New Jersey Fishing Report – March 2, 2017

Pictured above: Mark Bradley of Point Pleasant hoists a keeper winter flounder he caught in the Shark River on the opening day of the season.

Nothing is certain in fishing but there are indications the season will get off to a good start.

The water never got really cold this winter and striped bass are already being caught in the surf. While the fish are mostly small, a few keepers have been reported.

The winter flounder bite is decent in the Shark River, the southern end of the Point Pleasant Canal and near the Mantoloking Bridge even though the season is barely underway.

Another good sign was reported by Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet. He said the bunker are thick in Raritan Bay and guys have been snagging them. The only problem is there are no stripers in the area to eat them. Sciortino said it will be just a matter of time.

The big ‘if’ is the weather. Wednesday’s 70 degree temperatures are supposed to be followed by snow on Friday. The weekend looks to be chilly as well. So it goes in the month of March.

Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said there were a few winter flounder anglers out ‘practicing’ in the Shark River on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s opening and there were a number of flatties caught.

He also said there were a lot of fish caught in Point Pleasant by the hospital. Wardens were in the area so all of the fish were released.

The fishermen were back on Wednesday in Belmar with clams and worms and so were the fish. Most of the fishing is being done from the concrete pier and the nearby floating dock.

One angler had a 16½-inch flounder in his bucket while I witnessed another angler pull a keeper out of the river.

Matthews said the outgoing tide is the best as the warmer water flowing out of the back toward the inlet gets the fish biting.

He’s also had reports of stripers in the surf from Deal to Manasquan. Most of the fish have been caught on plugs, shads, bucktails and flies. Worms and clams have also accounted for a few fish.

The majority of the bass have been small, but Matthews said he’s heard of some keepers among the shorts.

The Den is well-stocked with bait for the weekend and there are a few rental boats in the water.

Greg Bogan and Brielle Bait and Tackle said bass anglers are trying their luck in the Manasquan River, but he hasn’t heard much in the way of results as yet.

The winter flounder bite has been pretty good, he said, near the Mantoloking Bridge. He, too, has received reports of bass in the surf in Sea Girt and Manasquan.

He said the Big Jamaica had a good final trip for porgies last Saturday and the boat is now out of the water for maintenance but should be sailing again in a couple of weeks.

The Jamaica II continues to sail for cod and ling.

Bogan added that there’s been steady traffic from the freshwater anglers for worms and killies. Bogan said they’ve been catching pickerel, crappie and bass in the local ponds and lakes.

The freshwater action up north suffered from the dearth of ice all winter, but now more people are trying their luck on the open water.

Jeff at Fins and Furs in Newfoundland said nobody is busting down the doors there right now, but the local ponds are giving up perch and pickerel. He did mention that guys fishing the streams have been catching a few trout. Trout fishing will close on March 20, he said, ahead of annual stocking.

Chris at Tackle and Field in Wanaque said things are a bit slow right now but there’s been some action at the Monksville Reservoir. Things should pick up in the next couple of weeks, he added.

Back at the shore, Jason Szabo at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach also reported folks picking away at flounder at the Mantoloking Bridge and the south end of the canal.

John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park said the traffic in the store is still pretty light, but he’s had reports of some white perch back in the bay. He also heard of small stripers being caught at the Route 37 Bridge on shads and small plugs.

Capt. Andy Grossman at Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine said he’s now open full time and fully stocked. He hasn’t had many reports as yet but expects that will change by next week.

Noel Feliciano at One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City is now open for the season and he said the striped bass and white perch bite has been good in the back.

He also reported that the T Jetty across from the shop is giving up stripers, winter flounder and even a few ling as water at the jetty runs to 65 feet deep.

Ed at Fin-atics in Ocean City said most of the action down there is in the rivers for white perch and small stripers. Blood worms and grass shrimp are the favorite baits.

He said the white perch bite will be off the charts one day, then absolutely nothing the next.

Fin-atics is participating in the Atlantic City Boat Show this weekend so store hours are a bit abbreviated. The shop will be open full time starting Tuesday, March 7.

New Jersey Fishing Forecast

Best Bets for the Weekend Despite all the positive fishing news, the weekend weather does not look too favorable for anglers desperate to do some fishing. Temperatures will be dropping and aren’t expected to rebound until early next week. Dedicated souls can try for bass and winter flounder, but it might not be too comfortable. Remember, blackfish and porgy seasons are closed.

There are some indoor diversions available with the Berkeley Striper Club holding its annual flea market on Sunday at the Toms River Intermediate School, 150 Intermediate North Way in Toms River. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 2 pm. and draws some of the finest plug builders around. Admission is $4 and kids 10 and under are free.

You can also head down to the Atlantic City Boat Show at the Atlantic City Convention Center running through Sunday. There are hundreds of beautiful boats on display along with seminars, raffles and demonstrations. Admission is $16 and kids 15 and under are free.