Fishing the Rocky Shoreline

December 18th, 2009 Posted in Travel and Leisure

Coastlines all over the northeast are riddled with rocks, gravel, boulders and other connected man-made rock piles. However, these areas located in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey are ideal grounds for predator fish and the food that they so love to eat. This makes it great grounds for superior fishing as long as you don’t disregard the man-made rock structure that you need to contend with.

The Jetty

A jetty is a man made structure that was created along the shorelines to prevent storm surges from damaging property, to help stop beach erosion and to create small causeways into the rivers and salt ponds in the northeast. For the fisherman, these grounds are rich with fish at some point or another and if you understand when, it can enhance your catch any time.

Bluefish, false albacore, weakfish and striped bass love these areas for the turbulent, fast-moving waters. The reason is that most baitfish get disoriented in these waters and therefore become easy prey for these predators. You can often find large numbers of these predators not up against the walls of a jetty enjoying an afternoon snack of baitfish. This is where the water is the most turbulent.

The jetty has become home to whelks, mussels and periwinkles and they are often joined by scup and tautogs. These fish love the jetty for the protection they believe it offers – initially they feed of the algae and moss but eventually they feed on each other. The jetty does offer a significant advantage to them – the rocks allow them to nestle in and stay away from their larger predators.

The ideal time for fishing at the jetty is high tide. In fact, the closer you can start fishing to high tide the more abundant your catch will be. Baitfish tend to be more focused during this time as the water is even more turbulent and they tend to need to stay more focused to keep their bearings. Causeways that lead to local rivers and ponds will be filled with baitfish as the tide ebbs and flows.

Blackfish and porgy are normally easy to catch, as they rarely roam very far from the rock walls. They have everything they need to survive there in the rocks. You can take advantage of this by making shorter casts and not using unnecessary amounts of weight to present your baits.

One overlooked necessity in jetty fishing is safety equipment. While safety at all times should be a first consideration on every fishing trip, fishing a jetty means additional safety precautions you might not think about for shore fishing. As with any fishing, a personal flotation device is a must. Don’t try fishing without one at any time, but especially if you are fishing a jetty. Remember, these waters are extremely turbulent and you could turn an afternoon of fishing enjoyment into an afternoon of disaster without taking the proper precautions. If you are planning on jetty fishing you will want to invest in a pair of cleats. Algae and moss are rich on these rocky surfaces which remain wet almost the entire season. A misstep can easily cause a broken arm, a broken leg or a broken ankle or other more critical injuries. Common sense precautions can keep you safe during your fishing trip and the minor expenses involved in securing this gear can save your life.

Beach and jetty fishing in the northeast offer great opportunities for fishing. You can get the best of both in one day by visiting the great shorelines that are found here. If you start off fishing for blackfish and decide it’s time for a bluefish or striper, they are not too far away. The shores of the northeast offer a lot of opportunities for a memorable fishing trip for you, your friends and you family. Don’t miss out on these great opportunities.

There are many supplies that are helpful when fishing on the rocky shoreline. Some of these supplies include: Daiwa Fishing Pole, Shimano Calcutta, and Saltiga 30T.