Catch Bluefish Now (Fishing)

Bluefish are everywhere. Along the beaches , open ocean, bays and tidal rivers. Many party boats fish for them exclusively and will run trips during the day and night. They can run as small as 1-2 lb (Cocktails) or close to 20 lb. They are the most prolific fish in the area and for that reason are the most popular species to fish for. If you want to catch lots of fish Blues provide the best opportunity. It is not uncommon for you to catch 20+ fish per person.
Blues are noted for their great fight and fierce appetites. When a blitz occurs they will hit almost anything. Make sure to use a heavy mono or wire leader. These fish have sharp teeth that will make short order of 10 - 15 lb mono or your hand. Watch yourself when getting the hook out of the fish. It's best to use pliers or some type of hook remover.
Time of Year:
Blues usually arrive in late spring and will stay around well into October. Most of the larger fish are caught in the fall.
How to :
Diving birds are a sure sign there are Bluefish in the area. Cast a diamond jig or plug into a pack of working birds and your almost sure to get a Bluefish.
Chumming from an anchored boat is the most popular way to fish for Blues. Pay out Bunker chum to attract fish while dropping back pieces of cut bunker on your hook.
Trolling tubes, jigs, Bunker spoons, plugs or umbrella rigs work great. This method is highly effective for locating fish. Some sharpies will troll to locate the fish and then anchor or drift in the area with bait. In order to keep your trolling lures down at the right depth it is usually necessary to troll with heavy drail sinkers or wire line. Wire line trolling is the most effective. Some sharpies also use down riggers.
Jigging for blues works well when there is a large body of fish concentrated in an area. Diamond jigs tipped with surgical tubes are dropped to the bottom and reeled up quickly. They can sometimes be bounced off the bottom as well. Best thing to do is try and find out at what depth they are picking up the jigs and concentrate your jigging there. Many times larger fish will be underneath the smaller ones or at the edge of the school. When approaching a school of breaking fish in a boat slow down and let you boat drift into the school with the engine off. Running over the fish under power will send the fish down and break up the schools of bait they are foraging on. Read on.

Best Plugs and Lures for Catching Stripers (Fish on 8)

Fish on 8 Scaled Series Plugs
Go back in time. Not way back, but, to October 5th. That, dear , avid and dedicated reader is the date that you became enlightened. I brought you into the light and made you, if you were not already, aware of Fish on 8 handmade wooden lures.
Fast forward to the present day and time and that beam of enlightenment is about to get a whole hella lot of brighter. Throw on those Ray Bans and get ready to have your world rocked just a little bit. The fine fellas at Fish on 8's just created a custom scaled wooden plug series for those lucky dogs at Fisherman’s World. How do those guys always score the primo deals?!
There are a multitude of colors and the photo running with this article can give you an idea of what’s out there. (Want a better look? Click on the photo to supersize those bad boys.) Every lure is handmade, and therefore; hand painted and unique. Uniquely a work of art to store in your collection. Remember, as I’ve said before, Fish on 8 is not a huge company. It is one man, one dream. His dream is these lures, and Bob takes the time to create and perfect each one individually. That alone should make them more valuable to a collector. I believe that Bob is one of the finest wooden plug makers in the market today. Make a savvy investment, score some scaled editions for your plug portfolio. The days of the DOW 10,000 may be fleeting. Commodities work for you in a recession.
Some of you out there say,”Psshh! Collector, schmollector! Gimme a lure that catches fish!” You are in luck. These exclusive scaled pattern plugs are the sweetest striper candy out there. All you surf rats go out and score some scalies, too. Call the boys and Fisherman’s World 877-643-6011, or go directly to their online store by clicking here. As of now, these plugs are exclusive to Fisherman’s World. We’re not name droppers, but drop our name, the Eastcoast Angler, when you order your scaled series. Act fast, because Bob is one man, and one man can only work so fast.

