Southern New Jersey Fishing Report 6-12-14

In a weeks’ time or so, spring will have sprung and it will be time to get to the meat of the matter. Water temperatures are heating up every day and the fish are continuing on their northern migration. It happens every year. You will need to put a little more time and planning into your fishing endeavors if you expect to come home with a full cooler. We at On the Water Magazine are dedicated to helping you fulfill your pursuit. Our scouts on the front line are certainly up to the task. So be sure to add these reports to your “must do” checklist before you head out to the water. Use every tool available and you will win more than lose. Let’s see what going on around the great Garden State this week.

Around the Brick area, one of my favorite shops for both information and custom equipment is Jersey Tackle. I spoke with Tony there this week and he told me that the locals have been getting some slob level bass off the beaches, mostly on clam and bunker. Tony suggested that the live baits were out fishing the plugs this year and I can’t disagree with him so far. Bluefish up to 12 pounds have also been pretty commonplace. Fluke fishing in the rivers has also been exceptional with spearing and killies being the top bait producer. There have been a record number of big fish brought into the shop this spring. Jersey Tackle has a great line of custom offshore rigs and their custom parabolic jigging rods are second to none. One jigging rod that can handle the work of ten and with a lifetime warranty. If you are looking for some new equipment and in the area, I recommend you give them a look.

I spoke with Captain Vic Taylor of the Captain Robbins in Ocean City who tells me they have been hitting the wrecks in the deeper waters and doing well with the black sea bass and ling. Nolan Green of Bridgeton won a recent pool with a four and a half pound ling. Vic told me they are planning a special 12 trip this Saturday targeting sea bass and ling and it is open boat, no reservations required. In other news, Vic was optimistic that he would have his new addition to the fleet, the Miss Ocean City in port and ready for duty by the end of the month. Just in time for ocean bound flounder. Best of luck Vic.

Team Tackle Direct of Egg Harbor Township is now being steered by Captain Ed Berger, formerly of the OTW on line reports team. He is up in Rhode Island as of the date of this report, climbing rocks like a mountain goat in search of striped bass. But he left word for me that the bite is on around Absecon Island and even further west. The ICW has been the hot spot for flounder. Hot baits include the usual suspects, minnows and squid. Berkeley Gulps are also getting a lot of play, especially the New Penny Shrimp. The best action seems to be coming on the hours before and after the change of tides. Bass are still in the area; try the inlets at dusk and dawn and in the dark. Plugs around the sod banks have also been treated well. The weakfish bite has been unusually quiet of late. If you are looking for bigger game, there have been reports of nice thresher action along with the occasional mako in the general area of the 750 square.

The 90’ Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach is still mixing it up to keep its customers on the fish. Every day is fluking time, with two trips daily (8am and 12:30pm). Recent trips have reported fish up to 6 pounds and that will only get better as the waters warm up. On Thursday, Captain Bogan has a special evening trip for Cod, Pollack, Squid and flounder. The boat leaves port at 7:30pm and returns after midnight. On Friday and Saturday, its night blue fishing, always a great way to get in the action and fill up a cooler.

Captain Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsmen‘s Center tells me that the fishing is very good in the area. Flounder seem to be most active on the edges of the tides. White has been the hot colors for both Bucktailing and strip baits. For those of you chasing striped bass, we are settling into a summer pattern with fish crowding the sod banks and best action is at dusk and dawn. Anglers working the sod banks are using top water plugs like Stillwater Lure Smack it with varied degrees of success. Weakfish are still in the area but you need to work a little harder to find them. Blackpoint, Main Marsh and Steelman’s are all good starting points. Also, with the shed about over, the crabbing in the area has been exceptionally good.

Sea bass and ling are the call of the day according to Captain Mike O’Neil of the Stray Cat in Longport. Mike tells me he can’t recall a time when there have been so many ling in the area with some fish up to 6 pounds. The Stray Cat is licensed to carry 22 passengers and is available for private charter. Mike also tells me that the offshore bite is really heating up. There has been great action on Yellow and blue fin tuna from the Spencer to the Baltimore. The Cigar is loaded with sand eels and they had Bluefin all over the boat on a recent shark trip. Threshers, blue and brown sharks are the predominant species in the area but there are makos in the mix as well. The Cat will be doing Open Boat trips next week when they don’t have scheduled offshore charters. Right now Monday, Tuesday and possibly one other day later in the week are scheduled for Open bottom fishing. You can call ahead to save a spot at 609-391-9630.

Have you ever fished with salmon belly as bait? I have been hearing that it is super fluke bait and have wanted to give it a try. When I spoke with Bill Heitzmann of Bill’s Surf and Tackle in Harvey Cedars, he told me that he had a limited supply on hand. He also informed me that the striped bass bite has been slowing down a little in LBI probably due to the number of dolphins in the area scattering bait. Blue fish however, are going strong all over the place. Fish up to 14 pounds have been weighed in from Lovelady’s and most of the other spots on the island. Those targeting fluke in the area have been rewarded with flatfish up to 6 pounds and better. Some of those were taken off the beach front but the best bite has been in the inlet and back waters. Bill also said that the crab bite is starting to get better but the blowfish have yet to light up in the bay. If you are looking for bait for sharking and other offshore ventures, Bill’s is locked and loaded to help you out.

