New Jersey fishermen have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the bunker and stripers to hit the beach, and this week, it finally happened. Big bass hit the surf in northern New Jersey, and stripers up to 40 pounds were caught from the beach.
Striped Bass
The boat fishing has remained excellent reported Phil at The Tackle Shop in Hazlet. Stripers in the 40- and 50-pound range are being taken on live bunker around Shrewsbury Rocks.
Brayden from Efingers said the afternoons have been producing good fishing for boat live-lining bunker off Deal. The Raritan Bay, according to Brayden, is still producing stripers for anglers who are chunking. Target the channel edges for the best shot at hooking up. Recently, Brayden chunked up a number of stripers between 19 and 29 pounds.
The stripers that were off Belmar seem to have moved North, reported Joe at Joey’s Bait Shack. The fish are closer to Sandy Neck, Joe said. Bluefish have stuck around, however.
The Bait Shop in Bradley Beach weighed in a few nice bass taken on clams in the surf this week.
Tom at Giglio’s Bait & Tackle said the beach fishing heated up Wednesday afternoon, with sporadic bass and bunker blitzes happening right through Thursday. The fish, Tom said, have been popping up at a number of beaches. Plugs are doing most of the damage, and Pencil Poppers made by Gibbs and Guppy lures have been the most popular according to Tom. Giglio’s weighed stripers between 17 and 41 pounds since the blitzes started on Wednesday. As I spoke with the crew at the Bait Shop in Bradley Beach on Thursday afternoon, a big bluefish blitz was taking place in Monmouth Beach.
Bluefish
Bluefish action is still very good. By most accounts, it seems like bluefish are just about everywhere in Northern New Jersey.
Tom at Giglios said they are mixing in with the bass during the blitzes on the beach.
Phil at the Tackle Box reported 10- to 12-pounders crushing poppers and metals off Leonardo.
Joe at Joey’s Bait Shack said the party boats are hammering big blues on jigs and chunks.
Brayden at Efinger’s said first light on the Navesink River has been producing good action with bluefish.
Fluke
Joe at Joey’s Bait Shack said the fluke fishing is great, with keeper-sized fish taking live killies, squid strips and spearing. One 7-pounder actually hit a Mann’s Stretch 25 intended for stripers.
The best fluke fishing has been taking place in shallow water and the back bays. Shark River has been producing limit catches for some anglers. A few doormats have been in the mix as well, including an 8-pounder.
The Navesink has some good fluke fishing as well, but Brayden at Effingers recommends scaling down to a lighter leader due to the clear water.
The Bait Shop weighed in three keeper fluke taken from shore in Shark River Inlet.
Phil at the Tackle Box said the rivers and shallow waters of Sandy Hook Bay are the best bet for good fluke action. Raritan Bay is producing fish when the water temperature jumps up a few degrees, but for the most part, the waters are still a little cool to produce consisten fluke fishing.
Tom at Giglio’s reported a couple nice fluke from the surf, including a 24-incher on Berkley Gulp.
Best Bets for the Weekend
From the surf, get some pencil poppers and go on the hunt for the schools of stripers and bunker that have been hitting the beach. Tom at Giglio’s said the fish have been moving around, so stay mobile as well. And stick around into the nighttime. Most anglers will pack it in, but the stripers will stay right in the surf.
From the boat, Shrewsbury Rocks sounds like the place to be, and the afternoons are the times to be there. Bring plenty of live bunker.
If the stripers are no-shows, enjoy the excellent fishing for bluefish.
For fluke, look to the rivers for the best shot at keepers. Small bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp or fluke rigs tipped with squid and spearing will be your best bet.