The Fall Run, Fishing at its Best! (Best Fishing Methods)

This past weekend I was lucky enough to cross paths with and meet Mark Sedotti, a nationally renowned fly casting instructor. Otherwise known as a “Master Caster.” As I watched Mark’s casting lesson, many things were of value. A few of these little gems just stuck in this sea-water logged brain of mine. First, and foremost, Mark says, that every single year, for the past eighteen years, throughout the east coast waters, and especially in Montauk, there exists a natural phenomenon. It is something so cool, that even a non-angler would respect it – the sacred – cue harp music and golden beams of lights … wait, are you sitting down? Take a seat, here it comes, it is the, the … fall striper run. Let me allow you a few seconds to catch your breath and regulate your heart palpitations. I understand, I know, it is like God’s nectar. Even typing those words gets me weak in the knees.

Here is what I mean by “fall striper run,” it is basically peanut bunker and other baitfish smashing the surface of the water, and landing onto the beautiful shores of the east coast in a feeble effort to escape my beloved striped bass and other big game fish like albies and blues.
This season for me, has been a personal fishing best, and I would like to keep it going. We anglers have a limited time left to land those sought after species. Right now is the time to baton down the hatches and get ready for these next few weeks when it is as good as it gets and before our season fizzles down into being over for a mini winter hibernation. Over the next month, we here at the Eastcoast Angler would like to focus on the winning methods to score that catch of the lifetime. Those beasts are out there, lurking in our east coast waters, and as they say, if you got ‘em, smoke ‘em. Get those Fish – On 8s lures ready, clean out the Yeti cooler and get ready to fill it up with afore mentioned catch. Stay tuned for upcoming articles on the most productive methods of fishing to score big.
Think you have some pro – worthy tips to catch a beauty? Email us here to pass on the good word.

The Bluefish Blues- A Guide to Catching Bluefish (Fishing)

The Bluefish Blues - Paul Arbitman
Eastcoastangler.blogspot.com
Many a fishing report includes a geographic play of where the stripers are, sadly followed by the reports that, the stripers are at the bottom if you can get through the blues. While I love me some stripers, my adrenaline pumps for the fight of a blue. Soon the blues will be filling up our waterways until the fall. Read on, reader, to find out how to catch a bluefish.


First, a little blue-ology. Bluefish are a bottomless pit of burning hunger, consuming up to twice their weight in baitfish every day. They are the only member of the Pomatomidae family, the Pomatomus saltatrix, or bluefish, has a reputation for being the hardest fighter of any fish its size. The word ‘saltatrix’ means ‘leaper.’ And – they l-e-a-p, leap. A bluefish may dive into the depths, speedily wiz across a sand flat or jump clear out of the surface. It is strong enough to shake its head hard enough to throw a 6-ounce lead jig right back at the angler. Head’s up!

Bluefish often feed in large pods that gorge on schools of bait. When in a feeding frenzy, these voracious choppers will bite anything in their path, including floating soda cans and their own young. When a “blitz,” as this frenzy is know, occurs, a blue will hit almost anything. A soda can, a silver spoon, a sparkly diamond on a woman’s hand … On some occasions, they have even attacked swimmers.
Here is the first of some valuable info on catching a blue: Make sure to use a heavy mono or wire leader. These fish have razor sharp teeth that will make cole slaw out of 10 - 15 lb mono or - your hand. Cuidado when getting the hook out of the fish. (It's best to use pliers or some type of hook remover.)

