While the bass continue to bite, the precipitous drop in temperatures at the beginning of the week has got to have the fat lady tuning up. The unprecedented late-season striper action was bound to come to an end sometime.
Still, there is a small amount of hope that the action will continue as some nice fish were caught over the New Year’s weekend and the promise of some warmer weather on the way might prolong the fishing.
Word out of Fin-atics in Ocean City is that bass are still being caught on the troll right in the center of town in about 40 feet of water. The fish, up to 40 inches, are hitting Stretch lures and mojo rigs. The optimistic view is that the fishing will hold on for another couple of weeks. The back bay remains loaded with smaller bass, but they are now off limits.
The stripers are still around, said Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsmen, but the cold snap kept everyone home. It’s getting to be that time year when only the true diehards make the effort.
He welcomed the cold weather in that it may help concentrate the perch in the rivers. Up to this point, they’ve been pretty scattered. He’ll be keeping some grass shrimp on hand for those wanting to give it try.
Tom at Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights said there was still bait in the surf last weekend with some bluefish on them, but the fishing screeched to a halt with the plummeting mercury.
It was a far cry from the bite just a few days earlier when bass up to 30 pounds and blues in the 15-pound range were in the surf. Veteran anglers who were in on the blitz called it some of the best fishing in 20 years.
The bass bit on Saturday for Capt. Bob Bogan of the Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach. Heading south, he made brief stops off Lavallette and Mantoloking before settling in about a mile off Island Beach State Park. He said the clouds of birds looked like smoke on the water.
The birds were tight to the beach all the way out to the 3-mile line. The Gambler drifted for two miles catching fish, small and keeper bass and blues, the whole time.
The fishing was good again on Sunday, but not quite up to the level of Saturday. The water is still about 50 degrees, he said, so he’s going to be sticking with the bass as long as they bite. There are also some big cod on offshore wrecks, but Capt. Bob Bogan said the spots get crowded quickly.
John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park hopes the warmer weather will bring some anglers back to the beaches this weekend, but he wouldn’t be surprised if the striper bite is done for the year.
Brendan at Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Brick feared the cold weather was going to shut things down as well. The fish were biting up until Sunday from Jenkinson’s Beach down to Mantoloking. Herring provided the forage and bass up to 30 pounds were taken in the surf. Big blues were among the stripers as well.
Brendan said the tog bite has been good, both inshore and in deeper water. There are still big porgies to be caught but didn’t think many anglers would be making the trip since the sea bass are off the menu.
Speaking of tog, the big catch of the week was the 23-pound, 10-ounce blackfish caught by Pete McCusker of Medford aboard the Osprey V out of Atlantic City. Watch a video of the tog being landed HERE.
Jason Szabo at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said the quick freeze brought and immediate stop to the bass bite which was still pretty good over the New Year’s weekend.
Some guys at the shop are cautiously optimistic that the good fishing will return, but the focus has moved to blackfish. The Manasquan Inlet is also producing hickory shad and herring on sabiki rigs.
The Norma K out of Point Pleasant sailed on Sunday and found plenty of blackfish with everyone going home with dinner. Most were in the 4-to 6-pound range with a couple of 8- to 10-pounders that were tossed back. White leggers had the advantage but the green crabs were working as well.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters, Belmar, stayed at the dock Monday and Tuesday due to the wind and cold but plans on sailing for blackfish through the weekend. A 14-pounder was weighed in at Fisherman’s Den at the Belmar marina and the shop reported there were lots of limits taken on the boats sailing from there.
While not everyone was happy about the dip in the mercury, Capt. George Bachert on the Angler out of Atlantic Highlands commented that it was finally starting to feel like blackfish weather. His trip on Wednesday produced a number of limits with everyone catching fish. Green and white legger crabs worked equally well.
Best Bets for the Weekend
If you still have the bass bug, the best bet is to head south, where the fish continue to hang on. Trolling looks to be the ticket, but there is always the chance they may hit the beach one more time. The weekend weather looks warm, if a little damp. Beyond that, it’s blackfish. The bite has been solid and the fish can be found both inshore and in deeper water.
For those willing to make the trip, big porgies and cod wait on the offshore wrecks.