With hunting seasons in high gear, fresh and saltwater fishing remains good

Although we’re in the small game, archery deer and archery/muzzleloader bear hunting seasons, both fresh and saltwater fishing action is also going on.  

Starting locally with trout fishing, portions of the Little Lehigh Creek was stocked last week with trout from the Lil-Le-Hi Trout Nursery. Speaking to one angler there, he caught and released eight while his buddy hooked and released nine trout, all from the same spot. 

Farther North on the Salmon River in Pulaski New York and from the Douglaston Salmon Run Fishing Shop, comes a report that early morning hours are producing some Coho, Kings and Steelhead, even an Atlantic was hooked. Their river patrol saw about a dozen Kings in various locations in the lower section of the run. 

Barry Brunst, owner of Kotsch’s Market in Whitehall and an avid Pulaski River angler, reported that within a recent five days on the river, he and a two buddies managed to hook 58 King’s on brown flies. The fish ranged from 25-27 pounds. Over on the Black River, he believes the tail end of the run was occurring. 

Down at the Jersey shore, striper action remains good mainly by trolling for them in the Raritan Bay. At the same time, the offshore yellowfin tuna bite has been off the charts. 

As reported to On the Water Magazine, Mark at Tackle World in Rochelle Park, said there have been good striper reports from Raritan Bay by anglers trolling bunker spoons, Mojos, poppers and metal-lipped swimmers. 

Capt. Phil Scortino, at the Tackle Box in Hazlet, said Raritan Bay is loaded with big bass especially way in the back. Flutter spoons, eels, metal-lipped swimmers, bunker spoons and Mojos are all catching fish. There are also some big bass in Shrewsbury River and they’re hitting eels at night. 

Mike Pinto, at Giglio’s Bait & Tackle in Sea Bright, said 20-30-pound bass are on the beach and are hitting peanut bunker, poppers, swimmers and metal. 

Mike Gleason, at TAK Waterman in Long Branch, said the wild bass bite has quieted down there but there are still loads of stripers in Raritan Bay. They’ve  been hitting Ben Nichols flutter spoons, Spooks, 9-inch shad and all kind of plugs. He adds that the tuna bite is on fire even a few bluefin are around but the major catch is still yellowfin. 
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Bob Matthews, at Fishermen’s Den in Belmar, reported that the bass bite there has slowed after a southeast blow came through. But there were still fish in excess of 50 inches being caught. One customer caught 12 winter flounder in the Shark River, but only keeping the limit of two. Heavy chumming and sand worms did the trick. He also reported that the tuna bite is red hot in the canyons and boats are returning with limits of yellowfin. The Golden Eagle charter out of the marina had 60 fish on its last trip.