On to bluefish fishing methods …
1. Chum, chum, chum, chum, CHUM! Chumming from an anchored boat is the most time honored way to fish for blues. Pay out bunker chum to attract fish while dropping pieces of cut bunker on your hook.
2. What’s my m*&%er f@#$ing name? Jigg-ah! Jigging for blues is most effective when there is a large body of fish concentrated in one specific area. Diamond jigs tipped with surgical tubes are dropped to the bottom and reeled up quickly. They can be bounced off the bottom as well. Find out at what depth the blues are picking up the jigs and concentrate your jigging at that depth. Larger fish will be underneath the smaller ones or at the very edge of the school.
3. More on jigging tactics … Some anglers tie 40 inches of 80-pound-test monofilament abrasion leader to their jigs. This setup handles the bluefish on the hook as well as other fish that graze the leader while swiping at the lure. When fishing diamond jigs, it helps to change treble hooks to singles to make unhooking blues simpler and safer, for your hand and the fish’s life. (I often will use a circle hook.) The rod types recommended are medium to medium-heavy action, fast taper, 6-foot graphite boat rods fitted with a medium conventional levelwind reel. The reels should be loaded with 30-pound-test superbraid.
4. The secret bunker. Another popular technique of fishing for blues is using bunker or even mackerel. Bunker is an extremely valuable commercial species. They are the primary forage species for striped bass and bluefish in the Northeast. Bunker 12 to 18 inches long. They are easy to find - massive schools dimple the surface in estuaries of southern New England, and many an angler can even smell the bunker by their oil. Bunker looks a large, deep-bodied herring or shad can be snagged with a big treble hook and spin-casting outfit. After snagging, cut the bunker into chunks; they make excellent bluefish bait. Some of the biggest blues are caught on bunker.
5. Trolling. Trolling tubes, jigs, bunker spoons, plugs and umbrella rigs work fine. This is a highly effective method for locating the blues. Some anglers will first, troll to locate the fish and then anchor or drift in the area with bait. To keep your trolling lures down at the right depth it is necessary to troll with heavy drail sinkers and wire line. Wire line trolling is the most effective. Some anglers also use down riggers.
Pick your poison; I gave you lots of methods. You want more? You want to score the big blue? Get out there and fish. Post your bluefish photos and reports here in the comment space.

Are you looking to find the finest fishing locations along the East Coast? This blog is for all of you Anglers from the Southern shores of New Jersey to the rocky coasts of central Maine, and every fishing hole along the way. Whether you like to fly fish or surf cast, you will always find exactly what you need right here at East Coast Angler. FISH ON!

Artist Spotlight: Robert Yudichak (Fish on 8 Custom Wood Plugs)

EastCoast Angler: Artist Spotlight, Robert Yudichak

Fish on 8 Custom Wood Plugs- Best Striper Plugs for Fall '09

Thirty years of experience of general contracting plus a lifetime of fishing plus one stealthy antique wooden lure collection equals eight. What, you ask, in God’s name am I talking about? Fish on 8, and our latest Artist Spotlight Feature, Mr. Robert Yudichak. Robert is the brains, brawn and beautiful artistry behind Fish on 8 custom wood plugs. Here, my fellow angler is his scoop:
Everything is in a name and with this company that holds true. We all know the frenzied, ecstatic angler cry of, “Fish on!” Use these plugs and that will be your mantra. And speaking of things spiritual, the later part of this company name, 8. The number eight is considered an extremely lucky number in most spiritual and religious cultures dating back centuries. Fishing with a Fish on 8 brings the luck right to you.
Now, about the artist, Mr. Robert Yudichak. Robert, along with his two sons runs Fish on 8. They are, as their art proves, die hard fishermen. Bob began making his own lures and would fish them. He recalls losing his handmade plugs many times only to go back the next day to his favorite spot to see another angler fishing his plugs. He would tell his fellow anglers those were his lures, the anglers would ask where he got the lures and that got that little light bulb illuminated in the mind of another artist.

Back in 2006, faith had it that Robert came across an ad in which a wood lure maker was selling his whole wood lure building shop. Luckily for us anglers Bob took advantage and purchased the shop and the rest is history. Almost four years later, after bouts of trial and error Bob is now cranking out some of the finest custom wood striper plugs that this Eastcoast Angler has ever seen. By fine I mean they are fine on two fronts; aesthetics and practicality. These are some sexy old school wooden lures that actually land some big pesce.
I have the honor of chatting with anglers up and down the East coast, from Maine to Delaware. The most serious of the angling fanatic species know of and fish Fish on 8s. The feedback I hear most often about these plugs is that they cast further. When I asked Bob about their construction he explained that, “the tail section is weighted just enough to give even the novice surf caster a supernatural ability to cast them out like a bullet.” Wowza! Want more to the perfectness of the lures from Robert “Perfectionist” Yudichak? Here ya go …

