New York Metro & New Jersey

ANNOYED!

Pete Johnson gives his first striper a hug - Capt. Jim Hull

Man I’m annoyed again. And usually, when I get annoyed, I’m inspired take some type of action. Whether it’s getting on the phone and rallying the troops, or just sitting down and writing a letter. But this time, I feel pretty helpless. Let me tell you why.

I was out at Breezy again on Wednesday, fruitlessly chasing small pods of False Albacore. And just like usual, a solid fleet of 4 to 5 striped bass poachers trolling wire, were heaving short bass on board, one after the other, like slabs of dead meat, and shoving them in their burlap bags. Of course this happens every day. It’s the same guys, they fish the same times, and I’m sure they sell to the same places. And I’m also pretty sure those PCB contaminated fish that are now considered off limits to women of childbearing age and children (see news section), are being served in restaurants. At the very least, somebody is eating them, and I’d bet the farm they don’t know where they came from. If you’re a steady reader of this site, you’ve heard me talk about this before. If your not, and you want more background information, check out the attached article that appeared in the Feb 2000 edition of Tide magazine.

In a nutshell, it’s illegal to fish commercially for striped bass inside the New York Bight. While across Long Island, a limited number of fishermen have commercial striped bass tags, (I believe it was 120 tags per fisherman last year (1 tag per fish)), the New York Metro area (The NY Bight) is off limits to commercial striped bass fishing because of the level of PCB contamination in the Hudson River. Unfortunately there is a huge demand for wild striped bass, and I’m sure these poachers are taking way more than 120 fish each, a year. Not only are these fish being sold to customers who, most likely, have no idea that they’re eating contaminated fish, but they’re not being figured into any management plan. The striped bass management plan is based on a quota system. Biologists estimate the number of bass being caught both recreationally and commercially, and decide what the stock can sustain. Basically, these poachers are taking fish that nobody is accounting for, and who knows if the stock can sustain those extra fish. You could say that they’re stealing from the system, at the stock’s expense. Of course I’m not opposed to sustainable commercial fishing, but these guys are outright thieves. They are not entitled to these fish, but they’re taking them anyway, at the publics expense. If it were one or two guys doing it occasionally, I’d say it should stop, but I wouldn’t think it could put a dent in things. But it’s a bunch of guys, and it’s happening every day.

It really annoys me, and I’m not sure what else to do. I’ve been involved in this thing a long time now. From 95 to 98 I was a Coast Guard Boarding Officer at Station Rockaway and later, at Station New York. We used to really make it a priority to jam those guys up. And while it still existed, we were out there at least three times a week, either busting poachers, or causing them to dump their catch before we got there. We were a big deterrent. Because of budget cuts and downsizing, the Coast Guard doesn’t do that sort of thing anymore. In reality it wasn’t their job in the first place. It was the DEC’s. But back then the DEC also had a strong presence. Guys like ECO Mike Terrell, ECO John Fitzpatrick, and Lt. Tim Duffy really busted their humps, and were a big thorn in the poacher’s side. Back then there were only 1 or 2 guys poaching, because given the law enforcement presence, it just wasn’t worth it. Now it’s 5 to a dozen guys each day. And it’s not too hard for them to catch 50 to 100 short bass in a days work. At $1.50 to $2.00 a pound it can be pretty lucrative.

So what happened? How did things get so bad? I don’t know, but I’ve been trying very hard to find out. After having several sit-downs with the Long Island City DEC folks, I’m beginning to think they just don’t give a !#$%. And that really bothers me. DEC Law Enforcement officers have a host of other jobs to perform. Game warden / Marine Enforcement officer is only one of them. Yes, they are busy with other things. However, last year we were teased with this so called “Marine Unit.” Apparently it does exist, however, I’ve never seen them out there, nor have I heard of anyone else who has. When I was the Executive Director of CCA NY, I believed this was a very big accomplishment. It was certainly something we had lobbied for, for a long time. But now I think its crap. Totally useless.

Sit-down after sit-down, phone call after phone call, every single year for the past three years, what I got was, “This year it’s going to be different, this year we’ve got the man power.” However, every year, nothing changes. I’m beginning to think that it was all smoke blown up my !#$%. I’m really angry. No more BS. These guys need to do their job! After all we’re paying for it with our tax dollars. I’ve offered my help and even my boat several times, to no avail. I have never had any action taken on my numerous complaints on the 1-800-TIPP-DEC line. When I call the Long Island City DEC office I almost never get an answer. When I call the individual officers, the phone just rings and rings. At the very least they could have answering machines. It shouldn’t even be my responsibility to call. They should be out there at least a few times a week.

I’m tired of it!!! And you should be too! Lets do something! Write to:

Lawrence E. Johnson
NYS DEC Div of LE,
625 Broadway 8th Fl
Albany NY 12233-2500

Or just print out this report with a small note saying “DO SOMETHING!” These bureaucrats must be made aware that fisheries enforcement in the New York Bight IS a priority!!!!

Aren’t I supposed to put a report in here somewhere? Of course!

