Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - October 22, 2015

She’s Back!!  OCEARCH’s Mary Lee made her presence known over this past week, pinging off the coast of New Jersey.  The latest pings were very close to Manasquan, Long Beach Island, and Ocean City.  It may be a coincidence that she followed the same route and time that the schools of false albacore reached us.  The striped bass fishing had a flurry of activity towards the start of the weekend, but dropped off steeply with the strong South winds.  It should regain, once it blows in a more northerly direction.  I think once these water temperatures get down in the upper to mid-50s, it should break open as the Stripers are on their way.  The big news of the week has been the consistent tuna bite occurring in the Hudson Canyon on Yellowfin, Bigeye, and Longfin.  Sea Bass season opened on Thursday, October  10/22, which is today, so get out there and fill up on the fillets.  There is nothing better than a Sea Bass sandwich and a cold one.  So enjoy!

And starting off this week’s reports is Brielle Bait & Tackle, where Greg said it has been good at the Hudson for Yellowfin with most anglers getting 1 or 2 apiece.  It has been pretty consistent for the overnight trips and a few Mahi have also been in the mix.  With Sea Bass opening today, there are signs of fish being both shallow and deep, so it should be a good start to the opening day.  Regarding Striped Bass, there was a really good bite last Friday, but it has dropped off.  Most of the action has been Spring Lake and to the North and it seems that drifted eels has been the trick.  Blackfishing has been very consistent in the Point Pleasant Canal and most anglers are getting 5 shorts to 1 keeper.

Fisherman’s Supply mentioned that Voyager just got in with 68 tuna (Yellowfin and Longfin) aboard.  On the inshore scene, Stripers were real good prior to the weekend.  But it has dropped off to a pic with most being picked up by trollers.

The Point Pleasant boats have been getting into the action, both inshore and offshore.  Capt. Ken of the MIMI VI was out over the weekend on a offshore beat’em up Tuna expedition.  The crew absolutely nailed it for Yellowfin with over 50.  Later the boat was hitting up the inshore wrecks for Porgies, Cod, Winter Flounder, and Sea Bass (released).  The boat has some Open-Boat trips available for Tuna and a few for Sea Bass.

The Gambler had awesome tuna action at the Hudson again.  The 36-hour trip had some real nice Mahi up to 12 pounds.  The anglers landed a bunch of Yellowfin in the 30 to 100 pound range, Longfin 30 to 50 pound, and a 150-pound Bigeye.  The skipper capped off the trip by hitting a deep water wreck and landed over 20 pollock up to 22 pounds.  The boat does have some room available for it’s upcoming canyon trips.

The Norma K III has been picking at the 13 to 20 pound Bluefish this past week.  “Fishing would of been better but the conditions were terrible”, mentioned the skipper.  There was no lack of fish just the current made fishing tough.  The boat willing be sailing today for the start of Sea Bass season, so get ready and be there early.

Betty and Nicks Bait and Tackle said anglers fishing the pocket on Island Beach State Park had Shad and Bluefish, with hookups approaching every cast.  On the bass scene, there has been some Bass picked on lures, especially at night with some taping out over 40 inches.

Dock Outfitters reported there has been some nice fish making there way to the scales by both surf-fisherman and boaters.  But this is only the beginning of the fall run.  The surf zone has mostly small Blues and Shad chasing rainfish.  It seems the night tides are the best shot at seeing Striper action.

Lenny from Capt. n Hippos reported anglers seeing cocktail Blues hitting the beaches all along Island Beach State Park.  The Striped Bass action has been at night on dunked eel or clam, or plugs worked slowly.  The Daiwa SP minnow and Bomber A-Salts have been producing.  Lenny recommends choosing the darker colors when fishing the nightshift.  On the crabbing scene, it has been steady, by starting to show signs of slowing.

Across the Barnegat Bay, the Barnegat Light boats have been in some of the offshore action.  Capt. Ted of the Super Chic had some sloppy weather, but great tuna fishing.  The Tommy Hook’s gang charter had 24 tuna (9 YFT, 15 LFT), but once the blue sharks came in, it slowed the bite to a crawl.  The boat has some offshore dates available so give the skipper a ring.

Gina from the Carolyn Ann III has been chomping at the bit to get back out there once the Sea Bass season opens.  Hopefully the weather cooperates, because the inshore nooks and crannies are “loaded with them”.

