In just under a week from the date of this forecast, spring will have sprung in the Garden State. And while the weather hasn’t been perfect, it has been fishable. Water temperatures are slowly creeping north of the 40 degree mark and a week or two should put us in some prime fishing conditions. Back bay opportunities, if you know where to look are already starting to multiply. Soon the crabs will break their hibernation and join in the game. I have been watching the grass shrimp along the docks and while they were around in great numbers during this mild winter, they have disappeared of late. Old salts will tell you it’s a sign they are moving out to open water to start their own breeding rituals. And that weakfish won’t be far behind. It’s all part of the big circle. One other sign of spring is that there are lights on in most of the bait and tackle shops all over the state. Some, due to Sandy, have been at it for months now, trying to beat the clock and be ready for the new season. If you get a chance, throw some business their way. It will be most appreciated.
I attended the NJMFC April Meeting last week to get a feel for the upcoming season. On the agenda was the fluke season determination. For those of you who missed it, this year’s season runs from May 18th through September 16th. For those interested in the math, that’s a 25 day reduction over last year to accommodate our mysterious over-catch of 2012. There is the possibility we could get some days tacked on at the end but that depends on other states allocations. No decision was made on black sea bass or tautog. Those issues will be taken up at the May meeting which is open to the public as always. Attendance this year was a little muted with most of those there being from the charter and bait and tackle industry. If you have never attended a meeting, you should. It’s a great way to learn about the rule making process.
I spoke with Joe Castelli at Tackle US in Lawrence Harbor who told me that there has been a steady pick of late in the Raritan. Most have been shorts but the first keeper striper was weighed this Sunday at 28.5 inches. Not a record setter but a keeper. Clam and sand worms have been the bait of preference for local anglers. Water temperatures today were right around 42 degrees. Joe asks me to remind anglers to be careful as the local waters and beaches change a bit with the hit from Sandy. The shop is open and stocked with all relative baits.
If you are heading to Long Beach Island, then a must stop on the way is Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin. Fresh bait or tackle, they will help you. I spoke with Matt at the shop this week to get a leg up on the local waters and he told me the best two games in town are striper and white perch. Both can be had for the price of some blood worms which they have in stock. The power plant in the back is one place anglers are having success and another is Graveling Point in the Mystic Island area. The beach front has been a little slow with water temps around forty and bait scarce out front. Matt tells me that most of the beach is accessible but there is a lot of work going on and that may restrict access to your favorite honey hole.
Spoke with the gang at Two Chums Bait and Tackle in Sea Isle. They plan on reopening in several weeks. The guys are still putting the final repairs on the shop from their Sandy Visit. I will keep you informed.
I stopped in Tackle Direct the other day to check out the new Shimano Reels. Nice. While I was there, I chatted up Tom in the showroom for some local hot spots. The story is the England Power Plant by Marmora. Warm water is providing the bait a refuge and the stripers are lying in wait for them in the local holes. Water temperatures there are a good ten degrees or someday better than that of the ocean side beaches. Blood worms and eel skins have been the best producers. There have also been reports of perch in the areas farther up the Great Egg River and on the Patcong.
I usually touch base with Dave Arbietman of the Reel Seat in Brielle for reports on the offshore scene but this week finds that area void of any action. There are some people chasing cod but Dave thinks it a little early. The pick for those venturing out to deep water has been slow. Water temperatures in the area are right around forty degrees and what stripers that have been hitting locally are mainly shorts. Clam has been the best producer. Dave told me that the shop is open on spring hours and he has been getting deliveries in every day so if you are bored, stop in and stock up.
Pride Fishing Tackle (Red Bank) is open and waiting for your business. Owner Max Pride has been putting on some really nice seminars at the shop. When I heard from him this week, fishing was a bit slow but there was some activity. Mostly short stripers with some perch mixed in the back. Max is also looking forward to winter flounder season which opens on March 23 and closes on May 21st. The bag limit for winter flounder remains 2 and they must be at least 12 inches to travel home with you. Max also reminded me that the ASMFC is accepting draft comments on the winter flounder addendum they are putting together on the state of the fishery and its future. If you feel strongly that this fishery needs to be adjusted, please visit their site (asmfc.org) for details on how you can comment. They are accepting comments through April 10 of this year.
The Crew at Go Fish Bait and Tackle got in touch to tell us that activity in Toms River is getting better every day as we inch towards spring. Lately the hot spot has been under the Pelican Island Bridge. In three hours the other night, three locals tagged 15 striped bass, all taken on bloodworms. As a bonus, they also hooked and released several nice winter flounder. Go Fish on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River is open daily now and has a wide variety of baits to meet your angling needs.
If you can’t get to the salt or simply want some fresh water fishing, then I would suggest a quick visit to Harry’s Adventure Outfitters in Robbinsville to stock up and get a preseason scouting report. When I spoke to Chris at the store, he told me that pickerel, bass and trout are still on the menu. Yellow and white perch also have made an appearance as well. The Delaware River is giving up some really nice striped bass, fresh clam is you can get it will serve them up for you. The crew at Harrys is running a slew of fishing seminars starting next weekend. Everything from kids fishing, to charters to knot tying and charter boats. Check out their website for additional information. As I understand it, these seminars are all free. Can’t get a better value than that!
Water temperatures in Ocean city are just over the forty degree mark which, according to the guys at Fin-Atics Marine Supply means head west into the back bay in search of your quarry. The new fishing piers by Rainbow channel of the news 9th street causeway are as good a starting point as any if you are sin search of a nice line sider. You can also explore the waters near the Beasley Point Bridge. The closer to the power plant the better according to John at the shop. Fin-Atics Marine Supply can meet all of your fishing needs from bait to one of the best stop tackle shops in the area.
Fresh water angling in the Garden State may be one of your best bets this time of year. It definitely presents the widest variety of species opportunities. So I trotted over the Sportsmen’s Center in Bordentown to get the inside scoop from Tommy P. the resident salt free pro. And As usual, Tom was a wealth of information regarding the fresh water scene. Sylvan Lake in Burlington County is still giving up some humongous brown and rainbow trout. Bait of choice for these winter stocking holdovers is shiners. Groff’s Lake in Gloucester is the place to go if you are targeting crappies. Tom recommends using hair jigs under a floater for best results. If you are looking for some bass action, head to the D’R Canal with a bait box full of shiners and you should be OK. For pickerel and some other action, try Crosswicks in Bordentown. Tom asked me to remind you that the Sportsmen’s Center will be hosting their annual Fishing Festival next weekend which will feature a free seminar on Trolling Techniques by none other than Tony Maja, king of the Bunker Spoon. Call the store for more information.
Best Bets for the Weekend.
This time of the year is always a difficult time for angler in the state. Sea bass and blackfish closed for the time being and fluke being weeks out, options are somewhat limited. Striped bass are the best bet and look for them where the bait should be, as far west as possible. There have been some good reports in all the feeder rivers. White and yellow perch run a close second and can, for the most part be found in the same places. Offshore fishing for cod and ling has slowed down considerably, so much so, that I cannot really make any recommendations there. There is plenty of action in the fresh water, especially if you are looking in some of the lakes detailed earlier in the report. There are few things better than fried crappie filets, in my opinion. Whichever option you decide to go with, please stay safe out there. The weather may have warmed up but the waters are still very chilly. You only get so many days in the game so spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.