Winter weather kicked us around a bit this week with plummeting temperatures, high winds and a dusting of snow.
Still, the fish didn’t seem to mind too much as small bass continued to bite on the beach and, when the boats could sail, the blackfish and stripers were waiting. Time, however, is running out on the season.
The stripers that were thick in Raritan Bay just a week ago have disappeared and a number of boats out of Atlantic Highlands, like the Sea Hunter, have called it a year.
That body of fish appears to be making its way south with the bite picking up at Manasquan and Lavallette.
Fishing Report For Northern New Jersey
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park gave the report that Raritan Bay had gone quiet and that the stripers were on the move. At the same time, he said, the blackfish were making a move of their own, heading a little farther out. After last weekend, the boats couldn’t really sail for them until Wednesday.
For freshwater folks, Hebert did say the streams up north are running a little better and the Flat Brook River has been a good spot for trout.
Phil Sciortino Sr. at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said it’s gone silent there with the nasty weather. There’s been little traffic in the store and no word from his regulars.
Mel Martens at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said it was quiet there as well with a few bass in the surf over the weekend and the better bite farther south. A couple of shop regulars did pick up some shorts in the surf there on Wednesday once the ocean had calmed down a bit so there are fish to be had.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said the fishing hadn’t changed much from last week with plenty of short bass on the local beaches. Avas and Tsunami sand eels with teasers remained the way to go.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reported that the surf fishing was on fire last Friday from Belmar down to Island Beach State Park. Anglers fishing in Belmar, Manasquan and Lavallette were getting fish on nearly every cast with some reporting catches in excess of 30 short bass.
The boats out of the Belmar Marina also did well with stripers off the beaches of Ocean County. The following day, however, was a different story, with only a slow pick reported at the once hot spots. It’s that time of year, he added, when things change quickly and hopefully, the bass will be back on the beaches after the weather calms down.
Matthews also said the blackfishing for the boats out of the marina has been good with reports of multiple limits.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer out of Belmar reported a good day on Sunday with the bite starting as soon as the boat anchored up. It was a steady pick throughout the day, he said, with one angler getting his limit and while others had two or three keepers. Wednesday’s trip was a little slower as there was still some left over swell and the tog just weren’t chewing.
Capt. Ron Kish on the Capt. Cal II out of Belmar had a good weekend as well on the tog grounds with blackfish up to 7½ pounds. Capt. Kish will be targeting blackfish through the end of January.
Capt. Pete Sykes onParker Pete’s Fishing Charters reported an excellent weekend of striper fishing with Sunday’s action especially memorable. The crew reached its limit early on bass up to 34 inches and then played catch and release for the rest of the day. Capt. Sykes estimated more than 120 bass came over the rail. All of the action was on jigs, he said. He still has some open dates in December for bass and blackfish.
Capt. Jay Richardella on Side Job Charters said he’ll be sailing for stripers this weekend on what may be his final trip of the year. He sailed for tog last weekend and ended up with a mix of shorts and keepers.
Amanda at the Reel Seat in Brielle reported bass in the surf in Sea Girt, Manasquan and on the beaches south of the Manasquan Inlet in the past week. She also reported good fishing for jumbo sea bass way offshore. In keeping with the strange things that have happened this year, Amanda said that there were some bonito mixed in with the sea bass.
John Bogan at Brielle Bait and Tackle also reported good offshore fishing for sea bass, porgies, ling, cod, pollock, weakfish, blues, winter flounder and bonito. Anglers aboard the Big Jamaica have caught all of the above on its recent trips. The Jamaica II has also been doing well with blackfish, cod, ling, porgies and a few winter flounder. Bogan also reported a healthy striper bite in Manasquan and on the beaches south of the Manasquan Inlet over the weekend.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
The choices continue to be bass and blackfish. The stripers were in the suds before and after the blow from Long Branch to Island Beach State Park. It may take some traveling to locate them but hopefully we’ll get another shot before winter descends on us for good.
Blackfishing has been good for party boats when they can get out so all you need is a weather window. Stay warm and dry.