Honest 2 man fishing report for Friday and Saturday

[Togfather2530]

Had the boat out of the water to repair a trim pump last week so we put it back in at Atlantic Highlands Friday morning. Plenty of peanuts in the marina so I made a quick throw and got plenty of bait. We fished around the harbor for about a half hour to see if there were any fluke under the bait until my buddy got impatient. From there we headed top the bend in the ambrose channel. Here we missed a few fluke bites but then got overrun by big dogs. Got the hell out of there and headed east to off the coast of the rockaway reef. Here a lot of boats were tuna fishing and doing well catching a lot of overs that needed released. Crazy inshore tuna. We didn't have any tuna gear on the boat. We drifted here for about an hour or so and managed 5 shorts. We then headed to atlantic reef. There wasn't too many boats there like previous times we fished it. we fished this area thoroughly since we made a long run to get there. The drift was decent but the fluke bite did not exist. On the way back in we fished the rockaway reef for about 45 minutes. Same thing decent drift, no bite. After Fridays lousy fishing I was tempted to stay in and fish the shrewsberry and navasink but my buddy was afraid he was missing something in the ocean so we headed out. We first headed to the scotland area. We got there and there were quite a few boats and no drift. We worked it for about an hour then headed to the new grounds. Same thing, non existent fluke bite and not much drift. From here we hit the mud buoy area. Here there were party boats blue fishing and guys flaking. Here I quickly managed a limit of sea bass but there was also hardly any fluke bite. I tied on a jig and tried blue fishing for a bit. I only managed to hook up on 2 dinky blues that got off. From what I could see the party boats were moving around a lot looking for the blues but not getting all that much and all small fish. The blue fishing certainly isn't what it was back in the day in barnagat lol. Its all baby blues now. Im glad to see the bluefish regs lowered. Id love to know where all the big blues got to. I only keep the smaller ones anyway but there are no big blues around anymore it seems. We went back to flaking in this area but couldn't manage a bite so we left early. So in 2 days of fishing with 2 guy we had 6 keeper sea bass and 0 fluke and not a whole lot of short fluke either. This fishery is in serious trouble imo. We had plenty of great days flaking here years back but every year it gets progressively worse and this year is the worst for us yet. We fished with live peanuts, dead peanuts, gulp, spearing, etc.. All the "good fishing" reports I read on here from charters blow my mind as I don't see that it's possible. Im out there, and I see it for my own eyes. I hope We will have a better report for you next time out but it is what it is, No sugar coating anything here.

Check your pm

[Jigman13]

That's rough. I fished back of the raritan from shore friday evening from 6 to 830. Had about 15 fluke, 2 keepers and all the cocktails blue you'd ever want.

With all the bait pouring outta the creeks and marinas, it's fairly clear why fish are still in the back... peanuts, spearing, mullet, etc. THICK in the back... ospreys and bald eagles having a blast too!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by Togfather2530

Had the boat out of the water to repair a trim pump last week so we put it back in at Atlantic Highlands Friday morning. Plenty of peanuts in the marina so I made a quick throw and got plenty of bait. We fished around the harbor for about a half hour to see if there were any fluke under the bait until my buddy got impatient. From there we headed top the bend in the ambrose channel. Here we missed a few fluke bites but then got overrun by big dogs. Got the hell out of there and headed east to off the coast of the rockaway reef. Here a lot of boats were tuna fishing and doing well catching a lot of overs that needed released. Crazy inshore tuna. We didn't have any tuna gear on the boat. We drifted here for about an hour or so and managed 5 shorts. We then headed to atlantic reef. There wasn't too many boats there like previous times we fished it. we fished this area thoroughly since we made a long run to get there. The drift was decent but the fluke bite did not exist. On the way back in we fished the rockaway reef for about 45 minutes. Same thing decent drift, no bite. After Fridays lousy fishing I was tempted to stay in and fish the shrewsberry and navasink but my buddy was afraid he was missing something in the ocean so we headed out. We first headed to the scotland area. We got there and there were quite a few boats and no drift. We worked it for about an hour then headed to the new grounds. Same thing, non existent fluke bite and not much drift. From here we hit the mud buoy area. Here there were party boats blue fishing and guys flaking. Here I quickly managed a limit of sea bass but there was also hardly any fluke bite. I tied on a jig and tried blue fishing for a bit. I only managed to hook up on 2 dinky blues that got off. From what I could see the party boats were moving around a lot looking for the blues but not getting all that much and all small fish. The blue fishing certainly isn't what it was back in the day in barnagat lol. Its all baby blues now. Im glad to see the bluefish regs lowered. Id love to know where all the big blues got to. I only keep the smaller ones anyway but there are no big blues around anymore it seems. We went back to flaking in this area but couldn't manage a bite so we left early. So in 2 days of fishing with 2 guy we had 6 keeper sea bass and 0 fluke and not a whole lot of short fluke either. This fishery is in serious trouble imo. We had plenty of great days flaking here years back but every year it gets progressively worse and this year is the worst for us yet. We fished with live peanuts, dead peanuts, gulp, spearing, etc.. All the "good fishing" reports I read on here from charters blow my mind as I don't see that it's possible. Im out there, and I see it for my own eyes. I hope We will have a better report for you next time out but it is what it is, No sugar coating anything here.

