We are finally past all of the weather and starting to settle into a more regular fall-like pattern and the fish are starting to respond. The backbays have seen lots of schoolie Striper action with an occasional keeper making it to the table. Actually, the talk of the past week has been the recent catch of a 48-pound bass slamming dunked eel at night via kayak behind Island Beach State Park. But it’s not only a backbay thing, the surf has been giving there share of fish with Striped Bass, Albacore, and Bluefish, while offshore has seen Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi, and Bigeye Tuna. It should only get better from this once the main body of Stripers arrive, and from what I hear, “their on their way.” So it won’t be long.
And to start off this week’s reports northernly report, Brielle Bait & Tackle, said the boats have been getting Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi, and Bigeye from the 100-square and Hudson Canyon. Striped Bass have been biting at the Route 35 Bridge and Point Pleasant Canal on both eels and Storm Shads. The PP canal has been giving up keeper Tautog, but the ratio is around 5 to 1, and most are hitting on green crabs. Although they have been tough to come by, the shop has plenty of green crabs in stock. The shop has been getting reports of Sea Bass and Porgies from the area wrecks, and it should remain good was the season officially opens.
Fisherman’s Supply said the Point Pleasant Canal and Rt. 35 Bridge has been good on Striped Bass at night, especially with boats drifting eels or throwing soft plastics. The tog bite has been “real good” along the canal and jetties.
The Point Pleasant Boats have been out fishing with the recent change in weather. The Gambler had some recent good offshore trips with the boat nearly catching their limit on Yellowfin Tuna in the 40 to 70 pound range. Most fish were taken in the cover of darkness on Butterfish and Sardines. There were also some Swordfish and Mahi caught during the trip. The area’s canyons are alive and well with pelagics. They do have some offshore trips available, but the skipper said to definitely call ahead.
The MIMI VI has been fishing offshore and has some open boat canyon trips available, including an overnighter on October 22-23rd. The boat did some good offshore canyon fishing over the past few days, but will start to concentrate on bottom-species toward the end of the month and through November.
The Norma K III had a great weekend fishing the ocean with lots of Ling and Cod including a few nice Winter Flounder in the mix. The boat has been on them so good, that everybody has been going home with din-din. The captain was excited about the recent influx of Big Blues offshore as they have been ranging in the 12 to 20-pound range. All of the blue bruisers have been caught on bait.
Jersey Hooker Outfitters reported that the canyon action has been “red-hot” as of late. Yellowfin, Swordfish, Wahoo, and Mahi have definitely made there presence known in the Wilmington and Hudson canyons. Meanwhile, closer to home has had Blackfish on the Canal with lots of keepers on green crabs. Striped Bass have been good on “eeling” in the Manasquan River, and the Shark River Reef for Porgies, Cod, Ling, and released Sea Bass. The backwaters have been alright on crabbing.
The Island Beach State Park area has been good for Blues in the 2-5 pound range according to Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle. Fresh mullet and metals have been the trick for the Bluefish off the suds, meanwhile clams and plugs have been producing on Striped Bass. There was some hush-hush word of some Albacore off the beach.
Phil from Dock Outfitters mentioned that fishing conditions have been good with some fish cooperating. Small blues and small bass remain the cry coming from our beaches, and cut mullet and small metals have been the “go-to” lures. Clams and swimming plugs for the bass mostly at night and first light. The crabs have been cooperating, but it has been closer to Oyster Creek.
The Toms River area has been rather quiet on gamefish, but there are still lots of baitfish in the area according to Capt. n Hippos. The Striped Bass have been good on the beach off Island Beach and the backside off the Sedge Islands. Lenny mentioned that one of the anglers landed a 48- pound Striped Bass behind IBSP on live eel.
The Super Chic will start targeting bass over the next couple of weeks, and the skipper recommends anglers to apply for the NJ Fish & Wildlife Bonus Striped Bass tag. The boat has a limited number of bonus tags for headboats, but once they are used up – there gone.
Meanwhile, the Carolyn Ann III will start sailing for daily Sea Bass upon the start of the season on October 22nd, 2015.
