Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - May 9, 2019

 

Bluefish, bluefish, and more bluefish! If you haven’t got into the action, you need to start fishing this weekend. It’s been a great week as the bluefish have invaded most of the inlets from Cape May north to Point Pleasant. Anglers working the jetties with metals, chunked bunker, and swimming plugs have been bailing 8- to 10-pound blues along the Manasquan Inlet. striped bass have been more consistent off the surf on chunk baits and clam. Most of these fish have been in the bigger size range of up to 40 inches. Weakfish are starting to show from Cape May through Great Bay on soft plastics along some of the jetties and deeper holes during the top of the tide. Anglers working the bottom structure in 50 to 100 feet are seeing lots of ling, winter flounder, and some Cod. Most anglers are awaiting the opening of our Sea Bass season, followed by Summer flounder a week later.

Here is this week’s rundown:

Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach had great reports of anglers getting into bluefish right outside their dock. A few head-boats, even from New York, where inside the Manasquan fishing for 8- to 12-pound bluefish. striped bass fishing continues to be good at the mouth of the Raritan for anglers pulling Mojos.

Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach fished for ling, Pollack, and Whiting on their last few trips. The crew worked a variety of structure areas, but there has been lots of current out on the wrecks. There has been a variety of fish, including some Cod making it over the rail. The boat is running every day for bottom fish, until the target switches to sea bass mid-month.

The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach went out a few times for striped bass and bluefish during this past week. The striped bass fishing has been a little on the slow side, but the bluefish have invaded the area since the weekend.

The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant has been mixing it up with striped bass trips and some bottom trips for ling and winter flounder. The striped bass trips have been leaving at 630am, whereas the ling/flounder trips depart at 7am. The skipper has some great wrecks for ling and winter flounder which generally produce a good deal of “meat”.

Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported “bluefish, bluefish, and more bluefish” from the Manasquan Inlet this past week on Ava metals, Daiwa SP minnows, and Tsunami Talking poppers. Anglers have been frequenting the shop and saying “blitzing” conditions along the Manasquan Inlet.

Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported decent bites on schoolie striped bass around the bridges on soft plastics and clam baits. bluefish have entered the area and have been more consistent than the stripers on bunker chunks, mackerel, and metals. Some of the blues have weighed close to 13 pounds. It’s been the big news of the week as anglers have been picking them up at the Manasquan and Shark River inlets.

Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported striped bass and bluefish off the surf. Most of the stripers have been picked on bunker chunks during the day and Kettle Creek shads during the early morning and late evening. Anglers working the outgoing tide are doing the best on bass action.

Jersey Buoyz out of Forked River worked the bayside in shallow water to find some bluefish to 5 to 6 pounds on light tackle. They also managed a 30-pound striped bass out front. “Most of the action has been on the outgoing tide”, said Captain Jay. They will be targeting both bluefish and striped bass for the rest of the month.

Lacey Marine in Forked River reported a decent haul of Blue crabs for crabbers working the lagoons and the Forked River and Barnegat areas. striped bass have been hitting soft plastics, clams, and Bunker chunks in the backwaters with most of the fish in the 20- to 26-inch range. A few anglers have found keepers along the sedges up to 30 inches. bluefish have been hitting small poppers and metals off the flats along Island Beach State Park and also trolled pony tails from Toms River to the 42 marker.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported bluefish up to 10 pounds being caught on fresh Bunker off Surf City and some being caught along the Barnegat Inlet on metals. striped bass have been caught on soft plastics and clam along the sedges behind Island Beach State Park. The Tsunami Split-tail minnow has been very good for schoolie striped bass along the backside of Long Beach Island.

Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light was able to sneak out the last day of the Tog season and boated a limit of Blackfish to 10 pounds in about 30 minutes. The crew will be targeting back-bay bluefish and ocean striped bass on light tackle. There are a few dates left for the season opener of fluke where the bite is hot in the bay.

Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom had good reports of striped bass and bluefish in the mid-island surf. One angler weighed in a solid 36-pound striper landed on bunker chunks. Bunker chunks have been the way to go for striped bass and bluefish off the surf and the last half of the outgoing has been the hot tide. bluefish have started to hit lures from the inlet and to the backwaters with a mix of fish from 5 to 10 pounds.

The Ocean City to Cape May areas have been reporting good action on schoolie striped bass in the backwaters on soft plastics and small plugs. bluefish have invaded most of the inlets and anglers have been catching 3 to 12 pounds on metals and SP minnows. There has been a good number of larger striped bass to 40 inches caught off the beaches from Brigantine down through Cape May. Some shops have been reporting weakfish to 4 pounds being caught on Bloodworms or pink soft plastics along the inlets and jetties. Cape May has been the place for drum to 60 pounds on clam with the night bite being the hottest. Recreational and party boats have been working sloughs in the Delaware Bay for the night drumfish.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for the weekend will be to target bigger striped bass off the surf and out front if the sea conditions cooperate. The projected strong South winds on Friday may put a damper on fishing with lower ocean temperatures, so it would probably be most productive to fish the backwaters. bluefish and striped bass are around with the outgoing tide being the best conditions for the bite. Clam, Bloodworm, chunk bunker or an assortment of soft plastics will do the trick on the bass. Bluefish have been picking up bunker and mackerel baits along with explosive strikes on the surface on poppers and swimmers. Anglers fishing the Cape May and Delaware Bay area should have great shots at nighttime drumfish over the weekend. The key has been to anchoring up-current to some of the drop-offs and chumming heavily with clam.

Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!