Tackle-busting bluefish continue to dominate the local fishing scene. Like the Kardashians, they are everywhere. Personally, I much prefer the bluefish.
These spring blues have been in Raritan Bay for a couple of weeks now and thick in the local rivers and inlets. The bass are still around, but it’s a little tough getting to them through the bluefish.
The only real drawback to the fishing this week has been the weather, it’s downright depressing, like nuclear winter. It’s supposed to be spring but persistent clouds, cold wind and constant rain have kept boats at the dock and anglers away from their favorite pursuit.
Those willing to brave the elements, however, are being rewarded.
Phil Sciortino Sr. at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the blues are hitting anything thrown at them from the bayshore beaches and the Keansburg Pier and those fishing Sandy Hook beaches are catching blues now as well.
There are also some short bass in the Sandy Hook surf taking clams. The beach bite has been slow to come to life, but the number of stripers caught is on the upswing.
Sciortino said the bay bass bite is best on the western side of the bay for guys trolling mojo rigs and jigging shads. There are also some nice fish taken at night from the bay beaches on bunker chunks. The shop weighed in a 45-pound bass this week taken on a bunker chunk in the Raritan Reach.
The weather is making things tough for the party boats out of Atlantic Highlands with not a lot of folks turning out. Capt. Ron Santee of the Fishermen called the last couple of weeks of fishing a real disappointment. The bass are proving very elusive, but some boats did get a shot of blues over the weekend.
He said the back bay is holding most of the bass but they should be moving out soon.
Capt. George Bachert on the Angler closed out the blackfish season last Saturday with a fair number of tog that turned out to be mostly shorts. The ling fishing was a little tough as well due to a big ground swell.
He did say that there have been more fish moving into the area including sea bass and fluke, which have been caught by ling and cod fishermen. It’s just a couple of more weeks before those seasons open.
Capt. Chad Hacker on the Tagged Fish out of Highlands reported one of the few successful striper trips this week with his customers chunking for bass and getting fish up to up to 43 inches.
Joe at Julian’s Bait and Tackle said a lot of his patrons have been getting in on the bluefish action, but they’re also getting some stripers at night near the Atlantic Highlands Bridge.
It’s big blues all the time in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers, too. Pete Pawlikowski at the Oceanic Marina in Rumson said there’s no escaping them over there. They haven’t chased the bass though, as guys fishing closer to Red Bank are getting bass on swimming plugs and rubber shads.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the aggressive blues haven’t stopped the bass bite in the Shrewsbury River either. The shop weighed-in a 26 pounder this week that was a river fish.
He also said the surf bite has come on with fish over 30 inches hitting clams from the beach. Jeff at Harry’s Outdoor Adventures in Robbinsville also reported a better striper bite in the surf, with his information coming from the beaches in Seaside Heights. The shad are still in the Delaware River, he said, but the fishing is starting to slow down.
The big blues are in the Shark River Inlet with Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reporting guys fishing from the L Street dock and at up at the mouth of the inlet getting all the fish they wanted earlier this week. Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters also got into the bluefish at the inlet
In what could be a good sign for the upcoming fluke season, Matthews reported lots of summer flounder being caught and released in the river, with fish up to 8 pounds.
He’s also hearing of an improved striper bite in the local surf and back waters. More fish are hitting clams in the surf and he picked up a couple of fish in the Manasquan River up to 14 pounds on rubber shads.
Aside from the abundant blues in the Manasquan, John at The Reel Seat in Brielle said he’s received word of some weakfish in the river. They better be careful with the blues around. I once heard a fishermen describe weakfish as the gummie bears of the ocean – every predator’s favorite snack. Use pink and white Fin-S lures for the weakies.
John said Reel Seat owner Dave Arbeitman made his first tilefish trip aboard the Voyager out of Point Pleasant Beach and everyone did well with blueline and golden tilefish.
Greg Bogan and Brielle Bait and Tackle said the locals have been living on the bluefish in the Manasquan River for the last 10 days with the average fish around 12 pounds.
There hitting just about everything, with Greg saying that some days they’re on top and other days closer to the bottom. Avas, poppers and swimmers are all working. I’ve been tossing a silver popper from the Brielle side and getting fish every day.
Small bass are there, too, hitting Fin-S lures and other soft plastics close to the Route 35 Bridge. Bogan said fluke are also hitting baits intended for winter flounder, but you’ll have to wait to May 21 to keep any fish.
Up at Lake Hopatcong, Laurie Murphy at Dow’s Boat Rental reported good walleye action following the season opener on Sunday. The fish are hitting Rapala Husky Jerks and live herring. Eddie Mackin weighed in a 6-pound, 9-ounce fish.
On Saturday, May 14 Jigging World of Rochelle Park will be opening their doors to a new 6,000 square foot store at 174 Route 17 North. Jigging World carries specialty products including inshore, offshore and freshwater tackle. In addition, they provide onsite service to many major brands. The shop is owned and operated by Yong Yan, who brings his customers over 30 years of fishing knowledge, and an expert staff that is always available to answer questions. To celebrate the Re-Grand Opening, Jigging World will have special offers and will be introducing new products.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
The weather is supposed to improve over the next couple of days so pick a spot and go for bluefish. They can be found from Raritan Bay to the Manasquan Inlet and will hit metal, plugs and poppers. It’s also time to fish the beach for bass. More stripers are being caught from the sand and a few are keeper size. The wind is expected to go west on Sunday.