Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - June 4, 2015

Just as the stripers were starting to approach epic bite conditions along the Jersey coast, Mother Nature threw us a curveball.  If we had a word for this week’s reports it would be SOUTH.  The area has experienced almost a week of strong south winds which dramatically chilled the ocean temps into the upper 40s.  Without getting too nerdy, south winds cause upwelling due to water moving 90 degrees to the right of the wind direction.  This pushes surface waters offshore, and brings in cold water from the bottom.  Whereas north winds will do the exact opposite, and lucky for us it has turned N/NE which should get the waters warm and the fish on the feed.  The warm bay waters fished around a dropping tide have been the saving grace, allowing some hardy anglers a decent catch of fluke, bluefish, weakfish, and even some blowfish have been reported.  One thing I definitely know, it can only improve so get out there and do some fishing.

At Brielle Bait & Tackle, Greg said some boats did make it out before the blow and were boxing striped bass to the 30 pound range.  While the Manasquan River has been holding some keeper fluke among the myriad of shorts.  Bluefish have been picking up bucktails and artficials to 10 pounds.

Jason from Fisherman’s Supply reported the South winds have put the bass bite to a “screeching halt”, but inside the Manasquan River fluke are providing a slow, but steady pick.  Anglers will have to work for the fish, with fishing the river being the best bet until nature rights itself.  3/8oz bucktails tipped with Gulp have been the ticket, especially if fished near Gull Island, Treasure island and towards the end of the canal at outgoing tide.

Our Point Pleasant boats report some mixed results starting with Capt. Ken from the MIMI VI getting in on some bluefishing in Sandy Hook on topwater poppers and plugs.  The wreck trips have showed some nice sea bass in the 5 pound variety, but a slower bite due to the winds.  It’s definitely cold down there, when your picking up Ling, Cod, amongst the Fluke.  The captain added he measured water temps from 45 to 49F.  Capt. Bob from the Gambler reported a decent bite on fluke prior to the gusty south winds.  He mentioned that the fish are definitely there, but needs the temperatures to climb for the bite to turn-on.  They have been picking at sea bass, ling, and also cod over the snaggy structures.  The Norma K III reported tough fishing this past week with the cold water move-in, but with the turn on the NE winds should dramatically turn on the bite for the sea bass and fluke.

Ray from Jersey Hooker Outfitters said the fluke were up in the Metedeconk River with shorts and keepers up to 3 pounds.  Although the south wind chilled the beach bass bite, there are still stripers being caught at the Mantoloking Bridge worked during the night shifts.  The Point Pleasant canal also had some bass action.  The key was to work your pink plastics aka Pink Finesse and Gulp baits on a plain jig head.

With our Island Beach State Park report, Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle, explained that the south winds killed the bite, and they actually had no weigh-in’s in the books.  But with the change in wind direction it can change on a dime, so be ready.  Fisherman soaking clam in the suds will probably have the best shot at bass.

Phil from Dock Outfitters gave a nice report of the crabbing picking up in the bay.  Bluefish are still abundant around the shop, and our Northern puffers have made their presence known in Barnegat Bay.  Anglers anchoring with clam chum and cut-clam baits have put a hurting on some of these big puffers.

Lenny from Capt. n Hippos reiterated the Barnegat Bay puffer bite with them starting to show in areas near Tices Shoal and the Barnegat Inlet.  He added the fluke bite has been slow due to the lack of participation which is ultimately due to the recent windage.  A pick of striped bass and bluefish is still occurring at the inlet on artficials.

Our Barnegat Light boats made their way out in the heavy winds to catch bluefish, sea bass, and a few fluke.  Capt. Ted from the Super Chic reported a slow sea bass bite due to the cold temps.  Fortunately, the 3 to 10 pound bluefish have been very cooperative providing anglers with non-stop action.  Gina from the Carolyn Ann III said the local wrecks have been producing sea bass up to 4 pounds, but the recent winds cooled the bottom temps to a balmy 45 degrees.  She noted that the sea bass have been spitting up sand eels which bodes well for our summer flounder.

Across the bay, Liza from Creekside Outfitters said anglers are starting to pick blowfish from the BB to the 42 marker, but you need to chum heavy for them.  Bluefish are still around, but smaller in the 3 to 5 pound, with an occasional 10 pound.  Crabbing has definitely picked up especially in the Forked River area.  The fluking scene has been hit or miss with some anglers boxing limits, while others praying for a legal fish.

Andy of Tony’s Bait & Tackle gave our Long Beach Island and adjacent area report with bluefish still hanging in the bay, but much closer to Barnegat and Holgate inlets.  He had a lack of boat reports due to the heavy seas.  On a brighter note, the crabbing has picked up on the west side of the bay, with lagoon mouths and creek mouths being the blueclaw hot spots.

