Some years, a cold winter delays the fishing. Even though the winter flounder and backwater striped bass season open on March 1, anglers have to wait weeks for the water to warm enough to make these species active. This, thankfully, was not one of those winters.
Both stripers and flounder came out swinging, and fishermen started there season with bent rods, and in some cases, fresh fillets.
Rick at Tackle World said bloodworms have been the ticket to hooking Raritan Bay stripers from shore. The fish are biting best after dark. In some of the rivers, however, casting small plugs on the outgoing tide has brought success.
Bobby at Fishermen’s Den has heard of winter flounder to 18 inches being taken since the season opened last Sunday. The outgoing tide has been best. Sandworms have been the bait of choice, and Fishermen’s Den will be getting in a fresh shipment soon. Bobby said fishermen who haven’t been able to get sandworms have been using clams.
The backwaters are full of smaller stripers, and Bobby even heard of a few being caught in the surf. While the bays are more reliable right now, fishermen casting small plugs or jigs off the beaches stand a good shot at catching a fish or two.
There hasn’t been much to report from the headboats since the blackfish season closed at the end of February, mostly because the weather has kept them from getting out. On Thursday, Bobby said some boats had sailed on pollock, ling, cod trips, and he believed they would do well because, on some of the final tog trips, boats were reporting pollock to nearly 20 pounds.
Eric at the Reel Seat said the bass fishing is good in the bays and in Toms River. Bridges like the Route 37 Bridge and the Mantoloking Bridge are holding fish, as is the Route 70 bridge over the Manasquan. Small soft plastics, like the 4-inch Fin-S fish are working best, but small plugs like the Yo-Zuri Inshore Minnow and Daiwa Salt Pro Minnow 13 are catching as well. Most of the fish, Eric said, are 20- to 24-inchers, but there have been some 28-inchers in the mix.
Ray at Grumpy’s Tackle said the stripers are pretty well spread throughout the Barnegat Bay, and are taking a mix of bloodworms and plugs. Without the warm-water outflow at Oyster Creek to concentrate the fish, the bass have distributed throughout more of the bay, creating more and better fishing opportunities. While fishermen may have initially been disappointed at the loss of the fun and reliable fishing at Oyster Creek, the bay and its fish will be much better off in the long run.
Ray has also heard of some winter flounder starting to stir in Barnegat, and said anglers continue to catch good-sized white perch in the Toms River.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
The fishing season is off and running, and the stars of this early-spring show are stripers, perch, and winter flounder.
For stripers, break out the lighter spinning rods and small jigs or plugs and work points, creek outflows, and other structures throughout the backwaters.
For perch, take some bloodworms or grass shrimp and head up the Toms River. Finding a school may take some moving around, but once you do, the fishing will be fast and furious.
Winter flounder will require the most effort, but could produce the greatest reward with any keepers yielding some delicious fillets. For the best chances, chum heavily with clams, and drop back sandworm-baited rigs.