Tough day porgy fishing

[porgylber]

I went to bed Monday night expecting to get up and sneak in a few hours casting for blues and fluke in M.I. Then the golden email arrived. Afternoon meeting canceled. So I hauled it to the dock to hop on a ns party boat to catch some porgies.
Weather was beautiful. Sea was like a lake. One problem. The pork chops didn’t cooperate. About 40 people on board. By my count, 6 porgies were landed. If it was a sea bass trip, a million were caught and returned. Most were small, but there were some hefty ones mixed in.
A nice surprise was all of the winter flounder landed. Easily 25-30. That, along with a few ling helped matters.
Here in NJ, the main porgy body is extremely late this year. The past 3 years were incredible, especially in terms of size as well as quantity. So…I guess a bad year was due to happen.
Hopefully things turn around in October and November before whatever is here begins the migration to the offshore wrecks.

[RAMMFISH66]

I am waiting for the end of October to go on the Prowler for porgies. Did real well 2 years ago. Here's hoping. See ya all later. For now, fresh water will hold me over at lake Tappan. Nice Carp, white/yellow perch too. Lotsa them. Some good size cats too. That's what happens when when you use nightcrawlers. Mixed bag

[tautog]

All from Breezy point east and north. Very few on our side which is why I have been sacrificing to the toll gods this year.

[porgylber]

Originally Posted by tautog

All from Breezy point east and north. Very few on our side which is why I have been sacrificing to the toll gods this year.

They’ve been catching them for months now in the usual haunts, Long Island Sound, Moriches Bay, Gardiner’s Bay, etc. Along with Rockaway and east on the South shore.
Still one of the great mysteries in life. Why won’t they make the short swim from Coney Island/Rockaways to NJ waters.

[Jigman13]

The porgies they're catching out east are massive too. I fish the south shore beaches of Montauk with hi lol rigs and bail plate sized pork chops.

My buddy in long beach fishes breezy. He said you cant get away from them they're so thick out that way!

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by RAMMFISH66

I am waiting for the end of October to go on the Prowler for porgies. Did real well 2 years ago. Here's hoping. See ya all later. For now, fresh water will hold me over at lake Tappan. Nice Carp, white/yellow perch too. Lotsa them. Some good size cats too. That's what happens when when you use nightcrawlers. Mixed bag

His last report stated he was not going to fish for porgies this year... Tells you something about the porgy fishing in NJ this year so far ..

Looks like some of the head boats will be fishing for blues after fluke shuts down....Either that or take off until sea bass opens...

[bulletbob]

Originally Posted by porgylber

They’ve been catching them for months now in the usual haunts, Long Island Sound, Moriches Bay, Gardiner’s Bay, etc. Along with Rockaway and east on the South shore.
Still one of the great mysteries in life. Why won’t they make the short swim from Coney Island/Rockaways to NJ waters.

In my opinion NJ is more on the fringes for certain fisheries... When populations of certain fish are high we see a good "overflow".. When populations are down, there are still plenty in their "home "range, but the borderline areas don't get them..

[tautog]

Funny thing is we were catching 12 inch scup on every drop off Hatteras in 100 feet in late June. The fish have no issues with even warmer water down there. Seems like they are actually pushing the pink porgies and ringtails out of some spots.

[porgylber]

Originally Posted by tautog

Funny thing is we were catching 12 inch scup on every drop off Hatteras in 100 feet in late June. The fish have no issues with even warmer water down there. Seems like they are actually pushing the pink porgies and ringtails out of some spots.

No doubt. I regularly follow and read reports from a charter operation in Key West, Florida. Every now and then they catch porgies. They are huge, easily running 4-5 lbs plus. So, warm water is not an issue for them.

[tautog]

Key West porgies are likely not scup. Scup used to stop north of Cape Hatteras but seem to be making a good showing in the depths off North Carolina now.