Winter Fishing - NJ shore Dec 8th and 9th

[Johnsfolly]

One of my planned trips this year was to target some of the winter species that are found around the Jersey shore. This would be one of two remaining long trips for 2022 on my calendar. I was hoping for possible American Conger eel, spotted hake, winter skates, and/or windowpane (sundial) flounder. With relatively decent weather forecasted and a couple of planned days off, we headed up to Atlantic city. I have posted other trips to AC where we have caught tautog and black sea bass in the past. We missed getting up there in late Aug with the possibility to meet up with one of my favorite YouTubers. Unfortunately, I got called into jury duty instead. 

We booked a room a Harrah's resort and casino for the night (was less than $90 for the night). The spot that we were going to night fish is right next to the casino. We were there to fish and not gamble😉.

We tried to fish from the piers and jetties along the Absecon bay. Where we have caught tog in the past yielded nothing 😒.

Hoping that we would get some bites that night.

Livie was first to shout fish ON! She reeled in a small male Little Skate also called helmet skates. These guys have a defense mechanism to tighten up to protect their undersides. Looked like a dead rat 😉. He stayed this way even as he sank out of view in the water.

I caught a couple female Little skates and mine tried to roll up as well. At least I got a photo before that happened.

We spent a few hours fishing but only some crabs and a rock were caught. Tired of fighting the sea lettuce, we headed for bed. 

We met this impressive sunrise and headed up to Belmar NJ to fish the Shark River inlet for windowpane flounder. 

In Belmar the sun was out, but there was a cold biting wind from the north. We chose not to fish the exposed Shark river inlet. Instead we found a small fishing access upstream of the drawbridge. The houses behind us blocked the wind effectively and the sun was actually warming. I had seen a lot of silversides and possibly larger fish that were possible anchovies. We fished for the flounder and possible togs as well as had micro tackle for the minnows. 

Livie got us on the board with her first Atlantic silverside.

Then another and another... The larger fish didn't stick around too long with the silversides coming over the wall 😉!

I got into the microfishing action and landed a few including the largest one that I think that I have ever seen.

I switched to a rig that consisted of a 3 oz sinker and a 6 inch dropper with a #4 hook and a 3" pearl Gulp swimming mullet. I hung up a couple of times, but did hook into the target species, a Lifer Windowpane Flounder!!

Livie tried for one while I continued to try of those larger baitfish. She went back to the micro tackle and landed a dark juvenile sheepshead from the bulkhead.

She then switched back to the heavier gear and caught a just barely sublegal tautog on a piece of green crab and clam.

Aware that my wife was in the vehicle this whole time we stopped fishing after a few hours and headed home. On the way we stopped in Delaware for a sushi dinner. That was a good end to the trip😁.

[Flysmallie]

Cool story! Those are some crazy looking fish. 

[Gavin]

Nice report, thanks!

[Quillback]

Get to stay as nice digs and do some fishing, that is great!   Looks like you had the bank fishing all to yourself too.

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, Quillback said:

Get to stay as nice digs and do some fishing, that is great!   Looks like you had the bank fishing all to yourself too.

There were a few of us on the jetties during the day but no one that night. It was nice to be able to just walk up to the room and in just a few mins take a hot shower after being out in the elements. Didn't like some of the nickel and dime charges from the hotel, but we were there to fish not spend hours on the internet. 

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Great repot, and glad to hear of your success. But, in typical Folly style you left us hanging.   Who is the YouTuber you refer to?

[Flysmallie]

17 minutes ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Who is the YouTuber you refer to?

RuPaul

[Johnsfolly]

1 hour ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

Great repot, and glad to hear of your success. But, in typical Folly style you left us hanging.   Who is the YouTuber you refer to?

Extreme Philly Fishing aka Leo Cheng

[Terrierman]

Nice report John.🎯

[JestersHK]

Looks like a great trip buddy! Thanks for sharing.