Spring-like temperatures haven’t been December’s only surprise. The still-warm water and abundant bait have big bluefish biting from Sandy Hook down to Island Beach State Park.
It looks like the end of the balmy weather is in sight with temperatures dropping as we get close to the weekend but there should be time to find some choppers if you’re interested.
Jimmy Morenz at Julian’s Bait and Tackle said there are loads of big blues in Raritan Bay and, as usual, they’re something of nuisance to anglers fishing for bass, which continue to bite.
Tom Giglio at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle said anglers fishing the surf in Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach on Wednesday afternoon were treated to a bluefish blitz with fish up to 15 pounds.
Stripers are also being caught in the surf there. Tom said the bite, nor the size of the fish, has been consistent. Some days, keeper fish will show up and it might be the middle of the day.
The blues popped up at Island Beach State Park as well with John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle reporting fish up to 10 pounds feeding on peanut bunker on Monday and Tuesday. School-sized bass are in among blues but their numbers are way down from what they were about a week ago. However, Bushell said there are some keepers to be had.
But if bluefish aren’t on your Christmas list, there’s still plenty of fish around to catch. With the stripers becoming more of a question mark, blackfish appear to getting most of the attention.
John DeSilvestri at the Keyport Marine Basin said guys bottom fishing north of Sandy Hook can’t help but catch nice size blackfish in the 3- to 5-pound range. He’s had reports of tog up to 12 pounds being caught but said most of the big fish are being released.
The bulk of the bass action he’s been hearing about is coming from folks fishing clams from the beach.
Capt. Nick Caruso of Ol’ Salty II out of Belmar and said both the inshore and offshore bottom fishing has been excellent.
Inshore he’s been catching tog up to 11½ pounds and the offshore wrecks are producing sea bass up to 7 pounds and jumbo porgies up 6 pounds. He called the December fishing off the charts.
Capt. Caruso is alternating trips between inshore and offshore so he suggests checking ahead of time to find out what type of fishing is scheduled.
Many of the boats out of Belmar have been targeting tog and finding fish for their fares, with 10-pound blackfish not uncommon. Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters got a monster tog for himself on Wednesday landing one in excess of 12 pounds.
Anglers fishing the Shark River near the Belmar Marina are also doing well with winter flounder using clams and worms for bait. Sundials have become a popular target for those fishing the inlet.
Boats heading out of the Manasquan Inlet are also doing well on offshore wreck trips for sea bass, porgies, cod and ling. Greg Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle reported the Big Jamaica, Jamaica II, Paramount and the Gambler have all been heading offshore with good crowds and returning with some nice catches.
They’ve been fishing in 200-plus feet of water using 16 to 20 ounces of lead.
Steve Singler from Philadelphia was one angler who had a particularly successful trip when he landed a 9-pound sea bass fishing aboard the Voyager out of Point Pleasant. The fish stands to become the new NJ state record, surpassing the current fish by 11.5 ounces.
Ronny Bala at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant said the bass fishing is far from over and they can still be had on the beaches, mostly before sunrise and late afternoon into the evening. Mantoloking and Seaside were two spots he mentioned and that the fish are spread out feeding on herring and bunker, but he did say the sand eels are around.
The blues are around, too, but are staying farther offshore and haven’t showed up on area beaches.
Capt. Kenny on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant has been running open boat tog trips every day and one customer hoisted a 15.8 pounder over the rail on Monday. He’s been seeing stripers between Sea Bright and Asbury Park feeding on bunker and herring.
Matt at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin said there are still some bass on the beach there, but blackfish are getting most of the attention.
Anglers further south are in tog heaven according to Noel Feliciano at One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City. He said the local jetties are holding loads of fish and the bite has been excellent. There is still the occasional striped bass being taken as well.
In Ocean City, Bill Wiggins at Fin-atics said they’re still picking bass on the troll on mojo rigs and Stretch lures. The fish can be found from Corson’s Inlet down to Sea Isle City. The bite isn’t nearly as hot as it was but the fish are there. There’s still plenty of small fish in the back bay hitting plastics as well.
He hasn’t heard much on the tog fishing but the sea bass bite is very good on the deep wrecks.
Best Bets for the Weekend
While the bass, and now the bluefish, are around, the most consistent fishing north to south looks to be blackfish. The six-fish season closes at the end of December so there isn’t a lot of time to waste.
If you’re prepared to head offshore to the deepwater wrecks, the sea bass and porgy fishing has been outstanding, with knucklehead sea bass and jumbo porgies. The sea bass season is also closing on Dec. 31.
Update, the striper bite has been red hot in true South Jersey, as of December 16. Many limit plus catches, average size 40″.
Im going to be in the cap may area this weekend. Whats the outlook and secrete to catching a hunker striper?
Are the striper still running in this area and if so how abundant?
Last week we headed south of old Barney. After 4 hours of trying to catch some bunker we finally started snagging them 8 to 10 ft down about a half mile off the beach. Caught about 15 in ten minutes. we loaded the poles with fish finder rigs and let em rip . 20 minutes later we hooked into a 34 and a half in Striper. My friends son had never caught one before so he had the honors. Nothing like fresh Striper for dinner.