Things are changing on the local fishing scene as the water warms, the big bass depart and the summer species take up residence.
The fluking, which has been pretty inconsistent up to now, is finally showing signs of improvement with more and bigger fish being taken.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said he’s getting better reports on fluke, with fish being caught in deeper water now, 30 to 40 feet.
The bite for big bass has gone quiet with the larger fish being caught mostly at night on eels.
There are some smaller bass around, taking bait in the rivers and off the beaches at night or early in the morning.
Capt. George Bachert on the Angler out of Atlantic Highlands fished down the beach on Wednesday and said he found more fish than he’s seen in the bay, although it’s still not as good as he’d like. There were a number of limits, but a few folks came away fishless.
The sea bass season reopens on Saturday with a two-fish limit at 12½ inches and that will certainly help matters.
Capt. Stan Zagleski on the Elaine B II out of Highlands fished a new area on Tuesday and found some nice keepers up to 6 pounds. He reported that a majority of fish made the limit and the short action kept folks busy. He, too, will be after sea bass come Saturday.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said things have gone a little quiet, but there are still stripers in the Shrewsbury River being caught on worms and he had reports of a few in the surf up to 13 pounds.
Small blues are popping up off the beach as well and a few fluke, some of them keepers, are being taken in the surf. I picked up a couple from the sand in Ocean Grove but they were not quite big enough to keep just yet.
He also reported kingfish, triggerfish and small weakfish have appeared in local waters.
Matthews said that a lot of boats out of the Belmar Marina have been heading out to get in on the hot tuna bite.
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar was heading offshore on Wednesday chasing after some of those tuna, while keeping an eye out for sharks as well.
He also reported the change in the bass fishing with the bigger fish biting at night on eels. He caught a few big ones toward the end of last week but the tough weather over the weekend forced the cancellation of several trips.
Come the weekend, he’ll be concentrating on fluke and sea bass and still has a few spots open for this Saturday’s trips.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar said the fluking is improving with fish up to 4 pounds coming over the rail. He’s also put some time in on ling and winter flounder trips with good results.
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar has been after bluefish and the last couple of days have brought some pretty good fishing with blues up to 8 pounds.
They were busting on top on Tuesday and bit well again on Wednesday. Capt. Falcone said there’s plenty of bait around so the fishing should remain good. The blues have been hitting Crocs and Run Off Hammer jigs.
Bob Caracozzo at the Reel Seat in Brielle reported a definite improvement in the fluke fishing in the Manasquan River and the local reefs. There are also some being caught along the beach.
The bluefin tuna bite has been good at the 20 Fathom Line, he said, while the canyons are holding the yellowfin. The bluefin have been caught on top with stick baits and on the troll while ballyhoo on the troll are getting most of the yellowfin.
He also said there were mako sharks caught at the Glory Hole and Chicken Canyon. A 276-pound mako landed by Capt. Chris Thorsen aboard Thor took first place in the Mako Mania and Mako Fever tournaments held last weekend.
John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle also reported improved fluking in the Manasquan River back by the Route 70 Bridge and the Railroad Bridge, especially on the outgoing tide when the water is warmer.
There are also small stripers at the bridges around dusk on Fin-S lures and small plugs.
For those looking to fill the freezer, John said the Paramount has been sailing for ling and winter flounder and returning to the dock with lots of happy anglers. Most folks are getting loads of ling and their two winter flounder.
For those fishing freshwater, the recent spate of nice weather has really helped the action.
Timmy at Tackle and Field in Wanaque said the fishing is getting pretty good with lots of walleye action at Greenwood Lake. Anglers are also doing well with landlocked salmon at Lake Wawayanda and Aeroflex Lake.
For hybrid stripers, he said Lake Hopatcong has been giving up fish at night.
Jim at Behre Bait and Tackle said the nicer weather brought more anglers out and they’ve been doing pretty well at Round Valley, Spruce Run and Merrill Creek reservoirs.
The trout bite is still good at Round Valley for those trolling for rainbows and anchoring for lake trout. It’s not as good for shore anglers but there are fish to be had early in the morning, mostly at Ranger’s Cove.
Fishing the bottom, said Behre, is best for lake trout using shiners. Trollling will work best for rainbow in 15 to 35 feet of water using Warrior and Challenger spoons, meatheads and Rapalas.
Spruce Run is the place to go for catfish, he said, with chicken livers, worms and shiners attracting the fish.
Hybrids are also being caught by guys trolling spoons and crappies are hitting shiners fished from shore.
Lake trout and rainbows are also being caught at Merrill Creek using spoons trolled at 40 to 50 feet in water 60 to 80 feet deep.
Steve at Garden State Bow And Reel in Stockholm said the nice weather took the large and smallmouth bass fishing up a notch at the local reservoirs. They’ve been biting on artificial baits and shiners.
Hybrid stripers have been favoring herring of late, but Steve said the bait hasn’t been that easy to come by.
He, too, has been getting a lot of good reports from Lake Wawayanda and Aeorflex Lake on the salmon fishing.
Martin at Fins and Furs in Newfoundland said the fishing for large and smallmouth bass has been very good in the local reservoirs. Soft baits have been catching a lot of fish at the Clinton and Oak Ridge reservoirs while the walleye fishing has been good at Canistear Lake. The improved weather has definitely helped the fishing, he said.
He added that the muskie fishermen have been catching some nice fish at Geenwood Lake, Echo Lake and Monksville Reservoir. The biggest he heard of was 48 inches.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
It’s summer, the Fourth of July weekend and time to go fluking. The recent sunny weather has warmed the water and should get the sluggish summer flounder biting. The black sea bass season reopens on Saturday as well, giving people a chance to fish for two species at once, an unusual opportunity for New Jersey anglers.
Also, if you have the means and opportunity, the tuna fishing has been pretty good of late so if you get a chance to go, take it. The bluefin are biting in mid-shore waters but you’ll have to head to the canyons for the yellowfin.
And hit your local lake or pond. The recent run of nice weather has finally got the bite for bass, walleye and other freshwater species on firm footing.