The weather just won’t give us a break. More winds and high waters this week made things difficult for New Jersey anglers. The striper fishing continues to improve, however, and with sea bass season reopening on Saturday, there is a lot to look forward to in the second half of October.
Bound Brook
The big blues are back reported Brayden at Efinger’s. The 18-pounders that have made a brief appearance each of the past two falls have moved into the waters west of the Mud Hole. Party boat anglers are hooking up on diamond jigs, but given the size of the blues, many jigs are being bitten off, so make sure you bring some wire leader and some extra jigs.
Porgy fishermen are doing okay, Brayden said, but they are actually catching more keeper sea bass than keeper porgies. Fortunately, on Saturday, the sea bass season will reopen, and fishermen can once take home some sea bass to eat.
Despite the limit only being one fish, a number of fishermen are targeting tog. Sandy Hook Reef and the smaller structures down toward Manasquan Inlet are producing fish up to 7 pounds. The Point Pleasant Canal is producing tog as well. The vast majority are undersized, but if you have enough bait, you might be able to weed through the shorts and hook a keeper.
More stripers are moving in, Brayden says, but the heavy south winds are putting a damper on the fishing. When the wind shifts to northwest on Sunday, Brayden anticipates the fishing will pick up big time.
Brielle
John at The Reel Seat said the canyon fishing is great, but the weather is lousy. When boats can get out there, they are catching. The Jenny Lee had a good trip this week, catching longfin and yellowfin, with a bonus swordfish and a bigeye on a jig.
Inshore, John says the blues are biting well on the beaches, in the inlets and in the river. At sunrise and sunset, stripers are being caught in these same areas. Plugs and clams are working on the stripers.
Bunker schools have attracted some big bass in recent days. One boat found a school of bunker under assault from stripers and caught fish to 35 pounds. The bass must have been moving quickly, however, because a return trip yielded only a single strike on a live bait.
Manasquan Inlet is producing blackfish, including some keeper-sized fish.
Hazlet
Sandy Hook Channel was producing stripers on eels and clams reported Phil at The Tackle Box. Unfortunately, weather has stalled angler effort for the time being.
Striper fishing from shore is spotty, Phil said, but fishing after dark in the Navesink River and in the Raritan Bay has produced some fish.
Bluefish have been spotty in the bay, Phil says.
Robbinsville
Island Beach State Park had a run of stripers this week reported Tony at Harry’s Army Navy. The Asbury Park jetties also gave up a few fish. Off Monmouth, boats have been trolling up some fish, Tony said.
In the Mud Hole, tuna have been few and far between, but the ones being caught are falling to Green Machine daisy chains and spreader bars.
Sea Bright
Tom at Giglio’s Bait & Tackle said the fishing is on the slow side, but they did weigh in a 15-pound striper taken off the beach on a plug. With more stripers moving in and plenty of bait around, Sandy Hook should be picking up soon.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The weather will improve by Sunday, and when it does, you’ll have your pick of stripers, big blues and sea bass. Given the choice, I would track down the monster blues and use cut bunker or diamond jigs to try and break the 20-pound mark. After catching your fill of blues, stop by some structure and celebrate the reopening of sea bass season by dropping down some clam-baited high-low rigs.