Winding Up For Summer
First, shop news:
We have a new braided line that everyone in the shop is really digging. Major Craft Dangan Braid X Fishing Line is a thin, strong braided PE line made of Ultra High Strength Polyethylene Fiber IZANAS. This makes it thinner than other braids of the same strength, giving the advantage of less scope when you are jigging deep for sea bass, fluke, blues, striped bass, etc. As an 8 strand braid, it is also incredibly smooth, which, coupled with its thin diameter, makes it an incredibly good casting line for the surf fisherman. We have it in 200 or 300 meter spools, and in multi-color. The colors change every 10 meters, so you can count down to just the right depth.
Along with the line, we also got in new colors of Major Crafts Jigpara jigs. Both the slow pitch and tungsten models have the new color, zebra glow.
The fishing remains pretty good from the surf. The spring run is starting to slow, and the summer run is making itself known. There are still striped bass in the surf, and they are still on the clam bite. Blues in the surf are taking poppers. Fluke are making a good showing in the surf, and taking bucktails and Gulp!. They are also hitting Gulp! fished on a plain jig head, especially the jerk shads.
In the bay, your best bet is bluefish. They are on the smaller side but with the correct tackle they are a lot of fun. The fluke fishing in Barnegat Bay seems a little slow for this time of year, but the boats putting in their time are making up catches.
Crabbing is really picking up on the local piers on the bay.
Some notable recent catches:
Our cover shot: 10 year old George Sheets had a day releasing this 31 inch striped bass he caught off the surf on a shad.
Nick English got some blues on a Yo-Zuri Mag Darter Friday morning from the surf.
If you need anything from Ray, you will need to get it from him this week. Actually, he will probably be checked out and mentally sitting in the woods on Thursday, so I would do whatever you need to do sooner rather than later.
Good news, however, next week will be the Scott Wefish Fire Sale*!
(* Not Really…)