We are finally in May and should be seeing the trophy Striped Bass trickle into our areas in the next few weeks. In fact, I received a very positive report that some nice schools of 25- to 40-pound fish have pushed out of the Delaware River and are currently rounding Cape May. It won’t be long as most areas have seen an influx of Bunker. Blackfish season has closed until July, but the last few days of the season produced some nice fish up to 10 pounds. The news of the week for most has been the great Bluefish bite occurring up and down the coast. Fish have ranged from 7 to 20 pounds and have been easily caught from boat or land. New Jersey has published its Marine Regulations for 2017, but still has not made an official decision on Fluke/Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass. It’s the status quo, until further notice.
So, here’s this week’s rundown:
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach finished the spring Blackfish season picking a few keepers at each drop, but the Captain would’ve liked to see more life. Most of the fish ranged from 6 to 8 pounds. The boat will be sailing every day from Striped Bass and Bluefish from 7:30 to 2:30pm.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported an extraordinary Bluefish bite along the Manasquan Inlet walls with monster choppers annihilating Bunker chunks, metals, and artificials. Most of the fish have been in the 8- to 18-pound range, and as Jason puts it, “It has been an absolute slaughter down there!” The trophy Striped Bass scene has yet to materialize from Manasquan southward, but that may change at any day. The shop hasn’t received any major reports of big Bass moving in, just some smaller schoolies in the back and around the north and south pocket of the inlet. The shop did report good end of the spring season toggin’ for anglers fishing some of the southernly wrecks with whitechins approaching the double-digit mark.
MIMI IV in Point Pleasant Beach ended the Spring Blackfish season with some nice whitechins over 8 pounds. Capt. Ken put the guys on the meat with most anglers getting close to their limit. The boat will
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported a steady bite on Bluefish from 7 to 16 pounds from Mantaloking down through Barnegat Light and Barnegat bay. Poppers, chunked Bunker, and Mackerel have been the best baits of choice for the yellow-eyed racers. The shop did weigh in a 20-pound Striped Bass caught off the Island Beach State Park surf, but they are still awaiting the big girls.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported tons of big Bluefish inundating Barnegat bay from Oyster Creek outflow to Barnegat Inlet. Some anglers reported tailing fish in the calmer waters which have been easily targeted with the fly rod. Striped Bass have been consistent, but small with only a few keepers to 30 inches being talked about. The end of the season Blackfish bite finished on a good note with lots of keeper Tog boxed from 4 to 6 pounds. Most of the fish were caught in wrecks, reefs, and structured areas 4 to 7 miles from shore. There has been a pretty good bite on blue claws from Skippers Cove to Manahawkin, and most lagoon fronts have produced. The shop still has some seats available for the May 19th shark seminar and Lize recommends calling for details.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine mentioned a Bluefish bonanza occurring around Brigantine and Atlantic City from the surf to the backwaters. Bunker and Mackerel chunks, along with poppers and plugs have been the main methods to bag the Blues. There has been some Striped Bass caught along the inlets and jetties on artificials weighing up to 25 pounds. Some of the shop’s regulars have been playing catch and release on Summer Flounder up to 20 inches, especially in some of the cuts in the back bay.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported a solid early May Bluefish bite on both the beach and the back bays. The Bluefish move fast, and some days they are present in the backwaters while others have them in the inlet and off the surf. Striped Bass are around with anglers hooking up in the surf zone on bait (Clam, Bunker) and in the back on artficials (White and Pink Zooms). The size has picked up with fish being in the 26- to 32-inch range. Speaking of keepers, there was good sized Tog boxed at the spring season’s closure from boaters using Green crab.
The Cape May area saw quite a few nice Stripers come in from the beaches in North Cape May. Some are being taken on plugs wading out at low tide as well as at high tide on bait (bunker, clams). The Bass have been filtering in to the area and are starting to move around the Cape. Cape May Point and its jetties has produced some nice Stripers up to 25 pounds. The larger Bass have started to move down out of the Delaware River and the boats are catching them up in the cove from above Reeds Beach and around to the Maurice River. Bunker is the best bait, but some have also been caught on Hickory Shad. Drum are starting to be caught off the Villas and Del Haven. The first drop-off from the beach is the place to start. Jim Whitman Jr. of Mays Landing boated a nice 60-pound drum from this area. Regarding the Bluefish bite, it has been one of the best runs with fish in the 8- to 21-pound range. The offshore canyons are slowing producing small Bluefin and Skipjacks reported by a few boats, and it shouldn’t be too long until the Yellowfin show up.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
Anglers have three options for this weekend, Striped Bass, Bluefish, or Drum, but it all depends on your location. Extreme South Jersey will provide the best shots at all three species, while the better portion of our state will only have shots at Bluefish and small Striped Bass. Bluefish continue to be the most consistent and exciting as they have been blasting poppers and plugs in shallow water, and taking metals and bait in our inlets. Striped Bass anglers may want to try trolling the 3-mile line with Maja Spoons or Mojo Rigs as they should start to show, especially southward. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!