big weakfish?

Originally Posted by Dino

well worn territory but i think its a combination of the nets, the health of the bays going south, and the comeback in predators striped bass and also all the large bluefish..every fall we get these huge globs of spike weakfish schooling off the beach but how many of these are coming back as tiderunners? mortality is high somehow. also could be a long natural downturn the species is notorious for that.. it will eventually come back tho !!

The resurgence of bass and bluefish definitely take there toll on the spikes in the fall but the healthy weakfish fishery we had in the 60's and 70's coexisted with a very healthy bass and bluefish population back then before bass almost completely collapsed. Food chain in my opinion isn't the issue, it wasn't back in the day and don't believe it is today. These spike weakfish get destroyed every year as they migrate down the coast by gill netters. Stop the gill netting, give these fish a chance to rebound and in 3 - 5 years you'd rebuild the stock. You can't net up all the one year fish every fall and you can't gill net millions of pounds of breeders every spring like they did back in the 60's and 70's and think the fishery is sustainable. Inshore migratory fish especially need protection and closed seasons, bass have it weakfish don't it's that simple. If you don't protect the spawners and allow them to spawn and protect the young of the year the fishery doesn't stand a chance.

[reely]

Had a 8-9 lb 2 weeks ago in RB. Very close to were you leave from chrisper.

[bunker dunker]

years back when the bass were scarce.we would rent a boat at franks.we would have a trash can half full of water and go out and snag bunker by the rocks.our airator was a 5 gallon bucket that we changed water with.we would drift livies over by the pier for big weakies.my best was 13.6 but I saw bigger ones caught.i miss fishing for those big goldies.yea Sal those tiger tails were good but not as good as the Nordics.we used to go see Joe at julians and he
had the long ones in 6 or 7 different colors.just glad I had the chance to catch them.

[Detour66]

Originally Posted by reely

Had a 8-9 lb 2 weeks ago in RB. Very close to were you leave from chrisper.

Now that sounds like good news! Any pics?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Detour66

Now that sounds like good news! Any pics?

Yes, preferably with land marks in the background please

[Detour66]

Originally Posted by Gerry Zagorski

Yes, preferably with land marks in the background please

GPS coordinates would even be better ...

Fish any bridge in the Highlands area at night this time of year with pink finesse, small jig head and light fluorocarbon leader and you're chances of catching a big weakfish will increase. Concentrate casting upstream of the shadow lines and let your presentation swing into the dark water. Highlands, Rumson and in particular the Oceanic. Years ago when they allowed fishing on the Oceanic we caught them every year, most fish weighing double digits. Best chance of landing a trophy all year. Have no idea where these fish go after they come into the rivers in the spring to spawn but they're there every year for a few weeks and then they vanish.

They are without doubt one of the most beautiful fish in salt water, real shame someone doesn't do something in earnest to bring them back. As Fast Eddie mentioned, mouths are paper thin. You want a slow action rod for this fishing. We used noodle rods with 10 lb test and 6 lb fluoro leader with a 1/4 ounce jig head and pink or green finesse. Size finesse was about 3 - 4 inches, imitates spearing this time of year. We used a bridge net to bring the fish up for release. Not sure if fishing is allowed any more from Oceanic and the new Highlands bridge is too high and not sure fishing is allowed anyway. Not sure about the Rumson but if you have a boat, night time incoming was the tide we focused on.

Also did well fishing large rattle traps at the mouths of the Manasquan and Shark River. Never saw the big tide runners inside of these two rivers but we'd catch fish at the mouths of the inlet on out going. Manasquan north jetty at times was a very good spot both river and ocean side.

Fish your presentation slow and on the bridges just let the current do most of the work. Big girls are there every year, just have to put the time in. If you hook up this time of year it won't be a spike. Real bruisers swimming around, shame this fishery was destroyed. And if your lucky enough to connect, please consider release as these fish are mostly females loaded with eggs. As I mentioned earlier, they're not that great eating wise so take a picture for prosperity sake and let the big girl swim away. Without doubt one of the greatest fish you'll ever catch in your life!

[NJ219bands]

Oyster Creek nuke is the best weakfish spot.

[SaltLife1980]

Originally Posted by NJ219bands

Oyster Creek nuke is the best weakfish spot.

Very true

[Capt Sal]

20A off Great Kills holds the biggest weakfish on the East Coast! Live lining is the ticket. This way you are still catching stripers when live lining. One spring da after Ric Swisstack broke the world record we went to 20A and had four Weakies over 16 lbs. with the biggest at 18 lbs. Just sayin!