Pluggin Jetties

[bucktail3]

I know that pluggin jetties is traditionally a fall thing, but does anybody have success during the summer? I only ask cuz I had some success the other night with shorts, but nothing of size. Is it worth targeting a jetty at this time of year? or should I head around back and plug the sods. Im talking about bigger fish, like 24"+ primarily. Thanks

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

DP !!!

[ 06-27-2005, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: NIGHTSTRIKES ]

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Bucktail3,
You can plug the jettys at anytime of the year.
The key is water temps,this is a very good time of the year to look for bigger fish much like during the fall around the rocks...Good Luck.

Cold Spring Inlet Jetty

[Gilly21]

The fish are all over the jettys. Try in front where the current cuts a slew. Let your plug drift with the current real slow. Big girls are waiting for an easy meal.....Might want to try an eel doing the same thing......

[bucktail3]

Thanks for the posts guys! Ill be out tomorrow or wednsday, not sure yet. pluggin at daybreak and dusk with fluke/kings in between! I've got the summer off with school, so I've got time. All I need now is to pick the right jetty!

Any other follow-ups are welcomed!

[Gilly21]

What beach you hitting?

[bucktail3]

I sent you an emial Gilly, dont want to violate the spot rule!

[Rocker]

Plug the jettys. That is the most wonderful way to fish. If no hits, just downsize a bit. If the big stripers are gone, have a ball with the weaks and blues and flounder.
Plugging is almost as good as fly rodding. You are there to have fun, so keep on pluggin'

[LongDrive]

I will plug the Jetties all year. If the bass aren't on the feed, don't overlook the chances of flounder through the summer. More than once I have scored in double digits probing the rocks with bucktail/strip combo, or even simply soft plastic jigged near the rocks at the bottom. The jetty pocket can be very effective.

[bucktail3]

Thanks for the replies! Ill be down tomorrow, Ill report when I get back.

[Rocker]

Longdrive, you do have a long drive to the surf, just like me! LOL
I agree, if there are fish around, the best way to cover a lot of ground, and catch a lot of fish is a jig with a plastic twister tail or a strip of bait. So much better than bottom fishing. Even better is a floating plug with a weight above it. You can comb the area with the plug swimming 6" from the bottom. I caught so many flounder with this. Weaks and blues also.
But only good with clean water. All the stinkin' seaweed in the water fouls the lures every time.

fish on,

[bucktail3]

I went on my little pluggin trip yesterday, and it was not good. I got to the jetty at 6am, threw poppers for 20 minutes or so before switching to a storm shad. I got a nice hit on the storm, it peeled some drag, then I got it close to the rocks and saw it was a big blue. He bit off at the last moment, and I put on another storm. Nothin. I tried bombers for awhile, then poppers again, then plastic again. nothin. It was 8:30 now and FOGGY, so I ran to the bait shop and got some clams and minnies. I then proceeded to fish hard from longport to CISP and a lot of places in between, until about 6 pm. It was cold, windy and rainy. It was tough to stick it out in shorts/shortsleeves all day in the wind and rain. It POURED at some points. Anyway, I went back to the jetty at about 6pm threw bombers, plastic and poppers until about 730, then started to see some bunker. I saw one big shool way out, nothing on them. They went south, and the next school came and it was much bigger...it stretched from the tip of the jetty, to as far as I could see north. They only got close enough to snag once, and I couldnt do it. I got about a 2 minute window to try to snag one, and I had to improvise with no weighted trebles. I left at 9pm after catching a skate and kingfish on clam (I had a bait rod in thew water the whole time).

I saw the first school of bunker get harassed once, but whatever did it was HUGE! I was watching the school, when about 40 bunker jumped into the air and there was a LARGE boil. I dont know what it was, but I like to think it was a 50lb striper.
I also rescues a seagull that got lured into a tight spot in the jetty by some smelly clams. He got stuck in the rocks, and looked tired. I took alot of pics, Ill post them later.

BTW-I slipped on the jetty in the rain and scraped my leg pretty good, and I saw a big ray down at CISP. I also saw some mexican keep two short fluke, about 8" twins

[ 06-30-2005, 12:56 PM: Message edited by: bucktail3 ]

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Excellent Report Bucktail3,

Always a good idea to carry a weighted treble
in your plug bag this time of the year and also in the fall...
Alot of water temps took a nose dive in certin area's with all the rain at times..I saw some
wide ranges of water temps up and down the coast this morning,that might of turned off any Artifical Lure fishing success...
Keep Trying, And I Hope Your Leg Is Alright...


Thanks,,

[NJAngler Bill]

Bucktail, sounds like to did everything right EXCEPT you started fishing when you should have been quitting, and you stopped when you should have started.

In other words, the oceanfront jetties can be counted on the produce on plugs this time of year, but after the full moon in June it's pretty much entirely an after-dark proposition. There are always exceptions, but the perecentages are way better after dark.

[NIGHTSTRIKES]

Originally posted by NJAngler Bill:
but the perecentages are way better after dark.

Good Advise Bill,
I might have to check out a jetty after dark tonight