters there on trips coming back from offshore .
And some times they aren’t all tiny fish .

[Broad Bill]

No doubt , have seen miles of floaters there on trips coming back from offshore .
And some times they aren’t all tiny fish .

And if summer and winter flounder had swim bladders and floated when dead, we'd all know exactly what's happened and is happening to both those fisheries.

[Capt Sal]

Living in the past reminiscing, I get it. The fishing isn’t comparable today.

You cant' steal my memories . Fished it in the Fifties with grand pop and my dad.Roy's smoke house .Give them a hundred and they give you fifty smoked!

[Broad Bill]

As many fish as recreational anglers kept, which was significant, it didn't put a dent in the fishery. Every year the biomass was solid. Reason being whiting and ling were primarily an inshore winter fishery with some bottom fishing boats targeting them during the summer in deeper water. Both stocks had tremendous spawning strength. As soon as foreign factory ships and domestic small mesh netters targeted them, both stocks virtually disappeared in a few years, something no one ever thought possible. Shows just how destructive commercial netting can be when there's no boundaries or closed seasons.

[Togfather2530]

Good thread and information from everyone. Thanks

[Broad Bill]

You cant' steal my memories . Fished it in the Fifties with grand pop and my dad.Roy's smoke house .Give them a hundred and they give you fifty smoked!

With the sad state of today's whiting fishery, if you give them one today they'll give you back half a smoked fillet. Hammer those pictures on your post sure do bring back great memories. And they're some beautiful baseball bat sized whiting. Your dog looks ready to chow down! It wouldn't take much, in my humble opinion, to re-establish that fishery but the fishery needs to be managed for it to happen. Won't happen by itself. Plus the economic impacts to commercials, party boats, for hire and recreational angler spending would be significant.

[Broad Bill]

No doubt , have seen miles of floaters there on trips coming back from offshore .
And some times they aren’t all tiny fish .

I've witnessed the same too many times. We'd stop and net a five gallon bucket in 15 minutes of the spikes to use for yellow fin and bigeyes on the way out. It brought a tear to my eye seeing literally thousands upon thousands of dead juveniles floating on the surface with a fair share as you mentioned of mediums and some jumbos mixed in. The regulations I believe allow it and if so the only thing that'll change it are changes to the regulations. It's madness, it really is.

[hammer4reel]

With the sad state of today's whiting fishery, if you give them one today they'll give you back half a smoked fillet. Hammer those pictures on your post sure do bring back great memories. And they're some beautiful baseball bat sized whiting. Your dog looks ready to chow down! It wouldn't take much, in my humble opinion, to re-establish that fishery but the fishery needs to be managed for it to happen. Won't happen by itself. Plus the economic impacts to commercials, party boats, for hire and recreational angler spending would be significant.

The part no one will want to believe is those whiting were caught in the first week of May , not the typical time they were fished for .

Seems ling fishery that also was a favorite wintertime fishery even only back 12 years or so is also a much better spring fishery now

All the talk of everything moving north doesn’t fit that timeline .

So next question is why such a shift of seasons .
Is it because they are here more than we think ? And actually left alone by the commercial guys who are usually targeting a different species then .

And is the amount of ling and whiting around in May, June really why the giants have been back here at that same time frame .

If no one targets them , no one knows they are there !

.

[Broad Bill]

I've hammered cod in April and May on the SRR. Depending on what's coming out of the Hudson will have substantial impact on water temps in the hole. These fish have such tremendous reproductive strength if they're given a chance the stock will rebuild. And if there's ling, cod and whiting in the MH area, giants and mediums will be sure to follow. That's the way it was for decades, don't see it being any different today if the regulations took some pressure off the stock commercially.

[Broad Bill]

Just an FYI, I'm very concerned you and I are starting to agree on things:D. JK of course. We're in lock step on this thread.

[hammer4reel]

Just an FYI, I'm very concerned you and I are starting to agree on things:D. JK of course. We're in lock step on this thread.

Glad to see you finally coming around lol

[cukes]

You cant' steal my memories . Fished it in the Fifties with grand pop and my dad.Roy's smoke house .Give them a hundred and they give you fifty smoked! Back in those days it was great, two dollars got you admission to the pier plus they supplied the bait, people bunked out for the weekend sleeping bags and all, good life

[dales529]

The part no one will want to believe is those whiting were caught in the first week of May , not the typical time they were fished for .

Seems ling fishery that also was a favorite wintertime fishery even only back 12 years or so is also a much better spring fishery now

All the talk of everything moving north doesn’t fit that timeline .

So next question is why such a shift of seasons .
Is it because they are here more than we think ? And actually left alone by the commercial guys who are usually targeting a different species then .

And is the amount of ling and whiting around in May, June really why the giants have been back here at that same time frame .

If no one targets them , no one knows they are there !

.

Good point about no one targeting them often enough. Hard to say why the seasons changed but nature has a way of taking care of itself regardless of what we do as recreational / not always in the case of huge exploitation by commercial.
Trying to find an interesting article I recently read about the lower levels as in the prey for most species: Sandeels, Sardines, Herring, Shrimp, even Krill and how they have changed their patterns based on water quality, temps etc.
Not always about the target species we go after and their habits but the habits of what they eat.

[Broad Bill]

Not always about the target species we go after and their habits but the habits of what they eat.

I think that's true in most all cases and with most all species. Even on open ground, if there's forage you'll find predators. If fish seek colder water, they don't have to travel north, they can just as easily make a slight shift east in our local waters to find temps they're comfortable with and off course forage.

[tautog]

If there is any number of whiting around in the spring and early summer, that are not anywhere that I've fished. I bottom fish all year from 25 feet to 300 feet and am lucky to catch a half dozen a year, mostly spikes. Ling fishing has become pathetic as well. If sea bass was open all summer, ling just might bounce back a bit.