I would love to do an April Fool’s joke, but that would be pretty cruel as I write this week’s report from sunny southwest Florida. I have gotten into a few small snook and sheepshead as I’m still learning these waters compared to coastal New Jersey. As fun as this is, I still can’t wait to get into some striped bass and gator bluefish! Our area has been dealing with some rough weather, which is somehow continuing into April. The fishing has been slowly getting better, but should absolutely explode once the weather and water temperatures improve. I’m not sure if someone from our state played a bad Ouija board or had a run-in with a Voodoo witch doctor, but Spring needs to get here fast! I’m hoping I can bring some of the Sunshine state’s “mojo” back with me.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Fishermen’s Supply Co in Point Pleasant reported very similar fishing as the week prior with the area having Striped Bass biting soft plastics and Bloodworms at the Route 37 bridges. The bite really heated up along the Toms River down through Oyster Creek power-plant. Most of the fish were in the 16- to 22-inch range, hitting soft plastics. Jason from the shop said the Winter Flounder bite increased in Barnegat Bay, especially near the outflow. The key has been to chum heavily and hit them hard with Bloodworms and Clams. One major positive report came from the Voyager which got into heavy Ling and Cod action, so there are some good signs ahead.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported that fishing has been spotty to good depending on the weather and sea conditions. Some days showed only short cod, bergalls, and dogfish while others had keeper cod, blackfish, and good-sized ling. The boat is sailing every day for blackfish from 730 a.m. to 230PM and they have both Green Crabs and Clams aboard.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant is pretty close to being finished up with the prep work for the vessel and will soon be running bottom fish trips. Capt. Ken said he has been busy booking Spring charters for a variety of species.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park had reports of small striped bass in the bay and anglers have been having a good night bite with small artificials. Blood worms and clams are working during the daytime hours for striped bass and a few winter flounder were picked up near from the BB Buoy to Seaside. There have been some reports of bluefish in the Toms River picking up baits meant for striped bass, so it may be a good time to start throwing poppers.
Super Chic in Barnegat Light said they are currently booking trips starting late April for shots at bass, blues, or blackfish, so give them a call.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown has been busy supplying anglers with bloodworms and soft plastics as the Oyster Creek channel has been red hot. Anglers working the banks and mouth have been catching lots of schoolie Stripers. There has been more anglers fishing for winter flounder and scoring their limits. Chumming heavy with clam logs has been the ticket. The shop is stocked with surf clams, bloodworms, and green crabs.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had anglers stopping in and reporting a “hot” striped bass bite at Graveling Point in Mystic Island. Bloodworms have been the best bait for finding cooperative bass. Oyster Creek continues to hold a good amount of short Bass that have been hitting both bloodworm and soft plastics. The Beach Haven West lagoons have been showing some signs of white perch.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported that lots of customers have been picking up bloodworms and heading up the Mullica and the Greet Egg Harbor River for Striped Bass action. There has been quite a few bass landed in the rivers. The Great Egg Harbor river has had a good amount of action and there are a few prime spots that anglers can fish. The shop is fully. Stocked with Bloodworms and salted Clam baits.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported that Striped Bass have started biting in the back-bays of Ocean City and points around the Tuckahoe, Middle, and Great Egg Harbor rivers. It’s been mostly a bloodworm bite, but some anglers have found bass hitting pink and white soft plastics. There have been some customers reporting a few Bluefish around in the back, which is a good sign for Spring.
Points from Sea Isle City to Cape May have reported mostly schoolie Striped Bass in the backwaters and rivers. Most of these fish have been caught on bloodworm, clam, or soft plastics worked slow. There have been some sporadic reports of Bluefish being caught in the surf.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this week would be to fish the areas in the back and toward any freshwater influences. The Toms, Mullica, Egg Harbor, and Middle Rivers have been producing schoolie Striped Bass action with regularity as has Graveling Point in Mystic Island. If you can find or net your own grass shrimp some of these same areas are holding decent quantities of White Perch. If your interested in putting some flatties in the box, then focus on the bayside areas of Long Beach Island from mid-island to the “BI” buoy. Areas from the “BI”, “BB”, and northward to Seaside are prime locations for Winter Flounder. Chum heavy and tip flounder rigs with clam or bloodworms near channel areas adjacent to shallow mud flats. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
I was down Corsons Inlet last Friday and the birds where diving like crazy just outside the inlet; there must have been 4 or 500 birds diving inside the outer sandbar just off shore at low low-tide .I couldn;t see what they where feeding on or what had pushed the bait fish up to the top . It was cold as heck and the wind was blowing hard toward inshore . Only a couple people out ,one guy was glassing the birds and two other guys where trying to stay warm while getting there lines wet in the inlet nobody else out there that day .Went back a couple more times this week but its just been cold and windy with no real action. I also hit Gardeners Basin- Absecon Inlet and there where just two boats out there and 3 people hiding in there car watching their lines at the sea wall wind was howling and cold . I also hit up at Fortisque Inlet and the beach with a lot of small schoolies there mostly on the incoming tide . I am out there trying to go AMUNGSTUM and catch something , can’t wait for the bite to turn on I have the fever real bad