Creekside Outfitters reported that there was still a pick of crabs at Oyster Creek public dock and Blowfish being had north of the BB buoy. The bay has had some schoolie Striped Bass cooperating on drifted “live baits”. Some of the shop patrons reported a good weakfish bite about a mile off the beach on small metals.
Andy from Tony’s Bait & Tackle mentioned blowfish are still being caught in Barnegat Bay from Forked River to Waretown, and also mid-Long Beach Island down through Holgate. The Stripers are being caught along the north and south jetty of Barnegat Inlet on live Spot, Mullet, or Peanut Bunker. Small Blues and Weakfish have been keeping anglers busy from just off the beach to about a mile out.
Riptide Bait & Tackle had a good report of bass in the Brigantine area. The shop had a weigh-in by Joe Connolly with a 47 inch, 33- pound Striped Bass off the beach on bunker head. There have been anglers working Bass in the backwaters by drifting spot and dragging eels. The Blackfish have been lighting it up off the sod banks on green crabs.
Absecon Bay Sportsman reported lots of small Stripers wth some keepers mixed in on the new 6.5-in chartreuse Gulp Nemesis and Jerk Shad lures. The Mullica River and sloughs off the ICW have been the spots to be for the striped ones. Tog are being bailed at a pretty good clip with green crabs being the primo bait. There has been an occasional keeper Porgy in the backwaters.
Nowell from One Stop Bait & Tackle has had “great” fishing on Blackfish, and as he says it, “they are practically jumping out of the water.” Many fish in the 17-18 inch variety have been around, and the ratio has been 3 shorts to 1 keeper. The T-jetty, Vermont Ave, Melrose Ave, and Caspian Ave have been hot spots for the tog. There has been an occasional snapper blue caught in between all of the tog. There has been some resident bass around, but they are mostly on the short schoolie side.
The team at Tackle Direct reported some bass being taken on bunker chunks and heads with the Ocean City and Sea Isle beaches producing. The backbay has seen some small bass around Corson’s and Townsend’s inlet on soft plastics. If you have your bonus tag, you can easily catch your bonus fish. There have been some reports of snappers in the back, but they are starting to thin out. The shop didn’t have any reports of canyon action.
Fin-Atics is finally starting to see some of the fall fishing with a big presence of baitfish with cooperating Stripers. Anglers have been hitting the backwaters at night and around the local bridges for Stripers on soft plastics and swimming plugs. If you choose the bait approach, it’s been a bivalve thing. Tog have been “easily” boxed near bridges during the day for anglers fishing the slack tide. The Ocean City and Sea Isle surf zones have provided a pick of Stripers on swimming plugs (Diawa SP Minnow, Bomber A-Salts, etc) worked around the jetties.
Mike from Sea Isle Bait & Tackle remarked that they are finally starting to see some life down there. A few anglers were getting into Stripers in the 20 to 30-inch range drifting mullet or live spot around the Townsends Inlet. Soft plastics have also been working with on the Bass. Bass Assasin, Fin-S fish worked slowly at night around the lighted bridges have been providing consistent action.
And to round out our reports this week, Jim’s Bait & Tackle of Cape May, reported that the surf has had some Croakers and Kingfish around the Cape May Point and Higbees Beach jetties. A few schoolie Striped Bass have been caught around the rocks, but not enough action to warrant the battle cry. On the Delaware Bay side, there have been reports of Kingfish and Weakfish from the 20ft Slough around Bug Light. Unfortunately, most of the Weakfish are just spikes.
Meanwhile, the offshore scene has started pumping Tuna again with the Hudson Canyon leading the way. Great numbers of Yellowfin in the 60 to 70- pound range, and some Longfin and Bigeyes in the mix. The Washington Canyon also provided some good tuna action, and also lots of Mahi.
Best Bet for the Weekend
If your up to it, now is the time to jump on a charterboat or headboat, and head out to the Canyons to battle Yellowfin, Bigeyes, and Mahi – this is prime “tuna” time. For anglers with a little less “offshore” gumption: catch the slack high tides with some greenies for Tog or throw soft plastics at night near the inlets and bridges to bag a Striper. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.
Norma K III guys- god I hope all those giant blues you killed went on someone’s dinner table or in the smoker!! Sure I can understand keeping fish but a deck full of big dead blues…..I hope most people catch and release and don’t kill for the sake of a picture.