Surf and boat fishermen got a special Halloween treat this past weekend with 30- to 40-pound Striped Bass devouring bunker up until the early part of the week. Bait shops Seaside to Long Beach Island reported substantial numbers of 30 plus pound weigh-ins. With the water temperatures still hovering around 60, it is only the beginning with hopefully more and more Stripers to follow. Bass have been moving from Asbury Park down through Atlantic City and you have to troll or hit the bunker pods to get them. Sea bass fishing has been mixed, depending on where you fish with most of the keepers being caught in the deeper wrecks.
So here is this week’s rundown:
Gates Bait and Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach reported good Striped Bass fishing early in the week and the Bass were on the feed for 4 straight days before slowing down. There have been more and more big Blues hitting late in the day. The beaches had good Bass action in the early morning for anglers working poppers, plugs, or snagging bunker.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported big Bass on Maja spoons in the White or Green color, while Maja’s have also been producing. Areas from Long Branch to Island Beach State Park and everywhere in between report generous numbers of Stripers being caught. Most of the Stripers have ranged from 18 to 35 pounds, with some bigger catches. The Point Pleasant Canal is still producing fish, but it has been between the hours of dusk and dawn. Blackfish remain solid from the rocks in the inlet, and from the Point Pleasant Canal with Green Crabs leading the way.
MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant got into some of the epic Striper conditions this past week and had the boat limit on Bass up to 40 pounds. All action was on snag-n-drop bunker dunking. The boat does have some open dates for Striped Bass and Blackfish, but it is best to check the website or give the skipper a ring.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant had Stripers early in the week to 30 pounds and the boat has started it’s dailiy Striper fishing from 730am to 230pm. The boat has been offshore when I phoned for a report so hopefully they did well with the recent good weather window.
Norma K III out of Point Pleasant reported good Sea Bass fishing in their northernly snags, but most guys had to pick through the smaller ones to get to the keepers. Each trip has had buffet-plate sized Porgies which are excellent table fare. The boat is sailing everyday for Sea Bass at 7:30.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park had a lot of weigh-ins of Striped Bass over the weekend and into the early part of the week before the bite shutdown. They fed for 4 days straight and then someone flipped the switch. Most of the fish were between 20 and 30 pounds, with some bigger ones over 40 pounds hitting the sands of Seaside Park and Island Beach State Park. On a positive note, there have been gator Bluefish on the beach far to our north along with load of Stripers in the teens, so it should make for a great November.
Dock Outfitters in Seaside Park reported the bass run is on, and (long pause) off. The weekend and beginning of the week had epic fishing conditions for both surf and boat fisherman with Striped Bass to 30 plus pounds. On the surf, fish have been on mostly poppers in all sizes and snagged bunker when they got close. But later in the week, the shutoff was in full effect and conditions went back to an ultra slow pick.
Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported good Sea Bass fishing over the weekend with his charter picking at solid Sea Bass to 22 inches along with a some nice Porgies at the skippers choice spots. The boat has some dates left for Striped Bass or Blackfish, so give the captain a call.
The Carolyn Ann III out of Barnegat Light has been on the Sea Bass, but there have been a ton of shorts with keepers. It has been common to catch 4 to 6 keepers per trip along with Porgies, Triggerfish, and some nice Blackfish. There has been a ton of action, but just a little tough to find keeper Sea Bass. Currently, the boat is only sailing Friday, Saturday, and Sundays.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported excellent fishing over the weekend for anglers on Island Beach State Park and boat fisherman fishing Ortley to Long Beach Island. There was a ton of weigh-ins this past week with anglers bringing in stripers from 30 to over 50 pounds. Snag-n-drop, Bunker Spoon trolling, and Mojo-tandems have been the hot baits. The bite has slowed down dramatically as we wait for the Bass to digest or for a fresh batch of Bass to arrive. Blackfish are still being caught off the jetties lining Barnegat inlet, so be sure to head there with a bucket full of Green crabs.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported great Striped Bass action from Barnegat Inlet to Manasquan Inlet for both beach, jetty, and boat fisherman. In the Barnegat Inlet, smaller sized Bass are being caught on live spots, white Swim shads, and white Bucktails with grub tails. The oceanside fish have mostly been caught either trolling Bunker spoons or by snag-n-drop methods. Again, the best time to go? … when you can! You never know when these fish are going to turn on or new ones are going to move in.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported a good sized school of quality Striped Bass that have recently moved down from the IBSP area. Bass are ranging from 30 to 40 pounds, but you have to locate the schools of bunker as they travel south. Snag-n-drop and trolling are good methods from the boat. Beach fisherman have been hooking up on poppers and plugs when fish are in casting distance. Chunked bunker is the way to go as most of these fish are feeding on Bunker schools.
Absecon Bay Sportsman of Absecon Bay reported good Striper fishing both out front of Brigantine for Trophy class bass up to 30 pounds, and the baywaters around the sedges and marshes have had double-digit days in terms of quantity. Most of the fish in the back have ranged from 20 to 34 inches. The shop is hearing word of some big Stripers that have moved down from the north on bunker. So NOW is the time, don’t hesitate.
One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City continues to be hot on Blackfish along the jetties for anglers fishing Green crab. Nowell recommends working those rocks for good sized Blackfish as there has been a ton of shorts around. It is fun fishing as you are almost guaranteed to hook up when hitting the Togging. Big bass have moved in and anglers are hooking into Bass to 30 pounds on fresh bunker. Boat fisherman have some very good shots at snag-n-drop action.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported good Blackfish along rockpiles, jetties, and bridges for anglers dunkin’ Green Crab. Striped Bass have been caught at night on soft plastics, bucktails, and swimming plugs from most of the bridges. The shop is hearing word of some big Bass moving in, so have your boats on the ready for trolling or snag-n-drop action.
The Cape May and Wildwood locales have been pretty good for Sea Bass according to Matt from Jim’s Bait and Tackle. Anglers fishing the wrecks on the 20-fathom line are getting lots of limits along with a few Triggerfish. Tog are still on the Cape May inlet rockpiles, the North Wildwood sea wall, and the Townsend’s inlet sea wall. Green crabs are the way to go, but remember it’s one fish at 15 inches until November 16th. The Stripers haven’t shown up in numbers yet, but the “word” is that they are as close as Atlantic City and Ocean City.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
Sea Bass, Blackfish, and Striped Bass are on the menu for this weekend. It seems most of the keeper Sea Bass have been in some of the deeper wrecks and you have to pick through the shorts to put a limit together. The best bet to guarantee yourself Striped Bass might be Atlantic City southward as some major schools have reportedly moved from the North. But we will get another “weather front change” so fish that have been digesting after the epic blitzes might be ready to feed again. Anglers fishing the boat or sands from Seaside to Long Beach Island should be ready as favorable NW winds are predicted. Meanwhile, Blackfishing continues to be excellent on most jetties and rockpiles from Manasquan to Cape May, so grab your Green Crabs and Go! Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
At least the folks down in Southern New Jersey are not camera shy. It seems that their reports always include great pics of the catches made on they trips. Makes for good advertising and prompting those out of town’ers to make the trip and get some late season fishing in.
From a sad New Englander that can’t wait to see those fantastic photos of the successful South Jersey fishermen!