NJ Backwater Bass Fishing Warming Up
45-Pound Striper Landed
Trout Fishing is Tops in New Jersey
Finally, the calendar and the weather are starting to sync up. Now if we can get the water temperatures to join the gang, we could have the makings of a great spring. The back waters are starting to show some real signs of life and the fresh water trout stocking program has proven again that the Garden State is on the right path. Considering we were challenged with snow flurries and cold weather a week ago, the fishing community has some bright spots on the horizon. My biggest concern is that we don’t ease into summer. A nice spring with slow warm-up is, in my humble opinion, the best harbinger for a great summer. So far, it has been to the extremes. It has been my experience that fish are creatures of habit and don’t react well to sudden changes. A sudden cold (or for that matter heat)snap often has a result of a slower bite. Let’s see what our scouts closer to the action have observed so far this spring.
In Sea Isle City, Carmen of Two Chums Bait and Tackle is a tackle shop owner who keeps his ear to the ground so that he can steer his clientele to the local hot spots. He tells me that things are starting to look up in the area with reports of some tog being taken off the rocks in Townsends Inlet on green crabs. By the way, the bridge there is still closed since Sandy so make a mental note if you are looking to fish the Avalon Side. Striper action has been somewhat limited to the bay side but there have been some keepers taken from the ocean by anglers tossing clam. Water temperatures in the area are closing in on the fifty degree mark. In Ludlum Bay, there have been strong reports on the winter flounder catch. Remember, the creel limit is two. Anglers using clam bits or blood worms with chum pots are the winners of the day. Two Chums is back on regular schedules and have even expanded the size of the shop despite the beating they took from Sandy. Carmen also mentioned their rental fleet should be back in the water in the next week or two.
Point Pleasant may have been down but it was never out. And while still not 100% they are getting there. If you are in the area and looking for some help, I recommend stopping in Fishermens Supply Company. Bait, tackle or simply information, they have it all. I spoke with Jason at the shop this week and he told me that the striper bite has been good around both the Mantoloking and 37th street bridges. He suggested using smaller shad bodies ( 4 inch) as well small buck tails for the best action. Winter flounder has picked up with nice action on the south side of Mantoloking. Clam with a chum bucket floating is the best way to go according to Jason. Ling and blackfish is off to a bit of a slow start but Jason feels that should pick up as the water temps rise a bit. Raritan bay has been active on the striped bass front and most fish being taken are in the 14-22 inch range with the occasional keeper in the mix.
Spoke with George at Go Fish Bait and Tackle in Toms River this week and he told me the bass bite in the area has been steadily picking up. Most anglers are using blood worms and hooking up with all the 15-25 inch fish they can handle with the occasional legal fish in the mix. After the sun set, George recommends Black Bombers and says the keeper ratio goes up. Flounder fishing has been great and he confirmed the Mantoloking Bridge bite as well. On the fresh water side, trout fishing has been nothing short of spectacular. One shop regular, Killie Tom has been killing the brooks (up to 4 pounds) using a rooster tail. Go fish is on its regular schedule now and George reminded me to stop in and check out their rig and trout bait specials. Buy three rigs, get one free. Not a bad time to stock up.
A quick shout out of condolence to Lenny Hahn of Captain Hippo’s Bait and Tackle on the recent loss of his brother Bob Hahn. For those of you who have ever fished one of Bob’s plugs, he was one of the special ones. He not only enjoyed the sport, he gave back. Tight Lines Bob.
Judson at Fin-Atics Marine Supply in Ocean City told me the beaches in the area have been a little quiet lately and he attributes that to the cooler water temperatures. But if you head further up the Great Egg back towards the river, you should have no problem finding bass and perch. The Beasley’s point area has been decent as well. Bloodworms and clam are the ticket to success. Judd told me he heard of some decent winter flounder action in back further south of OC. The tog pick has been a little slow, most of the reports from the old Longport Bridge indicate crab is your best bet for a keeper but they have not shown up in numbers yet. Fin-Atics is on spring hours now at 8:30 til 6:00 but that should expand in the next few weeks.
Things are starting to look up on Long Beach Island in Central Jersey according to the crew at Tonys Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin. Water Temperatures are starting to pick up in the bay and the bite around the causeway bridges has turned on. Most fish are being taken on clams and bloodworms and are just below keeper size. But there have been some keepers taken. The flounder bite has been decent in the Great Bay by anglers using the same two baits and complimenting it with a chum pot. The LBIU beaches are still slow but there have been some fish taken on clam. Water temperatures in the back are quickly closing in on the fifties and the beachfront is still around 45 degrees. Hopefully this warm stretch we are experiencing will balance things out a bit. Tony’s has a full line of baits and a well-stocked shop for all you fishing requirements.
