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| Whatever you are after, the bait will lead you to the fish. Find birds diving and schools of peanut bunker and you will most likely find stripers, blues or bonito. |
Take your pick....striped bass, blues or bonito. They are all around in good numbers. It's a matter of finding them which is not all that easy. Expect crowded conditions since this whole summer has been horrendous with the numbers of people along the shore.
Striped bass- The stripers have been a hit or miss deal at both the oceanfront and the Bay lately. Two conditions most likely will lead to lots of them. Either find big schools of peanut bunker or fish rough and clean water. The fish are under the bait right now. No bait, no fish. It's that simple. Best lures to use for the stripers....Jumpin' Minnows, float and jig, just jigs and Kastmasters. Swimmers and Slug-gos at night are also good bets. Most of the stripers are schoolies in the 20 to 26 inch range though some small keepers are in the mix.
Bluefish- Bigger numbers in the Bay than along the oceanfront. They, too, are under the bait and diving birds and breaking fish will give away their presence. Those fishing from the boats have the advantage because they can move around more easily. Topwater plugs such as poppers and Jumpin' Minnows are your bests. Most of the blues are in the 4 to 6 lb. range, though some bigger ones are around.
Bonito- I can tell you the first ones have been caught this week. My brother got 5 from the boat and I know of others from shore. Once again, advantage boaters who fish along the oceanfront. Look for breaking fish moving quickly like torpedoes through the water. Best bets are skinny metal, float and fly and Jumpin' Minnows. The bonito have been running bigger this year with 5 to 8 lbers. being average.
