The big stripers finally being caught with more consistency reported most of the shops in South Jersey. Trolling spoons or mojo rigs have been the main techniques for boxing Striped Bass to 40 pounds, although there has been a few caught by snag-n-drop. Surf fisherman have getting good numbers of beach Stripers heaving cut bunker and working swimming plugs at night. The next couple of weeks should only get better as the weather warms and increases the bunker bite. Fluke fishing should be set to begin next week (May 25th), but we are still waiting on confirmation from the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council.
So, here’s this week’s rundown:
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach had good Bluefish action the past few days with 4 to 10 pounders making it over the rail. Some of the “pool-winning” fish have been up to 12 pounds. Striped Bass have been sparse in the mix, but the Captain feels that should increase especially as the water warms a little more. The vessel will be sailing every day for Striped Bass and Bluefish from 730am to 230pm.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported that the troll bite has been great for the early morning anglers with Striped Bass to 45 pounds caught on #4 White Maja spoons from the Red Church to Seaside. There have been a few snag-n-drop hookups, but that should increase over the next few weeks. The Bluefish bite has slowed in the inlet, but surf anglers are getting them off the beach to 16 pounds. The inlet, bay, and bridge bite has been solid at night for Striped Bass to 24 inches on soft plastics. Fluke fishing will be off to a good start as many anglers are playing catch and release in the Manasquan River.
MIMI IV in Point Pleasant Beach has some Open-Boat Striper and Fluke trips available, but Capt. Ken said its best to call for details. Striped Bass have been in the area to 30 pounds on bunker and it should get better in the coming weeks.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported Bluefish in the 8 to 10-pound range from the Island Beach State Park surf and the Barnegat bay. The bayside docks are producing Bluefish regularly on cut bait (Bunker, Mackerel). Striped Bass fishing is starting to pick up with the recent passing of the Full moon as both surf fisherman and trolling boaters have been picking bass to 30 pounds.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a good week in fishing from Seaside to Long Beach Island with most trolling the 3-mile line for 30- to 40-pound Striped Bass. The Seaside Pipe area has been producing on white and yellow #4 Maja spoons along with mojo rigs. Bluefish are still being landed near the Oyster Creek outflow in the Barnegat Bay and around Barnegat Inlet. Anglers have been reporting catch and release Fluke action, so it should be a good start once the season begins.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported Bluefish on both the North and south ends of the island. Blues have been in the 8- to 13-pound range and caught on chunked bunker baits. There has been quite a few Stripers landed off the beach in the last 24 hours with the biggest being 43.75 inches landed by Paul LaVigna. The shop just received a full load of 300 pounds of fresh Bunker.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported a good number of Striped Bass being landed off the beaches on fresh cut bunker. Boats have been cashing in on the action by pulling Stretches, mojo rigs, and bunker spoons. There continues to be smaller Striped Bass to 25 inches in the inlets and around the area’s bridges. There has been some Weakfish caught on soft plastics around the 9th Street Bridge, but it has been a midnight shift bite. Anglers fishing the bay are already reporting good numbers of Flounder, so the start of the season next week should produce some nice fish.
The Wildwood and Cape May area has a good drumfish bite remaining from the Bayshore Channel off the Villas to North Cape May. The bite did drop off during the better part of last week with a dip in bay water temperatures, but it should pick right back up with the recent hot weather. There are nice Striped Bass still coming from the flats from Bidwell’s Ditch to the Cove with bass to 35 pounds. Skates have been hampering the bite making it difficult to pick Stripers. Big Bluefish are still around in good numbers in the surf and in the backwaters, but the area has been seeing more 3 to 4 pounds show up. Weakfish have been caught off the sea wall in North Wildwood and from the Cape May Ferry terminal. The rockpiles along the Cape May and Wildwood inlets have also been producing 3- to 6-pound Weakfish on bucktails and floated Bloodworms.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
This weekend’s top pick would be to fish for Striped Bass on sand or by boat as they have inundated our area from Point Pleasant to Cape May. Boaters should do the “slow-troll” with spoons, mojos, or plugs. From what I heard, the #4 White Maja has been working in a variety of locations. Snag-and-droppers need to work the water early, so let the zombie-eyed angling begin as the most successful anglers are usually the first on the water. Surf fisherman should get to their location by the top of the tide and fish the holes and cuts for the full duration of the outgoing. Extreme South Jersey anglers should work the bucktail and Fin-S plastics along the rockpiles and inlet jetties during the slack tides to produce some nice Weakfish. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!