Even with uncooperative weather, the Southern New Jersey fisheries have been pretty good with bass to over 40 inches showing up from Brigantine to Manasquan over this past week. Most of the shops reported the best bites from anglers concentrating their efforts on the troll with bunker spoons and mojos. The Cape May area is still getting these fish, in addition to some primo drum in the 70-pound range. Sea bass opened up, and the bite was excellent at most of the inshore reef sites. bluefish are still in the back bays with most fiercely attacking topwater lures. Right now, there are plenty of options to keep anglers busy, and another choice becomes available next week with the opening of the summer flounder season.
Fishing Report For South Jersey
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach weighed bass to 35 pounds which were caught trolling the 3-mile line with bunker spoons and mojos. Most of the bites have occurred during the afternoon and dusk. bluefish are still hanging around Manasquan Inlet and some areas along the Manasquan River.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach experienced good fishing for the opening day of sea bass with lots of limits around the boat. There were also a few keeper cod and ling mixed in with the sea bass. The boat is sailing every day from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for sea bass, ling, and cod.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach has been going out for striped bass when the weather and seas cooperate. The fishing was a little tough early in the week with hard to find stripers, but cooperative bluefish keeping anglers busy. Most of the bluefish have ranged from 5 to 10 pounds. The crew will start half-day fluke and sea bass trips the following week.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant started sailing open-boat sea bass trips this past week and Capt. Kenny didn’t disappoint with anglers hooking into some nice humpbacks on the season’s 1st drop. The boat will continue to sail open-boats and charters, but be sure to call ahead for the latest information.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported great bluefish action this past week with most fishermen finding 5- to 10-pound bluefish. Some of the bites have lasted into the night, especially around some of the lighted bridges and docks. striped bass on the 3 mile line have started to be caught on boats pulling spoons and Mojos. The Axel and sea Girt reef sites were the place to be for the season sea bass opener.
Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported anglers getting into the big blues during the early morning and night using SP Minnows and the shop’s new PV Minnow. Big bass have busted onto the scene over the past few days for anglers trolling spoons out of Manasquan, Barnegat, and the Little Egg Inlets. Surf fisherman have been finding both striped bass and bluefish, but you have to put in your time. The dusk and dawn tides have been more productive.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported striped bass from 20 to 30 pounds being caught from the surf off Island Beach State Park on clam and bunker chunk. The boats have been trolling stripers at the 3-mile line from seaside to Manasquan. bluefish have been picking up artificials casted in the surf and most have ranged from 5 to 10 pounds.
Jerzey Buoyz out of Forked River was kept at the dock with the uncooperative weather, but did make it out late in the week with the Darnel party from Philadelphia to find some nice striped bass on the troll with M3Tackle white and green / yellow bunker spoons. The skipper does have some dates left for May striped bass and/or sea bass.
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported decent numbers of cooperative short striped bass in the backwaters from Toms River to Tuckerton. Most fish have been caught on small soft plastics, plugs, poppers, and bloodworms worked close to the sedges. sea bass had a decent start for anglers working the Barnegat Light reef and some of the surrounding wrecks. bluefish have been a little sporadic in the back, but the best news has been the presence of 40-plus-inch bass over the last few days. Almost all these bass have been caught on the troll.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown gave a last minute report of 35- to 45-pound striped bass being trolled up from Harvey Cedars to seaside out on the 3-mile line. There were also a few fish caught on the snag and drop near the inlet, but that was during first light. bluefish are still in the backwaters which have been caught on poppers and plugs. The shop advises looking in areas of 4 to 6 feet for feeding blues. sea bass at the reef sites was pretty good with a good quantity of keepers being reported.
Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light was out on charters in the bay as the ocean has been too rough early in the week. Bluefish to 26 inches and striped bass on light tackle was consistent with charters picking up a fish or two on each drift. The crew will be out hunting for trophy stripers over the next few weeks along with back-bay fluke, so give them a call for available dates.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom had good reports of striped bass being caught off the beaches of Long Beach Island, especially near the Barnegat Light area. Anglers working bunker chunks and clam off the south jetty during the night tides have been rewarded with some decent sized bass. Most of the boat action has been on the troll with a few anglers able to hook up on the snag-n-drop. The start of sea bass season was awesome with lots of anglers and headboats catching a good number of keepers and throwbacks. The backwaters are still providing good striped bass action during the night tides off the local marshes and bridges for bass up to 28 inches.
The Ocean City to Cape May areas produced more encouraging news this past week with schools of larger striped bass entering the area in fairly good numbers. bluefish have gotten larger also with the average closer to 8 pounds in the back bays and surf. Drum have been the main target in the Delaware Bay on night-time clamming trips. There have been several boomers in the 60- to 70-pound range. Weakfish have been sporadic, but anglers have been picking them from some of the jetties and bridges in Atlantic and Cape May counties on bloodworms or pink slim-profiled soft plastics. The opener of sea bass was pretty well received with good numbers of fish on most of the inshore wrecks and pieces. Most of the bites have been on clam or squid baits.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will to get out and pull spoons or mojos at the 3-mile line for quality striped bass. If you get out early, run up or down the beach looking for Bunker schools to get in on the snag and drop action. It’s been spotty, but should get better over the next week or two. It seems that most of our area from Manasquan to Cape May has stripers, so chances are good, but increase as you move South. Sea bass are another option and anglers can quickly fill their bag limits at some of the wrecks or reefs that haven’t been pressured yet. Chopped clam or squid on a high-low rig is your best bet for these tasty fish. If the bay is more your speed, then hang out in the bag casting plugs or poppers to bluefish in the 5- to 10-pound range. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
How about a surf fishing report in So. Jersey from time to time. Always at the 3 mile line!