We narrowly missed a complete disaster if Joaquin would have came up with our already high tides from the prior northeast winds. Although still dirty, the water is beginning to clean up after 10 straight days of high winds. I’m getting word of Striped Bass hitting fairly consistent in the backwaters on artificials and live bait, while the surf zone is giving an occasional Striped Bass on clam. This should all turn around and make for a great fall fishery. It would be ideal for it to be a great sand-eel bite this year, which would make everybody happy. Remember, if you haven’t already ordered your bonus tag, they are still available with 1 per each angler. This allows you to harvest one 24- to 28-inch fish during the season, and personally these are the best tasting ones. We need favorable winds and weather over the next few weeks to get this fishery into high gear. And lastly, togging off the jetties and piers seems to be “outstanding” right now.
There has been slightly more bass action north according to Brielle Bait & Tackle with a few bass caught in the surf on clam, mainly north of the Manasquan Inlet. The Manasquan River has been giving up small porgies and blowfish, while there has been decent blackfish action in the Point Pleasant canal.
Fisherman’s Supply had a good report of some nice bass action in the Point Pleasant canal on bucktails from ½-ounce to 1-ounce. tipped with soft plastic grubs in the white, pink, or chartreuse colors. If you have the chance to pick up some green crabs, there are great shots at keepers and plenty of throwbacks along the jetties and canal walls. There hasn’t much action for boats as most have been tied to the docks over the past week.
Most of the Point Pleasant boats have been tied up due to the recent NE blow that lasted for what felt like an eternity. The MIMI VI has also been sequestered at the dock due to the weather, but the boat will be back up and running open-boat and chartered Canyon trips this week. The skipper said it is best to check with the boat. Meanwhile, The Gambler will be sailing in October for offshore canyon Tuna and many of these dates are fully sold out. The boat has a few dates left, check with the boat by calling or checking their updated fishing calendar.
The Norma K III was held at the dock due to the weather, but has restarted it’s every day trips for Cod and Ling today. The trips are from 730 a.m. to 230 p.m., so call the boat for details. In addition, the boat will be sailing every Friday and Saturday evening for Bluefish from 7:30pm to 1:00AM.
Jersey Hooker Outfitters reported a few bass being had off the rough surf by anglers throwing the bivalve. Since the surf zone is churned up right now, clams are the way to go and most natural looking bait. The backbay has come to a screeching halt regarding reports, but they are started to trickle in again with anglers getting Blowfish and some schoolie Striped Bass in the backwaters.
Brian from Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle said there has been more anglers starting to show as the water has calmed down and started to clean up. There are Striped Bass closer to the inlet, and live bait, artificials, and dunked clam are the baits of choice. The whitewater has looked good and once cleaned up, anglers should be able to target bass with plugs.
Dock Outfitters said the water is becoming cleaner and fishable with each tide cycle. The baitfish have been starting to congregate with peanut bunker stacked in alot of the west parts of Barnegat Bay. There have been some reports of lots of schooled mullet at the Barnegat Inlet with some Blues and Striped Bass on them.
Lenny from Capt. n Hippos said they are still seeing Bluefish around the bay, and the crabs seem to have been unaffected by the recent blow. Most of the “limited” fishing has been around the Barnegat Inlet and bridges. Bucktails, small AVA’s, and soft plastics have been the way to go in terms of “hooking up”. Lenny hasn’t seen alot of boats in the bay over the past week, but hopefully this will increase and help add to the reports.
Just as the Point Pleasant headboats have been tied to the dock, the Super Chic did not sail due to the horrendous weather over the past week in which Capt. Ted took a quick trip up to Maine. The boat 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/charterboats, but once they are used up – there gone.
The Carolyn Ann III will start sailing for daily Sea Bass upon the start of the season on October 22nd, 2015. Gina said to give a quick shout out to customer, David Frost, for winning the boat’s season long fluke tournament with an 8.02-pound doormat. David will have his name eternally engraved on the boat’s plaque.
Across the “weathered” Barnegat Bay, Creekside Outfitters reported that for the ones who are trying, crabs are still cooperating. There has been a blowfish bite between the BI, BB, and research buoy through Meyer’s hole over the past few days. Heavy clam chum has been the key to hooking up, and don’t be surprised if a few kingfish are in the mix.
The Long Beach Island has seen a lot of rough waves on both the ocean and bayside. As Andy from Tony’s Bait & Tackle puts it, “we were thankfully spared from the hurricane, but not from the extreme NE wind and tide.” Fishing has been a big unknown with only a few anglers willing to brave the elements. The mid-island areas have been producing schoolie Striped Bass on bucktails and pink jerk-shads. There has also been a few keeper-sized fluke (released) around the main channels cooperating on soft plastics. The mullet and peanut bunker schools are still thick in the back.
Moving southward along the coast, Riptide Bait & Tackle said there have been some baitfish tight to the beach and some Blues and Striped Bass on them. Backbay fishing has been the better choice for anglers, as there has been lots of schoolie Stripers cooperating. The Riptide Striper Derby is in full swing, but so far no fish have been weighed in. Check the shop for details on the derby.
Dave was out fishing when I called Absecon Bay Sportsman, but Jay gave me a good report of small Bass and keepers mixed on both live-bait and plugs at night. There are a few shorts in the backbay on live spot and artificials. There has been a “real good” tog bite along most of the jetties and piers especially in the Atlantic City area.
One Stop Bait & Tackle reiterated the point that is absolutely Tog Fest in AC. Anglers are getting alot of 17-inch and 18-inch keepers consistently on Green Crab fished on the S&S Magic Meez jighead. The T-jetty and Melrose Avenue have been consistent on the Blackfish. Bass on the surf have been hard to come because of the water clarity.
Capt Mike of Stray Cat Charters has also been tied to the dock due to the NE winds, but will start targeting offshore species and inshore bass once the weather subsides.
The Egg Harbor area had only decent backbay fishing according to the team at Tackle Direct. In fact the bay has alot of short stripers with some Bluefish mixed in, and most are being landed on topwater poppers and live bait (mullet, peanut bunker). The surf zone has had mostly big waves and dogfish. An occasional Bass has been landed on clam, but it’s pretty slow. There was no offshore action due to the coastal Low pressure system that wreaked havoc on the area.
Fin-Atics of Ocean City recommended hitting up the Striped ones in the backbay compared to competing with the rough surf. The water temperatures in the back have dropped about 10 degrees which have triggered a more aggressive bite from the resident Striped Bass. Some have ventured into the suds to drag a few bass onto the wet sand. Most of these have been caught on clams and the surf should be get better over the next few weeks as surf clears up and fish start moving.
The Sea Isle City and Wildwood area have had more of same regarding fishing reports due to the rough Nor’easter that hit our area last week. Sea Isle Bait & Tackle hasn’t had much regarding surf or offshore reports, but the backbay has had some short Striped Bass on poppers fished close to the sod banks on the top of the tide.
The Cape May area experienced a downturn in the fishing with not many anglers making it out over the past week. Offshore boats have been held at the dock and the surf zone has been churned up. The back offered some small Blues and Striped Bass on soft plastics and topwater poppers.
Best Bet for the Weekend
Togging may be the best shot for fish this upcoming weekend. It seems most area jetties, pilings, bridges, and structure has lots of blackfish on them as they get ready to make the move to deeper water. Green crabs, fiddlers, Asian shore crabs, and hermits will surely put some tog at your feet. Just remember, you are allowed to keep only 1 Blackfish/Tautog at 15 inches until November 15th.
Great reading your reports its very helpful Thanks