Above: When headboats can get out, ling catches have been decent, and there are still some good blackfish hanging at the wrecks.
Cold and wind, and the resulting waning interest in going fishing, conspired to keep many fishermen indoors this past week. Those who ventured out found tog, ling, and cod. It seems like the stripers are on hiatus, though a warm-up could put some schoolies back in the surf.
The Norma K III continues to catch tog, with keepers being caught daily, but throwbacks dominating the catch. There are still some double-digit fish in the mix, including a 12-pound pool winner on Saturday.
Amanda at The Reel Seat in Brielle recommended heading deeper for the blackfish, targeting depths of 70 to 80 feet. In those depths, Amanda said, there have even been some cod mixed in.
More keeper and throwback cod have been caught aboard headboats and charters targeting ling, reported Matthews at Fishermen’s Den. The ling bite itself has been pretty good as well.
There are still stripers in the surf, though there are fewer now than a few weeks ago, when fishermen were catching as many as 20 in a single trip. Now, 1 to 2 fish would be considered a good day, but for the middle of January, you can’t ask for much more than that. Bobby Matthews said plugs have been producing better than the soft-plastics that had been the bot lures through December.
Quick reminder, striper season is closed in the backwaters until March 1. Same with winter flounder. The tog limit dropped to 4 on the first of the year.
In freshwater, pickerel are biting well (including some very big ones), as are perch. Some fishermen are trying for walleye on the Delaware and others are looking for trout in places like Ken Lockwood Gorge.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
Hopping on a headboat for tog would be a good option for securing a fresh fish dinner, but you may have a better chance at filling the cooler on a ling trip. If you’re fishing on your own boat, look deeper for tog, as they head farther offshore as the water cools and the winter wears on. Unfortunately, the seas aren’t looking great for this weekend.
On the bright side, show season has begun. You can see us this weekend at the Fly Fishing Show in Edison and at the New York City Boat Show at the Javits Center. COme renew or start a subscription and chat about the fishing you’ll be doing once things warm up.