The big change from last week is that, while there are still plenty of fish to catch, there are fewer places to fish for them.
The last few days have seen the closing of Sandy Hook National Seashore and Island Beach State Park, two areas very popular with New Jersey and out-of-state anglers.
Another problem is that some people have elected to ignore social distancing guidelines. This behavior has forced a few municipalities to close popular areas such as the Keyport Waterfront and other access points.
But for those lucky enough to find their way to the water, there’s been plenty of action.
And most of it is on stripers in Raritan Bay, Barnegat Bay and nearby rivers. Blackfishing is also good as is the freshwater bite, especially on trout. It’s still catch-and-release on them until Saturday.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said short and keeper bass are being caught on X-Raps, shads, Mojos and stretch lures. Some of the fish are in excess of 30 pounds. Worms and clams are also working from the bayside beaches.
He also reported bunker chunks fished at night are producing some big stripers as well. He’s still running a curbside business for bait and tackle.
After some initial confusion, the governor’s office made it clear this week that bait and tackle shops are permitted to service their customers this way.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands is also operating curbside service and he said he’s been selling loads of worms lately.
There are tons of shorts in the bay hitting bait, he said while boaters trolling Mojos in the Reach Channel are finding bigger fish.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright also reported on the mad bite in Raritan Bay.
Plugs, shads, bunker spoons, chunks, and worms are all doing the job. He said the kayakers continue to land trophy fish.
We spoke before Sandy Hook was closed and he said the beach fishing for bass was just beginning to pick up. With any luck they’ll still be there when the park reopens.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch has been fishing the bay as well and catching stripers in the 20-pound range.
The shop’s customized Ben Parker Spoons and Tsunami 6½-inch heavy body shads have accounted for a lot of the fish. He also said the Tsunami 9-inch double hook shad has been very effective as well. Chartreuse is the hot color.
Gleason also reported that the bass bite in the Shrewsbury River has picked up with schoolie-sized bass hitting small poppers.
He’s heard of a few fish in the surf, but it’s still pretty quiet.
Fisherman’s Den in Belmar reports that the winter flounder fishing has been decent in Shark River and the shop has been open every day with worms, clams and green crabs.
The party and charter boats out of the Belmar Marina are still stuck at the dock and it will probably be at least until the end of the month before they sail.
Eric Bunz at the Reel Seat in Brielle said they’ve been doing curbside business and the fishing has been pretty good of late.
The winter flounder bite has been steady by the Route 70 and 35 bridges, at the southern end of the Point Pleasant Canal and at the Mantaloking Bridge.
The Manasquan River, he added, is loaded with schoolie stripers, from 20 to 24 inches, and they’re hitting Kettle Creek shads and other small lures.
A number of his customers have been fishing Raritan Bay and the Tsunami heavy body shad has been a favorite. He, too, said chartreuse was the color of choice.
Anglers looking to bring some striped bass home for the table have been getting keepers on umbrella rigs, he said.
Bunz said he’s heard of a few surf fish taken on clams, but that bite has yet to really turn on.
Blackfishing has also been good, he said, in relatively shallow water on green crabs. Spots off the Red Church in Long Branch have been giving up some nice fish.
Finally, he said, trout anglers have been catching – and releasing – a lot of fish. Again, the season opens officially on Saturday.
Kyle at Fisherman’s Supply said it’s going well there despite all that’s going on in the world.
The inshore tog bite just a couple miles out has been good with some nice keepers coming over the rail. He also reported good blackfishing by the Manasquan River bridges and at the Manasquan Inlet.
Barnegat Bay, he said, continues to give up a lot of stripers on worms and small plugs and shads.
And the winter flounder fishing has been good from the southern end of the Point Pleasant Canal to the Route 37 Bridge. Clams and worms are catching them and chumming is a must. The shop, he said, is doing a brisk curbside business in bloodworms, green crabs and clams.
Frank at Gabriel Tackle in Brick reported that the back bay continues to give up a mix of short and keeper bass with small shads and lures doing trick.
He’s getting good winter flounder reports from the Mantoloking Bridge and added that the blackfishing has picked up at the Point Pleasant Canal and Manasquan Inlet.
Pete at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said the shortage of access points is making a tough situation worse. There are lots of bass in Barnegat Bay, he said, for those able to get to them via private docks and boats.
The winter flounder fishing, he added, has been good in the vicinity of the Bay Head Yacht Club at the southern end of the Point Pleasant Canal. The shop is open for curbside service from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Frankie Z at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said the closure of Island Beach State Park came just as the surf bite for bass was showing signs of life.
He, too, reported good striper and winter flounder fishing in Barnegat Bay for those who can find their way to the water.
Even though Island Beach State Park is closed, Grumpy’s has returned to its original hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is fulfilling all orders curbside. Just call ahead and they’ll have whatever you need on the cooler outside.
John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park said the bass fishing in Barnegat Bay is outstanding. He said winter flounder anglers are having a hard time keeping the stripers off their baits.
Fishing Forecast for New Jersey
Bass fishing in the bays is still the best bet. Worms, big shads, Mojos, stretch lures and small plugs are all catching fish depending on where you are.
The blackfish bite has also been good at the inlets and inshore waters.
And trout season opens officially on Saturday at 8 a.m. Try and find some space to yourself and have fun. Be safe.