Fly Rodding The New Jersey Coast
Famed Barnegat Bay lies between the mainland and the barriers of Island Beach and Long Beach Island (yes, the names do get confusing). Its shallow, fertile waters supply forage and refuge for weakfish, fluke, striped bass, and bluefish. You can reach the bay from either of the islands or a number of ports on the mainland. The east side of the bay is a bit shallower than the west, and the long flats on the bay side of Island Beach State Park are a delight to wade for weakfish and stripers, especially in spring and early summer. In May and June, casting popping bugs to small bluefish is popular throughout the bay.
You can launch your own from Beach Haven on Long Beach Island or from Tuckerton on the mainland to get to the waters of Little Egg Inlet and Great Bay, south of Long Beach Island. There is a lot of water here to explore, and shore anglers can access the grassy marsh creeks and sod banks via Seven Bridges Road from Tuckerton. Great Egg Inlet and the bay behind Ocean City, Corson’s Inlet, Townsend’s Inlet, and Hereford Inlets (north to south) can all be productive areas. Some shore access is available at each, and marinas are close to all. The topography of the shore between Ocean City and Wildwood is different from northern New Jersey (generally more gradually sloping) and the bars and inlets are more susceptible to change with seasonal flow changes.
Unquestionably, the best venue at the bottom of the state is the area around Cape May, at the southern extremity of the Garden State Parkway. Cold Spring Inlet, between Cape May and Wildwood Crest, is a prime location, and the jetties of Cape May Point, immediately to the west, is weakfish country. Daignault picked Cape May as the number one weakfish venue from Delaware to Maine, and with good reason. Delaware Bay’s spring weakfish run has been recovering in recent years and although it doesn’t approach the glory days of the ’60s and ’70s, double-figure fish are not uncommon.
Since many of the gamefish and baits are migratory, the New Jersey shore usually offers less consistent fly-fishing opportunities than many New England venues. Nevertheless, the longer season, accessibility, and various options balance the account. The late Frank Wentink, fly-tying author and traveling fisherman, claimed that he never experienced more exciting fishing anywhere than he had when the slammer bluefish (10-pound plus) invaded New Jersey’s beaches. If you want to pursue the opportunities and explore the potential of the New Jersey coast, I suggest you get a good road map and consult Jim Freda’s recently released book, Fishing the New Jersey Coast (Burford Books, 2001). While not exclusively devoted to fly fishing, it is filled with detailed information about New Jersey fishing. Finally, since the state has so many resort towns, like Cape May, Ocean City, Atlantic City, consider incorporating a family outing into your fishing excursion.
Ed Jaworowski is an assistant professor of classics at Villanova University. His latest book is Pop Fleyes: Bob Popovics’s Approach to Saltwater Fly Design. He lives in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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