The past week has been rather tough as the winds have been relentless which has pushed the striped bass around and has made tog fishing pretty challenging to say the least. The inshore waters have been stirred up noticeable by the off-color and visibility must be poor as the tog have been slow to chew. Most captains reported that by sticking it out and getting the crab scent in the water made for better results. Striped bass have been caught off the beaches, but angler participation has definitely been down. On the days boat fisherman could make it out, bird play resulting in schoolie bass while trollers are catching bass to 36-inches at the 3-mile line.
Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach Beach reported slow blackfish action in the beginning of the week as most boats were kept at the dock. Towards the end of the week, the bite got better at the Axel Carlson and Barnegat Light reef sites. The store has white leggars and green crabs in stock and are running various sales on tackle, so stop in.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported poor blackfishing in the beginning of the week, but yesterday they were very hungry. The boat ended with a good amount of limits on fish in the 4 to 7 pound range. It was jigs and rigs on white and green crabs, and the pool winner went over 10 pounds.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach had striped bass over the last few days when they could make it out, but some of the fish have been on the finicky side. Naked Ava jigs and ones with green tails have been producing as has Tsunami Shads. Some days the fish have been on top, while others it’s been deep jigging at the 3 mile line.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant has been hitting a lot of the skippers inshore wrecks to box some nice tautog up to 10-pounds. Some days it has been a tricky bite, but anglers have to keep at it as they do begin to bite. If the weather stabilizes a bit, it should get really good. The crew has some open boat trips available for the month of December.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick received word of good action from the Axel Carlson in terms of blackfish and the shop owner said it was decent action on both Green Crab and White Leggars. Striped bass fishing was pretty good from Seaside to Barnegat Light along the 3 mile line for anglers trolling 9er umbrella rigs, but there wasn’t as much action on jigging. Sea bassing has been exceptional from 30 to 70-miles on the deep wrecks, but the problem has been finding the window to get out.
Gabriel Tackle Company in Brick reported a half-way decent striped bass bite on Mojo’s and spoons from Point Pleasant to Barnegat as most action has been on the 3 mile line for bigger fish. There have been some pockets of bird action with smaller schoolie bass and they are hitting metals with teasers. Surf action continues on schoolie bass with an occasional keeper for anglers casting soft plastic shads or metals.
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Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported quite a few short striped bass caught during their 8th Annual Surf Turkey tournament, but the two winning fish were 17 and 12 pounds respectively. The shop had a host of companies to thank, including S & S Bucktails whose been supporting the tournament that last five years. Fishing continues to be going on the beach with anglers hooking mostly on schoolies with metals and teasers setups. There has been an occasional keeper over 28 inches caught in the surf.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park received word on pretty quiet days on the beach the last few days as the weather has not been too cooperative. Local anglers have been hitting them for a few hours to have fun with mostly schoolie bass on metals and teasers. The shop has a bunch of new gear rolling in and also quite a few sales going on this time of year.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a slower week in terms of fishing as the winds and weather have been playing havoc with the anglers and the fish. Blackfishing has been pretty good when the water is clean, but over the past week the wave action has stirred up the bottom making the bites more difficult. Striped bass fishing has been consistent in the morning when anglers can make it out and bird action has lots of fish in the 20 to 26 inch range. Anglers working Mojo’s and Umbrellas are scoring on schoolies and some bigger fish.
Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light continued his “No-Troll November and December” putting clients on combination striped bass and tautog. They have been boxing NJSBBP tag stripers between 24 and 27.99-inches on Tsunami Sand Eels and some of the skippers “home-made” soft plastics. The boat had a couple 3-man limits of Tog to 20 inches with his trolling motor performing exceptionally well in rough conditions.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported a solid bite on schoolie striped bass off of Barnegat Light and Harvey Cedars for anglers casting metals and sand eel teasers. Blackfishing has been fairly well from some of the southern wrecks on the reef sites and it seems white crabs are performing better, especially on the Magictail Tog jigs. The shop has some sales going on before the Christmas holiday, so stop in and check them out.
Brigantine to Sea Isle City has “hit or miss” on striped bass caught on the troll using 9er umbrella rigs and mojos along the 3-mile line. Live eels have also been working for anglers dropping over good marks. Boaters have only reported scattered bird action from Ocean City to Cape May, but Tog fisherman fishing the deeper wrecks have seen quite a few Gannets diving 7 to 10 miles out. The colder water has pushed most of the keeper Tog to the deeper wrecks and green or white crabs have been working on the jig.
Jim’s Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported spotty action for anglers trolling Umbrellas, Mojos, and Spoons along the 2 to 3 mile line. Some of the keepers being caught are in the 36-inch class, but it’s been a tough go. Tog fishing has been much better when anglers can get out to the deeper wrecks. It’s been a pretty even pick on keepers with green and white crabs.
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South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend will be to watch the wind forecast and find the appropriate “weather window” to get out and target either striped bass or tog. Striped bass fishing seems to be better in the early morning and hours before sunset. If there are morning or afternoon windows get out and look for the bird action as schoolie striped bass have been feeding on sand-eels along with some bigger ones. Sometimes you have to pick through the spiny dogfish as they have been mixed in with the schools of striped bass. Bigger bass seem to be hanging on the 3-mile line with anglers trolling mojos and umbrella rigs. Tog fisherman have had a tough week with the sea conditions, but the weekend looks to provide some windows to get out and hit the wrecks. Wrecks in the 60 to 90-foot depths seem to be holding better sized Tog. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!