The fishing just keeps getting better in New Jersey. Starting up North, the Raritan Bay is on fire. Clams fished after dark are producing good numbers of nice bass according to Ron at Fisherman’s Supply Co. Some bluefish have also showed up in the Raritan Bay. As more of these spring racers arrive, exciting topwater action will be a possibility in the next couple weeks on the shallow bay flats.
Stripers are also being caught around the Mantoloking Bridge on lures. The Seaside Park beaches are also giving up stripers on clams Ron reported. Also in the surf, Bill Dawson, fishing a Monmouth County jetty took 4 bass to 33 inches on a black Bomber at night this week.
Oyster Creek and Gravelling Point are both picking up, with bloodworms working well at both locales according to the report from Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin. Absecon Bay Sportsman Center weighed in a nice 22-pounder striper this week. The fish hit a halved white perch in the Mullica River. The back bays are coming alive, with more fish, mostly shorts, hitting artificial lures. A few stripers are reportedly being taken on the beach in Brigantine on bait.
Curt at Absecon Bay said dense fog has prevented the sun from warming up the bays, and has kept the fishing from breaking open, but he expects it to soon.
Bunker have been spotted in both the Raritan Bay and in some South Jersey backwaters, and when the big bass drop out of the rivers, you can bet they will be all over these schools.
Winter flounder are still being caught incidentally, and starting this weekend, anglers can keep them. Seems like these flatfish are already very active, so the fishing should be good right out of the gate.
White perch fishing is pretty good in the rivers, though they aren’t as balled up as they were over the winter.
Freshwater fishing is good. Pickerel and bass continue to annihilate shiners fished under floats. In the Delaware, catfishing is very good, and walleye are hitting as well. Striper fishing is still sporadic in the Delaware according to Eric at Harry’s Adventure Outfitters in Robbinsville. Shad fishing in the Delaware is starting up, with anglers picking 6 and 7 fish each outing.
Cod fishing is slow on the partyboats, but ling continue to please. Just a little over a week before blackfish are fair game again and bottom bouncers have another worthy adversary to target.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Blues on top. That first run of big blues is not to be missed, and it sounds like it could happen any day. Get some single-hook poppers and enjoy the violent strikes of the ravenous spring blues. Stripers seem to be all over, beaches, bays, north and south, so adjust your techniques to your local waters. Clams for open beaches and muddy bays, plugs from jetties and small plastics around back bay structure.