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 tog bite is getting tougher as the fish become less active and move farther offshore. But boats are making stops for ling to help fill out the fish boxes. More keeper and throwback cod have been caught aboard headboats and charters targeting ling and tog.
There’s been no news of surf stripers, though surely a few schoolies are still roaming the beaches. Quick reminder, striper season is closed in the backwaters until March 1. Same with winter flounder.
In freshwater, bass and pickerel have been feeding well throughout this mild winter, and fishermen are enjoying good action with both species. 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 or ling would be a good option for securing a fresh fish dinner. 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, though the better bet would be packing clams instead of crabs and seeking out ling.