Shrewsbury River

[briansnat]

I'll be hitting the Shrewsbury River next week taking my brother and his kids crabbing and/or fishing. We're going to start with crabs and if they don't cooperate switch over to fishing.

I'm not real up on saltwater fishing. I've done a little surf fishing and fluking over the years but that's about it.

I was thinking of going after fluke because I've done that before, but I haven't had great luck with fluke in the Shrewsbury in the past. What else can I expect to be in the Shrews this time of year and what baits, lures and techniques do you recommend? Would trolling spoons or Rat-L-Traps for stripers be worthwhile or a waste of time? How about casting poppers? If not what fish should be there in good enough numbers to be worth targeting?

[Reelron]

I'm assuming you have your own boat? If so I would consider launching back by Red Bank, on the Navesink River. Depending on the size of your boat maybe Chris' Navesink Marina. Just watch the tides, you don't want to try to launch at or near low tide. Even the "channel is only about 18-24 inches deep at dead low. There should be boats crabbing right outside the marina, also between the bridges.

If things are slow work your way down the Navesink toward the Shrewsbury. Bring some speering with you as this will be good bait for both Fluke & snapper blues. Check the area near MArine Park/Irwins Marina, in Red Bank. If things are slow keep moving, slow down again around the Oceanic Bridge. You will see boats anchored for crabbing or try drifting, the west side for fluke or throwing metal on the east side for blues.

Beyond that you need the advice of Will, aka Riverbassfishing. Good luck

[briansnat]

Yes I have my own boat and I usually launch at the free ramp in Long Branch. I'm a bit of a cheapskate whe it comes to paying launch fees.

Thanks for the advice, but I'll be on the Shrewsbury not the Navesink.

[june181901]

If you are launching in Long Branch motor over to the area north of the sewer plant in Monmouth Beach for crabbing. Also it never hurts to try fishing around Buoy 38 which is in the same general area.

[Capt. Debbie]

I don't think Chris's came back from Sandy yet.

Red Bank has been dead for crabs since 2012.

Oceanic is sort a of producing but way off.


I'm assuming you have your own boat? If so I would consider launching back by Red Bank, on the Navesink River. Depending on the size of your boat maybe Chris' Navesink Marina. Just watch the tides, you don't want to try to launch at or near low tide. Even the "channel is only about 18-24 inches deep at dead low. There should be boats crabbing right outside the marina, also between the bridges.

If things are slow work your way down the Navesink toward the Shrewsbury. Bring some speering with you as this will be good bait for both Fluke & snapper blues. Check the area near MArine Park/Irwins Marina, in Red Bank. If things are slow keep moving, slow down again around the Oceanic Bridge. You will see boats anchored for crabbing or try drifting, the west side for fluke or throwing metal on the east side for blues.

Beyond that you need the advice of Will, aka Riverbassfishing. Good luck

[Reelron]

I don't think Chris's came back from Sandy yet.

Red Bank has been dead for crabs since 2012.

Oceanic is sort a of producing but way off.

Their ramp is operational, no docks or piers.
Lots of mud. They even have a sign up, "Avoid low tide!"

[Arbutis]

Everything you need to know - right here in these two videos :D

The Wonder Rig (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B5LSRmrHz0) - Fluke in the Shrewsbury River (get a killie trap!) and pay close attention to the size of the hook used. Important.
Kids Fishing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AozzHypsnY) - Wonder Rig with Gulp (if you don't get killies - but get killies!)

Last Saturday I caught about 40 fluke with my easy limit of 5 keepers (mostly shorts but a good mix of keepers too)

Crabbing: The Shrewsbury is LOADED with seaweed right now but if you are able to find some spots with low weed, the crabs are really big - just had a bunch for lunch today!

72261

Good Luck.

Almost forgot, the Wonder Rig is so good - we busted out the Spidey pole (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LheffNTIYXg) and were still catching them (great for kids of all ages)

[briansnat]

Everything you need to know - right here in these two videos :D

The Wonder Rig (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B5LSRmrHz0) - Fluke in the Shrewsbury River (get a killie trap!) and pay close attention to the size of the hook used. Important.
Kids Fishing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AozzHypsnY) - Wonder Rig with Gulp (if you don't get killies - but get killies!)

Last Saturday I caught about 40 fluke with my easy limit of 5 keepers (mostly shorts but a good mix of keepers too)

Crabbing: The Shrewsbury is LOADED with seaweed right now but if you are able to find some spots with low weed, the crabs are really big - just had a bunch for lunch today!

72261

Good Luck.

Almost forgot, the Wonder Rig is so good - we busted out the Spidey pole (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LheffNTIYXg) and were still catching them (great for kids of all ages)

That's pretty much the fluke rig I use except I use a 1 oz bank sinker instead of the hookless jig. The jig looks like a good idea.

[No Keepers]

I hope this is not to much of a spot burn but I just wanted to give some advise on small stuff for the kids.

