With lots of reports of large amounts of Striped Bass to our “way north,” it has to break open at any time, but the only thing holding up the run is the 60-degree water temperatures. This weekend’s weather change and dip into the 30’s should help bring down the temperatures and as it looks right now most of Southern Jersey may have Striped Bass well into the New Year. Sea Bass fishing has been solid with lots of shorts and keepers being caught and the keeper ratio increases as you move further offshore. The anticipated opening of blackfish will occur in 6 days, so get those rods rigged and sinkers ready.
Gates Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach reported Blackfish at the Manasquan Inlet rocks on Green Crab. There has been some small Bluefish and Hickory Shad in the inlet which can be easily targeted using soft plastics or metals. Striped Bass are still a pick off the beach and further out, but it has slowed down just to a “pick”. The Point Pleasant Canal still has Striped Bass action on plugs, plastics, and shads.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported good trolling action on Bunker spoons and Mojos from Sea Bright to Asbury Park with fish to 25 pounds. There are some bruiser Bluefish in being trolled up and these are in the 14- to 16-pound range. Short Stripers continue to hit artificials off the beach and in the Manasquan Inlet and Point Pleasant Canal. Wreck fishing for Sea Bass has been very good, especially for boats willing to run up to 25 miles offshore.
MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant has been fishing hard according to Capt. Ken with good size Striped Bass and Bluefish making it over the rail. Striped Bass have been up to 30 pounds and Bluefish continue to hit jigged AVA’s. The Bluefish have been up to 15 pounds and have been cooperative with almost drop-n-reel fishing – lots of tired arms. The vessel will be running an Open-Boat bottom fishing on November 15th, and the Captain has a few choice Blackfish charter dates left.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant had a little tough time finding cooperating Striped Bass, so the boat quickly changed to jigging Bluefish up to 20 pounds. There have been a few Striped Bass caught to 30 pounds, but they can be finicky at times. The Gambler will be sailing daily from 730am to 230pm for Striped Bass and Bluefish, and the crew have unveiled their 2016 Offshore Sea Bass dates on the website. The trips are limited to 35 people and they book quick.
Norma K III out of Point Pleasant has been hitting the Sea Bass hard with plenty of action on the sticky bottoms to produce both shorts and keepers. There are a few anglers that catch their limit on every trip, and Porgies have also been in the mix. The vessel sails every day for Sea Bass 730am to 1pm and continues to sail Friday and Saturday nights for Bluefish (730pm to 1am).
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported a slower pick on Striped Bass for both surf anglers and boat fisherman off Island Beach State Park. There have been some Bass caught on artificial. White bucktails tipped with Otter tails or jigging grubs have been a go-to bait for the surf zone. Boats trolling Mojos or Maja’s have been taking Striped Bass in 35 to 55 feet of water, but the Bass are spread out.
Dock Outfitters in Seaside Park reiterated the slowdown in Striped Bass action from Seaside to Long Beach Island. “It’s annoyingly slow”, says the shop owner. First and last light seems to be the hot times as of late, with the lion’s share of fish being taken on cut Bunker. There is still plenty of bunker out front, but the fish seem to be spread out. This week’s change in temperatures might light the proverbial fire, let’s hope!
Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has had a challenging time finding cooperative Stripers, so the Captain switched to deeper-water Blues. The Bluefish were in mass and devouring both chunked Bunker and Diamond jigs with most hitting the 10- to 12-pound range. The boat has a few dates left for Striped Bass in November and Blackfish in December at the skipper’s favorite snags.
The Carolyn Ann III out of Barnegat Light reported that the Sea Bass fishing has been a little sluggish as of late due to lots of Blackfish and Sea Bass moving offshore to deeper, cooler water. The week’s ground swell didn’t help. There have been some Triggerfish and Porgies along with keeper Blackfish making it over the rails. The boat will be sailing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Gina called to let me know they will be sailing for the opening of Blackfish (November 16th).
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a pick on Striped Bass from Ortley to Long Beach Island for boats looking for snag-n-drop and trolling spoons. Liza did mention there has been some schoolie Striped Bass in the inlet, but it all depends on the tide and water movement. Live spot and Eels have been the baits of choice. Jetty hoppers and boats throwing plugs have also done well. Blackfish continue to be had off the Barnegat Inlet jetties and inshore wrecks, so it should be an excellent bite on the opening.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported more of the same with Striped Bass a pick outside and a better pick fishing the inlets with live bait. Eels at night have been good around the inlets and Long Beach Island bridges. There has been some short Bass and small Blues around the mid-island bridges. Blackfish continue to be excellent from the Barnegat Inlet North and South jetties.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine has been hearing of a couple of Striped Bass caught and Linda weighed in a 32-inch, 11-pounder for the shop’s Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby. The surf has had a few fish caught, but it has been rather slow. The Elks Fall Classic Tournament starts on Friday and if you can’t make it down to sign up give me a call and I will sign you up.
Absecon Bay Sportsman of Absecon Bay has had some good reports of Striped Bass in the Intercoastal Waterway. The Striped Bass have been biting well on the later tides, but you have to find them. Live spot and Eels have doing the trick along with soft plastics and bucktails. There have been Blackfish taken from the of the jetties and bridges from Longport to Sea Isle City.
One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City reported excellent Blackfish action off the AC jetties. The exceptional bite continues to almost guarantee action for anglers of any experience, but shop owner Noel recommends wearing Korkers out there. Blackfish have been caught up to 8 pounds, so it should be lights out on the season opener (November 16th). Green crabs have been the choice bait and the shop is loaded with them. There has been a few Striped Bass caught at night on Eels and plugs for anglers willing to fish into the wee hours of the morning.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported a good bite of Tautog on the jetties and bridges with Green Crab and Fiddlers. Striped Bass continue to be landed from the jetties to the North end of Ocean City. Soft plastics, poppers, and swimming plugs fished early morning or late evening have given the best results. Eels or Spot drifted in the Tuckahoe River or Great Egg River have produced numbers of keeper Striped Bass. Corson’s inlet had some schoolie Bass action along with a few spike Weakfish. Sea Bass has been good, but you have to run to or past the Atlantic City reef for keeper fish.
The Wildwood and Cape May area has had good Sea Bass fishing on the wrecks in the 15-20 fathom range according to Matt from Jim’s Bait and Tackle in Cape May. There are small Blues on the wrecks along with Triggerfish. The Cape May reef and Delaware reef site #11 have had lots of Sea Bass, but most are in the throwback range. Anglers have to work through many fish to put a catch together. The rockpiles from Ocean City to Cape May have lots of Blackfish, and some have approached 8 pounds.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
I’m excited with this weekend’s change into our typical “November” weather pattern with heavy Northwest winds and cooler temperatures, which should (fingers crossed) trigger a good Striper bite. Boats should look for bunker pods off the beach as the jig bite hasn’t materialized yet. Depending on the tide, inlets are a great place to put together a catch and use those bonus tags. Surf fisherman should have some nice shots at fish this weekend with flat surf, so have those snag setups ready in case Bass push them over the bars. Jetty fishermen continue to have great Blackfish action along the jetties with the consistent 59 to 60F water temperatures. If you don’t have a chance to get out this weekend, then prep your gear for the Blackfish season opener on November 16th. Be Safe, Good Luck, and Tight Lines!