Hang on, we’ve just got a few weeks to go before we can reasonably expect the fishing to improve. March 1 will bring the opening of the striped bass season in rivers and bays and the start of the winter flounder season.
In the meantime, however, it’s still pretty quiet.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said a few customers have been in for tackle and new line but that’s about it. He’s guessing there are still some blackfish being caught, but he’s not received any reports.
The last party boat sailing out of Atlantic Highlands, The Prowler 5, reported it will take a break until the spring when Capt. Scott Hilliard said he’ll start clamming for stripers. He’s looking at the beginning of April.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said there was some action in the surf in Spring Lake and Sea Girt with small bass hitting shads. The fish showed up for a couple of days last week before the snow fell. Catching these resident fish is a matter of putting in the time so be patient.
The Ocean Explorer is still sailing out of the Belmar Marina in search of tog and other bottom fish. The weather kept the boat at the dock over the weekend, but Capt. Bobby Quinn sailed on Wednesday in calm conditions but reported the fishing was not that good.
There were some blackfish, he said, but only one keeper, along with some short cod, perch and eels. His next departure will likely be Friday.
Unfortunately, the big excitement out of Belmar was a fire at a marina on the south side of the Main St. Bridge that destroyed over a dozen boats on Valentine’s Day. Luckily, there were no injuries.
John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said he also got reports of small bass in the surf in his area, with the fish hitting shads and small plugs with teasers.
The Big Jamaica and Jamaica II continue to sail out of Bogan’s Basin but the weather is playing havoc with their schedules. Both are sailing to offshore wrecks for jumbo porgies, cod, tog and pollock.
The Big Jamaica didn’t get out last weekend but is planning to sail at 2 a.m. on Saturday and returning at 6 p.m. that same day. Capt. Howard Bogan will also be sailing a special President’s Day trip leaving at 2 a.m. on Monday and back at 6 p.m.
Capt. Ryan Bogan on the Jamaica II will be sailing Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 5 a.m.
The charter boat, the BarbGail IV with Capt. Chris Dossantos at the helm is still sailing as well out of Brielle for blackfish.
The Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach stayed at the dock over the weekend but plans to be back out there this weekend searching for tog.
The folks at Fisherman’s Den in Point Pleasant Beach will be taking a lot of inventory to the 10th Annual Surf Day this Saturday at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.
Founded by the Jersey Shore Surfcasters, the show has enjoyed tremendous growth over the years and will host more than 75 vendors and a packed schedule of seminars.
Featured speakers include noted New Jersey author and fisherman Nick Honachefsky and underwater photographer Mike Laptew, also known as the Diving Fisherman.
Among the seminar topics will be fly fishing in the New Jersey, how to get kids interested in surf casting and targeting big bass in deep currents.
Surf Day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and admission is $10. Kids under 10 are free.
John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park will be among the vendors at Surf Day. As for the fishing, he, too, reported some action on small stripers in the surf on shads. He said the water temperature is around 46 degrees so he’s not surprised the fish are around.
Bushell, repeating what other shop owners have said, thinks the relatively mild winter could mean an early start to the fishing season as long as we’re spared from late winter storms.
Liza Martin at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said it’s been quiet there and the shop will be closed until the third week of March. The only action she’s aware of is the usual striper bite at the Oyster Creek power plant.
Farther south, the reports out of Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin and Fin-atics in Ocean City are of white perch biting on grass shrimp in the creeks and lagoons. The fishing is hit and miss with the fish there one day and gone the next.
After weeks of no ice and lean reports, the freshwater fishing up north is showing some signs of life, mostly because guys are now fishing open water.
Dino at Garden State Bow and Reel in Stockholm said he’s been selling a lot of nymphs recently as fly fishermen have been catching brown trout in the Pequest and Pequannock rivers. He also said anglers are finding rainbow trout in deep holes on the Wanaque River.
He added that walleye are being taken on the Delaware River with Rapalas using a slow retrieve while local streams are yielding perch on worms.
Chris at Tackle and Field in Wanaque reported that walleye are being caught at the south end of the Monksville Reservoir.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
Options are pretty much the same as last week with offshore boats providing a pick of tog, cod, porgies and pollock. If there is a favorable weather window, you can also try for some of the short stripers along the beach. Then there is Surf Day at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft where you can pick up custom plugs, tackle and tips on how to catch your favorite fish.
I’m going to give White Perch a shot on the Passaic River this weekend. Occasionally I get some holdover Stripers.
Can you tell me if there is any good places to fish for perch in Cape May county
John, when do the Mackerel generally begin their Spring Run in NJ?