Hurricane Erin Fishing Effects

[Gerry Zagorski]

Looks like the worst of it will be Thursday evening with 9 to 10 foot seas inshore. That sure is going to mess up the bottom and will take at least a few days to settle back down.

Late summer heavy storms usually triggers the Fluke to leave and head off shore so I wonder if this storm although it’s kind of early, will trigger it.

Thoughts?

[hammer4reel]

I fished a bunch of ledges they usually stack up on before they get set to leave this weekend .
Those areas were void of life , so hoping with all the life still tighter inshore , this won’t be the storm to push them .
But betting those deeper spots will have fish on them after this rolls through .

.

[Broad Bill]

We have early storms but not typically of this magnitude. Sea conditions will definitely affect the concentration of fish and the bite overall in my opinion until early to mid next week. As far as fish migrating offshore, traditionally that doesn't start until the schools feed heavily on bait fish pouring out of the bays and schools of juvenile squid along the coast. The fish haven't started that feed yet and I think this storm is almost too early for them to start the offshore migration. I think mid to tail end of next week assuming there's no additional storms pushing north the fish will put the feedbag back on and feed heavy for a few weeks before moving off. If we get additional storms, everything will be accelerated.

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by hammer4reel

I fished a bunch of ledges they usually stack up on before they get set to leave this weekend .
Those areas were void of life , so hoping with all the life still tighter inshore , this won’t be the storm to push them .
But betting those deeper spots will have fish on them after this rolls through .

.

I hope you're right!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Originally Posted by Broad Bill

We have early storms but not typically of this magnitude. Sea conditions will definitely affect the concentration of fish and the bite overall in my opinion until early to mid next week. As far as fish migrating offshore, traditionally that doesn't start until the schools feed heavily on bait fish pouring out of the bays and schools of juvenile squid along the coast. The fish haven't started that feed yet and I think this storm is almost too early for them to start the offshore migration. I think mid to tail end of next week assuming there's no additional storms pushing north the fish will put the feedbag back on and feed heavy for a few weeks before moving off. If we get additional storms, everything will be accelerated.

Yeah the forecast for several days after the storm is no picnic either... Turning to South and cranking late Friday through Sunday and getting back to normal on Monday settling down some and changing to out of the west... Beach striper fishing should be great though.. Lots of clams on the beach and we know they love the snot...

[frugalfisherman]

August is shot. A couple calm days after Erin with a torn-up bottom then look at Wind Guru. A worse blow coming after that.

[dales529]

Way too early to tell in my opinion and hope not as I have more trips in September that usually go well. As stated by those that know more than me the fish have been stacked up inshore ish and nothing to say from one storm they will migrate out of reach. As soon as it settles go fishing and I am sure some boats will be back on em in a few days!

Keep fishing!

[John D.]

I don’t see them leaving or staging to leave this early yet. This weekend water temps were in the mid 70s a few miles off the beach with really clean water and rhe fluke had the feed bag on big time. At times was drop and reel with a good mix of keepers up to 7.5# with many 3-4# in the mix. These were all typical mid season spots.

[Broad Bill]

Again they had the feed bag on because of the imminent pressure change from the approaching storm. Do fluke know the difference between a big storm and change in pressure on August 19 - 20 versus one a few weeks later during the first week of September? Doubt it. The answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Some fish may have already started their heavy "feeding their head off" building up their reserves for their journey offshore. Others maybe not. One thing for sure, the storm won't help matters and if there's a stronger storm behind it that won't help matters either.

I've heard two theories during my life about what triggers their fall departure. Length of daylight and low pressure systems. I'm a firm believer in the later but who knows maybe it's a combination of the two. I don't think anyone knows for sure. But the clock is ticking and whatever tells them to head east is approaching and winds forecast for this week will only accelerate their internal clock. Then the commercials will take over and absolutely crush the biomass during the spawn. I'm more concerned about that than I am about the weather and when the stock's migration begins.

[Duffman]

Stayed local with limited time Friday evening and Sat early. Tons of action and just overs both times close local and shallow. Super suprised. Thought maybe new body of fish moved in but now thinking it’s a new body of fish moving out.