Liza from Creekside Outfitters said the ultra hot bait this week has been “live eels” drifted in Double Creek and Oyster Creek Channels for 20- to 28-inch Striped Bass.  Barnegat Inlet has alot of cocktail Blues, and in the back it’s the Blowfish finale, but you have to know the right tide and location.  With the water temperatures starting to dip, the blowfish will be making a quick exit.  Crabbing is good on quality, not so much on quantity.

Andy from Tony’s Bait and Tackle had cocktail Blues along the beach, and some Striped Bass along the Barnegat Inlet.  The key has been to work the bass with live baits such as Peanut Bunker, Spot, or Eels.  It seems that a few anglers got into some False Albacore off Island Beach State Park and Long Beach Island.

Moving down the Parkway, Riptide Bait and Tackle said they had a nice fish weighed in at the end of last week to 38 pounds, but it has quieted down off the surf with mostly cocktail Blues being landed.  The scene seems to be for the boats working live bait in the backbays of Brigantine and towards Eagle’s Bay.  Some anglers hooked up on artificial using the Berkley Gulp 6.5 inch Nemesis in Chartreuse.

Absecon Bay Sportsman mentioned a very similar report with Stripers moving to the back which seems to be right on time from Dave’s historical records.  Anglers drifting live Spot or Eels, or working artificials like the Berkley Gulp Nemesis fished on a 3/4oz jighead have been hooking up.

Nowell from One Stop Bait & Tackle mentions there is still a lot of bait around the back of Atlantic City.  There have been some snapper blues showing at the beaches and the T-jetty, and savy anglers are banging Striped Bass near Harrah’s on plugs.  But the real sure-bet has been the hot tog bite that continues and it’s still on Green Crabs.  The shop is stocked with all of your togging needs, so stop in.

Capt. Mike from Stray Cat Charters had the boat fishing the ocean over the past few days and was putting anglers on Bluefish and Weakfish.  Although the boat is sold out for the Sea Bass opening, he does have some later dates available, including Blackfish and Striped Bass combinations.

The Tackle Direct team said there were solid reports of False Albacore off the beaches of Margate and Ocean City.  On the backside, it’s been all Striped Bass worked on soft plastics with some bycatch of Shad and small Bluefish.  The offshore scene is saying, “The Hudson is the place to be”.  It has been a very consistent bite on Yellowfin, Longfin, and Mahi.

Fin-Atics of Ocean City reported Stripers are starting to show, with most being taken at night.  Soaked clam or slowly worked plugs around the nighttime high tides have been best time to catch.  The ocean temps are getting into that good range, but the bite should start to “pop” wants it hits the upper to mid 50’s.  On a tog note, Corsen’s Inlet has been good on Blackfish especially near the sod banks.  Kodi Segich landed a beautiful 7-pound Tog on Calico crab this past weekend.

Mike from Sea Isle Bait and Tackle said he got some reports of Striped Bass hitting the suds and the backwaters.  There had been a pretty good bite on Bluefish last weekend, but it has been a pick recently.  He said most anglers have been salivating for the opening of Sea Bass since July, and the wrecks should be “packed with them”.  The shop is fully stocked with bait and lures to tackle a variety of species.

And to round out our South Jersey report, Jim’s Bait and Tackle reported the Tog are starting to show up on the area’s rockpiles. There are a lot of small fish but they’ve seen some fish to 8 pounds.  There are still some Kingfish around and some keeper Bass were caught on the surf this week, although most are still shorts. Carl Hampton of Newtown Square Pa. weighed in a 7.69 pound Blackfish he caught on the rocks at Hereford Inlet.  Regarding Striped Bass, the shop hasn’t heard of any Bass in the rips or in the DE bay other than your normal residents.  The canyon seen has been very good.  There are still Tuna out in the Canyons, and the best Tuna reports are still coming from the Hudson, which unfortunately is a long run from Cape May.  The beaches have been a little slow on fish, so not much to report.

Best Bet for the Weekend

So many options, I honestly don’t know where to start.  So here is the ultimate saltwater fisherman’s “dream” weekend:  Predawn hit the jetties for Striped Bass and cocktail Bluefish.  As the sun comes up, jump in the boat and head to the nearest rockpile or snag to get a limit of Sea Bass.  Of course, don’t forget a few green crabs to pick up your quick limit of Blackfish.  After your limit of inshore species, you should some time to grab a quick meal.  But not too much time, because it’s time to jump on a “canyon-going” vessel to hit up the overnight Tuna action.  Don’t worry, you’ll be back to the dock in time for work on Monday.  Now, just get that approved by the WIFE and we’re golden!  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.