Beach bound anglers have the advantage to score from the shore before the blackfish move on their outward migration into the ocean. The gameplan is to intercept them is at the choke points of the backwater inlets, piers and canal waterways. Who needs a boat?! - pull up your bootstraps and set foot to tackle some tautog!

Anyone under 25 years old probably doesn’t realize that there was some serious flounda poundin’ to be had in central and northern Jersey waters back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Every spring, fall and winter it was a lock to load the coolers up with an unlimited bag back then on only a quick two to three hour trip. Solid backwater action.

The starting gun has fired and striper hounds across the state have bass on their minds. Historically, it’s the tidal rivers and bay systems that will see the first bent rods. Myriad backwaters will be rife with striper activity, but more important than actual location is how to go about timing, technique and tactic to score.