And the stripers are back.
There are many people who believe, that with the warm winter, they never really left.
Schoolie-size bass, with a few keepers in the mix, are being caught from the back of Raritan Bay down to the Toms River and Barnegat Bay. The bulk of the action has been on bloodworms, but small artificials are catching a good portion of the fish, especially farther south.
There is also word of the small bass in the surf in Long Branch and Island Beach State Park.
There are some winter flounder biting as well, specifically in the Shark River and in Barnegat Bay.
So, all in all, it looks like a good start to the spring season.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the bass started biting last week along the beaches of Raritan Bay and it’s been good every day since. Sciortino said guys are fishing worm balls soaked in Fin-Essence Clam Oil. He also heard of a few fish caught on clams.
He hasn’t heard much in the way of winter flounder but he added a few more sunny days should get that bite started.
Mike at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said he’s been getting good reports about the stripers up in the bay but hasn’t heard much about winter flounder as yet. The shop will be open full time starting this Friday.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said he’s been getting reports of small bass in the Long Branch surf and in the rivers. Small shads and plugs are working along with worms. Tak Waterman is open every day.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the winter flounder fishing has been decent in the Shark River. There have been some keepers but not in great numbers.
He, too, is getting good reports on the bass in Raritan Bay as well as the Toms River and Barnegat Bay. He’s also heard of a few stripers in the Belmar surf.
Matthews said the Ocean Explorer out of the marina has been having luck finding ling along with some nice cod and pollock.
There are bunker in the area, he added, and it shouldn’t be long before the bigger bass arrive.
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters in Belmar has been busy getting ready for spring stripers and will be sailing out of Brown’s Point Marina in Keyport in the beginning of April for Raritan Bay bass.
He’s also been working on his new boat, the 55-foot Parker Pete’s Express, that will be available for charter this season.
Capt. Jay Richardella on Side Job Charters out of Belmar will also be moving north temporarily for spring bass sailing out of Lockwood Boat Works in South Amboy. He’s also booking June tuna trips and can be contacted through his website.
Amanda at the Reel Seat in Brielle said most of the action she’s heard of has been the striper bite down in the Toms River. She hasn’t received any news on the winter flounder as yet in the Manasquan River.
Both the Norma K III and Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach will start sailing on April 1 for blackfish as that season reopens with a four-fish limit.
Kyle at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said anglers are picking a lot of short bass on the Manasquan River by the Route 35 Bridge. The bass are hitting worms, small Kettle Creek shads, Spooltek and Band of Anglers swimbaits.
He hasn’t had many reports on winter flounder as yet but expects that bite to pick up with warmer weather. The shop has chum logs in stock.
Frank at Gabriel Bait and Tackle in Brick said the back bay and rivers are producing a mix of shorts and keeper stripers. He’s had a few reports of flounder on bloodworms and says the season is starting off nicely. They are fully stocked on bloodworms, he added.
Lenny at Capt’n Hippo in South Toms River reported good bass and white perch fishing in the Toms River with blood worms responsible for most of the catches. Nothing big on the bass, he said, but there’s been a lot of fish.
Pete at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said the Toms River is on fire with striped bass, albeit small ones. Pink Kettle Creek shads have been the hot bait but worms and other small artificials are also working.
Winter flounder fishing has been a little slow, he added.
There appears to be a lot of bait out front, Pete said, as the gannets have been diving on schools of either bunker or herring. There are definitely bunker around as one of his regulars came upon a pile of adults that had been chased onto the beach.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said he’s been getting good reports on stripers from both sides of the bay. Bloodworms and artificials such as SP Minnows, Midways, Kettlecreek shads and Mag Darters are all catching fish.
He’s also received word about a few stripers on the beach.
The winter flounder are also biting in the bay as the shop has weighed in a couple of nice ones. Jimmy Sweeney brought a 3.1 pounder in earlier this week.
John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park also reported decent fishing this week with stripers in the bay and out front. Worms, small plugs and swimbaits are doing the trick.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
There are a lot of stripers around, and now that the Saltwater Expo has been cancelled due to the coronavirus, there is more time to fish this weekend.
Worms and small artificials seem to be the way to go in the back of Raritan Bay, the Toms River and Barnegat Bay. There are also reports of small bass in the surf so pick your spot and give it a try.
The winter flounder fishing has been decent in the Shark River and it’s picking up in Barnegat Bay as well. The weather looks to be decent if still a little chilly. Get your spring fishing started.