The great albie run has begun. They’re hammering them in New Jersey, and while they aren’t quite thick enough to get a whole lot of shots at them in the bight and across the Island, they are definitely there. The bass fishing has improve as well, with schoolies crowding into the bight and bigger bluefish right underneath. While the south shore of Long Island is becoming crowed with albacore, out on the North Shore, the bluefishing has been “incredible” as one report described it. The East End is also loaded with big blues and schoolie bass with the occasional false albacore. Peanut bunker are beginning to appear in significant numbers just about everywhere, so get ready for a good week!

This weekend looks like a good one weather-wise, so get out there and fish!

And don’t forget to email me your own reports. Tight lines all.

Tight Lines!

John McMurray

Guidelines - Your chance to question the pros. Send your questions to brodgers@ddtcom.com with the subject heading "Guidelines."

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New York & New Jersey's Fisheries

Western Long Island

Albies are beginning to show in significant numbers all across the South Shore Beaches. However, several anglers I’ve spoken with have told me how tough its been to get one. The pods are still a bit small, they’re very skittish, and they’re not staying up for very long. Basically you get on cast and two strips before they’re gone. On the North Shore, “blues are the news.” Check out Ken Courtlangus from Frequent Flyer Charters’ report:

Hi John,

Incredible Bluefishing. On Sunday afternoon at the Center Island Reef area of Oyster Bay there were Blues feeding on top for four straight hours. Three to six pound Blues were pushing bait into the rocks where eight to ten pound Blues and an occasional Bass would ambush the baitfish from behind a boulder. A popper cast next to any boulder would yield a nice big Blue on almost every cast. The action lasted until sunset when it was as if someone pulled the plug and everything went dead. The amount of fish in that one area, feeding for hours on end was truly amazing. These fish by the way have been in the area now for two weeks. Hempstead Harbor and Manhasset Harbor both have there own resident schools now to. Look for the terns wheeling, approach slowly and get set for some exciting Bluefishing in the summertime. Till next week

Capt. Ken Courtlangus
"Frequent Fly-er"

Eastern Long Island

Out East, big blues have been tearing up peanut bunker and schoolie bass with the occasional keeper size fish are around in good numbers also. Captain Jim Levinson from Double Haul Charters checked in with this report:

Hi John, I have been spending most of my fishing time this past week around the Gulls. Lots of bait both large (peanut bunker) and smaller (either siversides or bay anchovies) being mauled by both blue fish and bass. On Monday a small pod of blues produced fish to 12lb. Most of the bass were chunky schoolie 23-26". The fish up there have been quite skittish. Combined that with strong tides as the new moon approached made for tough fly fishing. Repots of blues up to 9lbs at Montauk. Put alot of miles on looking for bonitio and albies between Orient and Gardiners. No sightings for me yet but they should not be far off. Take a lok at this photo of Mark Sedotti with a large fly caught lake trout from Lac Champdurey during our trip up there two weeks ago. For you fisherman who have not had the pleasure of fishing Montauk yet check out my article in this months "Saltwater Fly Fishing". It is a four page primer on Montauk during the fall. Hope you enjoy. Till next week. Note: Any anglers thinking of fishing Montauk Sept. 20 and 21 there is a Redbone tournment taking place. Upwards of thiry five boats will compete so the water will quite crowded. Might be wise to plan fishing around these dates.

Captain Jim Hull from Light Tackle Challenge also had a good week. Check it out:

Hi John, All the backwaters are chock full of bait of all types. Any three day northerly blow should drive water temps down a few degrees and really get things moving. Somehow a very note-worthy catch was deleted from last weeks report, it was Corky and Jack with over a dozen bass including a 38"and a 40". New flyfisher Peter McCarthy and pal Pete came out to catch many fish,including a sweet 37"er. The next day, flyfishing ace Ken Hawkins jumped on for a day of explosive top water fun. Not much was doing so we team-jacked them into a frenzy,cross-lining,decoying and droning,resulting in a dozen bass brought boatside to 36". Walker Teele invited his dad,Doc Teele from North Carolina to introduce to salty fly fishing. The matinee produced bass of 12lbs.,weakfish of 8lbs and bluefish. Next 11yr.old Steve Giunta brought out veteran Grandpa John for an angling lesson casting to,hooksetting and skillfully playing and landing Two 36" Stripers.(He let Grandpa release them)

Till next week,
PUMP UP AND REEL DOWN
Capt. Jim Hull Light Tackle Challenge

NICE!

