Water temperatures continue to climb, and as a result, the striper fishing off Northern New Jersey showed some signs of life this week. Along with fluke and black sea bass, the fishing is looking great going into the weekend.
Fluke fishing is improving in Raritan Bay according to the recent reports from Sea Tiger II. Fishermen on board saw more action from throwbacks and keepers this week, and a few doormats hit the deck, including a 9.5- and 9.25-pounder. The fluke action in the ocean is still slow on account of the colder temperatures. In fact, even the boats targeting bluefish have been sticking to the warmer waters of the Raritan Bay.
Striper fishing picked up in a big way for Pete of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing. Live-lining bunker produced fish to 46 pounds this week, with large numbers of fish over the 40-pound mark caught. When the water temperatures had been cooler, trolling had been the best way to find the bass, but as the temps warmed this week, the stripers became more active, moved inshore, and began feasting on the bunker schools.
Steve aboard the Skylarker said he continues to pick away at black sea bass, and that more ling are mixing in every day. He’s still catching cod, sometimes as shallow as 40 feet of water. Some keeper fluke are starting to show up in the catches however, and as the water continues to warm, Steve expects the number of keeper fluke to increase.
The surf fishing is going well from Sea Bright to Sandy Hook reported Tom at Giglio’s. Keeper fluke are feeding in the suds and fishermen are catching on small bucktails tipped with Berkley Gulp. Keeper stripers are also being caught on bait and lures. Clams and bunker are working for bait. Swimming plugs and pencil poppers are picking off fish as well. Make sure you work the lure almost onto the sand—recently, many of the bass have been hooked right in the wash. Giglio’s weighed in a 40-pounder this week that fell to a pencil popper in the Sea Bright surf.
The boys of Shore Catch Guide Service reported that the bass bite broke wide open on Wednesday, with many big fish falling to live bunker off Monmouth County.
Surf fishermen have been having a tough go in Monmouth County on account of the recent beach replenishment projects.
The offshore fishing scene is picking up big time. Threshers are being picked on inshore lumps and humps, with some even being spotted around the bunker schools. A little farther offshore, makos and blue sharks are being caught in good numbers. In the canyons, boats are finding yellowfin and even bigeye. It’s setting up to be an excellent offshore season!
Best Bets for the Weekend
You gotta make hay while the sun shines, and right now the sun is shining on the striper fishing off Monmouth County. It’s been hit or miss for most of the spring, but it seems like things finally broke open with the bass. Get out there and live-line some bunker this weekend, and see if you can’t catch (and release) your biggest striper ever.
I thought it had to be 10lbs to be a doormat?