Northern New Jersey Fishing Report - October 22, 2015

The run is on in New Jersey. A number of 40-pound and larger stripers were caught by boat and surf anglers this week. Plus, sea bass season re-opened on Thursday, giving Jersey anglers another bottom fishing option.

Eels were the hot bait for Akira at True World Bait and Tackle this week. Fishing the East River and Statue of Liberty, Akira took bass to 25 pounds. Trolling bunker spoons is also catching fish, and stuck fish to 38 inches this week Akira reported. Sandy Hook Reef continues to produce blackfish, and with sea bass season open, anglers can justify making a bottom-fishing run to the reef to stack up sea bass and claim fill their one-fish tog limit.

The ocean front bass are on the move, reported Pete from Parker Pete’s Sportfishing. Tracking down the bass has been difficult on some days as waves of fish migrate in and out of the area, but when he can find the fish, they are feeding heavily. Pete’s clients caught fish to 35 pounds this week, and he expects the fishing to just get better.

Giglio’s checked in a 40-pound surf striper this week, along with several other quality bass. A variety of techniques are working right now, from plugging with pencil poppers and swimmers, jigging with bucktails, and fishing bait on the bottom.

Clams are catching keeper bass reported the crew at Julians, but getting through the skates can be a challenge at times. For boaters trolling and using live bunker has been working out front. Fishing around the bridges in the back is producing fish as well.

Drifting sandworms in the Shrewsbury River has been producing constent action with bass reported the crew at Giglio’s. While porgy fishing picked up earlier this week, it has slowed down some.

Miss Belmar Princess is reporting excellent fishing for jumbo blues. Pool winners have been in the high teens this week, with Wednesdays winning fish weighing in at 18 pounds. Vertical jigging with diamond jigs is the top tactic right now, and the hot spots have been structure just west of the Mud Hole.

Ol Salty II has been on the big bluefish bite as well, catching fish into the high teens.

The fishermen aboard the Suzie Girl made the most of the first day of the fall sea bass season on Thursday, catching more than 80 keeper sea bass and 200 porgies in an action filled morning.

Best Bets for the Weekend

Options abound for Jersey fishermen this weekend. With big stripers running along the ocean, that would be my pick. When heading out in the boat, be prepared to live-live bunker or troll. From the surf, pick your poison. Plugging and chunking are both producing. Plugging does offer the added advantage of mobility, and with the bass on the move, being able to cover ground could be the key to hooking up.

Don’t forget about the additional bottom fishing option this weekend with sea bass back on the menu. The Sandy Hook Reef could provide anglers a chance to come home with a mix of porgies and sea bass. Bringing along a few crabs isn’t a bad idea either, as it shouldn’t be difficult to fill the one-fish blackfish limit.

Last but not least, the big bluefish bite west of the Mud Hole is definitely worth checking out. The biggest bluefish of the season will be passing through now, and catching a 20-pounder is not out of the question.