In just one week, the back-bay striper season will reopen after closing on December 31. If the warm temperatures continue (and the weather forecast suggests they will) resident stripers could be active in the backwaters by March 1.
But that still begs the question of what to fish for this week. The blackfish season closes for the month of March, so this is the last shot to catch them until April. Few boats are targeting tog right now, as the fishing has been sporadic, but the Ocean Explorer is going out and targeting a mix of tog, codfish, and ling.
The offshore wrecks are producing fairly. The Big Jamaica had a good trip on Saturday, catching pollock, ling, and jumbo porgies.
The better action right now is in freshwater, where the recent warm-up has brought the lakes and ponds to life. Carp, bass, pickerel and crappie were all biting well this week. For most of those, a bucket of live shiners will get you all the action you can handle. For the carp, a can of corn and some liberal chumming, could help you hear your drag singing long before the big stripers return.
Or you could start prepping for next Thursday and the kick-off of the back-bay bass season. Many fishermen will be tracking down some fresh clams or bloodworms for the opener, while others will be getting their light-tackle setups ready for action. If you’ll be seeking stripers with lures, nighttime will be best. Fish lures low and slow, in deep channels or around structure like bridges. Soaking clams or bloodworms on a mud flat or off a sodbank is often best in the afternoon or evening.
Most of the stripers you encounter early in the season are likely to be shorts, with many less than 20 inches long, so take care in releasing them, so they survive to be keepers.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
Spend the weekend filling your freezer with cod, ling, or pollock fillets from a headboat trip, or hit the freshwater for pickerel, panfish, or carp. I would take the carp, just because the big-scaled bruisers will be feeding in the warming waters, and a fun fight with a heavy freshwater fish sounds like a great way to bid farewell to a long and mostly fishless February.
I’ve been clobbering the Winter Flounder at 6th Street in Surf City. Can’t wait until the season officially opens up, so I don’t have to duck “the man.” Nack.
Hi Bill, I haven’t fished for winter flounder since my dad took me as a child 50 years ago. I would like to try fishing for them again once the season opens. Can you please tell me what bait you are using to catch them? Thank you.