With the two latest topics on this board regarding June and the Full Moon fishing I figured I would share my take on the whole thing. Yes I am from Jersey and I left the boat fishing and big bass behind because my favorite type of fishing is wetsuiting and slinging eels off the rocks. I fished 13 nights this past June up in Rhody waters starting the first week, I like fishing the Ocean front and avoid the back bays and ponds and breachways.
Regarding June, I will say that there have definately been far fewer fish around this year, the most I have done in a night is 18 Bass, I only count fish that are at least keeper sized. The past few seasons I have had many 20+ fish nights in June and I haven't had one this year. For me, there are definately alot more quality fish around this year. I fish strictly eels and rarely do I even carry plugs with me anymore. From my June log,
June 4: 12 Bass 12-19lbs
June 5: 18 Bass 11-20lbs, (2 fish were right at 20lbs)
June12: 8 Bass 14lbs-26lbs, (1@22lbs, 1 @26lbs)
June13: 17 Bass 11-19lbs
June14: 10 Bass 14-28lbs, (1@ 22lbs, 1@28lbs)
June15: 8 Bass 16-23lbs, (1@21lbs, 1@23lbs)
June16: 8 Bass 16-36lbs, (1@23lbs,1@26lbs, 1@36lbs)
June17: 5 Bass 15-19lbs, (1@23lbs,1@29lbs)
June18:17 Bass 12-25lbs,(1@21lbs,1@24lbs,1@25lbs)
June19:14 Bass 11-26lbs,(1@20lbs,1@23lbs,1@26lbs)
June28:4 Bass,(1@12lbs,1@17lbs,1@22lbs,1@27lbs)
June29:9 Bass 14-30lbs, (1@24lbs,1@30lbs)
June30:12 Bass 14-29lbs, (1@23lbs,1@25lbs,1@28lbs,1@29lbs)

Full Moon: I love fishing the Full Moons, in the past years I have taken many of my biggest fish on the Full moons. I try and fish every full moon I can, June, July, August, and October have been best. June,July, August full moon tides are almost 1.5ft stronger in Rhody than the new moons. I'll take a July, August, or October full moon over thier new moon any day. The only thing the new moons are better for are plugs, jigs, plastics though there is always an exception. Fish are easier to fool in my opinion. regarding the full moons, I definately go to a lighter floro leader and smaller hooks on a full moon with flat calm waters, down from a 7/0Gamakatsu w/ 60-80lb floro to 4/0 Gamakatsu with 40lb floro. And definately sling eels varying retrieve speeds, sometimes you will not get a touch with a slow retrieve, speed it up and you get slammed. I guess the fish really cant sit there and think about slamming an eel that is moving by it on a fast retrieve. If I have some wave action with white water, I'll cast into it and leave it, reel in very slow, and leave it agian. If there is current, like a wind-drift I'll cast up current and let it sweep. You want to be near the bottom! I think it is total BS that the bass are only in deep water on a full moon. I snorkel alot of the areas I fish and never see a single bass in the shallows along shoreline during the day unless there is wave action on a bar with whitewater. During the night I'll fish the same area that was void of bass and do very well. Those fish come into the shallows at night to feed regardless of the moon. I have snorkelled the past weeks and all you see on the rocky shoreline is, crabs, lobster, tog, and bergals, countless small tog and bergals. Bass probably come in and grub on them in the night. In Rhody bass love to lay in the shadowlines of big rocks and boulders, prime ambush spots, thats why casting to big rocks that are submerged or partially exposed is so good. I have my favorite rocks on a stretch of beach that I work, alot of times I can bounce from rock to rock and pick fish from every rock, sometimes I'll move fast covering alot of water, (I'll catch more fish this way). Sometimes I'll get to a rock that I have consistantly caught fish on and work it for an hour, half a tide, or more just waiting for passing fish. I always try and fish rocks that have produced my biggest fish from the second hour of the incoming to the top. Usually on a rocky point, This has been my favorite tide for big fish on open beaches, a big plus is when you have wind with tide. You never know what is going to come in with that incoming tide! I can't tell you how many times I worked a beach and it was dead on the drop, I fished the same stretch on the way and did really well. If there are fish there on the drop, it is usually better on the incoming, though there is always an exception. Also fish into dawn if you can, I have done really well into dawn. Agian I'll take dawn over dusk any day, many of my bigger fish are right at dawn especially if it is overcast. I fish on my days off regardles of tides, wind, moon and so on. There are so many places to fish in Rhody that I can always be guaranteed to find fish. I can't remember the last time that I have gotten skunked in Rhody...Can't catch fish sitting at home complaing about the full moons sucks, the wind is to strong, there is no bait and so on, I have so many friends that make just to many excuses. Get out there and fish, the Bass are there! These are my observations that I wanted to share and I hope they can help...

good words cowhunter. Sometimes i feel spoiled living in RI because the bass fishing is so good.

Pretty impressive numbers, great job. You cannot find as good of fishing in Jersey?

I prefer a light sky....quarter to 3/4 moon I have had my best nights!;)

Its been consistant with times and places that I fish, that the 1stqt moon have taken the bigger bass. I have also noticed good #'s by other fishers around that same moon phase. IMO, I feel the bigger bass feed in closer, shallower, with little light yet still have that comfort zone. When its going from full to dark the chance of more fish hanging close is not as good. CH, I've guilty and agree that some dudes use the full moon as a time to take a break from the surf...(nothin wrong with that) but last year I picked up fish over 30# full moon, there's so many different places and ways to fish lit-up nights....time is what we realy need to put the puzzel together.

CH, usualy I throw plugs at first light, this weekend I stuck to eels with good results, I was into 40" fish for 1 1/2 hr before it shut down. Talkin with commerial guys, often the bass won't touch eels once the sun breaks, they switch over to chunks for bigger fish... in the past, most commerial crowd I see in strong current. realy enjoying the wetsuit. ;) be safe out there.

I would have to agree with Cowhunter about the full moon. I love fishing the full moon, and my best fish over the past few years have come on the July one. Maybe its a Jersey thing because I fish in Jersey also, and every full moon the beach (at least where I fish) is packed with fishermen tossing almost every bait imagined (including one guy who tosses some kind of beef. He swears by it but I had never heard of it until I was talkign w/ him one night last year. If any one can explain the reasoning behind it, it would be much appreciated because he refuses to tell me.) But most pack it in after an hour or so of catching skates and oyster crackers and before the game fish whether it be blues, fluke or bass start to come in. This is how I caught striper fever catching the only keeper bass of the moon.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I've only had 1 good day of fishing this month :mad: Can I pay you to guide me? ;)

Thanks for your observations Cowhunter.
I like full moons too, just need the right color.

:D

Nice report Kenny!

Since moving over the winter and driving 60 miles to fish now I have been looking for a way to extend my options. I used to fish mostly drop tides in my spot so this gives me faith that the incoming has potential. I never did much on the incoming before but I've gone to the wetsuit this year and can get to some rocks that may be good.

How big a rock do these bass need to hide behind?

The bigger the shadow the better I suppose.