When you leave Branchport ramp you will see a stick channel on your right just before the first bridge. Thats Troutmans Creek. For crabs, set up in the middle of the Creek or just behind the small strip stores on your right. The only problem is the water is polluted from non-point source pollution generated from the race track. The water quality really changes between Branchport Creek and the Pleasure Bay. So be careful with anything you keep before you hit the Pleasure Bay.

I would get a seine net. When you hit the Pleasure Bay run straight across the bay to the Rumson side. Look for the sandy shoreline with the Rumson Golf Club pool complex on you right. Its a nice flat sandy bottom and a good spot to seine with the kids. You will seine a variety of bait and some crabs. Use the bait and do some flluking. Look for the fleet. In the Pleasure Bay thats 3 to 5 boats. Look between the islands or some where a little west. You should catch some fish but don't expect a limit. You will be lucky if you get 1 keeper per 20 shorts. If not, come back in the middle of August or early September. The snappers should be out by then.

[Arbutis]

I'm not sure I would take the advice of a guy called "No Keepers" :confused:
I've limited out in that channel every trip with keepers up to 24.5 inches this season.

Get some big killies using a $10 killie trap from KMart and a piece of Wonder Bread. Then follow my rig tying using LIGHT leader (12 lb) and a size 4 octo hook. Hit the buoys from #29 all the way up to #35 and try to stay in 11 feet of water or deeper the whole time. That's all I can help you with.

BTW - I used a bucktail with the hook still on last Saturday and a gulp on the hook and caught my first double header fluke-fluke. One keeper one short. So if there's no seaweed, feel free to use a hook on that bucky.

(The Wonder Bread is the first official step for the Wonder Rig to work properly)

[briansnat]

I'm not sure I would take the advice of a guy called "No Keepers" :confused:
I've limited out in that channel every trip with keepers up to 24.5 inches this season.

Get some big killies using a $10 killie trap from KMart and a piece of Wonder Bread. Then follow my rig tying using LIGHT leader (12 lb) and a size 4 octo hook. Hit the buoys from #29 all the way up to #35 and try to stay in 11 feet of water or deeper the whole time. That's all I can help you with.

BTW - I used a bucktail with the hook still on last Saturday and a gulp on the hook and caught my first double header fluke-fluke. One keeper one short. So if there's no seaweed, feel free to use a hook on that bucky.

(The Wonder Bread is the first official step for the Wonder Rig to work properly)

Thanks. I'll definitely try that area. I think that's roughly where I usually fish for fluke.

What about stripers. Would trolling or casting for stripes be a waste of time or would I have a reasonable shot at landing a couple?

[Arbutis]

Waste of time. Don't even bother. You may see some small bluefish but no stripers this time of year. They are here in April/May.

I would do fluke first, then crabbing.

[No Keepers]

[QUOTE=Arbutis;364832]I'm not sure I would take the advice of a guy called "No Keepers"

Why all the hate:confused:

Hit the buoys from #29 all the way up to #35 and try to stay in 11 feet of water or deeper the whole time.

Dosen't that start between the islands and run west.

BTW - I used a bucktail with the hook still on last Saturday and a gulp on the hook and caught my first double header fluke-fluke.

Congratulation on your first double header. I hope you have many more.

[briansnat]

Congratulation on your first double header. I hope you have many more.


I remember the winter flounder rigs I fished with my dad back in the 70's. A foot long wire bar with a weight in the middle and hooks on each end. Do people still use these? I have a bunch in the tackle box he gave me. I remember pulling up double headers on that rig.

[briansnat]

Waste of time. Don't even bother. You may see some small bluefish but no stripers this time of year. They are here in April/May.

I would do fluke first, then crabbing.

Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you.

[NoLimit]

I remember the winter flounder rigs I fished with my dad back in the 70's. A foot long wire bar with a weight in the middle and hooks on each end. Do people still use these? I have a bunch in the tackle box he gave me. I remember pulling up double headers on that rig.

A buddy of mine from Md bought that flounder rig when he visited us and used it drifting for fluke ("Well it says its a flounder rig!") and sure enough, he caught a double on fluke.

[DoubleG]

Hi - Can anyone tell me where the free ramp in Long Branch is? Or any other ramp in that area would be helpful!

Thanks

GG

[briansnat]

Hi - Can anyone tell me where the free ramp in Long Branch is? Or any other ramp in that area would be helpful!

Thanks

GG

The free ramp is on River Lane in Long Branch, just off Atlantic Ave See Map (http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=qqjrj78tzrh0&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=8550811&encType=1). It's about 10-15 minutes to the main river at no wake speeds.

If you want something closer to the main river, there is a good ramp in Blackberry Park on Port au Peck Ave in Oceanport. You need a permit which is available at Oceanport town hall. I think it's good all year and isn't very expensive. Only problem is that they are not open on weekends.

[DoubleG]

Thanks for the ramp info!!

Can anyone recommend a good bait shop in the area?

Thanks again

GG

[chicago bill]

long branch bait & tackle - atlantic and liberty. it's between the two ramps suggested.