The boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are all tied up securely as the remnants of Hurricane Delta blow through the New Jersey area. Once conditions calm down by the end of the week, however, the recent hot fishing action is sure to continue.
The top success recently has been bottom fishing on inshore wrecks, reefs, and other structure. Black sea bass season resumed with a 10 fish per angler daily limit, and captains have been having little trouble filling that limit. Adding to the torrid sea bass action has been above average action on both triggerfish and tautog.
While fishing for these bottom fish, there have been visits by 1-pound bluefish, small weakfish, and other pelagic species.
Captain Brett Taylor of Reel Reaction Sportfishing had one charter trip and a personal one over the weekend that demonstrated this fishing action. Alex Gal and son Jack quickly boxed a limit of sea bass in an hour and a half along with a few porgies and a triggerfish mixed in. They switched to tautog with quick limits and then found a pile of small weakfish and blues. When a negative forecast cancelled his party on Sunday, Captain Brett and son Luke ventured out. The ocean was flat early in the day and they limited out on sea bass and tautog along with some huge triggerfish. According to Captain Brett, the best part of the trip was letting Luke drive in.
A few striped bass have started to appear in area waters, but the main migration from the north has not arrived yet. With the extraordinary amount of bunker around right now, this could shape up to be an excellent fall for bass.