Jay K
Active member
It's been a tough 2025-2026 season for me here in NJ. Being blessed with two young kids, it's very challenging to be making 2+ hour drives to go chase after puddle ducks. Especially, when they are scarce or are in an odd pattern. We had a really quick, early, freeze in December when things got good. Then the back and forth of the weather after seemed to push all the birds out. The consensus here as of late has been very hit or (mostly) miss, dare I say "bad", puddle duck hunting.
Yesterday, I decided to switch gears and finally put my broadbill rig and some canvasback decoys to good use. After cleaning snow off my driveway and vehicles at 9pm, I manage to get a quick 2 hours of sleep in before the alarm went off at 1:30am. Something told me before I left the house "Bring your puddle duck decoy bag." I heaved it into my truck bed, pulled out with the rig, and made my way pick my good friend up who would hunt with me for the day.
The plan was to hit a ramp that was bayfront and quickly skirt west against the leeward bank to find a point to set the broadbills and cans. Arriving at the ramp, I noticed the wind was howling. 20 kts sustained if not higher. I shined my headlamp onto the bay to see whitecaps and darkness. Immediately I thought "Yeah we're not doing this." Walking back to the truck I slipped on ice which was all the bad omen I needed. The idea of motoring out into an open bay in 19 degrees with 20 kts of wind seemed at the very least, not smart. I explained to my buddy we would switch gears, go to a lesser known sheltered spot for puddle ducks.
We arrived only 15 minutes later, I switched out the decoys, we put our gear on, and shoved off. The spot itself was an original find of mine from my early days. I wrote it off typically in lieu of more interesting, difficult to navigate spots, with more variety. Over my years, I had traded 5 minute runs from the ramp for 45-60 min runs with often times, the same result.
We motored a comical 5 minutes in the dark to the spot and set the decoys. It was dead high tide early, and nothing was flying. My buddy commented how it was incredibly peaceful with the marsh glistening in the recent snow. I mentioned to my friend, we should see something start to happen as the tide changes and the wind kicked back up (which it did). Sure enough, the tide flipped around mid-morning, the wind came up, and the classic Jersey black ducks began getting up and putting down.
The first bird came in quick, I only last second managed a shot overhead, hitting the bird and bringing it down in the marsh behind us. I retrieved it after a short walk. We had singles and pairs come and flare last minute, just out of shooting range. We watched group, after group, get up and put down nearby. Another pair came in and my buddy was up. He took one bird down just outside the decoys and it began swimming towards the bank. We both got on it quick before it could reach the bank and disappear. Motored over and retrieved that bird. Setup again, it didn't take long before another single came in very much off of our bow. My buddy said "Get him, I can't" so I carefully placed the shot and brought the duck down, sailing behind us, almost in the same spot my first landed. I retrieved that bird and got back in the boat.
We hunted for another 30-40 minutes before we had to pick up and leave due to my buddy needing to get back. This will be my last hunt for the season. With temps plummeting into the teens and single digits, I can't find the will, reason, nor time to commit to the chase. So it will be resuming for me in October of this year.
It was a satisfying way to end the season and a reminder to myself: Don't overcomplicate things. Jersey black ducks are still fun and worth the chase.
Yesterday, I decided to switch gears and finally put my broadbill rig and some canvasback decoys to good use. After cleaning snow off my driveway and vehicles at 9pm, I manage to get a quick 2 hours of sleep in before the alarm went off at 1:30am. Something told me before I left the house "Bring your puddle duck decoy bag." I heaved it into my truck bed, pulled out with the rig, and made my way pick my good friend up who would hunt with me for the day.
The plan was to hit a ramp that was bayfront and quickly skirt west against the leeward bank to find a point to set the broadbills and cans. Arriving at the ramp, I noticed the wind was howling. 20 kts sustained if not higher. I shined my headlamp onto the bay to see whitecaps and darkness. Immediately I thought "Yeah we're not doing this." Walking back to the truck I slipped on ice which was all the bad omen I needed. The idea of motoring out into an open bay in 19 degrees with 20 kts of wind seemed at the very least, not smart. I explained to my buddy we would switch gears, go to a lesser known sheltered spot for puddle ducks.
We arrived only 15 minutes later, I switched out the decoys, we put our gear on, and shoved off. The spot itself was an original find of mine from my early days. I wrote it off typically in lieu of more interesting, difficult to navigate spots, with more variety. Over my years, I had traded 5 minute runs from the ramp for 45-60 min runs with often times, the same result.
We motored a comical 5 minutes in the dark to the spot and set the decoys. It was dead high tide early, and nothing was flying. My buddy commented how it was incredibly peaceful with the marsh glistening in the recent snow. I mentioned to my friend, we should see something start to happen as the tide changes and the wind kicked back up (which it did). Sure enough, the tide flipped around mid-morning, the wind came up, and the classic Jersey black ducks began getting up and putting down.
The first bird came in quick, I only last second managed a shot overhead, hitting the bird and bringing it down in the marsh behind us. I retrieved it after a short walk. We had singles and pairs come and flare last minute, just out of shooting range. We watched group, after group, get up and put down nearby. Another pair came in and my buddy was up. He took one bird down just outside the decoys and it began swimming towards the bank. We both got on it quick before it could reach the bank and disappear. Motored over and retrieved that bird. Setup again, it didn't take long before another single came in very much off of our bow. My buddy said "Get him, I can't" so I carefully placed the shot and brought the duck down, sailing behind us, almost in the same spot my first landed. I retrieved that bird and got back in the boat.
We hunted for another 30-40 minutes before we had to pick up and leave due to my buddy needing to get back. This will be my last hunt for the season. With temps plummeting into the teens and single digits, I can't find the will, reason, nor time to commit to the chase. So it will be resuming for me in October of this year.
It was a satisfying way to end the season and a reminder to myself: Don't overcomplicate things. Jersey black ducks are still fun and worth the chase.