Team Tackle Direct may be best known as the top internet seller in the world but locally, I rely on their Brick and Mortar staff for some very good local scouting reports. I spoke to Ed at the store this week to get the low down on fishing in the Atlantic County hot spots. Fresh water in the area has been a real success lately with the Birch Gove Park and Heritage Park in Absecon. Both are part of the state trout stocking program with trout up to 5 pounds coming out of both. Gulp ball baits are the most popular in both. In other news, the bass bite in both the Great Egg River as well as the Mullica has been getting stronger each day. There have been reports that some herring have shown up in the area and even thow they are a closed species, you and I both know that where there are river herring, the fat striped bass can’t be far behind. Match the hatch. If it’s high end gear that floats your boat, I can’t think of a better place than the Tackle Direct shop on Tilton Road in EHT to fill your shopping list. It is nirvana for local angler’s. Check it out for yourself if you are in the area. You will not be disappointed.
If you are in Red Bank, you must stop in and check out Pride Fishing Tackle on Front Street. I need some firsthand reports on the fish artwork Owner Max is producing, it looks fantastic. I missed max this week but did get a chance to chat with Steve at the store. He told me that the number one target in the area right now is striped bass. Anglers are having success with small plugs like Bombers and Smack It swimmers. One regular, Lobster Rick, limited out on clams the other day in the Keyport Flats area. That is a good sign as is the water temps rising up to the fifties. Winter flounder fishing has been a little quiet according to Steve but he isn’t sure that is just usual angler tight lips. There was a ten pound blackfish brought into the shop but that bite has definitely been a little slow as well.
Had a brief discussion with Joe Castelli at Tackle US in Laurence Harbor about the rumors I have been hearing about a big striper bite up that way. It is now fact not rumor! Joe tells me the bite has been on for the last few days now with anglers taking keepers from Perth Amboy down through Cliffwood being some of the hooter fishing locations. Clam has been the bait of choice. Joe told me the water temperatures have been rising steadily and he believes that is motivating the line siders to move out of the rivers. Fish up to 12 pounds have been normal with lucky anglers hitting the lottery on some even bigger fish. Joe told me that the flounder bite has been good as well but that most anglers are chasing stripers so reports have been a little lite on the winter flatfish. Joe asked me to remind our readers about the special they are running on Penn Spinfisher reels, so I have.
The Sportsmen’s Center in Bordentown can outfit both salt and fresh water fishing needs but in my opinion, they are the top shop for non-saline advice and equipment. When I spoke with Tom at the shop this week, it was all about the trout opener and the stellar job that the gang at the Peaquest Hatchery did in stocking the streams and lakes around the state. Trout up to 8 pounds are being reported all over the place, take your pick. Rainbows, brown and brooks. The biggest issue Tom mentioned to me was the overabundance of cormorants at some of the fishing holes. This is something I also have noticed this year. Many have wintered up north and that may be something to keep an eye on as we go forward. Tom also told me some of the really hot spots included the D&R Canal, Ponder lodge(Cape May) and the Birch Grove facility in Northfield. He also told me the shad run is on in the Delaware River around the “Trenton Takes” Bridge. Some huge striped bass are also being taken in the Delaware River, most on blood worms. All in all, it’s a good time to hit the fresh water. Temperatures are approaching prime conditions and we haven’t even mentioned the pan fish bite which is also going strong. Plenty of action out there, all you need is a little time and the right bait or lure. Have at em!
With only two weeks or so left in this round of blackfish season (closes at the end of April until July) I know that I have to check in with Dave Arbeitman, owner of the Reel Seat in Brielle. According to dave, the experienced charter captains have been on the fish since the season reopened. And contrary to some other reports I have heard, they have even been picking up the occasional cod as a reward for their hard efforts. There have also been a few reports of ling inshore off Monmouth County. The striped bass pick in the area is still a little slow with water temps in the mid-forties but it is showing signs of improvement. Dave also told me that one of his regulars had a small fluke (not of the winter variety) in one of his green crab traps. Hopefully that is a sign of better things to come. The Reel Seat has a full selection of baits as well as some of the top lines of tackle you can find in the area. If you are like me, always looking for some quality equipment to add to the arsenal, then you have to check out the Reel Seat in Brielle!
Best Bets for the Weekend
After a couple of days teasing us with near summertime weather, it looks like we are going to enter a period of some nice, normal spring weather. I have seen some nice blackfish taken form the local bridges and rock piles so that would be option number one on my list. Only two weeks left until that season slams the door in your face again. Fresh water trout is number two on my list of options. Too many people give up on trout after opening week, mistakenly thinking that stock levels are low after a busy opening week. Check out this site to see how wrong that assumption is: http://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/trtstk13.htm
Winter flounder is a short season and there are only three weeks left, so that is another option. If you are looking for a fight, there a plenty of schoolie sized bass around, best bets are further up the rivers where the bait is gathering as you read this. Plenty of action on both bait and artificial, take your pick. As the waters warm up a bit, there will be plenty of opportunities for adventure. Whichever option you choose to pursue, please be careful out there. Despite the warm air temperatures, the waters are still chilly. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.