Long Beach Island (LBI) New Jersey Banana Bass Report, Fall (Banana trip 1 of 5) - October 16, 2013

My Dream re-lived, this time a reality, with a caveat... 

I was prepared 60% for this one.  As the previous Saturday was planned for a trip off Long Island, NY or Rhode Island, this one was for Long Beach Island aka Barnagat Light, New Jersey.

Based on previous years the report for bass signaled for a Halloween bite.  This year being a late season we encountered alot of warm weather with much more warm water.  The air temperature was 64 degrees by nightfall and that isn't anywhere close to the 51-54 I was hoping the water would be.

Oh I can't complain.  I was living out the dream as written in my last post.

We left NYC around 5pm got to Fisherman's Headquarters promptly as the sun was touching down on brant beach and grabbed some items for evening.  Two sinking Super Strike needles (one pink & one black), 2 bunker (my first time using bunker for bait on a beach or jetty), hooks and weights, knife, and some fish finders...

Wawa, for an amazing chicken sub, then off to BL aka jetty aka the lighthouse.

Okay, so this was a fishing trip where we lost to the ocean, to the surf, and to being only 60% prepared.  I had FIVE bananas in the car about a week earlier that had been left on the commute beforehand.  We threw them out before leaving the city but YES, the reverse effect of the banana's came to realization.  (Remember, Bananas usually work FOR me, not against).  Well, it came to be that for each banana in their banana stock, there would be FIVE, yes 5....1,2,3,4,5 bad trips altogether for the future. 

Being un-prepaired I only had 2 FG knots tied for three rigs.  I couldnt make my mind up during the ride down on which third setup but as we pulled into the lot (where we were greeted by 4 other vehicles, and a few cats), I decided on the Stradic 5000FJ and Daiwa Saltiga Jigging rod (see, totally unprepared for a jetty/surf trip).

I spent the next 30 minutes rigging line systems, re-rigging hooks, and organizing all the gear into my backpack in complete darkness.  I don't know what it is but I like the fact we are fishing for stripers and that means fishing at night and not using lights.  I think this part took me more like 45 mins.  oh lala...

Got to the water to see a late incoming tide.  hmm, shall we fish the slack?  how long will we stay?

About an hour earlier I called Greg and Yonnie.  Seems Yonnie was fishing Loveladies through two day tides and slack without much love but short bass.  Better than zero.  Guys at Fishhead were up in Montauk the weekend before and from reports were slaying mini bass non-stop.  Couldn't meet up with Dante and Greg was snoozing so it was just gonna be us.  I knew there was bass where we were but there would be no way we hook into them.

 Banana Effect 1-  We settle at the base of Sir Barnagat's lighthouse after taking fotos.  After a short tutorial of casting from myself it's time for FanFan.  First cast for FanFan and it looks like she has caught something.  I was like "YES Homie!"  She says "Whatt's going on?" and I see her rod bent over snagged to a rockpile.  Yes, awesome.  I take the next three minutes walking up and down the rockpilage and without luck eventually break off the black needle.  (sigh, sinking model.................)





Okay, move on.  We have bait and Bayaar pitches an 8oz and bare hook to practice.  I must not forget that he has experience.  From childhood to the last two boat trips out of Rhode Island & the Peconic.

 We move.  past the walkway where I tell the story of non-stop Tautog and dropping right into the rocks during high tide.  No toggies for us as the sun is already down.

Headlamp on and trekking forward into the dark.  I realize there is something missing.  It's the drone of that tower at the end of the jetty.

We find a rock and slash up the bunker.  head, one-inch pieces, guts & glory.  twenty minutes later I lose the pink needle.  We retire bait setups, with a short lesson on how it's done for FanFan and decide to move further to the surf.  Bait & a sunken jetty sound promising at the end of an incoming.

