Cold Water / Hot Sun
As usual, first, shop news…
We have two new products to showcase, although they share a name. The first is we have added Daiwa Saltiga Spinning reels to the shop. This is the offshore sized 2020 models that are prefect for popping or jigging tuna. They are built to handle big fish.
The other is the Daiwa Saltiga 2023 Spinning Reels. What’s the difference? Size for one thing. And while the previous reels excel at offshore fishing, the 2023 model works great for inshore and lighter offshore fishing.
The fishing lately has been kinda slow. The south winds have kept the water pretty cold for this time of year. Why? Through something called upwelling. Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that occurs when wind pushes surface water away from the ocean, causing denser, cooler, and nutrient-rich water from below to rise up and replace it. This process can happen in the open ocean or along coastlines, but conditions are best for coastal upwelling when winds blow parallel to the shore. Those last 6 words are what we have had for a number of weeks now. The fish are around, because even with he abnormally cold water there are still some fluke to be caught in the surf. When the winds finally change and the water warms up, we expect the surf fishing to be spectacular.
In the back bay, where upwelling isn’t as much of a problem (unless you are near an inlet and it is an incoming tide), the fluke bite has been steady. Unfortunately, most of the fish we are hearing about are shorts with a couple keepers here and there. The spot fishing remains pretty good off the local docks, and the crabbing reports we are getting are telling us the crabbing is fantastic still.
We have one catch of note: Karah C and her family came down from upstate NY for a week. They rented a house on Barnegat Bay near the Toms River and fished and crabbed from their dock. Among the critters they caught was the one pictured above. That is not a skate, it is a stingray, and it was about 10 miles from the open ocean. Makes you rethink wading in the bay, doesn't it?
And now, story time: Once upon a time, in the sunny paradise of Swelterville, lived an angler named Jenni. Now, Jenni was a person who loved two things in life: her fishing trips and her naptime under the warm rays of the sun. One fateful day, however, Jenni forgot the cardinal rule of sunbathing — never fall asleep without sunscreen. As Jenni dozed contentedly, her fair complexion turned a shade of lobster red that could rival the crustaceans at Point Pleasant’s seafood festival. When she woke with a start, she found herself not only resembling a ripe tomato but also discovering the curious effect of radiating heat that attracted neighborhood cats and birds alike. From that day forth, Jenni learned that sunburns weren't just a matter of vanity; they could turn you into a living barbecue grill for local wildlife.
Seriously, wear sunscreen.