It saddens me, but this is my last report for this fishing season. I have enjoyed calling on shops and hearing from readers, so thank you OTW for the opportunity. I hope the readership has enjoyed the reports I provided each week. So thank you and I hope the reports helped put you on fish. We are officially into the last week of November with Thanksgiving upon us, and the fishing continues to be good, especially in Southern New Jersey. A lot of those Striped Bass have moved South on their migration and are now off Sea Isle, Wildwood, and Cape May. Blackfish continue to be caught on most inshore wrecks, but the issue has been the wind and swell. If you don’t want Turkey, then get out there and fish. Happy Thanksgiving!
As a side note, I’m the advisor for the Barnegat High School fishing club and we are doing are 7th Annual Fisherman’s Flea market on Saturday (December 12th) from 9 am to 1pm. The event is held at Barnegat High School and solely benefits the 9th through 12th graders in the school club. So stop by and support!
Brielle Bait and Tackle said it was a pretty decent week on Striped Bass with a variety of spots having fish from Sea Girt to Barnegat Inlet. Some of the Point Pleasant boats were bailing Bass outside Barnegat Inlet. There are still some bigger fish being caught, but it seems most are 36 inches and lower. Blackfish remains good at the inshore snags and green crabs and white leggers are providing good bites.
Fisherman’s Supply reported some good Bassing along the area beaches, and some of the northern surfcasters have seen Bass on sand eels. There have also been solid hookups for surf anglers throwing clam, especially after the latest blow. Boats have been picking at fish from Point Pleasant down to Barnegat Inlet, but you have to find them. There was some snag-n-drop action on Bunker off Seaside and Island Beach State Park. Also boats trolling Mojos, Stretches, Spoons, and Umbrellas have been doing equally well. The shop is having a Fall Blowout sale, so stop in.
The Point Pleasant boats have been getting into the fishing action. The MIMI VI has been hitting the Blackfish hard. The skipper reported great Blackfishing as they were slamming the baits. Sometimes they just scratch, but when they slam them; it’s game on! Guys who never fished before were hooking a ton of Blackfish. Good amount of shorts mixed in as well as some 4 to 6-pound fish caught. The pool winner was around eight pounds, and the boat has some open dates left.
The Gambler has been going for Striped Bass and on some days the bite is really good, while others it’s more searching. The bite has been mostly on the snag-n-drop, and some will take an occasional jig. You definitely want to bring some snag hooks. The boat will be running a half day on Thanksgiving from 730 am to 1230 pm, so give them a call.
The Norma K III got back on the fish after the big swell over the weekend. The boat got back into decent action with the Blackfish, and some were good size keepers. There has been plenty of short action to keep you busy. Skip Reese of Bordentown caught a beauty which went a little over 12 pounds. Hopefully this is a start for the big boys to start chewing!
Jersey Hooker Outfitters reported a slower pick off the beaches of Island Beach State Park for some anglers. Right place, right time is the key. The fish are spread out, so work as much area as possible. The store will be closed for Thanksgiving, but their having their Black Friday blowout sale.
Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle reported an early Sand-eel bite off the beaches, but the Bass have got back on the Peanut Bunker with reckless abandon. Stripers to 20 pounds have been landed in the wash. It has been spotty, but the “spotty” locations are producing some quantity of fish. As Brian says, “you have to work quite a big area.”
Dock Outfitters recommends adding an extra layer or two with the recent temperature drop. This is our first real taste of things to come and should definitely get some things moving. There is still some quality fish roaming our surf line. Clams and cut bunker is still the bait way to go. While the artificial selections have moved to the slimmer baits, Ava and needle fish styles are getting the job done. The store will be running a special Black Friday sale, so check them out.
Capt n Hippos reported some Striped Bass action off Island Beach State Park on fresh clam and plugs. The shop will be having its fall sale, so stop by.
The Super Chic had tough to very good conditions over the past few days. On tough days the Bass have been real finicky, while when it has been good the boat has gotten its limit. Some of the fish have been hitting Jigs, but most of the bite has been on live or fresh bait. Most of the fish have ranged from slot fish to 42 inches, with the bigger fish being caught on snagged bunker.
The Carolyn Ann III has been doing pretty well with Blackfish when the fish are chewing. The big swell put a recent slow down on the bite, but it should rebound quickly as the fish are hungry. During the week, the crew had the Barnegat High School Fishing Club on their annual Striped Bass trip. With tough ocean conditions, they managed to pick at fish north of the inlet.
Liza from Creekside Outfitters has been busy with anglers coming and going with the recent Striped Bass bite. Most anglers are working areas north of the inlet, and if they can’t find bunker have gone on the troll with success. Ortley Beach to Seaside had some fish, but they seem to move south or offshore. Blackfishing has been real “hot” at the inshore reef sites if you can get out and on the hook.
