Fishing Report for New Jersey
No spoilers here.
It’s January, the weather is tough and blackfish remain about the only game in town. Even togging suffered this week with high winds keeping boats at the dock for several days.
There were reports of a few small bass hanging around in the surf, but they have been rare. Winter is definitely upon us.
One bright spot is there should be plenty of ice when the temperature dips at the beginning of next week. Fishermen are already out on the hard water in Sussex County.
Rick at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said all he’s been hearing about lately is the blackfish bite in deeper water from 80 to more than 100 feet.
The few boats still sailing out of the Shark River Inlet are finding some nice tog when conditions cooperate.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar sailed over the weekend and the middle part of the week with mixed success. Saturday saw some nice fish come over the rail and Wednesday’s trip was good as well. High winds and big swells claimed the other days.
Capt. Quinn reported that the swell dropped out on Wednesday and a few anglers got a couple of keepers each. There was a lot of short action as well. The Explorer plans on sailing every day through the weekend.
Amanda at the Reel Seat in Brielle said it’s been a little quiet there but she has heard of blackfish on the local reefs with some ling and cod for boats making offshore trips.
Greg Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said the Big Jamaica has been sailing for ling, porgies and cod when the weather allows and the fishing has been decent. The Jamaica II and Paramount have also been making offshore trips and doing some tog fishing as well.
Capt. Matt Sosnowski on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said the fishing was a little slow for them over the weekend with a few fish caught on each spot. The pool fish ran about 7 pounds.
The weather kept him at the dock during the week but he was planning on sailing again by week’s end.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach sailed on Wednesday and reported a good trip with the pool fish going 9 pounds. He’s been sailing every day the weather allows and has been finding keepers in depths from 50 to 120 feet of water.
He’s also been running special trips on Fridays with a limit of 12 anglers aboard and his next one is scheduled for Jan. 18. Check the website for any open spots.
Capt. Bob Bogan on the Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach has called it a season and will be sailing again in April. In the meantime, he’ll be at the winter shows, including the Saltwater Expo in March in Edison.
Ray at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said it’s a little quiet there but he did have one customer pick up six small stripers in the surf at the beginning of the week. The bass hit small Kettle Creek shads and none were over 20 inches.
Other than that, the boats are still getting blackfish with jigs getting most of the attention. He said he’s done very well with the new S&S White Chin Wrecker Jigs. The shop, he added, has plenty in stock. Liza at Creekside Outfitters hasn’t heard much as the shop closed after the holidays and will reopen in March.
Blake at Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said that since the Oyster Creek Power Plant shut down, all he’s hearing about is blackfish. The bass that used to hang out in the warmer water near the plant have disappeared. Tog anglers, he said, are having better luck lately in deeper water, from 90 to 100 feet.
As for the ice fishing, Nick at Garden State Bow and Reel in Stockholm said there is about 4 inches of ice on local lakes and ponds and anglers are catching perch, pickerel and a few crappie. With temperatures forecast to drop to single digits beginning next week, Nick said there should be good ice for weeks to come.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
The weather is going to be an issue, but Saturday looks like it might work for togging. Boats are still sailing out of the Shark River, Manasquan River and Barnegat inlets.
Freshwater anglers can also feed their fishing habit by heading indoors and attending the pubic forum on freshwater fisheries research and management at the Hackettstown State Fishery in Warren County on Saturday, Jan. 19. The forum, held by the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife, will begin at 10 a.m. and provide an opportunity for anglers to learn more about freshwater fishing management in the state and to share their views on regulations and other related issues. Visit the division’s website for more information on the forum.
And then there’s always football.