There was more variety on the fishing scene this past week with big blues making their spring debut. The bass also spread out a bit more, appearing in greater numbers along the beaches.
The freshwater bite also saw some improvement as warming water fueled the action. Fishing on all fronts should be getting better from here on out.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the bass fishing in Raritan Bay remains good with big stripers being caught on the troll, chunking and plugs.
Sciortino said it slowed down a bit over the weekend, possibly due to boat traffic, but there was a 50-pound striper caught on Sunday aboard the Hyper Striper out of Highlands. Steve Skoutelas was the man with the memorable catch.
The stripers are also hitting bait on Sandy Hook with a lot of action over the weekend on clams and worms.
The gator blues were in the bay on Saturday, Sciortino said, feeding on the bunker. They are also back by the Oceanic Bridge in the Navesink River. The bass are there as well at night, and in the Shrewsbury River by the Highlands Bridge, also at night.
Capt. Rob Semkewyc on the Sea Hunter out of Atlantic Highlands reported marking loads of bass over the past few days, but it hasn’t been easy to get them to bite. This past Tuesday was the exception with multiple fish in the 20-pound range and the pool winner going 30 pounds.
The weekend, however, was a bit of a struggle. While fish were located in multiple spots, they just weren’t in the mood to eat.
Mike at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said things were moving in the right direction with bluefish showing up on Sandy Hook and to a lesser degree on the beaches in Sea Bright.
He said the bass bite has been good on clams on the beaches, just not a lot of big fish. Guys are also getting fish in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers on clams and chunks.
Mike also reported a 7-pound weakfish was weighed in at the shop that was caught in the Shrewsbury River. The angler remained anonymous.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reported that the bass fishing has been fair on the beaches and back in the rivers. He said most of the fish were shorts, but some decent fish were being caught.
I personally got off the striper schnied for 2018, hooking four bass on four casts in the Ocean Grove surf on Tuesday afternoon using a rubber shad. The bite stopped as quickly as it started, but the beach is certainly worth a visit.
Matthews also reported that Gene Amato of the Asbury Park Fishing Club landed a 17-pound bass for the biggest striper in the Spring Lake Liveliner Fishing Club’s Spring Invitational Tournament.
He added that the Shark River is holding a lot of nice fluke with some 4-pounders caught by winter flounder anglers. The season doesn’t open until May 25, so Matthews is asking anyone who hooks a summer flounder to release it carefully.
Capt. Rich Falcone of the Golden Eagle out of Belmar has been looking for stripers in the ocean, and while the weather has been good, the fishing hasn’t. The ocean water is still on chilly side, and he believes everything is just a little delayed this year.
He’s marking a lot of fish, but there haven’t been a lot of takers. At some point, the ocean bite is bound to heat up and Capt. Falcone will keep at it until it does.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Sportfishing, also out of Belmar, began his spring campaign for stripers this week. His first trip was on Thursday and it wasn’t long before the first bass came aboard.
There are still some spots open for upcoming trips in May.
John Vafanidas at the Reel Seat in Brielle reported improved fishing this past week with big blues and bass in the Manasquan River.
He said the big choppers, 12 to 15 pounds, hit the Manasquan Inlet earlier this week and moved as far back as the Route 70 Bridge. There are also plenty of small bass in the river, hitting shads, plugs and clams.
There are winter flounder at the inlet, but they should be moving out, especially now that the bluefish have arrived. The fluke are in the Manasquan River as well.
John also mentioned that some black drum have been caught on the beaches down in Seaside.
John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle also reported the big blues in the Manasquan River. Metal and poppers were doing the trick.
Bogan said there are a lot of bass under the bridges hitting worms, clams and eels at high tide. A number of keepers were among the many shorts reported.
He added that the trout fishing has fallen off a bit, but the pickerel and bass fishing is picking up in local ponds and the Manasquan Reservoir.
Mark at Jigging World in Rochelle Park said the trout fishing remains spectacular in area streams and rivers, especially the Flat Brook. He said that after the initial opening day excitement, not a lot of folks have been going, so there are plenty of fish to be caught.
His saltwater customers have also reported getting into the big blues in Raritan Bay.
Dino at Garden State Bow & Reel said the water is warming up and the fishing is going right along with it. He weighed in a 7-pound, 9-ounce rainbow caught on the Walkill River on Wednesday. The angler, identified only as Randy, got the fish on a Panther Martin.
Lures are catching the bigger fish on the trout spots while meal worms are taking a lot of fish as well.
He also said the smallmouth bite is getting better with Senko worms getting more attention.
The walleye bite is improving as well, he added, especially at Canistear Reservoir.
Larry at Newark Sinker Company in Pine Brook said the Rockaway River is still giving up a lot of trout and more people are getting out now to fish it. The Passaic River is running high, but the carp fishing remains good.
His customers are also fishing the lower Hudson River for bass and finding decent action.
Chris at Tackle and Field in Wanaque said trout fishing remains the main attraction in the Wanaque River, but there’s more smallmouth action as the water warms up.
Ron at Fins and Furs in Newfoundland said the trout fishing remains good on the Rockaway and Pequannock rivers with dry flies and bait. The Pequannock is also giving up some smallmouth bass.
Laurie Murphy at Dow’s Boat Rental at Lake Hopatcong said several hybrids were caught in shallow water trolling Rapalas and Bombers. Three of the fish reported were in the 8-pound range.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
If you’re prepared to lose some tackle, seek out the big bluefish that have recently arrived in Raritan Bay, the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers and at the Manasquan Inlet. The bass are in the same places as well on lures and bait.
You can also fish the beaches for bass using clams, chunks, shads and plugs.
The warming water has also improved the freshwater fishing. Large and smallmouth bass are biting but remember all have to be returned as the season remains closed.