What a change a couple of weeks makes. At the start of the month we were talking about super-slow fishing and few to no options on the saltwater front. Now, striper fishing is picking up big time, cod fishing is excellent, and even bluefish swam their way into this week’s fishing report.
Starting up North, the bite in the Raritan has really picked up thanks to the recent stretch of warm weather. Bunker have moved in and stripers are being caught in good numbers. The crew at True World Bait and Tackle in Bayonne reported lots of schoolies and at least one keeper. Phil at the Tackle Box reported that larger fish are beginning to make their way into the bay. Plenty of 28- to 32-inch fish have been caught off the bayshore beaches on worms and clams, Phil reported, and boat fishermen are catching 20 to 30 fish a trip, with bass up to 18 pounds reported. Clams have also been the hot bait for the boaters.
John at the Reel Seat reported winter flounder being taken in the Manasquan River and in the bay around the Mantoloking Bridge. John had also heard of a fisherman casting a swim shad only to have its tail bitten off—a good sign that a few bluefish are nosing into New Jersey waters. Cod fishing continues to go well for the party boats, and some big ling have been mixed in as well.
John reported bass being taken from the surf on clams this week. The fish are shorts, but the keepers will be following soon. In the bay, stripers are hanging around the bridges where anglers are having luck with small plugs and soft plastics.
The Delaware River shad run is on, reported Matt at Harry’s Army Navy. Fishermen heading out can expect catch of five to six shad, with those numbers improving over the coming weeks. Some stripers were reported around Philadelphia last week, but none have been reported farther up river just yet.
A keeper finally came from Graveling Point this week, shortly after which it was weighed at Scott’s Bait and Tackle. Bloodworms are the hot bait at Graveling, and there’s little question that the best action at this early season hotspot is still to come.
The back bays of Ocean City and Wildwood are producing more stripers. Keepers are still tough to come by. Soft-plastic jigs are working for fishermen willing to move around to find active fish, but baiting and waiting with clams and bloodworms is also putting bass on the sodbanks. No word of weakfish or blues just yet, but it won’t be long now.
Delaware Bay is picking up as well, with keeper stripers moving by on their way to the Delaware River to spawn. Clams have been working best for the Delaware Bay bass.
The most surprising report this week came from Captain Bob Cope of Full Ahead Sportfishing. Fishing out of Cape May, Bob had three great trips for cod this week, putting his fishermen on big numbers of keepers.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Get your bass on the water. From North to South, stripers fishing is picking up in New Jersey. Clams are the hottest bait, state-wide at the moment. If you’re fishing the back bays, heading out after dark will double your chances of success. In the surf, all of the action is being reported in the daytime.
The excellent cod fishing is holding up, but it will fizzle out soon, so take advantage of it while it lasts. Hop on a party boat or hire a charter to put you on these delicious bottom fish.
And don’t forget about the shad run. This is some of the most enjoyable fishing we have all year, and we are approaching the peak. The next few weeks should bring some excellent shad fishing to the Delaware River.