Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - April 16, 2020

The weather has been wild this past week, making it a challenge for anglers to get out and fish for tog or striped bass.  Striped bass fishing has been steadily getting better for our southern locales with anglers using bloodworms or slowly worked soft plastics doing the best.  Tog fishing was a little challenging this past week with poorer conditions and some water clarity issues due to the recent weather events.  Anglers working green crabs off the local jetties should have good shots at keepers as the fishing rebounds.  Most of the southern tackle shops are open on some type of limited basis, so it’s best to call ahead when planning your fishing trip.  And with the mandatory “stay-at-home” orders continuing, it’s healthy for the mind to get out and fish.  Be sure fish at a safe distance.

Here is this week’s rundown:

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown is officially open for business and will be taking orders via phone, Facebook or Instagram. They are doing free deliveries local and will ship if anglers are further away.  Fishing continues to be good for schoolie Striped Bass in Barnegat Bay from Toms River (Route 37 bridge) south to the Route 72 Causeway bridges. The best action has been during the evening tides small plugs or soft plastics.  Tog fishing has been very good along the Barnegat Inlet jetty, but be advised the Barnegat Lighthouse park area is off-limits as per the state of New Jersey.  The Barnegat Light and Garden State reef sites are producing a good amount of Tog when anglers can get out.

Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown / Barnegat Light has been doing a lot of family fishing due to the restrictions on NJ-based fishing trips.  The skipper is hoping to start running Striped Bass trips towards the end of the month and looking forward to the opening of Sea Bass mid-May.

The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continues to book trips for May and they are tentatively going to start running Sea Bass trips around May 15th depending on the viral situation.

Fisherman’s Headquarters on Long Beach Island reported excellent Striped Bass fishing from the Barnegat Bay on live bloodworms and artificials.  Most of the action has been congregated around the area bridges during the late evening or early morning times.  Tog fishing has been very good along the south jetty of Barnegat Inlet towards the ocean. The Barnegat Lighthouse area is still closed as per the state.  Some white perch are being caught in Beach Haven west on live grass shrimp.  The shop is open for curbside pickups, so call ahead with your order.

Absecon Bay Sportsman in Absecon had some nice reports of striped bass being caught in the Mullica and Tuckahoe rivers.  Angler Warren Campbell stopped by the shop to show off his 21 pounder he caught while targeting white perch.  The striped bass taped out to almost 38 inches and put up a tremendous fight on his perch outfit.  Most of the bass bites continue to be on bloodworm.  The local lakes still have plenty of trout that can be targeting by young and old, just make sure you have a trout license.

Offshore Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City reported great striped bass fishing which are being landed in the early mornings and nights.  Most of the stripers are in the short range, but provide great action in terms of quantities.  Tog fishing has been very rewarding for a lot of anglers with many tog over 4 pounds off the local jetties and rockpiles.  Boaters are finding better bites with white leggars around structure.

Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported more small Striped Bass being cooperative in the backbays, especially during the night tides. