The year may have changed but the fishing hasn’t. Anglers rang in the new year much the same way they said good bye to the old one – with rough weather and the boats at the dock. As a result, there isn’t a whole lot going on. A few small stripers continue to show up on the beach while blackfishing remains the best game in town.
Fishing Report For New Jersey
Capt. Stan Zagleski on the Elaine B II out of Highlands sailed for blackfish whenever he could over the holidays. The togging was up and down but he found keepers on all trips.
His New Year’s Eve trip consisted of a small group of regulars and the fish chewed all day on one drop.
Bill Jagusak from Long Valley, landed eight keepers and kept his limit, which is now four fish. Capt. Zagleski plans on sailing through the weekend before calling it a season.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the stripers have gone quiet in the surf. He heard of one or two fish taken farther south but that’s been it.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch heard pretty much the same thing with a few fish caught at Island Beach State Park.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reported good blackfishing for the boats out of the marina. Several fish in the 10- to 12-pound range were reported as the year came to an end.
He’s also had reports of a few small bass in the surf and there are still plenty of sand eels around. What’s missing, he added, are fishermen.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar has been sailing for tog when the weather permits and some days have been better than others. The fishing was pretty good he said before the New Year’s Eve storm and he’s going to keep at it as long as there are folks who want to fish.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer closed the year on a high note when he reported that the big fish were chewing on his New Year’s Eve trip. There were a number of fish in the 7- to 9-pound range but the big pig of the day went to John Snook when he wrestled a 13½-pound tog off the bottom.
High winds kept the boat at the dock on New Year’s Day but Capt. Quinn sailed the next day and got 2019 off to a good start with some limit catches. He also reported busting off a few big fish. The Ocean Explorer sails all year weather permitting
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar is also togging and he put his fares on some nice fish during the last week of December. Several fish up to 10 pounds came over the rail.
Bob Caracozzo at the Reel Seat in Brielle said blackfishing is about all that’s going on right now. He had a report of some stripers in the surf toward the end of last week in Belmar but those fish have disappeared. There are still a lot of sand eels around, he said, as they were being snagged by anglers trying for bass.
It was a good end for the black sea bass season, he said, as boats making long trips, about 90 miles, found some big fish. We’ll have to wait for spring before sea bass are back on the menu.
John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said the boats out of Bogan’s Basin also did well on the sea bass before the season closed on Dec. 31. The Big Jamaica, Jamaica II and Paramount are now fishing for tog, ling, cod and pollock.
Ronny at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant said he’s still getting reports of small bass on the beach there. The best time it seems is early afternoon with any soft plastic the best choice. Don’t expect any keepers, he added.
Boats out of the Manasquan Inlet, he said, continue to do well with blackfish.
The Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach is one of those boats. Capt. Matt Sosnowski reported the new year got off to a good start on Wednesday with tog hitting the baits as soon as they dropped anchor. The pool winner went a little over 11 pounds and the fish were hitting both green and white legger crabs. The togging was good for the Norma K III at the end of the year as well with fish up to 12 pounds landed.
Matt at Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin said the blackfish bite is the only thing going on in his neck of the woods.
Ray at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said there is still bait on the beach and a few stripers in the surf. He reported a few customers spotted some peanut bunker in the suds over the holidays. He, too, reported a good blackfish bite on the boats out of Barnegat Inlet.
Bill at Fin-Atics in Ocean City said all that’s going on down there are some small bass in the bay, inlet and surf. What’s he’s hoping for in the new year is better weather, adding that 2018 was the worst he’s seen in 15 years.
As for the freshwater action, things will have to get either very cold or very dry for any improvement on that front.
Steve at Garden State Bow and Reel in Stockholm said the folks there are waiting for a big chill to get the ice fishing season started and that won’t be happening in the immediate future.
The rivers and streams are still way up from all the recent rain so nobody has been trying for trout.
Larry at Newark Sinker Company in Pine Brook said it’s the same there with the Passaic River overflowing its banks and coming into the shop’s parking lot.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
Although there is bait around, the small stripers are pretty scarce in the surf right now. So, it’s all about the blackfish at this point.
Party and charter boats have been doing pretty well with some nice fish being caught. The forecast is for relatively mild weather through the weekend, which is a bonus for this time of year. It’s definitely worth a try.
Jigs and standard rigs are both working as are green and white legger crabs.