It just seems we can’t get a break with the weather and winds. We finally had cleaner water and calmer winds going into the weekend, and then we get smacked with another system which dumped rain and churned the waters with 40 knot winds. This has been one of the toughest Falls on record, and when speaking to other charter captains they have had more cancellations than trips this fall. We are New Jersey fisherman and we must grind on! Despite the hard NW winds, beach anglers from Seaside to Island Beach State Park did report one of the best beach jig bites this year. Most of the fish were in the 20-inch range, but there were a few keepers mixed in. The backbays of Ocean City to Cape May are producing a fair number of short striped bass with some keepers being caught at night on eel. Togging is still pretty good off the jetties in extreme South Jersey, but the bite primarily seems to be an incoming tide bite. On the boating front, most of boats have been tied to the dock this week due to the winds and poor sea conditions. The good news is that Friday and Saturday look like gems for fisherman. Hopefully this upcoming weekend gives us a good rebound on the fisheries front!
Fishing Report Southern New Jersey
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant had decent reports of jigging Stripers over the weekend until Sunday’s rough seas. There was a fair amount of tagged Stripers and “unders” caught from the party boats. Boats trolling and heavily working the 3-mile line had bigger fish on Mojo’s and Bunker Spoons. Tog fishing has been hit or miss as somedays they bite very good while other days it’s an extremely slow pick. Most of the headboat and charter captains feel that the reduced water clarity and recent Full Moon has something to do with slower bites. Short striped bass are still being caught with regularity from the bridges surrounding Shark River and Manasquan River. It has mostly been a night bite on soft plastics.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach had a few trips of good blackfishing despite a serious swell and dirtier water. The morning has had some of the best bites with a fair amount of keepers and shorts coming over the rail. All depends on the bite, but White Crabs have been working better and some of the bigger fish have been over 7 pounds.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach reported that the striped bass trips over the past few days have been slow. The skipper has seen some good marks on the sonar, but they haven’t been in the biting mood as the strong winds have churned up the seas quite a bit. The water temperatures are still in good range, so the Bass should get back on the feed any day.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant has been running blackfish trips and they been have some really good days with 7 to 8 pound Tog coming over the rail. A couple of the trips have been hampered by dirty water and on these days the bite has been tough. The weather is supposed to rebound this upcoming weekend and the skipper has some openings available.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported a good bite off the surf this past week even with the heavy west winds. It was mostly a metal and teaser bite from Seaside, but there have been some bass caught south of the Manasquan Inlet.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported a great day for anglers casting metals with tubes from Seaside to Island Beach State Park. Most of the Stripers were short, but the shop did receive word of some nice keepers caught. The shop is still hearing of more fish North of us, so the run is still going. The shop recommends fishing with AVA’s, T-hex jigs, and Deadly Dicks as the fish off the surf are on sand eels.
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported a decent bite before the blow off of Harvey Cedars for anglers trolling Bunker Spoons and Mojo’s near the 3-mile line. White Mojos and Green Spoons have been producing the best. Some of the fish caught were over 43 inches, but most ranged from 36 to 41 inches. Boats fishing the Bathing Beach to the old Coast Guard station on Island Beach State Park also picked up bass trolling. Tog fisherman have been getting a mix of shorts and keepers from the area’s reef sites. The back-bay and inlet has been very slow on short Stripers, but the beachfront has been better producing shorts on metals and sand-eel teasers.
Super Chic in Barnegat Light was out over the weekend jigging some short striped bass and a few keepers off the Bathing Beach and Harvey Cedars. The skipper does have a few spots remaining for December striped bass and blackfish.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had decent reports of trolled striped bass from the Harvey Cedars lump and also from the Bathing Beach for anglers trolling 24oz Mojos and Green Maja spoons. Most of the action has been in the 50 to 62 foot depths and a few anglers did mention two whales working huge schools of Bunker down deep. The backbay fishing has been pretty slow other than at the Route 72 bridge which has had some shorts caught at night.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported a decent bite on jigging fish off of Seaside this past weekend, but the past week’s weather has made fishing very tough to say the least. Most of the reports were from the weekend prior to the blow which had Stripers to 40 inches being caught from the Bathing Beach off IBSP to the Harvey Cedars lump. Most action has been on the troll for boats pulling Mojo’s and Bunker Spoons. Togging has been solid when the wind stops blowing and boats have been running to the southernly artificial reef sites.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported a good bite on striped bass to 41 inches being caught over the weekend on trolled Bunker Spoons and green Mojos. It seemed that Harvey Cedars to Beach Haven (red tower) were picking at quality keepers from 2 to 3 miles out. Togging has been better South compared to North, with anglers hitting small individual wrecks and some of the reef sites. The bridges along the Causeway are still producing good action on short to keeper striped bass, but anglers either have to have a boat or bundle up in their “yak” as most of the action is mid-bridge.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported a great weekend fishing prior to the most recent blow. The word was that “they just keep getting bigger and bigger.” Boat have been responsible for most of the action from just off the beach to the 3 mile line. The Stripers have been ranging from 36 to 45 inches. Tog fishing has been very good at the Little Egg, Atlantic City, and Ocean City reef sites for boaters that opted for blackfish over Bass. Unfortunately the most recent 40 mph winds had most fisherman stuck at work or home this past week. The forecast looks good for Friday through the weekend so the bite should turn back on as the water cleans up.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City was busy the past week with a storewide sale and getting reports of quality striped bass hitting trolled Bunker Spoons and Mojos off Brigantine to the Sea Isle lump. There were some striped bass caught in the surf and around the inlet rocks and jetties. Most are being taken on soft plastic swimshads and AVA metals. The bay is producing short striped bass and the occasional keeper when the water is clean. Tog are hitting Green Crabs during the incoming tides in the inlet and bridges.
Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May reported a better bite on striped bass over the Thanksgiving weekend for boats trolling Stretches, Spoons, and Mojos. Sea Isle City south through Wildwood had most of the Bass action. The reports from local head and charter boats has been that the Tog bite has been slower and the heavy rains and wind hasn’t helped the cause, but at least this weekend looks like a reprieve.
Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported a good week in terms of quality striped bass being landed from Sea Isle City to Cape May. Most of the bass have been between 34 to 43 inches caught on trolled Mojo and Bunker spoons. The tog fishing has been slow, but better closer to shore.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to get out early and search for the striped bass as not too many anglers have been out this past week due to the winds. The weather looks really good Friday and Saturday, so there’s your two-day window. With weak winds on Saturday, anglers should have good shots at Tog and should target the inshore wrecks to 60 feet. Green crabs have been working well south, but White Leggars are working well at the northernly wrecks. Surf fisherman should have excellent shots at playing catch and release with Stripers to 27-inches, so bring those AVA’s, Hogy’s, and Tsunami Sand eels. Some angers are beginning to throw in the towel, but I’m still hearing of a good number of Stripers still in Long Island. I know the weather has been a bummer, but don’t quick yet!! Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!