Like something out of a horror movie, big, toothy hordes of bluefish attacked the New Jersey coast from Island Beach State Park to Sandy Hook this week. Bluefish as big as 17 pounds were blitzing on bunker and rain bait.
Hazlet
Phil at the Tackle Box reported blues all over. They are in the surf at Sandy Hook and in the Bay at Port Monmouth, some stripers up to 25 pounds have been mixed in. To target the monster blues, Phil recommended pencil poppers.
Keyport
The folks at Keyport Marine Basin reported stripers and flounder being caught at Buoy 1 in the Raritan Bay. Clams have also been producing some nice stripers, including a 25 pounder and a few 36 inchers.
The crew at Harry’s Army Navy also mentioned the good striper fishing in Raritan Bay around Keyport, especially with cut bunker.
Red Bank
Brayden at Efingers in Bound Brook reported excellent striper fishing in Raritan bay with chunks producing stripers up to 25 pounds. Bluefish have also been abundant.
Sea Bright
Tom at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle said the fishing really turned on this week, on the beach, in the river and for the boats. Stripers to 30 pounds have been weighed in, and anglers are finding all the big bluefish they could want on the beach.
Bradley Beach
The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach said the weather has been tough, but there have been lots of blues at Shark River Inlet and Manasquan Inlet. There have been few bass along the beachfront at the beach as most seem to be in the Raritan Bay.
Belmar
Joe at Joey’s Bait Shack reported lots of stripers and big bluefish, up to 15 pounds. Stripers to 26 pounds have been caught on poppers and trolling with 9-inch shads. Bunker and clams are also working well. Joe also said the crabs are beginning to move, and a few crabbers have gotten a few to take home and eat. The crabs are a little lean right now, so if you’re looking for a crab feast, you’re better off waiting a couple weeks.
The ocean fishing is picking up according to Captain Steve of the Skylarker. Bunker are thick off the beaches and bluefish and stripers are on them. Captain Steve reported that recent pool-winning stripers have been 25 to 30 pounds. The Skylarker has also been catching ling, and the occasional sea bass. The sea bass season reopens on Monday, and the Skylarker will begin targeting them once again after that.
The Nan Sea J reported stripers in the ocean and tons of blues. Ling fishing has also been good, and the Nan Sea J will be heading out to the sea bass grounds starting Monday, when the season opens.
The bluefishing is excellent aboard the Suzie Girl right now. As soon as the weather passes, the crew hopes to get right back on the fish.
Captain Chris on the Big Mohawk has been running live-lining trips. The fishing was good until Wednesday when the bunker did a disappearing act. Chris expects more bunker to show and the live-line fishing to resume. In the meantime jigging is picking off the occasional fish, and the crew is looking forward to targeting sea bass when the season opens on Monday.
The crew of the XTC has been trolling and live-lining to limit out on stripers. Shrewsbury Rocks have been one of their hotspots for the live-lining. They have also been catching lots of bluefish.
Captain Pete of Parker Pete’s said the area is loaded with bunker and bluefish. Getting through the blues to the bass has been a little challenging, but Pete said trolling has been an effective way to get through the blues.
Captain Hank of the Golden Eagle said the fishing for bass and blues was great from Sunday to Wednesday with a little slowdown on Thursday as the weather turned. Hank expects the fishing to pick back up over the weekend.
Brielle
The Manasquan River has been inundated with bluefish reported Eric at the Reel Seat, and the fishing in Manasquan Inlet has been exceptional. The best lures for the blues have been plugs such as the Daiwa SP Minnow or the Savage Manic Prey. Bluefish are also spread along the beaches, with many fish in the 11- to 12-pound range.
From shore, striper fishing is mostly a bait game right now with bunker chunks and clams taking most fish. Plugs are working occasionally as well.
Boats are hooking up with stripers by trolling bunker spoons and plugs, Eric said. Live-lining has been a bit hit-or-miss. Jigging has worked well when fishermen can find a good concentration of stripers, but for now trolling remains the best bet.
Dave from the Reel Seat took a tilefish trip last week, and it was a good one. The boat had a number of tilefish, blueline and golden, including a few 40-pounders.
Freshwater
The Assunpink lakes are fishing well according to the guys at Harry’s Army Navy in Robbinsville. Cross Lake is also giving up some good bass. The best tactic at all three locations has been live shiners.
Brayden at Efinger’s Sporting Goods in Bound Brook said the Delaware and Raritan Canal has been producing great crappie action. Catfish have been another popular target among New Jersey anglers this week, and Brayden recommends fishing for them in the Raritan River, Spruce Run and the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
Trout fishing in Ken Lockwood Gorge has been on the challenging side reported Darryl at Efingers, but anglers willing to work have been able to score some nice rainbows and browns on Pheasant Tail Nymphs and caddis imitations.
Fluke Season Opens May 23
In a week, the fluke season will be open, and if the past few days has been any indication, we are in for a good early season. Several fishermen reported catching (and releasing) doormat fluke while fishing for stripers and blues.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Shore fishermen should get out and enjoy these big bluefish while they are around. The best striper fishing is coming up, but catching bluefish doesn’t get much better than it has been over the past week.
Your jersey shore reports are right on the mark