Happy New Year! Our full New Jersey fishing report returns next week.
If your Christmas wish was for stripers, there’s a good chance it will be granted.
The bass have been hanging on. Short bass remain in the surf and the boats jigging and trolling continue to catch keeper fish. It’s not what you’d call a mad bite, but not bad for this time of year.
However, if ice was on your list, you may have to wait a little longer. The forecast indicates the mercury won’t dip sufficiently until the week after the holiday.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet reported that small bass are being caught in the suds from Sandy Hook down to Bradley Beach. There’s a keeper here and there, but they’re rare.
The boats are doing better with fish for the table, both on jigs and Mojos.
The blackfish bite, he said, is just okay, with short fish comprising most of the catch.
Capt. Rob Semkewyc on the Sea Hunter out of Atlantic Highlands reported very good bass fishing on Sunday and he followed that up with excellent action on Monday and Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the boat limited out quickly and Capt. Rob estimated that a couple of hundred keeper fish were returned. Most of the fish were between 10 and 16 pounds and the biggest went 28. There was also a 22-pounder recorded.
At times, Semkewyck said had three nets going and couldn’t keep up with the fish.
He said the stripers were feeding on herring and bunker so the shads were the go-to bait. An added bonus was that he was pretty much by himself out there.
He didn’t sail on Wednesday but planned to be back at it on Thursday and over the weekend.
Capt. Hal Hagaman on the Sea Tiger II out of Atlantic Highlands has been blackfishing but posted on his website that he’ll be switching to stripers now that the bite is back on.
Capt. George Bachert on the Angler, also out of Atlantic Highlands, is sticking with blackfish.
Last Sunday’s trip produced plenty of short life along with a few keepers. Angler regular Archie Stewart, Nutley, took the pool, but with a cod not a tog. Capt. Bachert expects to see more cod and ling as the water turns colder.
Capt. Stan Zagleski on the Elaine B II out of Highlands reported that after a tough trip on Monday, the blackfish action was much better on Tuesday.
He fished two drops with the second holding good life and lots of action. The majority of the fish were shorts, but he said there were enough keepers for a few limits and most people having fish for dinner.
The fish hit on a mix of jigs and regular blackfish rigs.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s in Sea Bright said the short bass in the surf are mostly what he’s hearing about these days. He, too, heard of a couple of keepers in the mix, but most of the fish are in the 20-inch range.
Giglio’s has switched to its winter hours and is open only on weekend mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the small bass are getting most of the attention from his customers. Teasers are getting the lion’s share of the fish along with small swim shads and sand eel imitations.
Matthews said the shorts have also made their way into the Shark River and were being caught by the boat ramp.
The blackfishing has been decent for the boats out of the marina, but the shorts dominate the catch.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar continues to find keeper bass.
He’s been fishing north and south of the Shark River Inlet and the stripers have been popping up in both directions. He’s been getting fish on jigs and Mojos, with the jig bite catching most of the bass.
Dave Arbeitman at the Reel Seat in Brielle said the small bass are in the surf in his neck of the woods and there have been some keepers in the mix as well.
There have been a lot of sea herring around and Arbeitman said a few anglers have been catching them on their teasers. The boats have been getting the bigger stripers, he added.
He also heard of winter flounder being caught at the Manasquan Inlet. The blackfishing has been okay, he said, but his sense is that most folks are a little disappointed in this year’s action.
Offshore, the sea bass and porgy fishing has been good, and there are still some blues and weakfish showing up in the catch.
John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said that with the small bass, fair blackfishing and offshore sea bass and porgies, the fishing has been okay, if not outstanding.
The Big Jamaica out of Brielle had a good offshore trip last Friday with limits of big sea bass, jumbo porgies and some cod. It was a 34-pound cod that took the pool, caught by Ralph Cartagno from Egg Harbor Township. There was also a 7-pound sea bass brought aboard.
Capt. Ryan Bogan on the Jamaica II said last weekend’s wreck trip saw some nice sized ling caught. High hook had 27 ling while there were a few big sea bass in the mix as well.
The freshwater folks had their hopes for some ice fishing dashed when the temperature headed north earlier this week.
Chris at Tackle and Field in Wanaque said everyone there is waiting for ice. The only word he’s received lately is of guys trying for trout and landlocked salmon at Lake Wawayanda.
Steve at Garden State Bow and Reel in Stockholm said his customers are champing at the bit for ice. The few people that are fishing are targeting the trout at Silver Lake and Green Turtle that were stocked ahead of the ice fishing season.
Ron at Fins and Furs in Newfoundland said it’s pretty much the same thing there. Everyone there is hunting until the ice is thick enough to fish.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
You can take a break from the last-minute shopping and try for stripers from the beach and boats. There’s no telling how long they will hang around so this may be the last chance. Party and charter boats out of Atlantic Highlands, Belmar and the Manasquan Inlet are sailing for bass and offer the best chance to take home some keepers. Swim shads and sand eel imitations with a teaser will work in the surf. Teasers are a must.
For those accustomed to fishing in winter conditions, the offshore sea bass and porgy fishing has been holding up pretty well. The blackfish bite has been up and down, but maybe the colder weather that’s on the way will improve the bite. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday.