The unseasonably warm weather has anglers champing at the bit to go fishing. And, finally, there are some fish waiting for them.
While these are still early spring conditions, the warmer water has put striped bass, white perch and winter flounder on the feed. It’s far from gangbusters, but it’s a start
Phil Sciortino Sr. at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the spring bass fishing, which traditionally gets started on the flats of Raritan Bay, is slowly coming to life. Guys fishing worms and clams in the usual spots along Cliffwood Beach and Union Beach are picking up mostly short bass. There have been just a handful of keepers, but the numbers should improve as the water warms.
The Keansburg and Leonardo beaches are yielding some short bass as well, said Joe at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands. The action there has been mainly on worms. Patience is the key at this time of year as it is usually a very soft bite with the fish sometimes picking up and dropping the bait before making a real commitment.
Mike at the Oceanic Marina in Rumson reported there hasn’t been much activity there yet as he only saw one small boat giving winter flounder a try near the Oceanic Bridge.
The water never got really cold this winter, he said, and the last couple of days of sunshine should get things moving right along. The Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers are normally good for winter flounder and the bass and spring bluefish can show up at any time.
Anglers fishing the pier in the Belmar Marina haven’t reported any winter flounder catches as yet, but Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den said one kayaker got about a dozen flatties with a few in excess of 12 inches. The limit on them is just two fish at 12 inches. Bits of sandworms or bloodworms will get these fish to bite.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar has been fishing offshore all week in the beautiful weather and found plenty of life. His anglers have been catching some nice cod and pollock along with a few ling.
The Jamaica II out of Brielle saw an improvement on the wreck fishing from the previous week. Capt. Joe Bogan said the boat sailed last Sunday and again on Wednesday and landed some cod and pollock while enjoying an increase in the ling catch. The fishing isn’t great, he said, but the warming water is helping the bite.
The traffic at Brielle Bait and Tackle has picked up as fishermen are coming out in the nicer weather. John at the shop said guys are trying for winter flounder back by the Mantoloking Bridge, but he hasn’t heard much in the way of results.
He did say there are trout being caught in Spring Lake. Trout-stocked waters will close on March 21, three weeks ahead of New Jersey’s season opener on April 9. Capt. Rich Wilkowski at Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Brick said a lot of guys he knows are fishing for trout right now as well.
Ronnie Bala over at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach got a report of an 18-inch winter flounder caught by the Mantoloking Bridge last week, but hasn’t heard much since. Guys are also fishing for herring in the Manasquan River.
In Seaside Park, John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle reported anglers catching plenty of short stripers on the bayside on blood worms. Some are trying clams in the surf, but no catches have been reported as yet. He took a tour of Island Beach State Park this week and said there were plenty of nice cuts along the sand and the beach looks in great shape for spring fishing.
Scott’s Bait and Tackle in Mystic Island is still waiting for its first keeper striper to come in from Graveling Point. That fish will be worth a $100 gift certificate.
Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsman reported a couple of keeper bass have come through the door caught in the Mullica River on worms. Joe Gifaglione brought in the second keeper of the year, a 29½-incher that was among the 20 or so shorts he caught on the same trip. He was using blood worms and Fish Bites. There are also plenty of white perch being caught on grass shrimp in the creeks.
Sunrise and sunset are the best times to fish for bass in Atlantic City, said Noel Feliciano at One Stop Bait and Tackle. The small stripers are hitting clams and pink Fin-S lures at Melrose Avenue and the T-Jetty. He’s got his hopes up that there is another spring run of big bluefish like the one last year.
Things were starting to happen in Ocean City before the temperatures went down last weekend, but Justin Schenker at Fin-atics said the life is returning with the warm spell.
The action is mostly small stripers on blood worms and white perch on grass shrimp in the rivers and creeks.
Best Bets for the weekend
The early striper bite in Raritan Bay is coming on so dunking some worms or clams along the bay shore beaches will more than likely produce some bass. There may not be a lot of keepers, but it will be good to get out there. The sunshine and warm temperatures should also get the winter flounder going in the Navesink, Shrewsbury and Shark rivers.
And don’t forget the Asbury Park Fishing Club’s 24th Annual Fishing Flea Market. It’s among the oldest in New Jersey and attracts some of the nation’s best plug builders. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Convention Hall in Asbury Park and benefits a number of local charities. It’s a great place to stock up on tackle and run into some old friends.
Nice catch. Continued successes throughout the year. Take a friend or kid fishing! They will NEVER forget the experience!