Northern New Jersey Fishing Report 4-26-2012

Fishing Report for Raritan Bay to Barnegat Bay

Go Time for Stripers

A simple message from your report staff that carries not false hype or empty promises – with the information we have just gathered by reaching out to the largest network of on-the-scene sources in the State of New Jersey, you need to make plans to get on, in, or near the water this weekend.

Before we launch into the facts of what, where and how, let’s just throw in a “Wow!”  I am not really sure what happened a little over a year-and-a-half ago, but for some bizarre reason the striped bass started chewing, and it seems like they never stopped. Seriously, winter only slowed them down a little.  They never made their full migration all the way south, and the annual spawn, which usually comes in a huge rush up our rivers, seems to have been drawn out in casual waves leaving significant numbers of big breeders out front.  Global warming, inshore bunker boat bans, El Nino, voodoo spells… beats the heck out of me, but the fishing is better than ever.  All I know is that if you are a dyed-in-the-wool striper fisherman like I am, one that lived through the great striper depression, you just can’t help but shake your head in dazed amazement when you realize what is going on.  After your kid goes out and catches 25 or 30 fish of 20 pounds or more, try somehow to explain to him that this is the exception, not the rule.  I am going to really hate it if the rug gets pulled out.

Okay. Onto where you should plan your mugging spree this weekend:

I don’t know if you have ever seen the view from Liberty Landing Marina in Jersey City, but it truly is enough to take your breath away.  Normally, the skyline of Battery Park and Lady Liberty are center stage, but this week the stripers are stealing the show.  Anglers are crushing bass in the bay.  Manns Stretch deep divers in a bunker pattern or green are what they are dialed in on for both size and numbers. Greg reports that the jig bite has gotten a little sporadic, but jigging is still effective once you find smaller pockets of fish. However, guys live-lining bunker in the harbor are slamming fish.  “Honey, why don’t we take the kids to the City this weekend? I’ll throw a rod in just in case…”

If the Raritan Bay is your stomping grounds, here is a little tidbit to chew on:  Bill Udder brought home a 44-pound bass this past week from one of those really popular secret spots that is not a secret to anyone.  It has a big thing floating on it just in case you miss it.  John at Keyport Marine Basin reports that the bluefish are popping up in the bay as well.  Bass in the high teens are liking shad umbrellas, and the winter flounder guys (you know, those odd folks that paint their sinkers different colors) are still getting their two fish limit and then switching over to striper hunting.

Chris over at Crabby’s on Front Street in Keyport gave us the scoop on schools of bunker moving through from Reach Channel up to Perth Amboy.  There are bass and blues on the bait with boat anglers dragging umbrella rigs and bunker spoons.  Up Perth Amboy way, chunking is the top choice with good steady action.  In the sweetwater, the word is that the largemouth are starting to move up on their beds in the shallows of Lake Laffords.  There has also been a restocking of trout at both Holmdale and Cheesequake Parks.  Thanks for the tips Chris!

Max at Pride Fishing and Tackle in Red Bank says fishing is easy.  Pick up some fresh bunker, go to Marine Park Pier, toss a chunk and hang on!  There has been good action at the pier as well as up the Navesink.  There are plenty of bunker in the river, so live-lining makes lots of sense. Those big, Tsunami Heavy shads are doing lots of damage as well.  Max had 20 fish to 25 pounds on the 7-inch shads.

Over at Long Branch B&T Kevin is weighing in fish.  When Shrewsbury’s got bunker, Shrewsbury’s got bass.  Snagging and dragging is the formula 90 percent of the time, but throwing big bottle plugs on top might be more fun than anything.  Fish On Plugs, big Atoms and Mr. Bill’s are getting topwater explosions that can jumpstart your heart. Use with caution!

