So where are the real sea bass?f fri 7 sat report - Page 2 - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

Reel Class · #11 06-10-2018, 09:06 AM

I would fish deeper. Typically if there's small fish inshore, inside of 65' I'd look deeper say >75'.

Togfather2530 · #12 06-10-2018, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frugalfisherman

Sea bass has been open a couple of weeks. The bigger fish have been picked off these areas.

So my thought to this is that if all the bigger fish get picked out of areas this quickly its a good thing they are beating us up on the sea bass seasons anymore. Imagine if the grounds were beat on all season long. Its seems crazy that 3 weeks into a season on a fish that has been regulated like sea bass have that they are picked out so quickly.

Togfather2530 · #13 06-10-2018, 10:28 AM

Thanks to everyone for their replies and suggestions so far. I guess next time ill go deeper and see if I can put something together

Pauls1976 · #14 06-10-2018, 10:37 AM

Last weekend we were on a well known wreck in 70’ of water. Loaded up on Sea Bass to 3.5lbs. Fish were loaded with tiny sand eels. So we switched from Ava17’s to 007’s and couldn’t keep the jigs in the water. We even jigged a couple squid.

Capt Joe · #15 06-10-2018, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Togfather2530

Went fluking in the navesink and shrewsberry river friday. Managed 4 keepers to about 21" between the 2 of us. Wonder rig with killie and a jighead with gulp was our presentation. We didn't catch that many fish but the keeper ratio was good.

Saturday I had plans to catch a decent amount of sea bass before the limits reduce. I was optimistic after reading some reports since the season opener and haven't been able to get out yet. Finished the day being rather disappointed with it. Started out hitting some hard bottom areas in the scotland area trying multiple drops then fished the fisherman buoy area trying about 6 or 7 different areas there and then headed south more and tried 3-4 more drops east of the SHR. fished 35- 65' feet of water. At every drop there was immediate life but nothing but rinky dinky juvenile pathetic fish nibbling. At the fisherman's there were a few respectable charter guys and plenty of private 250K$ boats with triple outboards on them seemingly being content bouncing around and catching these dinky fish. I fished this way as long as I could keep my friend content (1/2 day) before having to give up and go fluking. Talked to another guy who worked the rattlesnake area somewhere last Thursday and had 4 keeps out of 100. If this is what it is then its a fishery for an 8 year old lol. Im not looking for any specific spots but what is the deal? 17 fathoms? 100' of water? shallower or deeper? How much fuel does one need to waste and how far does one need to go to catch 10 lousy 121/2" fish? I don't mind running if its not a goose chase. My idea of "excellent" sea bass fishing is occasional double header 15" fish lol. After all what the hell is the point of the high low rig. Also why would there be hardly any bigger fish but tons of juveniles? After a day of that nonsense I felt bad for the charter boats out there. Any insight would be appreciated. Also with all this talk on here about this fully recovered fishery at 240% I have to say Im beginning to wonder an awful lot. I did not see very many good reports of off shore bottom fishing this winter at all.

My suggestion would be a box of tissues and a new set of golf clubs. jmho

Jigman13 · #16 06-10-2018, 01:12 PM

I can't sea bass fish in Jersey after being spoiled out on the East End. Struggling to catch 12.5-13" fish to fill a creel limit isn't fun. Some have $ numbers for bigger fish but most seem to be catching barely keepers in the summer months. Tough to fish here for them during summer season. I'd rather go east for cod, 20+" sea bass and 2.5+ lb porgies.

Foul Hook · #17 06-10-2018, 01:39 PM

We fished yesterday on my rig.we made six stops to either drift and or anchor with only tiny fish like you spoke of. After getting the same reports from the AC reef we decide to run out to he SRR which yielded a few more keeper size ,but only up to about 14 inch. We jigged, clammed, gulp even squid for bait same results. Just a slow day. The high light for us was a 24" whiting

Togfather2530 · #18 06-10-2018, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Joe

My suggestion would be a box of tissues and a new set of golf clubs. jmho

Thanks for your replies to all. I have no problem trying deeper and or trying more pieces as need be. Just wanted to get some insight and see what others are experiencing. I just can't believe there are so many small fish and its that much of a struggle to get decent sized fish. Obviously fishing pressure is a lot more than people realize in my opinion.

As for captain Joe, if you don't have anything worthwhile or productive to contribute why post.

Capt Joe · #19 06-10-2018, 02:35 PM

jmho!

reason162 · #20 06-10-2018, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Togfather2530

As for captain Joe, if you don't have anything worthwhile or productive to contribute why post.

Maybe bc your thread is questioning the vocal consensus here that seabass regs are nonsense. If you believe that then your experience must leave you scratching your head.

My feeling is it's probably yet another species that will benefit from some sort of slot limit. I love a big 4+lb knothead as much as the next guy, but just like 30lb stripers and 5+ lb fluke...those are the brood stock with the "big fish" genes to pass on.