Farther west in Shinnecock, Captain Don Kaye from Shinnecock angling has been fluking it up. He checked in with this report:

With the faint sounds of thunder still rumbling in the distance, the stormy, rainy, weather had slowly improved as anglers Jim Cooper and Phil Plummer arrived for a day on Shinnecock Bay. Thick cloud cover curtailed the sight fishing for Stripers but Terns were 'working' over some feeding fish on the flats. Suddenly, a fish broke the surface and another followed, leaping after baitfish as Trout do after Mayflies. A few more fish broke the surface and we had never before seen Fluke (Summer Flounder) behave that way. The two anglers sprung into action. Jim, casting flies and Phil working light jigs. Hook-ups were almost immediate and the Fluke fought hard to the boat. This action continued for an hour or so with many fish of 'keeper' size caught and released. Later in the rising tide, we worked the deeper drop-offs and found schools of Bluefish chasing 'Peanut' Bunker baitfish. The Blues were cooperative and both anglers hooked and released more than 20 of these tough fighters. Another great day on Shinnecock Bay. Capt. Kaye 631-7288175

Reel-timer Joel Filner also sent in a report of some Shinnecock action. Check it out:

The weather was nice and the water was not too warm. 70 degrees on Saturday and Sunday morning. The absence of the local flyfishing crew on both days was punctuated by the lack of fish. In fact the absence of the major surf casting crew after 7 AM confirms the true doldrums of the past week. One striper on Saturday morning by a surfcaster on the end of the jetty and one spanish mackeral on the beach on the inside also by a surfcaster was the only activity for both days. The only positive report was from a boater on the Peconic Bay near Napeague where blues are still hanging around to the east of the point. Still looking over the horizon for the albies and maybe an bonito. According to my log this past weekend should have started the albie movement. Work is terrible as it is now starting to interfere with my fishing.

Joel

Can’t let that happen Joel. Those albies should be there any day!

New York Metro

Albies are on everybody’s mind in the Bight. Last week provided us with some excellent early season action with albies popping up from Debs Inlet to Shark River. Mixed in were pods of bonito and skip jack. But the weekend threw us a curve ball, and while the albies were still around they certainly weren’t packed into tight aggressive pods like they had previously been. Never the less, we saw a lot of fish, but hook-ups were very rare. Again, you got one cast and two strips before they were gone, only to resurface a half-mile down the beach. Very frustrating!!!!

Capt. Frank Crescitelli of Fin Chaser Charters with a Mani-mahi

Spoke with Capt. Dino Torrino from Fin Chaser Charters yesterday and he said he’s been having similar experiences. After putting over a hundred miles on the boat searching, one trip ended up fruitless. BUT…. Dino reported some great bass and blue fishing early in the morning. Seems the peanuts have moved in and the predators are right behind the.

Dino’s partner, Capt. Frank Crescitelli also checked in with a report. Check it out:

Hey John. We've been running offshore every chance we get and things where real good up until the weekend, when it looks like the water moved off, and things have slowed down. Big Bluefish in Raritan Bay and maybe the first signs of the Bass starting to go on the feed again. As you know ( I'm not dumb enough to chase them yet) the Albies are here one day and gone the next, from everything I have heard it's very spotty. Big week this week, so I'll be checking in again then. See ya, Capt. Frank

New Jersey

Apparently the albies are in pretty good in the Garden State. Offshore, things seem to be going strong as well. Captain Gene Quigley from Shore Catch Guide Service checked in with this report:

Well, things are definitely shaping up nice here in Jersey and its been a banner week both inshore and offshore. I Just got in from the Hudson Canyon (no, not on my boat) where we nailed 6 Longfin Tuna up to 40 lbs, 1 Yellowfin Tuna estimated at 115 lbs, and 1 Dolphin. What a great trip!! Inshore the Albies have been here every day this week from Shark River down to Barnaget Inlet and my partner Jim Freda and his beach crew's have been nailing them from the rocks. the albies are ranging four to six pounds. The weakfishing in the bay has really picked up as well. Last weeks charters with Jim and Alice Ardito saw over 70 fish to the boat all 3 to 5 lbs. The day before I had Todd Kilburn and his father and they brought over 50 fish to the boat. Hot flies have been ultra hair Jiggies in chartreuse or tan for the weakies and the Albies!! Offshore the Bluefin bite has also been good with smaller 10 to 20 lb fish in close 8 miles off the beach last week up by the klondike. Dolphin are all over the pots also. Took Ray Clistic out to the southest edge of the mudhole and he had over a dozen Dolphin up to 12 lbs all on Baby Angel's and Popovics spread flies. Jim also tells me that the beach fishing has been picking up in Southern Monmouth County at dawn and dusk for stripers, blues, and weakies -- we should start to see the first of the mullet run within the next two weeks which should turn the stripers on big time! There is nothing quite as special as the infamous fall mullet runs here in NJ. We will be staying inshore this week now that the Albies have arrived doing that "run and gun" that we all love so much! Until next tide......

Capt. Gene

Also heard from Captain Paul Eidman from Reel Therapy. He had this to say about the weeks action:

Hi John,

Things are starting to pick up here in our NJ/NY bite for sure.Pods of False albacore are filtering in and building up nicely.Weakies and blues are eating the now grown peanut bunker througout raraian bay giving us a a plan B if the seas dont cooperate. I am now booking for Albie season, and have dates available.732 922 4077

Catchem up!
Capt. Paul
reeltherapy.com

Cool!!! That’s all for this week. Can’t wait for the weekend!!! See ya out there.