Captain Ted White of the charter boat Super Chic in Barnegat Light has been targeting sea bass and ling on recent trips and tells me that the fishing has been good. Ling have actually been the predominant catch with the deep water they have been hitting but the sea bass bite has been consistent as well. Ted expects that to flip soon and the inshore bite for fluke should get better along with it. And while the Super Chic is a charter only vessel, they will be running an open boat golden tile trip on July 6th and are now accepting reservations. The trip will be around 18 hours and is limited to ten anglers which is more than comfortable on the 56’ Super Chic. You can call for a spot at 609-709-1686. And if you are looking for an offshore charter for some tuna , shark or game fish, they also have some prime dates available.

Mike at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle tells me that the moon seems to be dictating the catch this week. Tidal action has been the primer. Plenty of flounder action in the bay and best when the tides are turning. Best baits have been naturals such as minnows, squid and cut baits. The striper action has been limited to the sod banks in the back with top water plugs and swimmers having the most action. The weakfish bite has definitely slowed down which Mike also attributes to the full moon. Hopefully it will come back over the weekend. Crabbing in the area seems to be stepping up to the next level now that the shed is over. Blues and croakers are still in the area. For bigger bluefish, Mike recommends working the local inlets with metal or cut bunker.

Jake at Pell’s Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach reports that the fluking up there in the rivers has been very good in the last few weeks. The rivers have been the most productive areas with fish up to 28 inches coming into the shop on a pretty regular basis. One zone that has been especially hot is the Bayhead area. Bass are still active but it is mainly school sized linesiders going after worms or smaller metals tossed at them. There are some keepers in the mix when there is bunker to chase. Jake also told me they have been having a run on weakfish up to five pounds in the Manasquan. Best bet for action is to use a Daiwa SP Minnow and or pink finesse. Live baits such as shedder crab or sand worms have also drawn some attention from the spotted sea trout. For bigger striped bass and bluefish, Jake recommends heading on any of the local head boats to get at the big schools. This time of year, they are all over the bigger bunker pods and that’s where you will find the bigger fish.

I’ve been hearing a lot about the offshore bite and thought I would touch base with Chuck Hinchcliffe at Off the Hook Bait and Tackle in Cape May. He confirmed that the activity was spread out all over the place and it was off a strong start. Find the Temp lines and you will have all the action you could look for. Yellow and Bluefin are around as well as a few big eye tuna. Chuck even relayed one big eye caught by Timmy of the Clean Sweep while on a tile fishing charter. The fish was caught in really deep water at the bottom. Interesting . Inshore, Chuck tells me that the striper bite has cooled down but the flounder catch in the back has been strong. Best zones have been in and around the ICW. Delaware Bay has been a little quiet on the flounder side but still doing well on the drum side. Chuck believes there is still some life left in the drum migration, least until this next moon is over. Striped bass are still being taken on the chunk in Dbay.

The Mimi VI has two open boat sessions scheduled for Tuesday June 17th. Captain Kenny will be taking her out from her slip in Point Pleasant Beach at 7am in search of sea bass, ling and flounder. Cost is $65. At 3:30 PM, they will head back out for a Magic Hour Striper Trip. Cost for this trip is $75. Both trips are limited seating and reservations are recommended. Call ahead to save your seat at 732-370-8019.

Captain Brooke Koenke of the Duke O’Fluke in Somers Point is on the summer schedule sailing twice daily from Bay Avenue. He tells me that the fishing has been decent when the weather has cooperated. The best bite this week belonged to Tony Pagano, an 89 year old Marine Veteran from EHT who boated a 6.5 pound flounder. Tony is a regular on the boat so have Brooke point him out and maybe he will share some of his secrets for catching doormats. The captain tells me this isn’t the first time he has captured a pool. The Duke O’Fluke is also available for private charters in the bay as well as nature cruises.

After Friday, it would appear to me that the weather will clear up and make for some fine fishing opportunities. Of course we are coming off a full moon and depending on your thoughts on the moon and its effect on fishing, you may want to adjust for it. The water temperatures are starting to rise and that should factor into your plans as well. Personally, I believe the black sea bass bite will only get better now and the flounder are moving back and forth through the inlets. Weakfish have been quiet but I would think they still have some gas left in the tank, you just have to work a little harder if they are your target. Stripers would be way down on my list if you are planning to fish in the south. The sod banks at dusk or dawn and the night bite seem to be the best options for linesiders right now. Head to the far north if that is you goal. If drum fish are on your menu, head to the Delaware Bay and stock up on clams. They are still there but the window is closing. And for you offshore enthusiasts, there is action in almost all of the southern canyons and holes so have at it. Whatever option you choose, stay safe out there. You only get so many days in the game, spend them wisely. See you on the incoming.