Southern New Jersey Fishing Forecast - April 28, 2016

Bluefish, Bluefish, and more Bluefish has been the latest from tackle shops up and down the Jersey coast this past week.  They have been hitting on anything from poppers to bait to metals, you need just to find them and hit them on the warmer outgoing tide.  Inlets have been the place to be from Manasquan Inlet down through Corson’s Inlet, and everything in-between.  The tog fishing has had really good days with fish to ten pounds while other days have boats battling the wind, tide, and current.  The jetty rocks along most of our inlets have also provided good action this past week.  Remember, the last day to catch Tog or Blackfish is this Saturday, so get out there and get em’.  The Striped Bass have been starting to show as we are getting limited reports of trophy fish slowly making their way up the East Coast.

Gates Bait & Tackle of Point Pleasant Beach reported a serious invasion of gator Bluefish along the Manasquan Inlet.  Jetty jockies fishing the wall were rewarded with Blues to 20 pounds on topwater and metals.  The shop said it has been an early morning and evening bite.  There have been Blackfish picked up on sandworms and clams along the inlet rocks.  The Tog have been preferring soft baits over hard crabs.

Jason from Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant recommends hitting the Manasquan Inlet for Bluefish as they are very thick.  The fish have been ranging from 8 to 15 pounds and have been caught on a variety of lures.  There is some Striped Bass action further up the river, but it’s mostly on shorts.  The out front trolling scene has not materialized yet, but all signals are pointing to a green light in the next few weeks.

The MIMI VI just got back in the water after receiving a fresh new paint job.  Capt. Ken is back and ready to get to running trips.  The boat will be running open-boat Blackfish trips over the next few days, so call the boat for details.

The Gambler has been covering a lot of ground over the past few days.  The Golden Tilefish trip this past weekend saw a few caught with tough current conditions.  Later in the week, the boat was in search of Blues and Bass, but had a tough time on the bass front with only big blues being landed.  The crew will be sailing daily for Bluefish and Bass, but will be targeting Cod and Wreckfish this upcoming Saturday.

The Norma K III also reported slow wreck fishing over the weekend with either uncooperative Blackfish or cooperative fish but tough current conditions.  The early part of the week finally saw both the fish and conditions come together to produce a decent bite with several anglers hooking their limit.  The pool winning fish have been in the 7 pound range.

Brian from Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle said they finally had some good surf reports this past week from many Island Beach State Park anglers.  The surf zone has seen more gator Bluefish and the inlet has had good action on Blues during the outgoing.  There has been some small Striped Bass caught on plugs and clams in the surf.

Dock Outfitters had customers report nice sized Blues and some keeper Stripers off the IBSP and Seaside Park beaches.  Along with cut bunker, SP Minnows, poppers, and metals are the top choices for connecting on these gators.  The bay is still alive with Bluefish and some short Bass, but anglers have to find them.  The bluecrabs are providing improved action from the shop’s docks.

Capt Ted of the Super Chic said he will be making his way to Long Beach Island over the next few days and will have the boat docked and ready to go.  They should be running trips shortly over the next week, so call the boat for details.

Gina of the Carolyn Ann III described fishing as good, but a little slow over the past few trips as the current and wind conditions played a big role in the bite. The boat is only sailing Friday and Saturday this upcoming week and for additional sailing days it’s best to give the boat a ring.

Creekside Outfitters reported some good sized tiderunners caught along the Oyster Creek  outflow on pink soft plastics during dusk.  The fish have been in the 7 to 10 pound range.  There has been decent Bluefish action on the outgoing with the incoming tide shutting them down.  The wrecks outside of Barnegat Inlet in the 1 to 4 mile range have seen good action on Blackfish up to 10 pounds.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle reported Long Beach Island fisherman picking up Bluefish on chunked bunker and also some Black Drum on clams.  There was a good Bluefish bite on the west side of Barnegat Bay from Oyster Creek to the Route 37 Bridge.  Outside the inlet has seen some good Blackfishing on the local wrecks and snags.  Some boats have started trolling Maja spoons for bass with a few connecting in 65 feet of water.

Riptide Bait & Tackle reported the Brigantine surf finally heating up as some monster Bluefish have invaded the surf line.  A few Striped Bass to 45 inches were hooked during the night shift from the Brigantine jetties, but you have to put the time in.  The fishing is started to really heat up down here, and should continue over the next several weeks.

Dave from Absecon Bay Sportsman remarked that the gator Bluefish have “officially” invaded the Brigantine, Absecon, and Atlantic City area.  Chunked bunker, plugs, poppers, and metals have been the hot ticket to land these bruisers.  Areas adjacent to Atlantic City High School and Route 322 have been the place to be.

Nowell from One Stop Bait & Tackle has seen a good action off the Flagship jetty and areas in front of Atlantic City high school and Route 322.  These areas have been the place to play for Bluefish with most being caught on fresh bunker and finger mullet.  A few customers reported fluke being caught and released in the surf, and some have been up to 24 inches.

Fin-Atics of Ocean City had a good report of small Striped Bass on bloodworms along the 9th Street Bridge and also a good bite on Tog with clam and green crab.  The Longport pier had some bigger Tog, but less on the Striped Bass action.  Corson’s inlet had Bluefish to 14 pounds move in over the weekend, but the shop hasn’t received any reports over the last few days.  There has been some small Striped Bass caught along the Ocean City surf.  Great Egg Inlet had a few Black Drum to 14 pounds caught on clam.

Fishing Forecast for Southern New Jersey

This week has seen the Bluefish invasion so your best bet at catching is to hit one of the inlets and bring two rods.  Dead stick one with fresh bait such as clam or cut bunker, and use the other rod for throwing artificials such as poppers, plugs, and metals.  Remember, the optimal tide has been the warmer outgoing.  The Blackfish/Tog scene is approaching it’s grand finale before the season closure, so hit the local jetties, wrecks, and snags.  Be sure to bring both soft baits and hard baits as a lot of the fish have been preferring clams early in the season.  Good luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.