Andy from Tony’s Bait & Tackle reported Stripers trending on the smaller side are being caught in Barnegat Inlet on live pinfish, live eels, and shad body lures. Another round of larger bass, that are hopefully on their way closer to us, were caught yesterday just south of Manasquan Inlet. So this could definitely be good news for anglers fishing through Thanksgiving.
Riptide Bait & Tackle mentioned good fishing for boaters trolling Mojos, Stretches, and Spoons. Andy recommends finding good marks out there, and then put some lures down to see if they are biting. There has been some fish picked up on the surf and they are mainly on Bunker. The store will be open on Black Friday, so take advantage of the warmer water temperatures and get out there.
Absecon Bay Sportsman reported decent fishing for boats trolling the 3 mile line with Mojos, Stretches, and Bunker Spoons. The fish are quality fish up to 30 pounds, just make sure you stay within the 3 mile line. There has been a lot of life with Gannets, bait, and even some whales showing from along the beach to 3 miles. The bay is still loaded with smaller, slot fish and they have been hitting artificials. On a Blackfish note, some of the inshore snags have been loaded with fish, so look for those wrecks in 45 to 60 feet.
One Stop Bait & Tackle reported that the Atlantic City area is seeing its share of Striped Bass. Most of the Bass have been in range for boaters, but surf anglers have had a pic of quality Bass. Plugs worked early morning and late evening have been picking fish, and chunked Bunker or Clam has done well for live baits. There also has been some schoolie Stripers along the area’s jetties.
Capt. Mike aboard Stray Cat Charters has been hitting them good with the green crabs. The Blackfishing has been very good in those 40- to 70-foot ranges. Green crabs and white leggers have been doing equally as well. Most of the keepers have been quality 4 to 6 pounders, with an occasional 8-pounder mixed in. The Striper fishing has also been good, especially on the troll with fish up to 20 pounds.
Tackle Direct said the Blackfish and Striper fishing has been good, especially for boaters. But some anglers working the jetties, bridges, and piers have been able to get into good schoolie action. Soft plastics (Zoom, Fin-S, and Gulp) and plugs have worked with equal success. The key is to working around the incoming and start of outgoing tides, with early morning and dusk providing good action. The store will have their huge six day Thanksgiving sale.
Fin-Atics of Ocean City reported still picking Stripers in back bay on soft plastics and drifted eels at night on the outgoing. There has a lot of fish around Corson’s Inlet, 9th Street Bridge, Longport Bridge, and adjacent sod banks. Most of the fish are in the 22 to 26-inch range, and are being caught on Pink or White soft plastics. The surf zone has been a pick on fish, with most success fishing along the jetties with Zeeman soft plastics or Daiwa SP minnows. Boaters have had the best success on bigger Bass fishing around the Bunker schools either by troll or snagging. The Tog fishery it’s in full swing and most of the closer snags have had Tog on them. The Great Egg and Ocean City reef sites have been good; meanwhile Sea Bass have been further out on the 25-mile wreck and adjacent areas.
Sea Isle Bait & Tackle reported “awesome” Striped Bass action for boats trolling Stretch 25/30s, MOJOs, and Spoons. All of the fish have been in the 20 to 30-pound range. The troll bite is the best game in town, and most have been landed from 2 to 3 miles out. There have been some Bunker schools, so have the snag hooks ready. The Blackfishing has been good when you can get out and target them. Most wrecks closer to home have been producing. Sea Bass are still well offshore and require a 25 to 30 mile run to target them.
And to round out my last report for this fishing season is Jim’s Bait and Tackle of Cape May. The troll bite was on from Sea Isle City up to Great Egg Inlet. The fish were close to the beach and double digit catches were plentiful. There was a ton of bait out front and the fish are finally showing up. The west wind tends to bring the bait close to the beach so the bite should turn back this week. Dan Avena and the crew of the “Gold Rush” weighed in a 27-pound and a 33-pound Bass. His son Adrian Avena and his crew weighed in a 46-pound and a 47-pound Bass. All were caught on the troll. The shop is hearing of a few nice Bass coming from the 20 foot Slough in the Delaware Bay on the chunk. The Blackfish are on the inshore wrecks and on the rock piles. There are a lot of shorts on the rocks, but some nice ones mixed in. Sea Bass fishing is holding up very well on the wrecks in the 30 mile range. There are plenty of boats coming in with limits.
The surf is giving up a few keeper Bass, but the main school of fish is still a little to the north yet.
Best Bet for the Weekend
Sea Isle down through Cape May has a big body of Stripers that are on the Bunker schools, so if you have access to a boat this is where you want to be. Based on the reports, trolled wireline with spoons, or braid with Mojo’s and Stretches should put you on fish. Anglers fishing the jetties from North to South have decent shots at fish around dawn and dusk. If your more into Blackfish, then jump on a headboat or charter boat to bail the white chins, they have been hungry as of late. As this is my last report for this fishing season: Enjoy your winter, and get ready to get on the fish again. As always, Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.
It has been both fun and educational reading your reports. Thank you
Happy Thanksgiving to all the fishermen. Good Food, Good Fun and Good People