A Nice Mix of Bass and Blues
The Berkeley Striper Club is having their annual fisherman’s flea market in the park across the street from the shop. “Gates” open at 8:30 and the event runs until 2:00. We will be having some events running concurrently with the club, as follows:
We will be having Big Rock Lures in the shop again, selling lure and talking with fans. Big Rock’s table will open up at 9:30, we’re sure the line will start earlier. Big Rocks will be limited to 3 per person this event, and in order to purchase a Big Rock, you will need to have a wristband from the Berkeley Fela Market.
We will be having a storewide sale, 10% off everything with, as always, some restrictions. As with the Big Rock sale, you will need a wristband from the flea market. This will be a brick & mortar store only sale, sorry online shoppers.
Finally, if you buy an ODM Rod or ODM Bag at Grumpys, you can head across the street to the ODM booth at the flea market and get a free ODM lure.
We added a couple of new items to the online store. First, for those who want to fish the larger 6 inch and 8 inch Gulp! grubs as teasers when targeting trophy fluke, we have the perfect hook for you. The Owner Long Shank Trolling/Bait Hook puts the hook point in the perfect spot on the large grubs, especially the 8 inch grubs. With the hook point further back, you will miss less hooksets on fluke.
We also added a sweet new line of surf rods to the shop. The Jigging World Nexus Surf Spinning Rods are now available in shop and online. They are a light, parabolic rod made of high modulus carbon at a price point that won’t hurt the wallet. We have 7 models between 9 foot and 12 foot available.
The fishing has been very good lately. The bass bite in the ocean has remained good. It is changing, however. The clam bite is still good, and if you are fishing during the day, clams are the way to go. For anglers fishing at night, artificial lures are beginning to work. Yo-Zuri Hydro Minnows, Daiwa SP Minnows, and Yo-Zuri Mag Darters have been working well after the sun goes down.
We have no news about the bass in the bay because the bay has been invaded by gator bluefish. The bass are likely still there, but are laying low because of the presence of their new neighbors.
The bluefish have made their presence known. They are “all over” the bay. And by that we mean you have the chance to encounter them at any spot at any time as they are moving around, but you are not guaranteed to find them every time at every spot. Swimming plugs are working, and the water in the bay is just getting to the temperature where poppers are starting to work.
They have also shown up in the surf. They are hitting in the daytime on swimming plugs like Daiwa SP Minnows and Yo-Zuri Hydro Minnows.
Here are some notable catches:
George Ford with a 34” 12.75 bass caught on clam in the surf! This wasn’t his only fish of the day, either.
Ralph came in Tuesday with a 32” 10.80LB Bass on a Salted Clam.
Two things hold true: the sun will rise every morning, and if there’s big fish around, @mannyd123 will be on them. It’s your boy with an absolute HAMMER. 39.5” caught locally in the bay.
Anthony just came in with this 10LB Blue that hit a SP Minnow in the surf. Reported awesome action in the surf on plugs!
The big girls have come out to play on artificials. Here’s @greg.schiffer with a 41” Bass on a Gibbs Pencil Popper from the surf.
Grumpys own Sean reports: "Gators invade the bay. Silly top water bite in the backyard all on pencils. Nice size with a few JUMBOOS in the mix."
@gino.benevento had this report tonight .. “Was looking for blues and stuck these down the street from the shop, got them on Yo-zuri Hydros”
Our own Online Sales Guy snuck out with his father and brother and found some gator blues in Barnegat Bay on poppers. Yellow plastic poppers with a rattle were doing the best.
And another of Grumpys Own, Connor has been on a fishing tear lately. Here he is with a couple of his buddie with weakfish up to 23 inches, taken on paddletails and pink shine Gulp! Connor did his best to look “gangster” for the picture, but his friends ruined it for him with a smile and, worse yet, a goofy look on their face. “I need new friends…” Connor was hear muttering…
Ray had a big event this past weekend. He was invited to the Met Gala. He went all out. Here is his “lewk.”
