It looks like there’s some light at the end of this tunnel called February. On Friday, March 1, the season opens for winter flounder and striped bass in rivers and bays.
There’s no word on winter flounder yet, but a few bass have been caught by anglers targeting white perch in the Toms River and Barnegat Bay.
The water remains a bit chilly and it will likely be a little while before catch numbers go up, but, come Friday, the spring fishing season is officially open.
Phil Sciortino Sr. at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said there’s really nothing going on there now but he’s got bloodworms and clams for the openers.
The beaches of Raritan Bay usually give up early bass on bait so hopefully there will be good news soon. The Shrewsbury River is more than likely holding winter flounder. The trick will be to get them to bite.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the shop will have blood worms in stock as the Shark River by the Belmar Marina is a good spot for winter flounder. The concrete pier and floating dock in Belmar are popular among locals for flatties.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar is wrapping up his winter tog season and sailed on Saturday and Wednesday, catching some keepers on both trips. He was sailing again on Thursday for his last trip until April 1.
Wednesday’s trip produced a handful of keeper tog, several ling and one cod.
Saturday’s trip was a bit more productive with about a half dozen keeper blackfish and a whole bunch of shorts on both clams and crabs.
John Vafiadis at the Reel Seat in Brielle said all that he’s heard of are the white perch being caught down in Toms River.
He did say there was an excellent turnout for the Reel Seat’s slow-pitch jigging seminar last Saturday in Brielle with about 50 attendees showing a lot of interest in the new technique.
Capt. Matt Sosnsowski on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach has elected to stay at the dock this weekend to continue working on the boat. He’s heading to the boatyard on Tuesday but will be back out after blackfish come April 1.
Greg Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle said the shop is all ready for the weekend and he just hopes the weather cooperates. He’s got bloods, sands and chum logs for those wanting to give winter flounder a shot.
Close to the Mantoloking Bridge and the bay end of the Point Pleasant Canal are the best bets for spring fishing.
He also said the Big Jamaica continues to sail for offshore porgies, pollock, cod and ling.
Capt. Howard Bogan reported a good trip this past Saturday. Anglers had to contend with a pretty stiff current, but high hooks still managed more than 40 jumbo porgies.
There were also some pollock, ling, hake and even a monkfish mixed in with the porgies. Mark Myricks from Jersey City won the pool with an 8-pound pollock. The Big Jamaica will be heading back offshore this Saturday at 1 a.m.
Rick at Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Brick said the guys fishing for white perch in the Metedeconk River are picking up small stripers in the process. The shop is currently open Friday, Saturday and Sunday but will be expanding its hours as the fishing picks up.
Pete at Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach said some of the folks he knows fishing for white perch have been getting bass in the bargain. A few of them, he said, were close to keepers.
He also mentioned that a friend of his saw loads of gannets diving on what looked like bunker just off the beach at Island Beach State Park earlier this week. A bit surprising for this time of year, but an encouraging sign.
Ray at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said the white perch fishing has been decent in Barnegat Bay and he expects the striper fishing to get off to a good start in the bay as well.
He’s well stocked with clams, blood and sandworms for bass and winter flounder.
The shop will also be at the Berkeley Striper Club’s Annual Fisherman’s Flea Market at the Toms River North Intermediate School this Sunday. The Berkeley Flea Market is one of the top showcases for plugs, rods, reels and tackle along the Jersey Shore.
The show opens at 9 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.
Blake at Fisherman’s Headquarters in Surf City said it’s mostly been white perch in the rivers and bay with a few stripers caught by accident. He thinks it will be a couple of more weeks before the bite reaches any kind of consistency.
Dan at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said there hasn’t been much going on this week with local ice disappearing. He said the shop was getting ready to head to the Suffern Outdoor Show this weekend at Rockland Community College in New York.
Steve at Garden State Bow and Reel in Stockholm said there is still ice around but most anglers are a little leery of stepping out on it. Guys willing to take the risk are having luck on the smaller ponds catching perch, pickerel and crappie.
But the ice fishing is winding down, he said, and it won’t be long before it’s all open water.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
The weather looks a little iffy this weekend, but if your cabin fever has reached a critical stage, you can try for winter flounder and striped bass. Small bass are already being caught in Barnegat Bay and the Toms River and most shops are carrying blood and sandworms.
Indoors, the 24th Annual Berkeley Striper Clubs’ Fisherman’s Flea Market will be held this Sunday, March 3, at Toms River Intermediate North School, 150 Intermediate Way, Toms River. The flea market is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Admission is $5, children under 10 are free.
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