March 2023 Fishing Reports

[nam1969]

First of the year report. 

I had to basically stop fishing last fall, due to a heart condition. That has been resolved and it felt great to hit the sand, late afternoon. I have a tradition of making my first cast of the season on St. Paddy's day. Don't really expect to catch anything and that's what I got.

Out front, MoCo, late afternoon. Caught the flip of the tide, outgoing. Beautiful white water. Found a nice cut. No hits. Cold SSE wind. Was surprised at how little debris was on the beach, given the recent spate of storms. No major beach erosion on the stretch I fished. One surfer dude enjoying himself.

Will be back out in a week or so. St. Patrick is satisfied that I showed up, so no banshees or leprechauns stalking me during the fishing season! Remember, it's a good day when you're looking down at the sod instead of up at the roots! 

[SIC34]

4 hours ago, Eeeeels said:

Hitch hiking worms…..

never seen worms attached to Bunker before

 

 

Weird...great shots though..mo fish..mo worms

[fishless]

On 3/16/2023 at 1:30 PM, Rat Master said:

The silence is deafening... I guess its over.

Over. See u in October 

[TheSpaniard]

I saw those worms on bunker last year as well. My observation is that these worms seem to be attached to bunker that spent the winter up in the Raritan.

 

I guess we’ll all be curious if we have massive bunker die offs as well. A lot of those bunker floating into shore half dead had these worms on them.

[FishinFreak]

Fished with a buddy out back in moco last night. It was a warm night with little wind. We fished the entire outgoing to about an hour before low tide. We soaked bloodworms and threw lures the entire time. No bites other than bunker swimming into our dead sticks. Actually managed to snag a bunker without a hook! TWICE! They must be out there pretty thick because I’ve never seen a bunker get snagged by swimming into braided line. I know it’s still very early in the season but I just took skunk number 10 or 11 in a row. Very discouraging. 

[levari]

1 min ago, FishinFreak said:

Fished with a buddy out back in moco last night. It was a warm night with little wind. We fished the entire outgoing to about an hour before low tide. We soaked bloodworms and threw lures the entire time. No bites other than bunker swimming into our dead sticks. Actually managed to snag a bunker without a hook! TWICE! They must be out there pretty thick because I’ve never seen a bunker get snagged by swimming into braided line. I know it’s still very early in the season but I just took skunk number 10 or 11 in a row. Very discouraging. 

It’s very common when bunkers are plentiful.. Sometimes you get two at a time…

[FishinFreak]

1 min ago, levari said:

It’s very common when bunkers are plentiful.. Sometimes you get two at a time…

Well it’s a good sign that there’s plenty of bait around. I just can’t seem to find anything munching on them. 

[lostinthewash]

Nothing for me this am too much wind and salad

[levari]

1 hour ago, FishinFreak said:

Well it’s a good sign that there’s plenty of bait around. I just can’t seem to find anything munching on them. 

When bunkers are around use bunker chunks, not worms..

[FishinFreak]

1 min ago, levari said:

When bunkers are around use bunker chunks, not worms..

We chunked the bunker so had one rod with worm and one rod with bunker. Nothing wanted either bait. 

[Slowwwride]

Not a touch today/tonight. It won’t be long before the migratory bass are here. The trees are just starting to bud, the sun is getting stronger and arcing higher in the sky. Not long now! 

[Artie Fishil]

Can't help but wonder if the bunker die off 2 years ago is related to the dolphin and whale deaths this year. Might be due to the bunker being at the bottom of the food chain.

[JH64]

35 mins ago, Artie Fishil said:

Can't help but wonder if the bunker die off 2 years ago is related to the dolphin and whale deaths this year. Might be due to the bunker being at the bottom of the food chain.

Not a thread of wonder in my mind I know 100% there going deaf from there underwater explorations of those worthless windmills . When the phony environmentalists get those thing up and running there won't be a fish or marine mammal left. I fished the back bay bridges in Ocean county not a sole out and didn’t have a touch. Ran into a few guys fishing a popular sod bank with blood worms the said they got a few shorts so there starting up.

[adams54]

12 hours ago, Slowwwride said:

Not a touch today/tonight. It won’t be long before the migratory bass are here. The trees are just starting to bud, the sun is getting stronger and arcing higher in the sky. Not long now! 

I agree. The birds and frogs have come alive as well.  Only thing I need are some warmer temps.

[DeeMonee]

Good Afternoon Gang,

 

Hope all is well. First foray out back this weekend down south, low expectations, 2 spots. Moderate WNW, middle of outgoing, plastic, SP/hydro minnows. Nada, but felt good to shake off the dust and cobwebs. Haven’t touched any tackle, so I wasn’t really surprised when I opened my surf bag that most of my lures had rusted hooks…