Robert’s attention to detail is sacred. Every plug that he puts out is totally and completely constructed by him. He personally picks the wood, designs the body, carves the lure, turns the lure, attaches the wires, seals the piece, air brushes the paint, ties the tails, attaches the hooks, labels the masterpiece and bags each and every lure with his own hands. These lures are fully sealed, meaning the whole lure is salt water tight and through wired with stainless steel to ensure a reliable connection while hauling in that catch of a lifetime. They are also constructed using stainless steel custom lips, Krok swivels and Wolverine split rings. Want an apprentice, Bob? You’d make a grown man’s dreams come true.

Every lure must meet his specifications of the finest quality. Lastly, before any of the Fish on 8 plugs go to market they are tested, tested and tested again. A word to the wise, go out there and own some of these lures. Add them to your surf bag and you will land some big stripers. And most importantly to a kooky lure collector like yours truly, add them to your non – fished collection of art. Who knows one day these little pieces of wood could be worth some decent coin.

ures
Fish on 8s current lure styles include danny, diving danny, pikie, spook, needle, swimmers, jointed swimmers, pencil poppers and divers. All styles come in a myriad of different colors.

Click here for more information on Fish on 8 by visiting the boys at Fisherman’s World.

Best Fishing Pliers: Carbon Fiber Prolite-os

Prolite-os series Pliers;The Game Changer.
Over the years I have forged friendships with many very important people within the sport fishing industry. These people have been the tipping point for the products that become the next big thing in the tackle world. These products are the type of gear that make us lie, cheat and steal our way to ownership. This little piece of equipment is the future of fishing tools.

The story
I was recently introduced to a brand new product that just hit the market. CRC's or Composite Reel Company's carbon-fiber composite pliers called The Prolite-os Pliers. Allow me to explain what makes this tool so special: they are made of a proprietary carbon fiber; this allows them to become one of the lightest weight fishing pliers on the market. They are corrosion free and will stand up to even the worst of saltwater conditions that Poseidon and the rest of the sea gods could throw at us. They are so featherweight, you will not even know that they are clipped to your side. When the time comes to put them into action they always will preform above and beyond the call of duty. These are absolutly the best fishing pliers on the market.
We here at the Eastcoast Angler feel that the Prolite-os"TM" are the best new fishing pliers on the market. And that reason is their genetic makeup, their substantive technology: carbon fiber, my friends. Carbon fiber is the future of where fishing tools are headed and Composite Reel Company is at the forefront. Carbon fiber is a futuristic material that can be found in many emerging applications, from Lamborghini car bodies to the wings of a Boeing 787. This material not only looks good, but is extremely functional, due to it's light weight and immense strength. They are rated as the best fishing pliers on the market. The are the must have fishing pliers for any fisherman.
Prolite-os description
A new lightweight, corrosion free, 7 1/2", proprietary carbon fiber composite pliers, weighing 4¼ ounces is now available for anglers. The pliers are manufactured with 300 series stainless steel tips, bushing, spring, screws and grommets. The self adjusting cutter, located on the "fish" logo side of the pliers, and anvil are made of Tungsten Carbide. This provides clean cutting of various size braids, in addition to other materials. The easily replaceable cutter and anvil are secured with stainless steel screws and include crimping teeth and a groove for sleeves. The tip of the pliers easily grab lightweight braid and monofilament line. Included with the pliers are a lanyard and sheath. Optional heavy duty sheath available. Pliers & lanyard also sold separately. See PRICING page or click here for more details.

Eastcoast Angler's Artist Spotlight: James Roszel (Fish Art)

Artist Spotlight: James Roszel
Thanks go out to our avid reader, Alec, for bringing us the newest edition to the Eastcoast Angler’s Artist Spotlight series. Good looking out and nice find.

