Here we are, a week into December, and conditions for striper and blue fishing are about as close to prime as you can get. It has been an amazing season to date and there is still plenty of life in it. At this rate, you will have the opportunity to wet a line well into the New Year. That should make the inevitable bout with “cabin fever” a little shorter and, as such, a little less severe. Now, if I could only get someone to release the fish from North Jersey and allow some of that bonanza to drift a little farther south, it would be a real perfect storm. While we certainly have fish in the southern belly of the state, the bite has been red hot north of Mystic Islands. Just a little is all I’m asking. Share the wealth. Also, I would feel remiss if I didn’t issue a heads up to all of you out there who are still hitting the beaches and seas. The extended season has a little bit of a downside for those of us still chasing the tides. Many bait and tackle shops are either reducing hours or closing down for the season. Even those that are maintaining regular hours have, to some extent, scaled back on their bait inventory. Do yourself a favor and call ahead if you are in need of bait. Better safe than sorry. The guys and gals that run these shops go out of their way to meet your needs, but still need some down time. Call ahead before you make that run. That way you can adjust your plans accordingly.
As I had mentioned earlier, the bite is still on up north. It has been my observation that size wise, the bigger fish, particularly striped bass, have moved out but there still huge schools of prey moving with the big pods of sand eels for miles on either side of Barnegat Inlet. It has been that way for almost a month now. Metal like Deadly Dicks and Hopkins have been the lure of choice. Paul At Grumpy’s in Seaside Heights told us that the catch has been so good on Island Beach State Park that many anglers have been forced into “catch-and-release angling as their freezers are maxed out. If fresh bait is you choice of weapon, the gang at Grumpy’s recommends fresh bunker (yes they have it) and/or clam. Water temperatures are hovering around the mid 50s, so unless there is a big weather change, we could still have a few great weeks left up there.
In the middle of the state, from Graveling Point through Corson’s Inlet, the fishing has been productive but no where as bountiful as the northern portions of the state. That’s not to say fish aren’t being caught. In fact, the last few weeks have been much more productive than earlier in the season. At least that’s the word I got from the guys over at 24-7 Bait and Tackle on Ocean Heights Ave in Egg Harbor. Big blues finally showed up off Ocean City and the all the inlets have been giving up nice striped bass. Dragging eels and live-lining spot are still your best bets for putting some fish on the table. Adam at 24-7 told me they recently weighed in their biggest fish of the year, a 58-pounder taken in the Delaware Bay while chunking. He also told me that if you have had your fill of linesiders and are looking for some variety, the tautog are a great alternative. The AC reef has been the hot spot of late, green crabs being the bait of choice. The tog limit is 6 until December 31st, so take advantage of it. There have also been some reports of cod mixed in with the tog catches. 24-7 will be open into January this year, mainly because they believe there is still a ton of fishing left in this season.
The bite is still on in Long Beach Island. It might not be as hectic as it was several weeks ago, but it is still on. I spoke with some guys at Fisherman’s Headquarters and they are saying it has been the best fall run in 40 years. And it’s not over yet. There are sill bluefish and stripers off the beaches. Metal like Avas and needlefish at dawn or dusk have been the best performers. Good fish, not great fish are common these days. The blues are still in the crocodile range. Brant Beach has been the hot spot to date. With water temps still in the mid 50s, there is still some action out there for the taking. If you have that shopping done and the lights hung on the tree, you still have time to get some fresh fish for the holiday table.
So with all the action going on up north, you would naturally assume that the far southern reaches of the state are relatively quiet at a time when they should be on fire. That’s the problem with assumptions. As soon as you make one, you often find out you are wrong! According to the staff at Jim’s in Cape May, the bite in the Delaware Bay is not only still on but apparently heating up. The upper bay has been consistently giving up nice stripers on the chunk. And the rips are about as good as they get. Bluefish up to 15 pounds are still circling the area as well. The beaches in the Wildwoods have been seeing some steady action as well but mostly with anglers drowning cut bunker or clams. Once again, I recommend calling ahead if you need bait or tackle as many of the shops in Cape May County seem to be on “end of the year” schedules.
Best Bets for the Weekend
It has been a banner year for fishing all over the state and it really doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. If you still have the urge, get out there! There is a strong front heading up from the south which could make the fishing even better, if that’s possible. Long Beach Island and metal would be my recommendation. But the reality is that wherever you decide to drop a line, your chances are pretty good. Cut bunker seems to be the best bait. The water should cool down a bit, so slow your retrieve for better action. First and last light look to be the most productive time of the day with tides not as critical. And if bait is your forte, remember to call ahead. The shops are open and they certainly appreciate your patronage but most seem to be reducing their inventory to minimum levels. That’s understandable for this time of year. Get that shopping and decorating done and get out before it’s all over. Get Ready, Get Set – Go Fish.