Reel Therapy Fly & Light Tackle Fishing charters

I did it. After months of denying myself, I actually got in my power boat and deliberatly went to visit with the dolphins in the Navesink. I am on the twin rivers alot but have intentionally avoided the scene out of respect for these wonderful creatures. All the media hype was a real turnoff to me and inside me somewhere was a feeling that I didn't want to be a part of this in any way. As an ecotour kayak guide, offering trips on the Navesink, I was asked many times to do a Flipper tour and refused. Sure, Kayaks are the ideal way of seeing them, but there was no way I was doing that regardless of the economy and lack of money in my pocket. This past Saturday I witnessed first hand how the dolphins completely ignore all the kayaks, jet skis, and power boats that are right on top of them. There are so many bunker (aka Menhaden=large oily forage fish) to eat, they could care less about all the people and watercraft. Most of the spectators stayed at a safe distance from them and there ...

Our schedules had been nuts, so my bassin buddy Joe and I decided that a day of hookey was in order. It's no secret that for the past few years the springtime bass fishing in the back end of Raritan Bay has become nothing short of spectacular. The waters at this time of year can be a bit muddy from the spring runoff and ahem, other things. In any case, we know exactly where we were going and why. Joe offered up his smaller center console boat and I jumped at the opportunity to leave my boat, and the labor associated with it, behind. We launched out of the newly rebuilt Sayreville launch ramp. FYI- It’s got everything, lighting, parking, porta potti, boats wash down faucets, even a quaint gazebo with a great view of the landfill(s). They hit you up for $20 for the right to enter the water (more about this painful topic coming soon) if you are not a resident, $10 bucks if you are. Cracks me up that they get away with charging a jet ski $30... I would have liked to have be...

I have been wading and paddling around NJ sedge banks and beaches for what seems like forever. I round a bend or pull up on a shoreline to stretch or stroll on an island and I am scolded. Yes, scolded by a cool lookin bird with a face that would be perfect under the bigtop. They have what looks like a carrot strapped to their faces for a beak, a bright red ring around a yellow eye, skinny legs with knots for knees. American Oyster catchers seem to have a real issue with anybody trying to intrude into a zone that they have decided was all there own. And it is. I really can't blame them as theres not that many places left for them to eat, hang out and live. They only live here on the atlantic coast, and fortunately for us, they really like NJ and with a loud mouth like that they really fit in. What's interesting to me, is that over the years very few people that I have interacted with on or near the water mention these birds. To most folks, I guess it just looks like another seag...

Submitted by Paulyfish on Tue, 05/13/2008 - 21:24 Hi- My schedule has been oh so hectic the last few months, but I have snuck in a couple of boat/fish/kayak trips since April 1st. I have to say that the water quality in the Navesink this spring has not looked good at all. I am no biologist, but in years past it may have been muddy, but it didn't look like it does now. Even before the latest rainful, it seemed as though there was an algae bloom in April. This is not good. I can only guess that the high temps so early in the year coupled with all the residences fertilizing the lawns is the culprit.Now that we have had some serious rainfall, I am thinking that the bloom will really take off. Luckily the temps are staying cool and hopefully some strong tides will flush the river out. Normally we are picking Stripers and blues on the back flats but this year has been spotty at best. Sure, the plankton feeding adult mossbunkers are loving this green stuff but the big bass hav...