Northern New Jersey Fishing Report | October 9, 2014

Hopefully we’re putting all this windy weather behind us for when the stripers show in numbers this fall. Fishing was a grind in the northern half of New Jersey this week, but more stripers are moving in and it’s only a matter of time before the fall run gets into full swing.

Bayonne

Some keeper bass are being taken from the East River reported the crew from True World Tackle. There are still big numbers of snapper blues around, suggesting the water is still warm.

Bound Brook

Brayden at Efinger’s said the saltwater fishing is a little slow, but some fishermen are finding stripers in Sandy Hook and Ambrose channels drifting eels. Some of these fish are moving farther into the bay, where light tackle anglers are having a shot at them. There is a good number of 1- to 3-pound bluefish roaming around the Raritan right now as well.

On the freshwater side, Brayden said Ken Lockwood Gorge has been producing good trout fishing. Caddis nymphs are working, and grasshopper patters are working in the afternoons when fish have been coming to the surface. Live crayfish have been responsible for some big smallmouth in the Raritan River, and spinnerbaits are taking small pond largemouths all over the state.

Hazlet

Phil at The Tackle Box reported on the stripers hitting eels in the channels, but mentioned that bucktails are working well for stripers around the bridges. Union Beach is producing short fish, Phil said. The beaches are a little slow right now, Phil said, but with all the bait he’s seeing, it could turn on at any time.

Keyport

The fishing has been slow reported Joe at Joey’s Bait Shack. Cocktail blues and short stripers are the only option right now in the Bay, but the bite has been spotty.

Laurence Harbor

The report from Tackle US suggests chunking bunker from the beaches at night for a shot at a striper. At night, swimming plugs are producing a few stripers as well.

Robbinsville

The freshwater bite is on, reported Matt from Harry’s Army Navy. Smallies are biting well in the Delaware River, and largemouths are hitting soft plastics in smaller ponds.  In large bodies of water, the largemouth fishing has been a bit slow.

Matt has been hitting the surf from Belmar to Sea Girt, and was seeing decent action with schoolie stripers on swim shads and small metal lip swimmers. Farther south on Island Beach State Park, clams and bunker are working for stripers. The striper action is in a bit of a lull right now, Matt says, but it shouldn’t be long before a wave of migrating fish moves through.

The fishing for bluefish is inconsistent right now. The fish around have been small.

The canyons are producing well with swordfish and yellowfin tuna, but with the windy weather, boats have had a tough time getting out to them.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Don’t lose hope on account of the lackluster reports. Stripers will be moving south on the downside of the full moon and will arrive in New Jersey waters shortly. With conditions clearing up over the weekend and huge schools of baitfish all over the place, the stage is set for the fall run to get off to an epic start. Make sure you are out there to catch it.