Fishing Report for Southern New Jersey - October 13, 2016

Can you feel it?  Fall is finally in the air and the recent cold snap has cooled down our bay waters to almost friendly Striped Bass temperatures.  Most of the reports show that our resident Striped Bass have been responding with more and more being caught.  Most of these fish are sub-par keepers, but they fun and get the blood flowing.  It is not uncommon to have 10 to 20 fish nights when fishing some of the area’s bridges and jetties.  On a Tog note, it has been off the hook with most places seeing fish in the 3- to 5-pound range.  The fish are stacked at most of our rock-lined inlets and bridges.  Remember, it is only 1 fish per man until November.  It has been dismal offshore for the last couple of weeks, but that is finally changing with more Yellowfin being caught in the canyons.  You gotta love the Fall!

So here is this week’s rundown:

Gates Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach had great reports of red hot Blackfish action on Green Crab along the jetties and inlet walls.  The night-time rock bite has been pretty good for Striped Bass ranging from 24 inches to 32 inches.  The Point Pleasant Canal has also been hot and heavy on Bass action for anglers throwing Swim-shads, bucktails, and plugs.  The Blackfish from the boats has been great, but anglers may only keep 1 fish per person.  Bluefish have been ravaging baits from just off the surf to the inlet and the back.  Most fish are in the 1 to 3 pound range.

Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported good Togging around the Manasquan inlet with Green Crab.  There has been some Striped Bass caught along the beaches and inlet for anglers working the dark shift.  The Diawa SP Minnow and similar swimming plugs have been connecting on some of the Striped Bass.  The Point Pleasant Canal has some fish ranging from 20 to 29 inches.  The offshore canyons are starting to pick up on the Tuna bite with 60 pound class Yellowfin being caught on the chunk and there are still plenty of Mahi around.

MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant continues to hit some of the deepwater wrecks for Ling, Porgy, Cod, and Winter Flounder.  The crew has an Open Boat October 14th for bottom fish, and still has 6 spots left for it’s Open Boat Canyon trip on October 20th.  The Canyon trip is a 10 person max so your not elbow to elbow, call the boat for details.

The Gambler out of Point Pleasant has been having a tough time making it out due to the past weather events, but the crew finally got out this past week to report good fishing.  They hit the East wall of the Hudson Canyon and fished through the night.  A few nice Yellowfin Tuna to 60 pounds, and a nice 150 pound Mako was boxed.

Norma K III out of Point Pleasant has been slamming the Porgies with multiple limits occurring before anglers switched over to Blackfishing.  The boat has been picking at the Tog with lots of shorts, and a few nice keepers in the mix and the boat is carrying Greenies for anyone who wants to try.  The offshore Bluefish scene has been heating up with 10 to 15 pound Blues being caught on the night trips.  The boat is fishing everyday for Porgy’s until the opening of Sea Bass, and sails Friday and Saturday nights for Blues.

Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park has been getting quality reports of small Bluefish banging metals and cut-mullet along the sands of Island Beach State Park.  No area has been better than another as the fish seem to be spread out evenly.  There has been some keepable Stripers up to 30 inches being caught on clams or mullet.  The shop noted that there is a “big” throwback Fluke bite going on in the surf zone with flatties up to 26 inches.

Dock Outfitters in Seaside Park is starting to see keeper Striped Bass in the 28 to 30 inch range on clams or Mullet.  There are lots of 1 to 4 pound Bluefish around and they are hitting cut Mullet.  It was noted that there are also some short Bass being picked up around the backside of Island Beach State Park.  The bite is best around dusk or early morning prior to the sun coming up.  Soft plastics, swimming plugs, and poppers worked along the edges are working.

Capt. Hippos in Toms River reported of short Striped Bass hitting small swimming plugs in the lagoons in Bayville and surrounding areas.  The Stripers have been ranging in size from 15 to 20 inches, and have been chasing schools of Peanut Bunker.  There has also been some reports of White Perch in Bayville.  The Blowfish have been a little spotty, but anglers willing to put in the time and chum are seeing some good sized puffers for the table.  The BB to the BI seems to still be the best area for action.