The waters of Massachusetts can be home to some pretty serious fish. As we found out, the land of Massachusetts is home to some pretty serious fish artists. In particular, James Roszel. He came up with the idea to portray his own beloved trophy catch in art form. Who wants a dead fish on your wall when you can have a brilliant and life size work of art showing your fish, rod, reel and plug? Now that’s the whole kitten caboodle. Here’s what he has to say about his work, “In each painting I try to capture the brilliant colors and live presence of a freshly landed trophy fish. I feel these life-size paintings really capture the excitement of the encounter with these beautiful creatures and celebrate them in a more monumental way than taxidermy or photography can.”

Mr. Roszel works on commission and likes to speak with his clients about the details of their catch. Here are the basics: you contact him and let him know what you want. Pretty simple, really. Jim also works with oils and watercolors. When we browsed around his site, we knew this artwork would be a great addition to any fishing fanatic’s home gallery. James Roszel’s art work is attainable at any price point. As of now, he offers commissioned artwork, fish portraits, watercolors, prints and note cards. He is, in our opinion, an artist with an uncanny ability to paint some realistic fish.

Here’s how you can score some fine fish art for your self: He sells his watercolors on etsy.com. Check out his blog here. Check out his website here. Contact him at jim@fishingartworks.com or call, 781-422-2244. Glad we could bring you the work of James Roszel in the third edition of our Artist Spotlight series. Here at the Eastcoast Angler we are always on the lookout for some talented fishing artisans, and the work of Jim Roszel is an energetic example of art we’d love to have framed on our beach house walls. (Note to my wife – see Mr. Roszel’s contact. Hint – hint.)

If you happen across any fine fishy artists, drop us a line for the Eastcoast Angler to review their work. Contact us here.

The Stripers are Coming! The Stripers are Coming! (Fishing)

“The Stripers are coming! The stripers are coming!”
Paul Arbitman
Eastcoastangler.blogspot.com
Any New England fisherman knows that cry and waits for it all winter and early spring. Our very own midnight ride, trekking out onto various bodies of water, the moon light casting a shadow over our Striper seeking faces. At last, the migration has begun and our summer compadres are on their way back to familiar waters.
It is that time of the year again, folks. If there is a coastal fisherman in your life, prepare yourself for his impending absence, the Stripers are coming! The trumpeted return of the morone saxatilis. The Stripers have already begun their run and numbers are being reported along the North Atlantic seaboard as I type. Pretty soon a Google satellite image will show numerous little dots - anglers - filling the beaches from Delaware to Maine chasing their old friends, the Striped Bass.
Striped Bass over two years of age make two migrations annually, with the fish hatched in the Chesapeake showing the most extensive migration patterns. The first migration is back to the call of nature, to their spawning areas far upstream in coastal rivers. Some Stripers even travel as far as 100 miles upstream to spawn. The second migration is the stuff we wait for all year, their return North; and what fishing legends are made of.
The whisper of “schoolies” in the area can send a tingle up any avid angler’s spine. By most, stripers are considered the premier New England game fish. The striped bass is highly prized for its size, fierce battle on the line, and culinary savory. Live eels are the preferred method of catching in many areas. Other methods of catching include clams, sandworms, bunker chunks and large wooden plugs. Stripers are most likely to be found in tidal rips, strong currents, or wave action that creates turbulent, "live" water.
For all needs striper, come back and visit the East Coast Angler. Post your striper questions, trophy catches and fishing reports in the comment space on this article. It will hopefully be a long striper season and we will relish these beauties together. “The Stripers are coming! The Stripers are coming!” Don’t be the last one to welcome them back. Work hard, fish harder.

Are you looking to find the finest fishing locations along the East Coast? This blog is for all of you Anglers from the Southern shores of New Jersey to the rocky coasts of central Maine, and every fishing hole along the way. Whether you like to fly fish or surf cast, you will always find exactly what you need right here at East Coast Angler. FISH ON!

Artist Spotlight: Derek DeYoung (Fishing Artwork)

Artwork Derek DeYoung

Welcome to a new series brought to you by the Eastcoast Angler, Artist Spotlight. Fishing is a lifestyle and there are, thankfully, endless aspects of the outdoor life to surround yourself with. In our new series, we will bring you artists whose work - plain and simple -rocks. If you know of an artist out there that can capture the beauty of what we love so much, send us a comment, we'd love to review their work. We reserved numero uno for, in our opinion, Senor Numero Uno in the angling art world, Derek DeYoung.

