Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - October 4, 2018

The Mullet have started to get their “move on” as most shops in South Jersey reported bait migrations along the inlets and beach fronts. Striped bass and bluefish have been on their tails and make for fun action, especially under the lights at night. I’m not complaining as we have had some nice temperatures, but some cooler nights would help to get our October fisheries ramped up. I did have a chance to get out and kayak the night shift landing several bass to 20 inches along with a couple of blues under the lights of a dock. I can’t describe the excitement of sitting on top of the water when Stripers are blasting baits within arm’s reach. The opening of our sea bass season occurs this Monday, and most hardcore bottom fisherman are impatiently waiting. It will be an all-out boat race to the best pieces of structure. Offshore fisherman has been reporting a slow go on the Tuna front, but Mahi are hanging around in very good numbers from 40 to 100 miles out.

Fishing Report For South Jersey

Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported similar results as last week in terms of Striped Bass and Bluefish in both the Shark River Inlet and Manasquan Inlet. Anglers working eels at night are producing good numbers of Stripers with an occasional 20-pounder around the bridges. Bucktails and plugs worked along the shadow lines are also producing. Bluefish have been picking up Mullet baits and jigs around the inlets and off the beach front. Most of these Bluefish are in the 2- to 5-pound range, but some anglers have been finding the occasional 8-pounder. The inshore reef sites, mainly Axel Carlson and Shark River reef have lots of Porgies, Blackfish, and some Triggerfish on them. The porgies have the size of a large serving dish. The Point Pleasant Canal, Mantoloking Bridge, and Barnegat Bay are still choked with Northern Puffers and anglers have made a few dinners out of them.

Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported a good bite on porgies from the inshore reef sites with the Shark River reef producing the best results on clam. Many anglers are awaiting the re-opening of the Sea Bass season. The Manasquan and Shark Rivers have been holding Striped Bass around the bridges at night.

Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported Scup and Blackfish for anglers fishing aboard the vessel. The bites have been very consistent throughout the day and some nice sized Blackfish have been coming over the rail. The boat will be at it the rest of the week and will be working Bluefish every Friday and Saturday night.

The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant had quite a few trips this past week and the skipper worked some areas for inshore Bluefish, Porgies and Blackfish. The offshore trips resulted in lots of nice mahi caught on baits and jigs. The Schwartz Mazda charter loaded up on mahi which were caught around pots and floating debris. The skipper has dates for Sea Bass and has already started booking for fall striped bass.

Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick has been busy supplying baits and gear for anglers targeting Bluefish and some False Albacore from the Manasquan Inlet. The shop has a month-long tournament for JHO gift certificates and the last day to weigh-in is October 31st, but caught the shop for further details.

Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported lots of cocktail Bluefish feeding on Mullet in the inlets and surf zone. Some anglers are catching them on small jigs and bucktails. Striped Bass are around, but it has been more of a night bite with bass to 25 inches caught on plugs. The back bay is starting to come alive with small to keeper Striped Bass and anglers have been targeting them with small plugs and paddle tails.

Lacey Marine in Forked River had reports of Bluefish to 4 pounds hitting small AVA jigs and 4-inch soft plastics from the Barnegat Inlet area. Boaters working the jetties during the evening and early morning are scoring on some Striped Bass to 24 inches. Blowfish has been very good for anglers working clam baits with heavy chum in depths to 6 feet. It seems fishing on the edges of the grass beds are producing the best results.

Super Chicin Barnegat Light worked offshore this past week with an overnight Tuna trip. The skipper found lots of nice Mahi, but unfortunately the Tuna were a no-show. The boat will be out again this week and will start targeting sea bass when the season opens on Monday.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had good reports of blowfish from Barnegat Bay and anglers have been working areas from the BB to the Little Egg Inlet to find nice puffers. There have been some small bluefish around the inlets and some Weakfish caught with heavy grass shrimping. Blackfish are being caught from the Barnegat Inlet rocks and around the fish docks in the back of Barnegat Light. The shop has lots of rigs and bait for the opening of sea bass this upcoming Monday.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported anglers who have been fishing the south jetty in Barnegat Light are having a great time catching small Bluefish and Striped Bass on artificial lures.  The Long Beach Island (LBI) surf is loaded with small Bluefish and are being caught on both artificials and bait. Small silver jigs worked quickly, and fresh Mullet or juvenile Bunker are producing with very good results. The Barnegat bay is loaded with small blowfish from Island Beach State Park to LBI. Crabbing is still very good from the land and from boats working the islands around the bridges.

Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported some good cocktail Bluefish activity from the surf of Long Beach Island. Mullet are starting to run along the inlet which are producing Bluefish, small Striped Bass, and the occasional Weakfish. Mid-island bridges are still good for small Bluefish and Stripers at night. The bay is still loaded with Blowfish which are being caught along the whole length of Long Beach Island. The offshore scene has been a little slow for tuna, but the mahi are picking up the slack with good amounts being reported.

Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine had anglers catching bluefish to 2 pounds and small Striped Bass off the surf. Surf fisherman are still catching small Pompano and some Sheepshead from the entrance on the north end of Brigantine. The striped bass fishing has been slow, with the best bites happening during the dark hours from dusk to dawn. Boat anglers and charters have been working some of the inshore wrecks for blackfish and triggerfish.

Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported mullet are starting to move out of the bays during the moon phase of last week. Small striped bass and bluefish are hitting more aggressively in the inlets and backwaters as they are on the heels of the mullet migration. Triggerfish and blackfish are being caught from some of the inshore reef sites.

Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May reported a solid week for boaters working the sticky wrecks and structure for triggerfish and porgies. Some nice blackfish were also caught, and anglers are patiently awaiting the start of the sea bass season with the re-opening happening this upcoming week. The shop is loaded with a selection of jigs and rigs for targeting sea bass and blackfish.

Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May had good reports of cocktail Bluefish hitting metals and fresh Mullet baits from the Wildwood to Cape May beaches. The shop is loaded with fresh Mullet to be used for bluefish and striped bass. The Delaware Bay has had some numbers of croakers caught and blackfish are being caught from some of the rockpiles. Striped bass are keeping anglers working the night shift in kayaks and boats busy around the tidal creeks. Small plugs and soft plastics worked slowly in the current and around deeper holes are producing.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for this weekend gives anglers a few options, especially with the Mullet run starting along most beaches and inlets. Surf fisherman will continue to have good shots at Bluefish to 5 pounds and small Striped Bass. Three to five-inch plugs worked slowly along the beaches or jigs worked quickly should result in the pickups of both species. Fresh mullet on rigs will have surf anglers bailing bluefish. The structure of most jetties, inlets, and inshore reef sites should be good areas to drop down clam or crab baits for blackfish, porgies, or triggerfish. Areas further south will also give anglers additional shots at sheepshead. Offshore anglers should continue to have good shots at mahi, and there should also be some Tuna arriving to the grounds shortly.

Hopefully the weather cooperates for this upcoming Monday’s re-opening of sea bass.