Southern New Jersey Fishing Report – May 2, 2019

We are finally into May which means striped bass for most of the state and drum for the Cape May area. The April tog season ended with some nice fish being caught up to 10 pounds and now anglers will have to wait until August when the season opens back up at 1 fish per person. There has been a lot of talk and grumblings about the striped bass population, regulations, and possible reduced bag limits. As anglers, we have the right to catch and keep fish within the legal limits, as I personally enjoy a few of those 28-inch fish for table-fare compared to the 40+ inchers. A picture of one of those breeding cows will last a lifetime compared to taking her out of the population. The bluefish invasion has started with each inlet from Cape May to Manasquan beginning to report blues on the hook. I was togging in Barnegat Inlet and had a few 20-inch bluefish chase the crab baits to the surface, so it should start getting better. “May” all of your fishing wishes come true this upcoming month.

Fishing Report for Southern New Jersey

Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach had great reports from anglers during the last week of the blackfish season with multiple 10-pound fish being caught on green crab in 40 to 60 foot of water. The striped bass action is still going off in the Raritan for anglers making the trip and pulling mojos on the troll. Local striped bass action has been more sporadic with shorts and a keeper in the mix, but the shop has received reports of some bigger fish beginning to make their way up the coast from Cape May.

Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach fished hard the last week of the blackfish season and they encountered some of their best fishing yet. The vessel released lots of shorts with many anglers getting their 4-fish limit with the biggest weighing over 7 pounds. The crew will switch to ling until May 15, when the black sea bass fishery opens up.

The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach reported a slow week on striped bass as the water got a little cooler with the strong South winds and it seems a lot of the fish moved back into the rivers and bays. The boat stayed dockside to complete some routine maintenance and will be back at striped bass and bluefish this upcoming weekend.

The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant boxed some beautiful blackfish during the last week of the season and quite a few anglers aboard had their limit of tog. Some of the tog were pushing close to 10 pounds as skipper Ken worked a variety of bottom structures. The vessel will switch over to charter and open boat striped bass trips with the tog season ending. It’s best to call the boat for information.

Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick had up to the minute reports of big choppers hitting the surf and inlet rocks on Diawa Salt Pro minnows. A bunch of anglers were able to stick 10 pounders on artificials, including Pat Murphy’s pair of 10 pound twins. The bite has been on along the Manasquan Inlet along with some schoolie striped bass. A few anglers released keeper fluke caught on soft plastics meant for stripers.

Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported several bluefish caught on plugs along the Manasquan Inlet the past few days. There have also been blues and striped bass caught along the surf on clam and chunked bunker baits.

Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported an uptick on striped bass action off the surf with keepers to 13 pounds and most of the bass have been taken on chunked bunker.

Sporadic bluefish are starting to hit baits off the suds, but the shop has heard of a decent body of fish south. The bays seem to be better for medium to large size bluefish on chunked bunker and plugs.

Jersey Buoyz out of Forked River worked some areas north for tog and striped bass finding a decent tog bite to end the season. The skipper will be booking trips for the rest of the month for striped bass and sea bass.

Lacey Marine in Forked River reported good fishing in the back-bays for striped bass for anglers who went early or late. Most have been getting them on soft plastics tipped with 1/2 to 3/4oz heads, 4 inch poppers, and plugs to 5 inches. Blackfish hit very well this past week to end the season and anglers were rewarded with fish up to 12 pounds. Anglers will have about 20 more days until the start of the long-awaited summer flounder season.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported decent tog fishing from most of the inshore reef sites from Little Egg to Mantoloking and even some Manasquan head boats were seen working the Barnegat Light reef. Striped bass action has been sporadic in the backwaters with a few charters doing well around the sedges behind Island Beach State Park and also near the bridges on Tsunami Split Tail minnows. The Forked River has some blue claws coming out of the mud for anglers leaving traps in the water.

Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light had is charters boxing keeper tog up to 10 pounds on some of the skipper’s choice wrecks. The bite was hot on both green and white crab. The bay action was pretty good on short striped bass and keeper fluke which were released due to the season regulations. Most of the back-bay species were landed on Tsunami 4 and 5 inch soft plastics.

Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported good striped bass fishing around the Route 72 bridges and surrounding sedges on soft plastics with pink, white, and lime green colors offering the best results. Black drum have showed up at a few spots near the Little Egg Inlet and anglers have been anchoring up-current of deeper water to boat these fish. Bluefish have started to filter into the area over the past week and anglers have started getting them on clam, bunker, and plugs. The shop expects a few weakfish to be caught and recommends working areas around the Forked River Power plant.

The Ocean City to Cape May areas have been relatively busy this week with a variety of species starting to flood into the area. Drum have been reported in the Delaware Bay for boats targeting striped bass with clams and striped bass up to 40 inches are being caught from chunked bunker. The tog season ended with some nice fish to 12 pounds being caught on wrecks from 45 to 90 feet deep. Smaller sized striped bass have been caught along most of the back sedges, inlets, and areas with bridges or permanent structures. The bluefish invasion is in full swing with multiple inlets from Cape May to Manasquan reporting spring choppers blowing up on poppers on the surface.

Fishing Forecast for Southern New Jersey

The best bet for the weekend will be target striped bass in the back bay or if the weather cooperates head out to try off the beach as the water temperatures have warmed up to the lower to mid-fifties in the ocean. Many shops and anglers have been reporting seeing gannets working the waters off the surf up and down the coast. Cape May has been seeing a push of stripers and it should continue to get better over the next few weeks. Unfortunately, we are in a holding pattern waiting for some of the other species’ regulations to open up. It may be a good time to get your fluke gear in order for the upcoming season as May 24 will come quick. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!