Great report.. I read stories such as yours and say "there's an honest guy, THATS how it really is.. Then I'll read reports here that say "We limited out in an hour and went into C&R mode for the rest of the day",,, The party boat pics always look great, the bloody deck charter boat pics are always impressive, guys say they did great fishing right from shore, etc... Its getting to where I don't know which reports are more accurate.... Lots of variation here on this site this year.... Sorry about the crap fishing- You'll get em' next time!....

[JSBlue26]

Yesterday there was a heave from Henri and fluking stunk all over. Anytime there is a ground swell fluke fishing is tough unless you try the riverS, or until the ocean settles down. Fishery is not in trouble just didn’t pick the right day when conditions are favorable.

Blue fishing has been the same way all summer. 2-4# blues with some smaller/larger in the mix. We’re very fortunate to have them this year compared to the past several years when we could only catch chub mackerel both day & night. Big blues ARE around just 25+ miles ....... with all due respect not trying to be an A-Hole or know it all just adding a realistic perspective.

[Togfather2530]

Originally Posted by JSBlue26

Yesterday there was a heave from Henri and fluking stunk all over. Anytime there is a ground swell fluke fishing is tough unless you try the riverS, or until the ocean settles down. Fishery is not in trouble just didn’t pick the right day when conditions are favorable.

Blue fishing has been the same way all summer. 2-4# blues with some smaller/larger in the mix. We’re very fortunate to have them this year compared to the past several years when we could only catch chub mackerel both day & night. Big blues ARE around just 25+ miles ....... with all due respect not trying to be an A-Hole or know it all just adding a realistic perspective.

Thanks for your insite. I appreciate it and I don’t think you’re trying to be an a hole lol. We all have different opinions. I will say you are correct there was definitely a weird feeling on the bottom and a little bit of a heave where you didn’t feel your bait ticking on the bottom even though you were on the bottom and we were getting a drift. I agree with you we should’ve stayed in the river but I let my buddies decide usually what they want to do usually. I don’t agree with you that the fishery isn’t in trouble though and if you think the blue fishing is like it once was your nuts were you never experienced the blue fishing when it was good. The fluke fishing is also in the toilet from what it was 15 years ago. That’s a definite fact IMO from experience. That’s crazy if you think we should be glad for 2 pound blues LOL

[Togfather2530]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

That's rough. I fished back of the raritan from shore friday evening from 6 to 830. Had about 15 fluke, 2 keepers and all the cocktails blue you'd ever want.

With all the bait pouring outta the creeks and marinas, it's fairly clear why fish are still in the back... peanuts, spearing, mullet, etc. THICK in the back... ospreys and bald eagles having a blast too!

Thanks Jigman for your post. Your post just proves what I was thinking and what I wanted to do. I wanted to stay back in the back and fish since there was plenty of bait there but I made my buddy happy running out front 🤣🤣. I kind of felt bad for him since he shit himself in the bathroom at the marina Friday night so I’ll let him decide🤣🤣🤣🤣. That was the highlight of my weekend and telling me he shit himself

[JSBlue26]

Been fishing past 40yrs., still running many party & charter boats from a few Inlets as well including present day.IF you fished more than once a week you’d be able to get a better idea as to what’s taking place.
Comparing today’s fisheries to 15yrs. ago is NUTS. If that’s your mindset well the. EVERY fishery is in trouble.
Just speaking about the fishery we have available today, something we all have and what we all look forward to.
Guess I’m nuts for preferring 2# bluefish rather than no bluefish, makes sense good point.
Fluking is better today than a month ago, not reminiscing about 15+ years ago. The best time of year for any fishery is the Fall, just wanted to advise others that things aren’t as bad your doom & gloom post. Besides a veteran angler would’ve skipped yesterday with the ground swell, that’s a rookie mistake. Even worse is letting your buddies decide & not sticking with your instinct that’s CRAZY especially when your the leader, but in your case yesterday a follower.
Done commenting, can blast away but the negative Nancy post you originally sent out is more opinionated than honesty.

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by Togfather2530

Thanks Jigman for your post. Your post just proves what I was thinking and what I wanted to do. I wanted to stay back in the back and fish since there was plenty of bait there but I made my buddy happy running out front 🤣🤣. I kind of felt bad for him since he shit himself in the bathroom at the marina Friday night so I’ll let him decide🤣🤣🤣🤣. That was the highlight of my weekend and telling me he shit himself

That's hilarious... sometimes ya get caught off guard with a low shutter speed! I hope he had a clean pair to put on after his cordage episode and didnt just turn em' inside out!

[RescueDogger]

I feel for you Vito, tough day. At least you were fishing, while I was at home watching a glowing screen and grilling seafood that was on styrofoam and under plastic when I bought it.

I grinds me too when I go out on my boat, I don't listen to my own instincts, follow the other guy's wishes instead, and then it turns out my spidey-senses were correct but I didn't follow them. DUMB -- that's the way it goes but remember, it goes the other way too.

Plenty of fish in the sea. Just gotta keep getting out there, and thank God we don't live in Iowa.