As we move south from Little Egg inlet to Brigantine, Riptide Bait and Tackle reported a 50 inch, 43 pound bass caught on a bunker chunk off the jetty by Mike Shickman.  It was Mike’s second time fishing, EVER!  Kingfish have started to invade the surf and are being caught mostly on bloodworms, but giving FishBites a try wouldn’t hurt, advises Andy.  Fluke have been caught in the back with some quality keepers to 5 pounds, but the wind plays havoc on the drifts.

The Absecon bay area had a steady fluke bite and is also seeing kingfish in the surf according to Dave Showell of Absecon Bay Sportsman.  The temperatures have definitely dropped in the back to 65F, with the incoming below 60F, which also puts a chill on the fluke bite.  The bluefish have stuck around, and they are still seeing big bluefish in Great Bay.  The backbays and tidal creeks are holding schoolie-sized stripers if you can contend with the wind says Dave.  Kingfish were caught off the Absecon Inlet (jetty) on bloodworm, and they had a nice 32 pound striped bass caught from the beach by Pedro Gonzalez.

The Atlantic City area is still producing fish with a fresh influx of kingfish and blues according to Nowell of One Stop Bait & Tackle.  The T-jetty has been on fire for the past several weeks and it continues to harbor fish.  It seems most of the bass have been with anglers fishing the 2nd tide at night, with anglers working the nightshift plugging and throwing soft-plastics such as the pink Zoom on a ½-ounce Kalin’s jighead.  Some flounder have been picked up in the back with anglers drifting minnows off the flats into deeper water.  The shop is running a weeklong tournament starting June 14th and all proceeds with be donated to the Valarie Fund with fights leukemia.  Anglers have a chance to win a 40″ TV among other prizes, but they must sign up at the shop.

Paul from Tackle Direct gave a solid report with a good flounder bite from Atlantic City to Cape May, with anglers waxing fish up to 7 pounds.  The offshore bite that was occurring has moved a bit south with the water, but bluewater seekers are still picking up Yellowfin with Bigeyes mixed in.  The Baltimore Canyon and Wilmington have been the area to go, and they had reports of a few Blue Marlin being hooked.  In the back and around the inlets, there has been some reports of weakfish, mainly the Sea Isle area.

Progressing south, Fin-Atics reported decent flounder action in shallower water towards Ocean City and Somers Point off the flats.  Anglers working water depths 8 to 12ft with temps in the mid 60’s have been connecting on flounder.  White bucktails worked with Gulp or minnows have been the bait of choice, with flounder in the 24 to 25 inch range.  Bluefish are still around taken on plugs, and the north end of Ocean City and Corsen’s Inlet area had striped bass and weakfish on artificials.  Offshore anglers have been sharking at the 28-mile wreck which has been covered in Blue Sharks with some Makos mixed in, but that should improve according to the shop.

Mike from Sea Isle Bait & Tackle has seen a slight increase in striped bass caught off the surf on plugs, clam, and cut bunker, but it has primarily been a night bite.  Sea Isle, Whale Beach, and Strathmere beachfronts have provided the most consistent action on striped bass.  Kingfish have also made their presence known to anglers fishing bloodworms or Fishbites.  In the back, flounder have been picked with keepers in the 20 to 22 inch range being the most consistent, with an occasional 5 pound.  Bluefish have also showed up in the back taken bucktails meant for fluke.  Most of the fish are the eating size 18 to 24 inches.

The Cape May area has also seen the relentless wind, but the Drumfish were there for the guys who toughed it out according to Matt from Jim’s Bait & Tackle. There are still fish along the North Cape May beach and the Villas but more boats are heading West into deeper water, Tussy’s Slough, The Banana Peel, Brandywine Slough and the Pin Top. Norman Ren of Cape May Court House caught his first Drum a 63.8 pound fish caught off of North Cape May.  Regarding fluke/flounder, the backwaters offered the best bite during the week.  Anglers who ventured to reef site #11 and Old Grounds struck out for fluke.  Inshore provided sea bass action if you could make it out, with wrecks in the 20 to 30 mile range having the most fish.  The shop weighed in a 103 pound Mako by Sargent 1st class retired Terry Dunlap of Baltimore, who was fishing in the Wounded Warriors Project tournament.  Lastly, the surf provided some action on striped bass and bluefish with Poverty beach, N. Cape May, Cape May Point, and Sunset beach being the hotspots.

Best Bet for the Weekend

This week is a tough call.  Based on NOAA’s most recent marine forecast, fluke in the back will probably be the best bet for most boaters, although there may be a slight window to jump outside and search for bunker and striped bass.  The surf will probably offer the best opportunity for those seeking striped bass and with those NE winds expected through the weekend, it should warm the temps into bass biting range.