You can’t expect too much in the middle of January. The one bright spot is the blackfish bite, highlighted by the 20-pound tog Ron McClelland of Middletown caught aboard Fishin’ Fever out of Cape May.
McClelland, a self-described togaholic, made a weekend out of it, catching a 16½ pounder on Sunday, then followed up with his 20 pounder on Monday. He nearly matched that fish a little later the same day with a 19½-pound tog.
McClelland said the six-man crew limited out by 9:15 a.m. with around 25 double-digit fish, 10 of which were released.
Aside from blackfish, however, things are quiet.
A few boats headed offshore over the weekend in search of cod and ling, but that bite has yet to come alive.
Capt. George Bachert on the Angler out of Atlantic Highlands sailed on Saturday after a few days at the dock and reported that it was a picky bite on the blackfish with a single ling coming aboard as well. There were no cod or mackerel.
The fishing, he said, was much better on the Martin Luther King holiday with perfect weather and a friendly ocean. White legger crabs seemed to work the best but fish were caught on green crabs and even clams.
Capt. Bachert said David Taubenslag from South Brunswick landed three keepers and took the pool with a 9½-pound tog. The Angler was fishing in 90 feet of water and several ling came over the rail along with the tog.
Capt. Scott Hilliard on the Prowler 5 was the only other boat to sail on Monday. The Prowler 5 fished hard to 4 p.m. but the bite never got past a slow pick. Still, Capt. Hilliard said, it was a beautiful day and they managed a decent catch of keepers and shorts.
In Sea Bright, Ernie Giglio of Giglio’s Bait and Tackle reported he hasn’t heard or seen much in the last couple of weeks. He did get wind of a few stripers in the local surf hitting SP Minnows, but there hasn’t been too many guys fishing.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said it’s all about the blackfish right now. People are coming down wanting to fish and the boats are carrying a good number of anglers for this time of year.
There was a report of small bass still in the Belmar surf, but not too many people are still trying. Matthews said a few guys are fishing down by the Oyster Creek Power Plant and picking up some bass.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar sailed for tog on Saturday, then took an offshore trip on Sunday for cod and ling. The Saturday trip provided some good blackfishing with the Doug Prugh catching the big fish of the day, a tog in excess of 12 pounds.
The fishing on Sunday, Capt. Spinelli said, was a bit slow, with not a lot of cod or ling to be had. He called the fishing “very dry.” He made up for the lack of cod and ling by hitting blackfish spots on the way in with good results.
Capt. Chris Hueth on the Big Mohawk out of Belmar found some decent tog fishing over the weekend and on Monday’s holiday. He also reported pretty good fishing on Tuesday with a fair number of anglers catching their limits. He’ll be sailing the weekend.
Capt. Ron Kish on the Capt. Cal II out of Belmar called Wednesday’s togging excellent. He fished some smaller pieces and everyone went home with something for the table. A few anglers had their limit and the pool winner was 8.4 pounds.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar reported that he’s done for the winter and won’t be sailing again until April. He’s currently booking his spring striper trips and will be at all the upcoming outdoor shows.
At the Reel Seat in Brielle, Eric Bunz said the tog fishing is holding up nicely in 80 to 100 feet of water with guys using blackfish jigs and traditional rigs. Other than that, he said, the bluefin bite has pretty much disappeared while there are a few herring being caught at the Manasquan Inlet.
Jeff Nuel at Harry’s Outfitters in Robbinsville said a few of his customers are still chasing bluefin and they found some about 3 to 5 miles off Barnegat. Other than that, it’s all blackfish.
Capt. Ryan Bogan on the Jamaica II out of Bogan’s Basin in Brielle said a screaming current in the deep water made things difficult for his offshore ling and cod trip over the weekend.
He moved into shallower water of about 125 feet and found some blackfish and a few cod. He’ll be back out again this weekend and is hoping for less current and more ling.
The Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach has been finding good numbers of blackfish on its recent trips. Capt. Ken Namowitz said he’s been fishing in water from 80 to 100 feet the last couple of days and there have been plenty of limits. He plans on fishing through the first week of February.
Ronny Bala at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant said it’s been quiet around the shop. He’s been working on cod rigs and getting ready for the winter shows. Capt. Jeff Gutman on the Voyager is heading out on a Block Island/North East Wreck cod trip on Friday night, returning Saturday.
Heading south down the coast, things got quieter still.
John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said no one has been trying on the beaches and very few people have been coming into the shop. Unless folks hear of fish being caught, he said, they pretty much stay away.
Andy at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin said it’s pretty much the same there. There have been a few blackfish picked at the rocks by Barnegat Inlet, but other than that, nothing. Andy said he’s hoping it won’t be long before the white perch start biting.
It should also be mentioned that his winter has been far from kind to the hardwater fishermen. No ice means no fishing.
Steve at Garden State Bow and Reel in Stockholm said the guys were concentrating on the smaller ponds as they froze more quickly, but now even those aren’t available. Anglers were getting perch, crappie and some largemouth until the mercury rose.
James at Behre Bait and Tackle in Lebanon reported that they are in a fishing dead zone until the temperature drops. Round Valley Reservoir is ice-free but he’s hoping that changes before the end of the month.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
Blackfish, as they have been for the last couple of weeks, remain the best bet for the weekend. There are boats sailing from Atlantic Highlands and the inlets down to Cape May. There are also cod and ling trips leaving out of Bogan’s Basin in Brielle. Now is also a good time to change hooks, spool line and service reels and tackle. Spring will be here before you know it.
Thanks for the write up John. Good to see you at the Press Conference yesterday. Hope we can continue to fight the good fight and keep out kids fishing ! Like the man said, “Enough is enough!”