Derek DeYoung is a masterful artist working out of his Montana studio. Derek has done for the angling art world what Michelangelo did for some ceiling of a church in Rome. Derek may be best known for his vibrantly colored close-ups of fish, which is what I knew about him. But his work encompasses so much more. Read on, and be amazed by his talent.

His style encompasses realism, impressionism and the sense of abstract. As Derek's work indicates, he was born to be a painter and the Eastcoast Angler is pretty stoked he pursued his childhood dream, and the angling world gets to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Derek's two loves: fly fishing and art, combine harmoniously in his work. You can tell by the detail in the fish, that this guy has landed some serious fish. And you can tell by the feeling you get looking at his work, that this guy is infatuated with painting. Derek has said, “I’ve committed my life to being an artist, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. To be an artist is more then just painting a scene on canvas. An artist sees the world differently then most people. I am always seeking out the beauty in life and in the world, searching for that magical experience or vision that will inspire me to paint at a higher level. The act of pursuing trout and steelhead with a fly rod contains so many of these magical moments. For me the truly inspirational vision, both as an artist and as an angler, comes once I’ve landed a particularly beautiful fish. I hold it up, tilting the fish back and forth in the sunlight, allowing all the subtle colors and patterns to come alive.” Its all good, it works for us. We couldn't agree more, brother. Thanks for bringing those beautiful creatures we catch on a fly rod to majestic life on your canvas.
If you take a gander at Derek's work, like we have done for the first part of our Artist Spotlight series, his work may look vaguely familiar. After some detective work, we came to find out that Derek is the very same artist for those kick ass Abel reels. His paintings mirror the contemporary and unique style seen on his Abel work. Paint on, Derek, paint on.
Check out Derek's work at his website, http://www.canvasfish.com/. You can own a piece of Derek's artwork on any budget: from the Abel reels, to a commissioned piece; from the Simms water bottles donning his artwork to an original masterpiece - you can have some fine fish art of your own. Derek even sells his work on oar covers, note cards and decals. Come on - you know you want it - go out and get yourself a little Derek DeYoung flair of your own. Now that's some "fly" artwork.

Artwork by Derek DeYoung

Are you looking to find the finest fishing locations along the East Coast? This blog is for all of you Anglers from the Southern shores of New Jersey to the rocky coasts of central Maine, and every fishing hole along the way. Whether you like to fly fish or surf cast, you will always find exactly what you need right here at East Coast Angler. FISH ON!

Artist Spotlight Series: Stephen R. Smith (Fish Art)

Artist Spotlight Series: Stephen R. Smith
Our good friend and loyal reader, Rick, brought a truly mind boggling artist to the attention of the Eastcoast Angler. The artist is Stephen R. Smith. The art is painted fish carvings. His work is truly of the Ripley’s Believe it or Not stature. I peeped Stephen’s site and could not, I repeat could NOT believe these fish cravings were not real catches.
Here’s the dig on fish carving, straight from Stephen’s site: fish carved models originated in the 19th century. They are an artistic alternative to taxidermy. A fish carving is artfully produced in half relief and then painted on, as if a canvas, to be more precise, a three dimensional canvas. This artwork continued with artisans typically producing salmon and other game fish throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. In this pristine era of angling, carved trophy fish reigned supreme. As the ominous cloud of World War II loomed over the British Empire, the refined elements of angling sputtered into the past.
In steps Stephen R. Smith, encouraged and inspired by friends, he carved and painted his first fish and the angling art world will never be the same. Here’s how Stephen works. To honor the tradition of fish carving, Mr. Smith only produces a limited number of commissions annually. If you are interested in the possibility of your own commission, contact Mr. Stephen Smith here.
In all honesty, check out his work, and if you can’t swing a commissioned carving, simply appreciate his amazing work for the awesome magnificence it is.