Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all the weekly fishing report readers and fisherman out there! The holiday shopping scene is going strong and so is the Striped Bass bite depending on where you want to fish. Our northern spots (Point Pleasant, Manasquan, etc.) are producing decent bites from sunup to sundown on plugs, pencils, and small Tsunami soft plastics. Most of these fish have been caught off the surf and range up to 12 pounds. Ports to the south of Brigantine are producing good action on trolled Mojo’s on fish up to 40 pounds. The Blackfish bite has been spotty with some days the fish are banging baits and others it’s a scratch-fest with few takers. Even with a spottier bite as of late, there has been some nice keeper Tog caught to 16 pounds. If you’re not fishing into this weekend, enjoy the time with friends and family. But it should be an angler’s holiday wish to get out one last time before the New Year.
Here is this week’s rundown:
The Golden Eagle out of Belmar is gearing up for the holidays as the crew starts sailing for Mackerel next week after Christmas, but they are selling buy two-get one gift certificates this week.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported a decent bite on smaller Striped Bass from Long Branch down through Seaside Park. Most of the fish have been in the 8- to 12-pound range and they have been keying on slimmer profiled baits. Small plugs, pencil poppers, needlefish, and Tsunami sand eel baits have been doing the trick. Blackfish are spotty which is being reported by most captains and some days they are only scratching the baits once and not taking it. Although the bite has been lackluster, some of the keepers reported have been up to 15 pounds.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported good weather this past week, but slow fishing on the Blackfish scene. The Blackfish were picking and scratching at the baits, and most anglers would only get one hit. The boat will be sailing every day for Blackfish 730AM to 230PM and they will be running a special Christmas Eve 1/2-day trip from 8AM to 1230PM.
The Gambler in Point Pleasant has been fishing for Striped Bass and white swim-shads and Croc spoons have been producing both north and south of Point Pleasant. The crew reported good water temperatures and they may be sailing for Stripers through January. The boat will be offshore Sea Bass fishing this upcoming Friday and Saturday and there are still spots available on the offshore Sea Bass trips.
The MIMI VI in Point Pleasant has Open Boat trips available all week and through the holidays, so call to reserve your spot.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported a good bite off Island Beach State Park during dusk and in the mornings. Most of the Stripers are in the 20-inch range and are hitting a variety of lures. Tsunami swim-shads, mag-darters, and needlefish have been the top lures producing the most strikes.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a Striped Bass bite off Island Beach State Park for anglers working the surf. Long Beach Island also has some fish around, but you have to put in the time for them. Most of the Stripers have been in the 16- to 21-inch range. The Oyster Creek Outflow is holding some better Striped Bass to 26 inches and are being landed at night with soft plastics. The Tog scene for boats out of Barnegat Light have been a little slow and you have to work for the bites. Anglers reported better togging in deeper water with a few nice keepers being weighed in. Jeff Jacobson caught a nice 15.5-pound blackfish on Creekside’s green crabs in 75 feet of water. The shop is stocked with both Green and White crab for the holiday Blackfish bite.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported the Long Beach Island surf is giving up some small Striped Bass for anglers casting small metals and Tsunami sand-eels. There were some White Perch reported from Beach Haven west and they were caught on small minnows and grass shrimp. The shop is fully stocked with all our angler’s Christmas wishes, so stop by.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported an epic Striped Bass bite for boaters with most of the Striped Bass ranging from 20 to 38 pounds. The hot lure has been the Magic Tail Mojo trolled in 45 to 60 feet. The fish have been from the Great Egg Reef south to the Ocean City Ferris wheel and they haven’t really moved too much. Most of the action has been on the troll, but a few anglers have picked up fish on white Tsunami Swim-shads. The shop has a lot of good deals for that last-minute gift.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported a great Striped Bass bite, and it should continue through the holidays into 2018. Ocean City has been the hot area with schools of quality Striped Bass up to 40 pounds literally parked 1.5 to 2 miles out off the OC Ferris wheel. It’s been an epic troll bite and the Stretches and Mojos have been working. The shop recommends fishing as long as the bass are here! Back bay action on short Striped Bass has been good on soft plastics when the water temperatures are within range, so it’s important to fish the incoming. Tog fishing was a little slow this week, but the Atlantic City reef did produce a few nice fish on Green and White crab.
The Wildwood and Cape May areas had a good week of Striped Bass fishing with a lot of boats reporting limits on fish from 28 to 43 inches, and a few getting fish over 43 inches. Most of the action has been around the 3-mile line on trolled Mojos, Bunker Spoons, and Stretches. Tog fishing has been decent with fish in the 5- to 8-pound range and a few over 12 pounds. Most of the action have been on the reef sites off Cape May and the Delaware Bay.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for keeper Striped Bass this weekend will be to fish from Brigantine southward and it seems most of the bass are well-within the 3-mile line. Trolling has been the main source of action, so put out the holiday Mojo spread and catch ’em up. If you don’t have access to a vessel or prefer working the sand, there are plenty of catch-n-release Stripers hitting artificials in the surf. Needlefish, small metals, and sand-eel impressions will do the trick on these fish.
Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
Good thing “Chad and the boys” are keeping all those big fish.