I think Andy Williams sang it best, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” Although he was speaking of the Christmas holidays, November has been our literal “catching” season for Striped Bass and Blackfish. The third week of November has proved to be one of the best weeks in our area. So if you haven’t already, hit the jetty, surf, inlet, and ocean or EVERYTHING in between. The prime areas to target have been from Asbury Park down through Absecon Bay for Striped Bass, and Blackfish are stacked on most of the inshore wrecks and snags. I was fortunate to get out on opening day for Tautog and we had a two-man limit in one hour, it was a mad-dog bite with fish to 9 pounds and none of the fish caught, kept, or released were less than 20 inches. The best way to find fish is to get out there and fish.
And to start off this week’s report, Brielle Bait & Tackle, said that there was quite a few Blackfish caught on opening day with keepers mixed in. Most of the keepable Tog were between 3 and 5 pounds. The Spring Lake, Manasquan, and Sea Girt area has been holding lots of Bunker, Bass, and Bluefish. Surfcasters have been hooking up with snagged bunker and plugs. On the party boat side, there has been monster Bluefish at the Mudhole.
Fisherman’s Supply reported Striped Bass from the boats and beaches on snagged Bunker, plugs, and jigs. There was no specific area recommended, but anglers may want to start their search pattern south of the Manasquan Inlet. Blackfishing was good for some anglers anchored on the right snag, while others bailed mostly shorts. There has been decent Sea Bass action offshore, but anglers have to pick through them.
The Point Pleasant boats have been busy running trips with the latest run of Striped Bass and opening of Blackfish. The Mimi VI has been doing well on Striped Bass and bottom fishing for Sea Bass and Tautog. The skipper expects the Tog season to get better as the water temperatures begin to drop and the Tog start receding to deeper wrecks. The boat has some open boat trips for Blackfish on November 23rd and 24th.
The Gambler had a slow bite on Striped Bass towards the end of last week, but it literally went off with great bassing from Asbury Park to Lavallette. The snag-n-drop fishing was on fire for bass up to 25- pounds. Lots of anglers went home with nice sized bags of meat.
Meanwhile, the Norma K III had a banner day for blackfish over the last few trips since the opening of the season. The hot bite has been on white-leggers, but they have also been chewing on greenies. Most of the keepers have been in the 4 to 6 pound range, and there was a few fish to 8 pounds boxed.
Jersey Hooker Outfitters reported fishing back of Sandy Hook to Long Beach Island has been the place to be for Stripers. Boaters have had the best success early in the morning on snag-n-drop, plugs, and soft plastics. Beach anglers have been picking them up on bunker chunks and plugs. Anglers going for Sea Bass have had better success in the wrecks 10 to 20 miles out, but a slower pick on bigger fish. Opening day blackfish had some mixed results, and Ray recommends moving around to find chewing fish.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle said, “It’s been Bass, Bass, Bass!” Island Beach State Park to the sands of Lavallette has been heavy for fish. Most anglers are hooking up with plugs, bucktails, and poppers. Brian recommends keeping a snag rig handy in case the Bunker schools get pushed in close. And there have been multiple whale sightings up and down the coast, so keep the camera ready.
Phil from Dock Outfitters says that the Bass fishing has been fantastic, and that’s a major understatement. Most of the weigh-ins have been from the teens to the upper 30s. All types of lures have been working, so just get out there and be a part of the run.
Lenny from Capt. n Hippos said, “Stripers from Brick Beach to the north jetty of Barnegat Inlet.” Clams, snagged Bunker, plugs, bucktails, trolled spoons, and everything in between were the word from Lenny. Most of the fish his shop has seen has been anywhere from 12 pounds to 35 pounds.
The Barnegat Light boats have been busy on both Blackfish and Striped Bass. The Super Chic had the Tom Annuziata party outside fishing for Bass, and the crew scored on fish. There was not a Bass under 37 inches, and the skipper said most were in the 39- to 42-inch range. The majority of the fish were caught under snagged Bunker, but they also had a few jigged up.
The Carolyn Ann III fished for Blackfish on the opening and had a lot of fish with an equal mix of keepers and shorts. There were on the chew on both green crabs and white-leggers, and the fish ranged from 3 to 6-pounds. Jeff Bauer of Manahawkin was a double pool winner with a 4.5-pound Blackfish on Sunday, and a 6.8 pounder on opening day.
Creekside Outfitters reported for boats who can get out have been picking up Striped Bass from Lavallette to Barnegat Inlet up to 40-pounds. Most of the fish have been caught in 20 to 35 feet of water. Surfcasters throwing bunker chunks off Long Beach Island have been picking up some Bass up to 35-inches. The Barnegat inlet has been a parking lot with boats which seemed to shut down some of the action. Anglers who made it out for the Blackfish opener were successful in 50 to 60-ft snags.
Moving south to the Long Beach Island area, Tony’s Bait & Tackle, reported Stripers being boxed from Barnegat Inlet to Lavallette, and most fish have ranged from 30 to 42 inches. Anglers are getting good action on snagged Bunker, Jigs, and Poppers worked through the schools. The beaches have had action, but less than what the boats are seeing.
Riptide Bait & Tackle reported some good beach fishing as of late. Fish from 25 to 43-pounds have been taken from the beach on Bunker chunks and heads. The inlet and deeper channels have seen some nice Bass caught on drifted eels, primarily at night. Live spot has also been the ticket if working the back channels, but the bait is tough to find.
Absecon Bay Sportsman said the areas from Atlantic City through Sea Isle have been giving up Striped Bass to 25-pounds. In the back it has been smaller fish to 32 inches, but still great on light tackle. White bucktails and jigheads fished with the Gulp Nemesis have been producing. Out front for the boats the most successful guys have been trolling bunker spoons or pulling Stretch 25/30’s around the 3-mile line. The inshore Tog scene has some good fish at the local reef sites on the higher pieces, and anglers on the hook are getting quality 4 to 7 pounders.
The Atlantic City area has seen some nice Bass up to 44 inches on fresh bunker and worked plugs in the wash, according to One Stop Bait & Tackle. There is still a decent Tog bite, but you have to weed through quite a few shorts. The shop got word that the area snags inshore have been peppered with Blackfish. The surf has been producing some bass for anglers throwing Bombers and SP minnows, as well as bunker chunks and heads.
Capt. Mike of Stray Cat Charters reported good bass fishing, but better Togging as the season recently opened to 6 per angler. The Tog bite was pretty good at the inshore reef sites and some of the skipper’s favorite snags. The boat will continue to fish for Tog and Bass, but the skipper recommends calling ahead for open dates.
The crew at Tackle Direct reported decent Striper fishing for most guys trolling Maja’s or Stretch plugs close to the 3-mile line. The shop is promoting their 11th Annual Fight Leukemia Fishing Tournament in honor of former employee, Chris Hagel, who passed from Leukemia. There are a ton of prizes given out, and it’s for an absolute great cause so call the shop for details.
Fin-Atics reported that Striped Bass are still holding in the back bay, bridges, sod banks, and deeper channels. Soft plastics like the pink Zoom and white bucktails have been taking a lot of the fish as well as drifted Spot or Eel. Most of the fish have been in the 24 to 27 inch range, with a few keepers in. The area is starting to see some bigger bass from the surf and boat. Boaters trolling spoons or plugs near the 3-mile line have been successful when the weather permits it. The opening of Blackfish had some good results for anglers fishing the inshore Ocean City and Townsends Inlet reef site.
Mike from Sea Isle Bait & Tackle reported good Bassin’ at the Sea Isle lump for boats trolling Maja spoons and Mojo rigs. The bite is on for the guys in the boats, while the surf has had a much slower pick on fish. There doesn’t seem to be a large quantity of fish, but there are definitely some quality cows out there. There are still smaller fish to play around with in the back, especially on soft plastics and bucktails.
Wildwood and Cape May are slowly starting to see some of Striped Bass moving along the coast according to Jim’s Bait and Tackle. Striper fishing is still slow on the Cape. There have been a few fish caught on the troll, in the Rips, and on the chunk in the Delaware Bay. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any real concentration of numbers in any one spot. A few 30 pound fish have been taken from the surf, but the bites have been more solitary. On a Sea Bass note, the fishing is still excellent on the wrecks and snags in the 30-mile range. There have been some Blackfish around the rocks at Cold Springs Inlet and Hereford Inlet, and also good numbers of fish on the inshore wrecks.
Best Bet for the Weekend
The fishing has been “insane” from Asbury to south of Long Beach Island so if it holds with the expected heavy SE winds, then that’s where you want to head for Striped Bass. Assuming that you will be able to get through the inlet and outside with the predicted seas. Blackfishing was lights out and it seems the most quality spots have been the reef sites and snags in the 40- to 50-foot range. If the winds play havoc with us again, the bays and inlets are still teeming with good numbers of Striped Bass. So for whatever you decide for this weekend, Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.