Over the long weekend, I took my surf rod and a plug bag and worked the beaches from Island Beach up to Manasquan Inlet, spending 45 minutes to an hour at each of a half-dozen spots. My final count was one suspected hit and no fish. Fortunately, the striper fishing has picked up since the Thanksgiving slowdown. Bottom fishing, which remained good over the long weekend, is still going strong, and a solid tuna bite is inspiring anglers to break out the bluewater gear one last time.
Blackfish
The toggin’ has been good, especially in the 50- to 75-foot depths reported John at The Reel Seat in Brielle. Several big tog hit the decks this week, including a 14-pounder, a pair of 12-pounders and several more over 10 said Brayden at Efinger’s Sporting Goods in Bound Brook.
The big tog are starting to bite better on white-legger crabs than green crabs Brayden advised.
The blackfishing action has been fluctuating said the guys at True World Tackle. Friday was a very good day, Saturday was so-so, and the fishing picked up again during the week.
As popular pieces get picked over, the better tog fishing is shifting to the south reported John at the Reel Seat. The Sea Girt Reef is a good bet right now.
Stripers
The Raritan Bay striper fishing is slowing some reported the crew at True World Tackle. That’s not to say it’s over. There are still big schools of bunker in New York Harbor which could pull in a school of big migrating bass. A few fish are being caught by fishermen trolling between the channels reported John at the Reel Seat.
Big numbers of little bass have moved into the ocean waters off Northern New Jersey and are feeding on big spearing reported Brayden at Efingers. The overwhelming majority of these fish are short. But the quantity makes up for the lack in quality. Surf fishermen are regularly catching a dozen bass a night, and boat fishermen are catching twice that.
Daytime action on the beach has also been good reported John at the Reel Seat. Bucktails and soft plastics are getting the job done in the daylight. After dark, SP Minnows are a good bet.
Boats are catching on diamond jigs and shads.
Black Sea Bass
The offshore sea bass fishing is excellent right now. Party boat fishermen are catching easy limits of big sea bass, along with platter-size porgies, bluefish and codfish. The offshore sea bassing is drop-and-reel fishing right now, and well worth hopping aboard a headboat.
Tuna
Not far from the sea bass action, bluefin tuna are being caught. The tuna, which are in the 100- to 200-pound range, are hanging around the 30-Fathom Line. Trolling is the best bet, reported John at the Reel Seat, but the fishing is pretty sporadic.
Farther offshore in the Hudson Canyon, the tuna bite is better with bluefin, bigeye and big longfin being caught on the chunk and on the troll.
Winter Flounder
John at the Reel Seat reported that winter flounder are still being caught in the Manasquan River.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Bottom fishing is the way to go this weekend if you’re looking for fast action and some fish to take home. Blackfish is good for private boaters or fishermen looking for a shorter day on a headboat. Fishermen willing to spend close to 24 hours on the water can jump on a sea bass trip with the realistic expectations of returning to the dock with a full cooler.
If you’re chasing stripers, scale down the tackle, as most of the fish are well short of keeper sized.
If the weather allows, a last call canyon run could be well worth it.