Northern New Jersey Fishing Report - March 22, 2018

Pictured above: This 10-pound cod took the pool on the St. Patrick’s Day trip aboard the Ocean Explorer.

It’s deja’ vu all over again.

Another nor’easter came our way, the fourth in three weeks, and shattered any hope of early spring fishing. It’s some sort of bad cosmic joke.

I wish there was better news but it looks like it will be April before there’s any consistent fishing. There is just not a whole lot going on.

Phil Sciortino Sr. at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the brief sunshine over the weekend brought a few anglers out and they had some luck catching small bass on bloodworms on the flats around Raritan Bay.

He didn’t hear of any keepers, nor was there any word on winter flounder. They may be around, but not a lot of folks are fishing for them.

Sciortino added that not only was the weather creating problems for the fishermen, it was making it difficult to get worms. He said he should have plenty by the weekend.

Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said it there wasn’t much in the way of fishing in the Shark River this weekend. The brighter weather led to more bloodworms being sold out of the shop, but he didn’t hear anything in the way of results as far as stripers or winter flounder go.

He did hear of small bass down in the Toms River, but that was about it. Matthews added that Fisherman’s Den North, the shop located at the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor will be open sometime in early April

Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer sailed on the weekend and put together a catch of cod, ling and perch, but it wasn’t the fishing he was hoping for.

The ocean was still a little lumpy from all the wind and the water remains below 40 degrees.

It will probably take a few days for things to calm down, but Capt. Quinn is planning on sailing this weekend.

John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said that the Big Jamaica and the Jamaica II did not sail last weekend due to the heavy winds. The boats did get a few cod and pollock on their last trips and plan on sailing this weekend.

He hadn’t heard much over the past week with the exception of small stripers caught on worms in the Island Heights area. The shop is well-stocked with bait and he’s hoping the weather will begin to cooperate.

Sunday is already looking a bit iffy.

Dave Arbeitman at the Reel Seat in Brielle reported, like everyone else, a very quiet week. He said it was a successful Saltwater Expo in Edison last weekend and he was busy getting the shop ready for better weather.

Freshwater anglers aren’t faring any better.

Ryan at Tackle and Field in Wanaque reported absolutely nothing going on there during the week. Boat ramps are useless due to the snow and the majority of boats are still covered against the weather.

Trout fishing is now closed until opening day on April 7.

Cheryl at Newark Sinker Company in Pine Brook said it’s been quiet there as well with no reports on local fishing. She’s been busy stocking shelves for opening day.

Northern New Jersey Fishing Forecast

Honestly, it doesn’t look all that great.

There’s still a lot of snow around, the water is chilly and there will be a lot of runoff. Not ideal conditions.

Bloodworms for small bass appear to be the only thing that working in the rivers and the flats around Raritan Bay. Hopefully, the sun will make an appearance and start to warm the water.

You may also want to mark your calendars for the Annual Trout Contest for Kids on Opening Day, April 7 in Spring Lake.

Organized by the Shark River Surf Anglers, the contest is free and open to kids 15 and under. It’s a terrific event with loads of prizes and giveaways and, with all of the trout the club stocks in the lake, youngsters have an excellent chance to catch fish.