Sand Eel Bite

Ahhh, here we are, few years later and none-the-wiser. We seem to collectively forgot what it was like then. ..when I say then I mean few years ago

Waiting on the beach because you’ve heard fish were hitting tins few miles east yesterday. And you expect them to be at your beach today. Tomorrow the latest…

But they did not show up. Three days later they are still few miles east of your spot. Then you get a major cold front, and you say” This will do it”

So you are again at “your” spot waiting for these fish to slide west but they don’t. You hear that they had a banner day today at same place but you don’t have a beach permit for those spots and besides, it’s a long drive.

Any day now

They you get a major wind event. Southwest winds up to 50 miles an hour. Gale warnings for boaters posted everywhere. Well if nothing did it so far, this will. So yet again, you brave insane winds and toss your plugs in crazy white water at “your spot” and Glory to God in the Highest, you get few small bass! Yes, it’s finally happening. Tomorrow the cold front passes by, the water flattens out and you again are left with a thumb up your !@#%

And yet again, you hear that fish are still east of you, hot and heavy. But you don’t want to spend $ to buy a permit this late in the year. After all, they will be at your beach soon.

When will they finally start migration?

I hope I don’t eat my words. On the second thought, I hope I do because I could really use a ride to the beach where I at least feel I have a SHOT at the fish that takes less than an hour drive. I don’t need to tell you were the fish are. You’ve heard the reports for the past weeks, if not a month

When will these fish move? Including those in deep water that party boats have been hammering now for weeks?

Unlike all other migrating baitfish, mullet, bunker, peanut bunker, herring, anchovies, you name it, sand eels are different. How? All other baitfish migrate along the beach southward. Usually they will be tailed by migrating bass and bluefish. So yeah, if you had fish at XWZ beach yesterday a beach few miles west is usually a good shot today.

But sand eels move from deep water to shallow.. Are there sand eels on your local beach? I can almost guarantee it. Why are the fish not on them ?

Probably two reasons although keep in mind I am probably talking out of my ass. One, since we decimated the bass pretty good, population in the schools of fish are smaller, more condensed. They don’t spread out trough the whole region like they used to. And resident fish are few and far between.

The second reason, the beaches that have had consistent action probably have more bait and there is no reason for fish to move. And temps are not dropping fast, so that won’t get them to move either. So in all probability, you are looking at these fish disappearing one day and reappearing in South Jersey or Delaware. I doubt they will pass by your beach. Or my beach

The whole point of this post, you got to go where sand eel bite is  at. They are probably not going to come to you. Fortunately , within the last week the fish has
spread out a bit westward.

Btw..the way, there are some BIG fish around. Not sure if they will be this big but the man can dream 🙂

The winner of Super Strike Halloween Bunk O’Lanterns lure set giveaway is mark@brookmeadowgolf.com.You have 5 days to email us at info@ surfcastersjournal.com with your shipping address