Super Chic out of Barnegat Light had to cancel some of the offshore trips as of late due to poor weather conditions last week, but was finally back out for some canyon action.  The skipper reported good numbers of Mahi putting over 100 in the box along with some fat Yellowfin Tuna and a small Swordfish.  Most of the Tuna have been in the 60 to 80 pound class.  The boat still has some November Striped Bass dates available and will start targeting Sea Bass once the season opens on October 22.  Capt. Ted recommends calling in the evening if interested in booking.

The Carolyn Ann III out of Barnegat Light has not sailed since the end of Fluke season, and head mate Gina has been chomping at the bit for the Sea Bass season opener occurring next weekend (October 22nd).  The boat will be sailing to some of the Captain’s prime spots, so be there early.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported Bluefish action in the areas around Barnegat Inlet and the Blues have had baitfish balled up outside with birds working the surface.  There have been a few Striped Bass around, but they have been a little hard to get to because of the amount of 1 to 3 pound Bluefish.  Blowfish has been a little sporadic since last week’s blow.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had more of the same in terms of action will some small Stripers up to thirty inches caught along Barnegat Inlet on live Spot during the outgoing tides.  There has been some small Blues in the mix.  The backside of Long Beach Island has offered some soft plastic Stripers around the area’s bridges, but there are pretty small 12 to 15 inches.  yesterday.  Blackfish are being boxed along Barnegat Inlet and Holgate’s sod banks.

Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported some Striped Bass in the back for boaters drifting eels during the night shift.  The surf has been popping snapper Blues and some Windowpane Flounder.  The beaches of Brigantine are a little slow for Striped Bass during the day, but offer some sporadic shots at night.

Absecon Bay Sportsman of Absecon Bay reported pretty good Striped Bass action on Gulp, Plug, and Live Bait as you move up through the mouth of the Mullica River.  The bigger Bass have been biting at dawn and dusk.  There has been some Tog up to 6 pounds around the jetties which have been hitting both Green Crab and Asian Shore Crab.  The shop is loaded with a variety of baits, so stop by and check them out.  Last, there has been good amounts of snapper Bluefish around the inlet and Blowfish on the beachfront.

One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City reported “super-hot” Tautog action from Atlantic City’s “open” jetties with double-header hookups common.  Most of the fish are in the 14 to 16 inch range, but some bigger white-chins to 6 pounds have been put on ice.  There was some nice Kingfish in the 14 to 16 inch range caught from the beaches along with an occasional Striped Bass.  The best times to get out there and fish has been last two hours of the incoming and first two hours of the outgoing.

Fin-Atics in Ocean City had an uptick in the Striped Bass being landed around the inlets and bridges for anglers fishing the evening tides.  Soft plastics such as the pink or white Zoom baits have been pretty good on the Bass.  The bluefish have been gorging on some of the mullet and are averaging 2 to 5 pounds.  They have been anywhere from the backbay to inlet to along the beaches.  Metals or cut Mullet have been the baits of choice.  Blackfish continue to be pretty good from Atlantic City down through Avalon, just fish any of the jetties, rockpiles, or bridge abutments.  The Townsends Inlet Bridge has been very hot off the rocks for Tog, so use Asian Shore Crabs or Greenies to box your 1 fish limit.

Further south has also been inundated with small Bluefish in the 1 to 4 pound range and can be caught just about anywhere from the bay to the Cape May surf.  Anglers fishing the Cape May Rips have been getting into the Bluefish along with some short Striped Bass up to 24 inches.  Tautog, Weakfish, and some Sheepshead have been caught off the surf and bay jetties.  The offshore action has finally started to heat up with 60 to 80 pound class Yellowfin Tuna being caught from the Hudson to the Baltimore canyons.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The weather looks pretty good for this upcoming weekend and the Fall is finally starting to materialize.  Boating anglers obviously have an advantage, but this time of year provides land-based fisherman great shots at the three B’s (Bluefish, Blackfish, and Bass).  School to keeper Striped Bass can be caught working artificials in the inlets and backwaters.  And if the surf is your scene, then throw clam or cut mullet.  If you have little ones and want to get in on some Bluefish action, now is the time as most inlets have been inundated with them.  Cut mullet, metals, or snapper zappers have been doing well and these fish are a blast on light tackle, especially for kids.  I highly recommend fishing one of your South Jersey inlets or nearby jetties for Blackfish.  There is nothing more fun than standing at the jetty with no crowds, and it’s just you, the crab, and Mr. Tog.  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!