Fishing Report for Barnegat Bay to Delaware Bay
Stripers and Tog Red Hot!
It appears that the southern NJ region has been inundated by a mysterious species that many of us are having a hard time identifying. They are very flat, have two eyes on the same side, and since it is before May 5th, they are all over 17.5 inches. Maybe you can email us your guess, as they seem to be everywhere in the back bay.
Reports across the bottom of our region indicated that the bass bite in the back has slowed somewhat over the last week until you move a little further North.
Val up at Oceanside Bait & Tackle in Brighton Beach has boats reporting the tried and true method of soaking clams in the bay, in the right places, is yielding a solid day of stripers in the 11- to 15-pound range. Much hotter action out front for anglers jigging heavy Croc spoons and throwing big shads. There are lots of boats with limits on schools just off the beach and the fish are in the 20-pound-plus range.
Matt up at Tony’s Bait & Tackle confirms that the action is still strong for boat fisherman. His crews are not only jigging but connecting on the troll too. Umbrella rigs, and Tony Maja #4’s are bringing fish in both good numbers and good size to the decks. They are hooking up from Brant Beach up to the Ferris wheel and back around to Harvey Cedars. If you can get out there…get out there.
Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsman’s Center is selling lot of fresh bait over the counter to guys giving the beach a shot, as well as those dialed in on the local tog population. The tog are really chewing on green crab and clam both in the back and out front. Surf fishermen with stripers on their minds are mostly soaking clams, but going up river seems to be a better choice. The Egg Harbor, Mullica & Tuckahoe rivers are in full spawn and the herring are the target. Since snagging or netting one will get you a one way ticket to fish jail, throwing herring imitations is the way to go. Bombers, big Yo-Zuri’s, Chug Bugs and other surface or just subsurface plugs with a larger profile seem to be the very best second choice.
Team Tackle Direct reports that bass in the back are still active throwing some of the same larger subsurface plugs that are working up river. There are still plenty of smaller fish around the lights and shadow lines at night, but it seems that some of the larger ones that were very active the last couple of weeks have moved up. Offshore togging is still the ticket if you are not going to run your boat up North to get in on the striper action up in the LBI zone.
Always great information from Ed up at Fin-Atics in Ocean City, first hand information as he spends as much time as he can actually fishing as opposed to just talking about it. Throwing small soft plastics and smaller plugs can still get you schoolie striper action, but you are going to have to work a little harder at it than you have the past couple of weeks. The Ocean City reef and other nearby structure can really be productive for tog with good keeper numbers and lots of throwbacks. A full compliment of fresh baits are available.
Captain Bob Cope writes our monthly Cape May/Delaware Bay column in the magazine and runs Full Ahead Sportfishing Charters. Capt. Bob was on our waters this week for three tog trips that saw lots of action and averaged 10 to 12 keepers per trip. Lots of good eating for Bob’s clients this week. There has been some spotty striper action down in our southern area, but it has not been consistent.
Fishing Forecast for the Weekend
Best bet for this upcoming weekend varies. If you are close enough to make the run North to the LBI area and stripers are your pleasure, go right now. Tog fishing is red hot and the limit drops from 4 to 1 per man at the end of the month, so don’t miss the window. And remember, as tempting as it is, Summer flounder does not open until May 5th.
Stay Tuna-ed!