New Jersey Fishing Report - January 25, 2018

Anglers fishing anywhere but through the ice don’t have much to cheer about these days. So far, it’s been a tough winter for saltwater fishermen.

What is usually a good time for ling, mackerel, cod and blackfish, January is proving to be anything but.

The few boats that are still sailing are doing so with small groups and the results have been less than spectacular.

Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said its been pretty quiet at the marina with bad weather leading to erratic sailing schedules. And when the boats get out, he said, the fishing just hasn’t been that good.

Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer is one of the few still sailing out of the Shark River Inlet. He’s finding some nice days on the water but not a lot of fish.

The Ocean Explorer sailed on Monday and Capt. Quinn reported a beautiful day on calm seas. The fishing, however, was slow, with only a handful of small blackfish and just one keeper.

There were also a few mackerel and small whiting along with a cod.

 

The bite wasn’t any better over the weekend, he reported. The Ocean Explorer will be sailing again on Friday, over the weekend and everyday thereafter weather permitting and there are enough people who want to fish.

Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar sailed over the weekend for blackfish and said it was very slow for him as well.

Dave Arbeitman at the Reel Seat in Brielle said the only report he received was of the Voyager’s tilefish trip on Monday. Anglers caught some golden tilefish, white hake, rose fish, barrel fish and quite a few doggies.

Arbeitman added that he will be among the speakers at the Canyon Runners annual tuna seminar in Atlantic City this weekend.

For those of you who want to plan ahead, the Voyager, which sails out of Point Pleasant Beach, has posted its 2018 sailing schedule on the website.

Greg Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said a few optimistic anglers have been trying their luck at the Manasquan Inlet with green crabs and clams but he hasn’t heard of any fish being caught.

The shop is open every day and is holding a rod building class on Feb. 5, 7 and 9 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. The cost is $90.

When the weather cooperates, the boats out of Bogan’s Basin are sailing and the Big Jamaica took advantage of a weather window last Saturday.
Capt. Howard Bogan reported pretty good fishing on the offshore wrecks with high hooks getting up to 40 jumbo porgies. There were also a few pollock up to 25 pounds along with some ling.

The Big Jamaica is scheduled to sail this weekend as is the Jamaica II.

Capt. Ken Namowitz of the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach sailed on Sunday and Monday and he said that while the fishing was tough, the anglers aboard caught some nice blackfish.

He found some warmer water southeast of the Manasquan Inlet and the fish were there. It was a scratchy bite, he said, but if you swung in the middle of it, you could hook them.

There were a few limits, but most had two or three along with a load of shorts. The Mimi VI is sailing open boat through the end of the month.
Capt. Matt Sosnowski on the Norma K III fished over the weekend but didn’t find the bite he was looking for. Those on board fished hard, he said, on a number of spots, but the fish weren’t cooperating.

Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said there’s not much going on there except reel repairs and rod building
Justin at Fin-Atics in Ocean City said it’s very quiet there with the recent rain putting the lid on any white perch fishing in the creeks and rivers.
In the meantime, ice fishermen continue to have the best of the action. How long it lasts will depend on the weather.

The ice was good over the weekend, but the rain at the beginning of the week took its toll and now folks are keeping their eyes on the thermometer.
Laurie Murphy at Down’s Boat Rental said the ice was in good shape at Lake Hopatcong over the weekend for the Knee Deep Club’s first ice fishing contest of the season.

There were 120 participants and a variety of fish were caught including largemouth bass, yellow perch and pickerel. Murphy also said that a few musky were caught during the week up to 44 inches.

The next contest is Feb. 11 and Murphy hopes the ice will last.

Matt at Fins and Furs in Newfoundland said the rain didn’t help but there was still up to 7 inches of ice on most of the lakes and pond.
His customers are fishing at Lake Hopatcong, Split Rock Reservoir, Greenwood Lake and Lake Aeroflex and catching perch, crappie, bass and pickerel. They’re also catching Northern pike at Budd Lake.

Suckerfish, which the shop stocks, are proving to be a good bait for the bigger fish. A lot of guys are fishing split rigs, he said, with the live bait fished on the bottom.

Billy at Tackle and Field in said the rain on Tuesday softened the ice up and a few holes appeared here and there. Prior to the bad weather, anglers were catching perch and smallmouth at Split Rock Reservoir.

He also heard of some big musky at Greenwood Lake caught on shiners and tip ups.

Steve at Garden State Bait & Tackle said it was a big weekend with good reports coming in from all the usual spots. Lots of yellow perch, crappie and largemouth bass. He, too, had reports of pike at Budd Lake along with walleye at Greenwood Lake.

He also said they’re seeing a lot of first time of ice anglers come into the store. So many, said Steve, that it hasn’t been easy keeping enough tackle in stock.

Best Bets for the Weekend
This may be the final weekend for the blackfish boats sailing out of the Shark River Inlet. The Ocean Explorer is the only one with definite plans to sail through the winter. The boats out of Bogan’s Basin will be sailing on the weekends for porgies, ling, cod and pollock.
The temperatures should drop enough at night to keep the ice in place for the weekend. Beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess as there is rain in the forecast along with some warmer weather.