Bluefish still seem to be running amok around Northern New Jersey, but some goliath stripers were caught this week as well. The opening week of fluke season has been a good one, although the weather could have been a little more cooperative. Going into the weekend, things are looking good throughout the Northern half of the state.
Bound Brook Fishing Report
Darryl at Efinger’s Sporting Goods continues to find cooperative trout in Ken Lockwood Gorge. Nymphs are the ticket, though midges in the size 20 range are working as well.
The saltwater fishing is wide open, Darryl said. The 61-degree water temperatures are prime for bluefish, fluke and stripers. Bluefish are everywhere according to Darryl, and metal lures, topwaters and fresh cut bunker are all producing fish.
Laurence Harbor Fishing Report
Joe at Tackle US said fluke fishing is great. Some doormats have even been taken from the surf by fishermen chunking bunker for stripers. The striper bite is the bay is strictly a nighttime game for surf anglers, Joe said. Offshore, blue sharks in the Glory Hole are getting big game anglers excited about dusting off their sharking tackle.
Keyport Fishing Report
There was only one weigh-in at the Keyport Marine Basin this week, a 5.83-pound fluke caught near Buoy 1—a great starting point for fishermen hunting fluke in Raritan Bay.
Hazlet Fishing Report
The scales at the Tackle Box were busy this week. Fluke to 7 pounds, bluefish to 21.5 pounds and stripers to 46 pounds were weighed in. The monster bluefish have been off Belford and Port Monmouth while the big bass are being caught off Deal and around the Shrewsbury Rocks. Live bunker and trolling bunker spoons has been producing the big stripers.
The fluke fishing has been okay. There aren’t a ton of keepers being caught yet, but the ones being caught have been big.
Bradley Beach Fishing Report
The stripers and bunker hit the beach last Friday according to the crew at The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach. The fish, which have been a boat-only deal for most of the spring, moved into the beach in force, and surfcasters had numerous big bass up to 38 pounds.
Smaller but still keeper-sized stripers are being caught with more regularity on the beaches using clams and bunker chunks.
Fluke fishermen have been doing okay, catching keepers on standbys like live killies and Berkley Gulp.
Belmar Fishing Report
Joe at Joey’s Bait Shack reported bluefish all over, with big stripers under them. Getting below the blues can be difficult, but when you do, you have the chance to connect with a monster bass.
Joe said the fluke are “here and there.” There aren’t big numbers of summer flounder being caught yet, but the fish that are being caught have been keeper-sized or better. The biggest fluke Joe had heard of was 28-inches long!
Robbinsville Fishing Report
The Delaware River fishing has been slow reported Frank at Harry’s Army Navy. The river is off-color, which is negatively affecting the bite.
Wire-line trolling is pulling big bass off Island Beach State Park. The good action in front of Manasquan Inlet has been slowing down a bit, however.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The weather was a common complaint among anglers this week. The constantly fluctuating weather has made the fishing in many places similarly inconsistent.
Easterly winds over the weekend may push some bass back into the surf, but those same winds may make fluke fishing difficult if the seas become rough.
Another good option will be to hunt down those 20-pound bluefish harassing the bunker schools in Raritan Bay. Live bunker and chunks will give you the best chance at hooking the bluefish of a lifetime.