Wow!
Just so you always stay dialed in, the format for the New Jersey weekly fishing reports in going through a HUGE transformation over the next week. Mike Shipton & I will be reaching out to almost 30 different sources of information every week, including neighborhood tackle shops, charter Captains, back bay guides, and major headboat fleets so you have the latest, and hottest intel that is available.
If it is happening on the water, we want you to be able to find it right here…at On The Water! Here is that latest from the newer, bigger NJ On The Water info network:
Thar she blows, and blows, and blows, and that…is no good.
The wind is simply screwing things up for most anglers this week, even though those that have chosen to brave the elements up North are being rewarded with crazy, non-stop birdplays and lots of bass.
The back-bay brothers are finding their smaller stripers in pretty good numbers, as there is literally no fishing pressure from the masses at all. Most boats are still up on blocks or in the final stages of getting ready to splash. The charter guys from Barnegat north that are running are racking up some super impressive numbers both, in size and quantity.
Northern NJ Region Fishing Report
On the freshwater scene out at Lake Hoptacong, Laurie at Dow’s Boat rental is listening to the wind blow, and not much else. Opening day of trout season up there last weekend showed a few tasty weigh-ins in the 1 ½-pound range, along with a few perch and pickerel being caught. Trout were taking small Phoebe spoons and Rapalas, which the pickerel will also hit. They are restocking the lake this week, and the weather looks pretty good. Laurie suggests sticking to the shallower water that is warming up a little faster for results.
If your focus is on cracking claws instead of screaming drags, a pit stop at Red Bank Marina should be on your regular list. Warmer temps this upcoming weekend should have plenty of their 30 boats out dropping traps, and you can be one of them. Chris is reporting that there is some spotty striper action up the Navesink River on bloodworms and clam, but these guys are hardcore crabbers. Stop in and check them out.
I had a long talk with Max up at Pride Bait & Tackle in Red Bank about the action that is heating up in the Shrewsbury River. Now is the time to be up there with the spawn on. Stripers are also working the bay with a 31- and a 34-incher coming into the shop in the last day. Throwing Storm Wildeye swim shads would be a real good idea if you are in the zone. Several boats in the Raritan were out chunking bunker yesterday and caught their limits in no time at all. Word of a decent clam bite off the beach in Sandy Hook has the surf guys into fish too.
Ernie at Giglio’s has been weighing in nice fish from some of the local boys. Tom Murray of Highland brought a healthy 14-pound striper to the scale that he took on the beach with a Diawa SP Minnow. Steve Simon of Eatontown was also out plugging and nailed a bass just under 22 pounds just below Sandy Hook. Bob Delsardo from Jackson had a couple river bass on clam pushing 14 pounds. Not shabby at all.
Kevin at Long Branch B&T has seen really strong action this week in the Monmouth Beach and Oceanport areas. Bass are running in the mid-teen range from a weight standpoint and taking everything from clams to sand worms. You don’t have to be bait fishing either with several guys plugging, including Tom who nailed a nice 12.5 pounds.
My buddy Chris at Harry’s Army Navy in Robbinsville has thrown it down. Striper Fever is on! The Delaware River is red hot all the way up to the rapids with Bomber 17A plugs in blurple being the go-to, along with the black and white 17A. Rapala X-Raps are on the hotlist too. Chris also heard of a jig bite from Ambrose to Barnegat to Holgate. He reports the bass are moving fast with the afternoon fishing shaping up a little better than the morning hours.
Central NJ Region Fishing Report
Mike at Reel Life in Point Pleasant backs up what Chris is reporting on the jig bite. Some of the bigger boats that have been running have been limiting out on bass in record time. He also wanted to remind everyone that the blackfish bag limit drops at the end of the month, and the canal has been pretty hot. Time to fill a few bags for the freezer. Mike also has had some monster trout come into the shop. A 14-pound brown hit the scales there this week as a result of an apparent re-stocking at Spring Lake. Flounder fishing is still pretty good in the back, and the crab guys are gearing up at Reel Life as well.
Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Brick has guys coming in from Manasquan Inlet with full coolers and reports of bass stacked up on their sonars. The waters off of Island Beach, out of casting range unfortunately, is showing some mad dog action under birds.
When I talked to Pete at Charlie’s B&T in Brick, he was all cranked up over the “gannets going nuts!” One of his guys hauled the kayak down and paddled himself up a nice striper. The reports are strong and he is amazed more guys are not out there hammering them.
George from Go Fish B&T in Tom’s River is getting calls from boats from Barnegat to Deal having “huge” trips with fish up to 37 inches, and individuals catching 15 to 30 fish themselves. Big Crocodile spoons and larger Storm Shads are crushing. The back bay action at night is non-stop if you can put the right combination of light and structure together. Again, Bombers, X-Raps and Storm shads are the ticket. Up the river near Island Heights, stripers, perch and even flounder are still cooking.
The crew at Tony’s Bait and Tackle out of Manahawkin is focused like a laser beam on the bass action out of Barnegat Inlet. The bunker and herring were laying off the beach about 10 miles north on the last report, and they were banging them hard.
Val at Oceanside B&T in Brighton Beach was just as thrilled as she could be that she dealt out her annual $50 gift certificate to Eddie Johnson. Eddie hit the beach mid-island on the incoming with load of fresh clam. He brought in a real clean, 14-pound, 33-inch bass to win.
Southern NJ Fishing Report
Guatemala Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsman’s Center has guys from Bricktown up at Forge Pond having a blast with the white and yellow perch. They are lovin the bloodworms and guys are looking to borrow buckets. The largemouth action has slowed a little with the colder nights, but they should be back up on the beds as it warms up this weekend. Dave has live shiners and killies if you are heading out.
The tog action is still real good around the usual structure in the bay and inlet, and crabbing is starting to crank up too. Dave weighed in a 7.7-pound tog this week and has a fresh load of green crabs and clams. Fresh bunker is a little iffy for the weekend with the way the wind has been blowing so call the shop first at 609-484-0409.
I’ll get to the fish in a minute, but if you have not seen the brand new, 24,000-square-foot Tackle Direct facility in Egg Harbor Township, you are truly missing something. The showroom is nothing short of huge, and is packed with shiniest, new gear. A couple of the Pro Staff were telling me back bay stories yesterday. If you can sneak out at dusk and not get blown off the bay, you are going to connect with what they call “schoolsters” which don’t qualify as “rats,” but don’t make the keeper cooler either. Hey, action is action.
Bill at Fin-Atics was truly busy when I came in two days ago, and the shop was humming when I called this morning. The Ocean City beachfront is warming up with clams and bunker being the choice to connect with keepers. Tog are chewing green crabs and clam on structure and his back bay guys are throwing pink. I had not been in for a couple months and I have to tell you that if you are looking for anything kayak, Fin-Atics has them stacked up tall. Really impressive.
I actually paid my first visit down to Two Chums Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle this past week to introduce myself to the guys. Walked right into a full family pizza party! There is some pretty good tog action off the jetties, but down south it really is hit and miss with the stripers. It looks like this might be a strong weekend for crabbing with the shed and the tides. Two Chums can hook you up with everything from boats to bait.
Down south in the Delaware Bay, regional OTW columnist Capt. Bob Cope, from Full Ahead Charters, reports that there has been good action when you can get out, but nowhere near what has been going on near the top of the state. Capt. Bob has had a couple of real strong days on the bay, but the wind has just been unmerciful.
Fishing Forecast for the Weekend
The gannets and blitzes going on off the northern portion of the state are not to be missed, if the seas allow a trip. The back bay action is excellent from top to bottom, and the tog bite is pretty good too, even from shore. Freshwater fishing is great as well, with trout season open and providing another option for sweetwater anglers.
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