Happy October 1st! I wish I could start this week off with a positive, but unfortunately the weather has plagued us since the ending of fluke season. Even as Joaquin’s track fluctuates, it still looks like it will be a soaker to the Northeast. Let’s hope for minimal damage, and a ushering of more, steady Northwest winds for the rest of the fall. The fish in the back have been continuing to cooperate to the few anglers who venture out to generate their own fishing reports. Whether it’s blowfish, kingfish, weakfish, striped bass, or blue claws, they all are biting in the sheltered backwaters. I apologize for the skinny reports this week, but there just hasn’t been a whole lot of anglers out there. On a personal note, I was able to fish some of our “lighted structure locations” and caught and released a few keeper bass on live mullet. If you put the time in, the fish are there.
So to start off this week’s windy reports was Brielle Bait & Tackle. Greg mentioned that the Manasquan River was giving up Blues in the 1 to 3-pound variety. The Manasquan Inlet to the Route 35 Bridge has been loaded with Mullet, Spearing, and Peanut Bunker. They are starting to stage up for the fall run. The evenings along the Route 70 bridge have had a decent run of 20 to 25-inch Striped Bass on artificials (Storm Shads, Finesse) and also some 10 to 12-in weakfish have been in the mix.
Fisherman’s Supply reported that not too many people have been fishing this past week. The surf, although big, has been giving up some Striped Bass on Diamond Jigs, Chartreuse bucktails from Sea Girt to Spring Lake. All of the striped ones have been in the 18 to 28-inch size class. The Manasquan River is “locked and loaded” fishing with live eels for anglers working the “night shift” for Striped Bass. Also the Route 35 train bridge has had Striped Bass to 32-inches on soft plastics. I did get inside information that some mambo bluefish in the 15-pound class were feasting on adult bunker in the Point Pleasant Canal.
The Point Pleasant Boats have been held at the dock due to the recent wind and sea conditions. The MIMI VI has a few open dates available for Offshore Canyon action and the skipper advises to contact the boat for details. Meanwhile, the Norma K III will be sailing 3/4 days (730am to 230pm) for Ling and Cod.
Jersey Hooker Outfitters mentioned that blackfishing continues to be good off many of the jetties and piers. The bite has been pretty consistent on green crabs. The evenings and early mornings have had a decent bite on Striped Bass for anglers fishing live eels.
Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle had a few anglers try the beach for small blues, and there was word of false albacore in the pocket near the North Jetty of Barnegat Inlet. Some Striped Bass have been found near the north side of Barnegat Inlet.
Dock Outfitters reported that “it has been blowing like hell” down here. Small bluefish and short stripers have been keeping some anglers busy in the surf. The bay has plenty of blowfish ranging from small to medium in size, and they are still getting keeper crabs.
Capt n Hippos mentioned a “slow” week due to the winds, but some anglers have been finding snappers in the the Toms River. Crabs are still biting with a few keepers in the mix.
The Carolyn Ann III did not make it out this week and will start sailing again October 22nd when Sea Bass opens up. The Sea Bass trips will be 6 hours from 8 to 2pm. And Gina would like to thank all who fished on the boat during the past season.
Creekside Outfitters reported wind and weather plaguing many anglers. Some anglers did fish the back and bailed Blowfish and some kingfish. There have been small blues around Barnegat Inlet.
With our Long Beach Island report, Tony’s Bait & Tackle said there hasn’t been much going on due to the winds, but some night time anglers have been scoring on Weakfish and Striped Bass mid-island. The best fishing to be had has been the blowfish from Ship Bottom to Beach Haven with some larger ones in the slick to be enough for a meal. There also has been a consistent bite of bluefish in the 1 to 4-pound range around the Barnegat Inlet.
Riptide Bait & Tackle reported some schoolie sized Stripers being caught on plugs from the surf zone. The NE winds have kept most anglers off the water, but the fish are around. As Andy says, “we will see what happens after this weather soaked weekend.”
Absecon Bay Sportsman reported that not much went on this week in terms of fishing. Dave has the shop fully stocked with spot and eels for the fall run, and he spent some time chasing mullet on the beach. There are schoolie striped bass in the back if you can get out, and also some Weakfish being caught during the night. But other than that, it’s “windy”.
One Stop Bait & Tackle reported a few anglers making it out for Striped Bass and Blackfish off the local jetties. Most of the bass have been in the 18 to 22-inch size class, but there have been some nice blackfish taken on “greenies”.
Moving further south along Ocean City and Sea Isle, Mike from Sea Isle Bait & Tackle reported not much in terms of stellar fishing reports. Some guys have been working the back for Striped bass in the early mornings and evenings. The surf zone has given up some small bluefish to 3-pounds. It has been a relatively slow week due to the steady NE winds.
And to round out this week’s report for our Cape May area was Matt from Jim’s Bait & Tackle, where not too many boats made it out over the past week. Some headboats hit the narrow window to catch good numbers of small Bluefish, Kingfish, and Croakers. The other active area was the surf zone near The Point on small Bluefish and Kingfish where small metals and cut Mullet were the hot baits.
Best Bet for this Weekend
The weather doesn’t give me many options this weekend with the coastal forecast predicted at 11 to 19 feet out 20 nautical miles, so boat guys and surf guys are out. With the impending weather, it might be a good week to log in some time with friends and family, or even hit those items on the honey-do-list. Trust me, when the fishing gets back to normal, there will only be time for fishing. If there are any ultra hardcore anglers out there, pick up some green crabs and hit the area’s sheltered jetties for some blackfish action (limit 1). Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.