Sometimes as I walk on this jetty there comes a time when I realize walking the surf would be mucho easier.  Fan & I jump down and take ease as the sand is lenient on our legs compared to the jetty.  Bayaar commits to the rocks and we move on.  Now, I can't believe what happens next would actually really happen.  as the tide on the surf side heightens propose to Bayaar to come down on a sandy notch so we can walk the beach.  He does but doesn't approach the notch from the flat sloped piece we recommend by headlamp.  SLIP, SLIDE and SPLASH! ~~~ Bayaar is swimming.  Butt first with jeans and sneakers, left elbow on the algae and an eventual plomp of his body and face into the water.  I freeze, I take a mental snap shot, and then run over.  Fan is already halfway and in a moment of reaction time Bayaar pops back up and spits out saltwater and sand at the same time!  LOL, this isn't funny but as I watch he jumped out of the water as fast as he slipped in.

(Before)
Soaked.  and in dismay.  I make the choice to head home.  215fishspot crew 0, Banana 1.

(After) - Still enjoying his time.  If it would happen, it would happen to him. :-)

Waking from your dream of fish - life as fishermen

Sorry I 'haven't blogged and taken the time to post fotos or a report lately.  It's like what they say about fishermen having that passion for life and it never leaving them.

Are there times like this for yall where you can't get on the water.  The bite from any species doesn't feel fresh and the last time someone asked you when you went fishing you really had to think....

I dream of the lack of sleep I will lose over being excited to fish.  That never leaves me and neither does the drone of the alarm I set for myself and others so that we can make good to our spot before the tide brings in the bounty. 

I dream of the night drive from spot to spot while on the NJ coast and at the same time deciding the next best location based on tide, location, water clarity, temperature, wind, and your gear.  The mule of your trucks engine turning off while you dismiss the beam of your headlights in order not to spook the fish and other fishermen.

I dream of that sod smell while trekking through head high brush and hearing the crackle of clam shells underneath my boots.  The greeting from fellow backbay angler that has been putting time into the spot for the last hour and is still as excited to see my arrival as when he first arrived.

I dream about that long walk on the jetty to the first sandbar casting access spot...that smell of salt, sand, and slime between the rocks when landing the night striper... The lonesome walk on the beach out front when you know there are fish out there but the tide is slack, the companionship of your buddy walking up and saying dude, fish are not biting but man, it's a beautiful night.

I dream about it, jigging and setting the hook on the upswing after said species has my lure for it's taking...

I dream about it, stepping on board before that first grey light and that rush it gives you when you prepare your gear for the day of fishing...That irresistible excitement when the engines roar up and you know it's time to leave the slip. 

I dream of the smell of menhadden oil, makeral, butterfish, & bluefish being chopped up ready to be part of the chumslick that will attract the greysuit at the Misty blue.  That consistent rock of the boat before the drag clicker sets off on a terrible run.  Nothing beats that international when it comes to gifting adrenaline.

I dream about that sail back into the marina and the warm autumn glow of the sky around us as the flags are flown and the wake is slowed right before we are greeted back by smiling faces and outstretched voices of delight. 

Above all else, I miss the hunt of whats on the other side of the next wave, the experience of it all that lets me know I have been like others, one man that is fully appreciative of the beauty and awe of our
great earth and the lifetime experience we not only long for but indeed chase after. 

Thank you for reading.


***

All Stripers Beware - Cinco De Mayo Night Fishing with Bayaar in Brooklyn on the Sea Queen VII

There comes a time when the ocean comes alive.  When the bait and birds are plentiful and the favored dilemma of "WHERE TO FISH??" plays into my mind each and every day.

Believe me, every rainy and cloudy forecasted day on Weather Underground makes me want to hunt the topwater bite for Largemouth Bass.  Every High and outgoing tide makes me contemplate which inlet/jetty/sod bank/submerged-or-not structure to target.  Every late dusk with a perfect sunset tempts me to drive down to the shore and bucktail for fluke, or wish for a BIG TIDERUNNER by-catch.
There is no better time for multi-species then now, it's MAY and it's time to fish.

For every familiar fishing experience I encounter I can re-collect a scenario or outing where it wasn't familiar.  Where it was new and exciting.  Where UN-chartered water and vessel come into play.  Not owning a boat is still "OK" when we have access to some of the best water the United States of America can offer an angler. 

