To be sure, fishing the flats is almost exclusively thought to be an event of the southern latitudes. Close your eyes and it’s easy to visualize rolling tarpon, finning permit or tailing bonefish on the picture-perfect waters of the Florida Keys much like we see in many fishing magazines and on television. However, what many Nor’east anglers don't seem to realize is that there's no need to jump on a plane in order to fish the shallow water as there are literally hundreds of square miles of fishable flats in our own backyard. You just have to be willing to work your tail off and put in some time and success will come. If you’re comfortable doing these two things and are eager to give New Jersey flats-style fishing a chance, then it's time to decide on where to go. Location, Location, Location Let’s talk real estate, the watery kind. Nor’east anglers, particularly those familiar with New Jersey, have an absolutely ideal location to try stalking the flats in and around the Sedge Islands of Barnegat Bay. Those familiar with the area know the Sedge Island flats to be a shallow water angler’s dream located on the backside of Island Beach State Park in Barnegat Bay. These particular flats begin at Barnegat’s inlet extending northward toward Seaside Heights and are a relative eco-system in itself with numerous grass beds, deep holes and mangrove-like brush leading right up to waterside. Throw in some sand islands and clam beds for good measure and anglers can have an absolute field day searching for prey. Getting Started There is one necessity that is absolutely imperative to fishing New Jersey's shallow saltwater and that is a pair of quality polarized sunglasses. Without this key ingredient, you're better off soaking some clam from the beach and saving your retinas. |
As is the case 99.9% of the time, one of the easiest ways to find and catch fish is to first locate some structure. As luck would have it, finding structure in shallow water can be far easier than finding contours in deeper water because you can actually see what you’re looking for. A novel concept, I'm sure. What you want to be eyeing, while standing tall in the water and wearing some glare-reducing shades, are definitive structures and fish-holding patterns. Keep a special look-out for grass beds, which are likely to hold shrimp and other crustaceans. Once located, these beds are a great place to throw a shrimp pattern fly, a soft plastic D.O.A. shrimp imitator or some live grass shrimp on a 2/0 hook under a float. This is an ideal way to pick up some early morning or late evening weakfish. For live bait fishing, you should be able to gather a decent supply of shrimp by running a seine net through a grass bed or near a bulkhead before heading out. Be sure to keep them alive by placing them in a cooler on top of a damp towel placed over some ice. Another type structure you want to be watching for are the deeper holes found all over the Sedge Island flats. These areas are easily distinguishable from afar, due to the difference in water color. Once located, don't make the mistake of wading directly to the hole as hanging back and observing can lead to what most of us think of when fishing shallow water. The grass beds aside, these deep holes and cuts are the main hangout of many flats-going fish. In them you can find flounder, bluefish, weakfish and schoolie-size bass among others, depending upon the season. However, pause for a moment, reflect, and ask yourself how the fish access these holes. The answer is simple. They travel across the same flat leading to the hole and, during this shallow water swim, would have been easily discernable to the eye if an angler were in the right place at the right time. |
