Some Anglers believe a Boat is Required to Nail Big Fish...However
Proper Jetty Techniques can Lure those Lunkers Out of the Rocks!

Photos and Story by Bob Misak

Rock Hop...

Summer at the Jersey Shore gives anglers who fish salty water a virtual plethora (I hate the word too) of things to do and fish to catch. The species are many...from the standard junk fish like skates, stargazers, sea robins and sharks...moving right on up to stripers, bottom fish like fluke (summer flounder) and puffers... to out front's tuna, mahi and marlin. With choices like that, it's no secret that the northeast is undoubtedly the mecca. I am a boat owner and do have a small vessel for when the fluking is hot in the channels...or more importantly...the blowfish arrive. But in my heart, I am a landlubber. I love to look for good fishing on jetties and in the surf.

As the bass season fades and the surf anglers disperse to either the bigger boats for sea bass and fluke, or sharks and tuna, I will don those metal shoes and go in search of an ever increasing array of good eats like sheepsheads, triggerfish and tautog (blackfish). The deep, cool, clear waters of the inlets have been my friend in the past. Not just from the crazy striper fishing in spring and fall, but to the blackfishing and fluke run. Like in the "tide runner" weakfish days of old, the rocks are a place where bait gets holed up, and with it, larger fish are chasing that bait.

The author left the boat at home and nailed this 9.26 pound hog tog off the jetty rocks.

Now is the Time!

Of course summer is the optimum time to go on jetties as the species are in good number. Blackfish are on their annual spawn and a good percentage of fish are loving it up inshore...providing good angling and tough wrangling. Jetty fish are not only fighters, but expert bait thieves. Fluke are moving in and out of the bays and pilfering spearing along with small snapper blues and spot. Drifting those baits in the deep waters of the inlets have provided many anglers, including myself, with the fish of a lifetime. This year Jersey has been experiencing a bit of a cool trend compared to years past. The inlets are seeing some temperatures of 50 or lower coming into the bays, and fluke fishing for one has been tough in some areas as anglers search for that 70 degree water which is optimum for flatties. However, some big fish are holed up on the rocks and crustaceans are the bait needed to attract them to the hook.

I opened up the blackfish season on Barnegat Light's South Jetty, and this year was no different than others, even though the cold water was, in fact, present. July 17th saw a catch of around 24 togs, the largest of which was 19 inches, plenty big enough for a meal that evening. On this day, half of those fish would reach the 15 inch keeper mark, but only one would join me on the walk back. However, triggerfish, bluefish and a luck shot sheepshead could have you dragging back more than you expected to.

A great assortment of fish are found among the jetty rocks. This nice triggerfish provided a great fight and triggerfish are excellent table fare as well..

Luck and Persistence Pay Off...

As we headed into the second day of tog season we wouldn't be so lucky; or would we? I had no desire to go dig my customary crab baits of either Asian crabs or fiddlers, so I bought some green crabs. The day before was epic and two of us put about 36 fish up, so I made sure I had at least thirty crabs in the box. Out to the jetty we went, myself and friend Ben Howell. We expected good things. As we went through crab after crab and only busting through a couple of short fish, we were getting a little worried as we hit the "half dozen left" mark. I suggested we use the crabs whole, no legs cut off, just whole. I hooked one up and immediately hooked a nice triggerfish. At least we wouldn't go home empty.

Hooking one of our last crabs on, I attempted to breach the jetties tip, with high water and a good swell making it difficult. I sent the whole crab down into the current and waves were rolling in and out. Before I could make the smart decision to back off, the drag is ripping out and I'm now at the mercy of Mama Nature and one good fish. As I see that the fish is a mammoth blackfish, I now realize that Ben is not coming out to help, he's too far off. The fish then rode a wave in and is suddenly at my feet, but as I made an attempt to grab it, the rushing water washed it into a crevice. The huge fish thrashed between two boulders as I threw the rod and grabbed at the leader. I pulled the fish out of the rocks and it calmed just enough for me to get a couple of fingers into its gills. I hoisted the 26 incher up and thanked the higher powers once again for lending a hand. At 9.26 pounds, this isn't the largest tog that's been taken inshore for sure, but it's my largest.

Point is, summer on those jetty rocks can yield big, big fish of many, many species and the sky is the limit. A good load of crabs, a hefty little rod with a good reel, some cleats, a net and a back pack can get you to no-man's land. But it's certainly not "no-fish land". Sometimes it's difficult to get in on those rocks with a boat. But it could pay off to leave the boat and home and see what may be sitting right at your feet. The exercise walking the rocks and sand is good for the body...and it'll help you work off the calories of those deep fried fillets and steak fries!

Good luck and great fishing.