Fast Forward two hours after we come back into the dock....
"EMMONS?"  Announced my bright eyed parking attendant during the late night/post-midnight hour of 1:45AM.  I nodded with acknowledgement that the individual I was speaking to had experience privy to a FISHERMAN that has experienced what NYC has to offer.  As I found out a day later, his roots to the city fishing scene went beyond nycfishing.com websites but to the actual dock locations of one of many long-standing and famous party boats hailing out of once-more-famous Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn New York.

My initial decision was to fish on the FLAMINGO III a day and a half earlier however discovered they don't fish weekday evenings anymore (or at all).  Second came the decision to meet Captain Dave of the BROOKLYN IV however as is the saying goes: "when the going gets tough, let's help the fellow captain out" went into play.

Back to the trip...
I rolled up on Emmons Avenue with rods tucked and reels loaded.  Cooler filled with ICE and the stage set for an epic evening of CINCO DI MAYO Modelo and the cheerful manner of my fishing partner of the evening Bayaar.  It was my second trip out this season with him and without hesitation he jumped at the chance to catch some table-fare. 

With enthusiasm Captain Dave directs us to the FREE lot behind the plaza where Applebee's is located.  This is the lot for patrons of the party boats aka paying fisherman can park within a security fence around the perimeter.  Feeling lucky I thank the captain and we make our way over to park, unload, and roll the cooler boatside.  Immediately we get the welcome from mates and fellow anglers asking us if we are fishing and whether it's for stripers and on which boat.  A young mate helps direct us and we get a hand with the cooler while we step aboard.

I gotta thank Bayaar at this point as I was at first hesitant on leaving the boat and getting one very important thing we didnt plan and pack.  FOOD.  Going back to experienced familiar or not, this was one of the ones where I was not familiar.  I've never paid to catch striped bass and never hopped on a headboat for them either.  At least not specifically.  So it was one thing that I could appreciate alot in having a buddy to fish with.  Chips, Pasta salad, Sodas, and chicken fajita panini's.  Awesome.

The crowd is light and the evening becoming chilly.  We had a week of good warm weather and SUN beaming down on us so it was a time for the weather pattern to change and the migratory fish to stage up before their next run up and alongside long island.  Cigars, beer, wine, and a certain bottle of Hennessey make it into the cabin and along with the laughter and microwave setting off we make it quickly out of port and onto the sunset-scape water of lower Manhattan. 

Making wake, the mate cheerfully responds to my request to buy weight, leader, and a fishfinder.  Being prepared is important to fishing new waters and in this case I wasn't.  However the boat was and without any charge our two bait rods were rigged up with a four foot leader #50-60 and a 4/0 J-hook with 6 oz of lead.

We fished in 15 feet of water near New Jersey.  I couldn't see Ellis Island or Lady Liberty however many shorelines within a mile and a nearby lighthouse perched on its own rockpile.  No need for secret locations as the fellow anglers mentioned they had stuck to this spot as it had produced for the earlier part of the weekend.  Beside us at the port stern corner was a fella named John.  He had fished the prior three nights and had done well with fish up to 20 pounds.  Great conversation and experience with a new crowd.

We anchored and ran about three times in the vicinity.  The first and last spots did well for the boat.  Only two shorts were caught.  I ended up catching the first fish/keeper and second to last fish.  Which was short two inches.  Clam was our bait and was fresh from the shell.  The chumslick was light but consistent.  Over all a nice keeper at 32" and some time shared with a buddy.  I will be back and hopefully have the same experience as I did this time.  Too bad Bayaar felt the blues coming out of the harbor, but yea...that all part of fishing and it happens to the best of us.

Gear used:
Rods: G.Loomis HSR932, St. Croix PM76MHF, Custom Seeker Herc 6'3"
Reels: Shimano Trinidad 10a (EVA knob), Daiwa Saltiga 15, Shimano Stradic 5000FJ (10bb)
Line system: Sufix 832 #30, Daiwa Samurai #50?, Sufix Performance #40 (jig setup)
Depth: varing 10-20 feet

Voila!