I have been calling over to Dave at The Reel Seat in Brielle for a couple years now to get the inside scoop on what is going on in his zone.  The strong striper bite has his crew jumping.  His guys are primarily throwing big, Tsunami shads in either a bunker pattern or pearl.  If you like to keep moving big trolling spoons, shad umbrella rigs, and a Mann’s Stretch 25 should be included in your strategy.  Always known for adding a new twist to things, Dave suggests you take a hard look at the new Livetarget lures in both menhaden and Spanish mackerel patterns.  They are both trolling baits, and they are both truly producing for those that are using them.  Thanks for the heads-up Dave.

The bass are still hitting up the Delaware River according to Chris at Harry’s Army Navy in Robbinsville.  For those looking for both toothy and explosive activity in freshwater, the pickerel fishing is nothing short of amazing right now too.  If that is not enough motivation for you to get out your freshwater gear and get on the lake, restocking programs across the state have the trout fishing at its spring best.  This must be National New Stuff Day or something, because Chris turned me on to this new odd looking spinner thing (a little tough to describe) called Joe’s Fly.  It’s a fly, that looks like a spinner, that looks like a fly.  Either way, it has the trout’s attention big-time and maybe it should have your too.  Remember, they always save some of the biggest hatchery breeders for the later stocking… that means now.

Laurie up at Dow’s Boat rental in Lake Hoptacong backs up everything Chris says for her little slice of the freshworld.  A handful of guys braved the weather and fished the Knee Deeps pickerel contest.  Winner of the top prize was a 4-pound, 10-ounce snaggle-toothed beast. Trout are falling to phoebes and small Rapalas on the troll.  A few real nice hybrid stripers were taken too.

Ron at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant has a busy weekend in store.  On Saturday Tom Bozan is going to be holding a fluke seminar keying in a very hot new bait that Ron can hardly keep on the shelves.  It is a “fluke belly” bait, that is legal and made by Uncle Josh.  In fact, they highly recommend that you keep the packaging handy just in case you get stopped by a CO.  Have your interest yet?  Call 732-892-2058 for details.  Ron is also running a Century Rod demo that same Saturday.

I talked to Mark at Alex’s Bait and Tackle in the same neighborhood and he told me a story that one of his guys yanked 22 bluefish over the wall Tuesday night. I knew there was a good reason I did not want to watch The Voice on TV with my wife on Tuesday.

Over at Reel Life, the locals are still whomping the stripers on the jig, dropping lots of sand eel and AVA’s with success.  If you can find the birds you can find the bass.  If you drop something that looks like sand eels on top of sand eels… ok, you get the picture.  The trout in Spring Lake have been making the quick trip from the water to the frying pan.  Worms and spinners are turning the trick.  Guys are totally loading up on perch in Tom’s River using little shrimp.  The blackfish in the canal are still on the chow line and pods of 5- and 6-pound bluefish are busting up unexpectedly all over the place in the river.

Rich at Jersey Hooker Outfitters (how can you not love the name of this shop?) in Brick was out himself and eyeballed bunker from right outside Manasquan all the way to Long Branch.  Huge schools of bait, but many of them were way too happy.  It was one of those situations where covering lots of water was the right strategy so out came the Stretch 25’s and Tsunami Deep Divers 30’s.  It was the right strategy.  When there was some activity on the schools throwing those big heavy Shads and Croc spoons with a slow retrieve nailed the fish.  Beach bums and sand fleas had some luck with plugs but clam and bunker chunks are still the top choice.

So there you have it.  Best advice this grizzly, old (I had a birthday this week.. it was not a major, but I am still not over it) Captain can give you is GO!  You waited all winter…GO!  You have done enough chores to keep your spouse off your back for at least a day…GO!  Your kids want to spend quality time with their Dad in the great outdoors .. GO!

Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
Get out front on a boat and throw very big swim shads at schools of bunker.  Cast long, let it sink to the bottom, slow crank it back to the boat, and get ready to do battle.  GO!

Stay Tuna-ed!
Questions and comments to Capt. Ed Berger at FmTuna@aol.com