We’re at that awkward stage, when fluke and sea bass have closed and the fall run has yet to start.
Fortunately, the porgy fishing, which has been outstanding for most of the summer, has gotten even better.
Blues, false albacore, mackerel and bonito are also keeping anglers busy. Folks bottom fishing are finding plenty of ling along with some winter flounder, blackfish and triggerfish.
So, while it’s a sad state of affairs that two healthy fisheries are currently off limits, there’s still plenty to catch.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said it’s drop and reel fishing for porgies, he said, with anglers easily catching their limits. And they’re big, too, he added
He also reported the false albacore are popping up at Breezy Point and there are cocktail blues all over Raritan Bay. They’re being caught from the beach in Leonardo and Union Beach.
The water temperature dropped a few degrees, he said, due to the cooler nights and the striper bite in the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers has picked up.
Capt. George Bachert on the Angler out of Atlantic Highlands reported red hot porgy fishing. Almost all of the fish are keepers but he said most folks are only keeping the bigger ones.
He’s been going after blackfish as well but said all of the tog on Wednesday’s trip were shorts. Most days, he said, guys targeting tog aren’t having too much trouble getting their one keeper. Triggerfish are also being caught.
Capt. Stan Zagleski on the Elaine B. II out of Highlands reported a good tog bite all day Sunday with everyone going home with a keeper then playing catch and release while working on their blackfish technique.
He’ll be running blackfish trips every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 a.m.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said there are loads of blues off the beach and in the rivers. The water is loaded with rainfish and Martens said the albies showed up on the beach by Lot E at Sandy Hook earlier in the week.
He, too, reported good action on small stripers in the rivers with fish from 25 to 30 inches. Shads have been doing the trick.
And, he added, the crabbing is still excellent.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the porgies and blackfish have taken up some of the slack since the fluke and sea bass seasons closed. The porgy bite has been off the charts, he said, and guys are having no trouble getting their one blackfish.
The Skylarker and Ocean Explorer are fishing for both as well as triggerfish.
When the weather permits, Matthews said, the boats sailing for bonito, bluefish, mackerel and false albacore are drawing big crowds.
The Golden Eagle out of Belmar has been finding good combinations of all of the above on most trips. Capt. Rich Falcone reported that Wednesday’s fishing was outstanding with non-stop bonito and mackerel.
There were also albies and blues in the mix. The fish were hitting jigs and bait.
Matthews said that action in the Shark River has fallen off with the fluke closing but there are still plenty of snappers around to keep anglers young and old happy.
He’s also had reports of small bass in the surf along with some blues and a few false albacore.
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing hasn’t sailed in the last few days but went porgy fishing with a friend and both got their limit of 50 fish in just about an hour. The only problem, he said, was trying to get through all of the sea bass and double-headers were not uncommon.
He’s currently booking his fall striped bass trips.
Vinnie at the Reel Seat in Brielle reported good striper action in the Manasquan River at night on eels. The fish are also hitting small pieces of bunker.
The yellowfin bite at the Hudson Canyon quieted down, but he said some fish are being caught closer to shore in the 50- to 70-mile range.
He’s also getting good reports on albies, blues, bonito and mackerel.
Greg Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said the blackfishing has been good at the Point Pleasant Canal with anglers having little trouble getting their one keeper.
He’s also been getting reports of keeper striped bass in the Manasquan River on bait and shads. There’s still plenty of snappers in there as well along with their larger brethren.
The Jamaica II, he said, is doing very well with ling, blackfish, porgies and even a few whiting. Sunday’s trip produced high hooks of 40 ling.
The Big Jamaica has been concentrating on the blues, bonito, mackerel and false albacore with excellent results.
Capt. Howard Bogan also reported a pretty good canyon trip earlier this week. Mahi-mahi were the first to bite but it wasn’t until night fell that the first yellowfin came aboard. Overnight was pretty quiet but the bite got started early in the morning.
Capt. Bogan reported everybody had a shot at catching tuna and a couple of guys got two. He’s got more tuna trips on the schedule along with special excursions for bonito and false albacore.
Freshwater anglers are finding changing conditions farther north.
Steve at Garden State Bow & Reel in Stockholm said the water temperature has dropped a few degrees and the large and smallmouth bass have become more active. The fishing in general has been good, he said, and folks are now looking forward to the fall trout stocking
Ken at Tackle and Field in Wanaque reported a good smallmouth bite at the Monksville Reservoir and Greenwood Lake. Anglers are using jerk baits and Neko Rigs.
Ken said the opening of deer season has drawn some attention away from fishing for the moment.
Larry at Newark Sinker Company in Pine Brook said he’s getting more reports of pike coming out of the Passaic River with fish up to 40 inches. Spinner baits have been the ticket.
He said the smallmouth continue to bite in the Rockaway River with Mepps and Blue Fox lures catching the fish.
Jim Behre at Behre Bait and Tackle in Lebanon said rainbow trout are biting for shore fishermen at Round Valley. Folks are trolling for them as well with copper or silver Warrior Spoons down 15 to 20 feet over 60 to 80 feet of water.
He also said they’re being caught on slip bobbers with shiners down about 15 feet.
At Spruce Run, he said, anglers livelining shiners or herring are catching some northern pike. There’s also a good crappie bite there.
He said the hybrid bite has gone quiet at Spruce Run but guys are now catching some white bass.
Martin at Fins & Furs in Newfoundland said that a number of his customers have turned their attention to deer hunting, but he reported a good smallmouth bite at the Clinton and Canistear reservoirs. Anglers jigging nightcrawlers have been having the most success.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
If you want to catch fish, and a lot of them, go for porgies. It’s pretty much drop- and-reel fishing. Most boats targeting porgies are also fishing for blackfish and triggerfish so they’re on the menu as well. All of the action keeps kids interested so if there is a youngster you want to introduce to fishing, it’s a good way to go.
The bait is staging for fall and it’s thick in the ocean and rivers. Blues and bass are in the local rivers and the false albacore, bonito and bluefish are popping up close to shore. Jump on a bluefish boat for some fun with those and start walking the beaches and casting plugs and metal.