10/2/26 It's Not About How Deep You Fish, It's About How You Wiggle Your Worm
The storm made for some tough conditions, but the surf fishing was actually very good throughout it. Some nice striped bass were landed from shore, and the guys who were willing to deal with the weather were rewarded. Sometimes it didn't matter how far you could cast; it just depended on how you presented the lure.
Heavy lures were the ticket, with the Breachway Bomber, Kastmasters, and soft plastics with heavy jig heads all producing fish.
The past couple of days have been much calmer, giving everyone a good chance to get back out on the water. The boat guys had a productive few days, and the fair-weather surf fishermen got a chance to play with some bass. There is plenty to look forward to as we move further into October.
Striped Bass
The surf fishing was very good during the storm, with some nice-sized striped bass being landed from shore. A healthy mix of schoolies, slot, and over-slot fish.
The rough water had the fish feeding, and getting your lure down with the heavy current and wind was important. This was a weekend when a "wind knot" could easily happen.
A wind knot is an accidental, stubborn tangle or loop in your fishing line, most commonly on spinning reels. Despite the name, it isn't usually caused by the wind alone. Slack line, line twist, or loose loops on the spool can all contribute to one. If you have ever watched your line come flying off the reel and suddenly turn into a bird's nest, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
Now that things have calmed down, I would expect the bass to spread back out. There is still plenty of bait around, from mullet, bay anchovies, and peanut bunker to juvenile scup, sea bass, and tautog.
The breachways, beaches, and inlets are all worth a look right now. Don't be afraid to throw something a little heavier when the wind or current picks up.
It is always worth a look over your shoulder this time of year. Something may be happening just around the corner, and you have no idea.
The beaches have been relatively quiet since the storm, so hopefully things change there.
If you are looking to get set up for the fall bass run, check out our Select Tackle for Striped Bass.
Tautog
The tog fishing has definitely improved.
The water clarity is cleaning up quickly after the storm, and we are starting to see better reports. As the water continues to cool, we should see more fish moving into the areas we like to target this time of year.
This is a good time to have plenty of green crabs and jigs on hand.
The next few weeks should be some of the better tog fishing of the year.
Check out our Select Tackle for Tautog before heading out. Fresh crabs at the shop.
Black Sea Bass
We have also been hearing reports of black sea bass schooling up and chasing bait.
This time of year, it is not unusual to see them feeding higher in the water column when they are keyed in on bait. If you see birds or bait getting pushed around, it is worth keeping an eye out for sea bass underneath them.
Don't be surprised if you pick a few up while targeting other species.
It is also nice to hear of a few nice fluke being brought in recently. You never know this time of year.
Bonito / False Albacore
The bonito and albie reports have been a little slower over the past few days.
The storm seems to have pushed some of the albies around, but I would expect the false albacore to return as things settle back down.
The bonito numbers should start fading pretty quickly as we get further into October. There are still a few around, with reports of them in the bay over the past few days.
If you see them feeding, have a small resin or epoxy jig ready to go.
Check out our Select Tackle for Bonito and False Albacore.
Lure of the Week – Magictail Game Changer Series Tog Jigs
The Magictail Game Changer is a great option as the tog bite starts to improve.
The jig is designed to fish around the rocky and sticky bottom that tautog like to call home. The shape helps it move around structure while still keeping your crab where you want it.
The collar-less design also gives you plenty of room to get your crab on the hook.
A few things we like about it:
- Heavy-duty 4/0 and 5/0 hooks
- Collar-less design for better crab presentation
- Designed to work around rocks and structure
- Free-swinging hook
- Available in sizes from 3/4 oz to 4 oz
Try a simple lift-and-drop presentation around structure. Keep the jig close to the bottom and be ready when that tog picks it up.
This is a good one to have in the box as we head into October.
Lobster Facts
With lobster season going strong, I figured it was a good time to throw some lobster facts into the report.
Lobsters are pretty crazy animals, and the more you learn about them, the stranger they get.
A few fun facts:
- They have teeth in their stomach. Lobsters use structures inside their stomach to grind up food.
- Their blood is blue. Lobsters use a copper-based protein called hemocyanin to carry oxygen.
- They taste with their legs. Lobsters have sensory hairs on their legs and other parts of their body that help them detect food and their surroundings.
- They can regenerate limbs. If a lobster loses a claw or leg, it can grow a replacement over several molts.
- They pee from their faces. Lobsters have openings near their eyes that they use to release urine. They can actually use these chemical signals to communicate with each other.
Do Lobsters Live Forever?
You may have heard that lobsters are "immortal." They aren't.
Lobsters continue growing and produce telomerase, an enzyme that helps maintain their cells as they age. This means they don't age in exactly the same way humans do.
But that doesn't mean they live forever.
As lobsters get larger, molting becomes more difficult and requires a huge amount of energy. Eventually, a lobster may not have enough energy to complete a molt, or it can become vulnerable to disease, predators, or other causes.
So while lobsters don't simply die of old age like we do, they definitely aren't immortal.
We're Fully Stocked With
👉 Live Eels
👉 Live Crabs
👉 Fresh Mackerel
👉 Sandworms
👉 Green Crabs
👉 Bunker
👉 Fresh Squid
👉 Clams
Get Ready Now
October is here, and now is the time to start getting serious about the fall run.
Check your drags. Replace old leaders. Sharpen hooks. Restock your resin and epoxy jigs. Make sure your topwater plugs are ready, along with bucktails, soft plastics, and teasers.
And don't forget the basics:
- Check your rod guides.
- Clean and lubricate your reels.
- Check your leaders.
- Retie questionable knots.
- Replace rusty hooks.
- Make sure your drag is working properly.
- Have a few different baitfish imitations ready to go.
- Make sure you have heavier lures for when the wind and current pick up.
The weather may change quickly, and so can the fishing. Be ready to change with it.
The fall run is here.
Stop by the shop or shop anytime online at Breachway Bait & Tackle.
Ask about our special rod/reel combo deals for fishing the surf or from a boat/kayak. BIG SAVINGS!
We're open 7 days a week.
Shop Hours
Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday & Sunday: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Weekend Weather
Friday (10/2)
SW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Wave detail: SW 3 ft at 4 seconds and E 1 ft at 8 seconds.
🌡️ High: 75° | Low: 64°
Saturday (10/3)
NE winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft. Wave detail: S 3 ft at 7 seconds and N 2 ft at 3 seconds.
🌡️ High: 69° | Low: 52°
Sunday (10/4)
NW winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 3 ft.
🌡️ High: 64° | Low: 49°
Weekend Tides – Breachway Flow
Friday (10/2)
Incoming: 8:43 AM → 3:51 PM
Outgoing: 3:51 PM → 11:03 PM
Incoming: 11:03 PM → 4:25 AM*
Saturday (10/3)
Outgoing: 4:25 AM → 9:50 AM
Incoming: 9:50 AM → 5:00 PM
Outgoing: 5:00 PM → 12:19 AM*
Sunday (10/4)
Incoming: 12:19 AM → 5:34 AM
Outgoing: 5:34 AM → 11:29 AM
Incoming: 11:29 AM → 6:11 PM
Denotes after midnight (following day).
🔥 It's on. Get out there and get tight.
Good luck this weekend, and tight lines!
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