By some reports, the Halloween Blitz was spread over 30 miles of northern New Jersey coastline. Sea Bright to Island beach had big stripers and bluefish feasting on butterfish and adult bunker. Metal lip swimmers, pencil poppers and Sebile Stick Shadds all accounted for fish. Unfortunately, the storm that moved in over the weekend sent that big body of stripers on its way. Fortunately, the bait stayed behind, which means it’s only a matter of time until the next big blitz.
Liberty State Park continues to be a reliable spot for keeper-sized stripers reported the crew at True World Bait and Tackle in Bayonne. Blackfish have been biting as well, with fish to 9 pounds reported this week. Just remember the limit on tog is still 1 fish per day until November 16.
Boat fishermen are back on the bite this week reported Brayden at Effingers Sporting Goods. There have been more bluefish than bass since the storm, but the blues have been big. Drifting eels through the channels in Raritan Bay is still producing stripers. Fish are showing up on the beaches again, Brayden said, and a wide variety of techniques are working. SP Minnows, clams, live bunker, needlefish and swim shads are just some of the productive tactics used this week. Some sand eels were showing up, Brayden said, prompting anglers to use Ava jigs and needlefish.
Beach fishing was picking up as of Wednesday reported Dave at The Reel Seat in Brielle. Point Pleasant had fish, Dave said. Not of the same size or in the same numbers as on Friday, but Dave was optimistic the fishing would pick up. Dave reported there have been more adult bunker around than he has ever seen. Catching bait is as simple as reaching into the water and grabbing a bunker by hand–that’s how thick the baitfish are. As of Wednesday, not many gamefish had found the bunker, other than some bluefish and a few medium-size stripers.
The river and canal are holding bass and hickory shad, and fishermen have had a good time catching them on light tackle reported Dave.
Keeper stripers were taken on clam in Bradley Beach this week according to a report from the Bait Shop. Fish to 13 pounds were taken.
Bottom fishing has been good. The sea bass bite bounced right back after the storm, and the porgy bite was picking up by Wednesday. Dave at the Reel Seat reported big, 2- to 4-pound flounder, winter flounder that is, being taken in deep water, mixed in with ling.
The canyons continue to produce tuna and swordfish when the conditions allow fishermen to make the run.
Best Bets for the Weekend
This weekend, I would babysit those bunker schools until some big migrating stripers show up to eat. Bring along some snag hooks, pencil poppers and metal lips.
From the beach, stay mobile when hunting for feeding bass. Bunker have been showing up close enough to shore to snag, and a few nice fish were caught snagging and dropping from the surf this week, so don’t forget the weighted trebles.