The ocean swell caused by Hurricane Chris slowed the fluke bite this week, especially at some of the reef sites. The Raritan bay, Shrewsbury River, and Navesink are still choked with fish and producing good number of keepers. Most of the area shop’s are reporting good numbers of schoolie striped bass bending light-tackle rods around most “lit” bridges and along the inlets at early morning or late evening. The canyon tuna bite was still going strong, but the hurricane has hampered some of the boats getting out there this week. Bluefin are still busting on topwaters in the 35 to 60 mile ranges.
Fishing Report for Northern Jersey
Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright had good reports on fluke picking up off the surf in Sea Bright with lots of shorts and keepers up to 20 inches. Small striped bass have been hitting swim-shads and small bucktails in the morning off the surf and around the inlets. White bucktails tipped with white soft plastics have been working well. The Long Branch area had similar reports of fluke off the surf, but there hasn’t been much on the Bluefish, even cocktails are slim to nil. Crabbing on the other hand, has been heating up in the Shrewsbury River on fresh and frozen bunker. The shop recommends the areas that are 4 to 6 feet in depth.
Jigging World in North Rochelle Park had positive news on fluke from the Raritan bay areas with lots of shorts to be had and keepers up to 24 inches. Fisherman have reporting only fishing for a few hours and being able to boat near individual limits of fluke. White bucktails tipped with Gulp or fresh strip baits such as bunker or mackerel have worked extremely well. The shop recommends working the depths from 15 to 20 foot for keeper fluke. There have been some small schoolies around at night and in the early morning.
Parker Pete’s Sportfishing in Belmar reported solid action on fluke on their last few trips with some nicer fish to 6 pounds hitting the deck. The skipper recommends pounding the areas with bucktails and Gulp. He has been working some of his choice wrecks with good results and anglers have been able to catch individual limits.
The Reel Seat in Brielle reported “hot” tuna action in the northern canyons and on some of the warm water eddies. The canyon temperatures have cooled down, but that has caused the fish to be more concentrated. Trolling with spreader bars and chunking during the night have resulted in yellowfin and bigeye to 200 pounds. The inshore fluke bite has been slightly hampered with the hurricane swell, but there are still fish feeding off the wrecks. Small striped bass have been caught along the jetties and around the bridges during the evening hours.
The Golden Eagle out of Belmar reported excellent sea bass fishing along with some bluefish and keeper fluke at the wrecks. It has been relatively easy to get your 2-man limit of sea bass, but keeper fluke have needed more sorting with the number of shorts around.
TAK Waterman in Long Branch in Long Branch reported a fair number of short fluke hitting worked bucktails in surf zone along with a few 18-inchers making it home for the table. Fly fisherman are picking up fluke in the wash on worked clousers with the chartreuse and white having the best results. Small schoolie Stripers are also prowling the water’s edge in the late evening and early morning. Most of the lighted bridges have been reporting striped bass from 12 to 20 inches hitting small swim-shads.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
After the influence of Hurricane Chris subsides, I would look for all of our fishing to get better as we come off the New Moon. The lesser tides should spell bigger fish feeding whether it’s striped bass at night or fluke on the lumps and humps. Sea bass fishing is still going strong and most boats can easily target 2-fish limits as bycatch when fluking the snags. Offshore should see a rebound, but it may be a slight crapshoot as most offshore anglers were not out this week due to the increased wave heights. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!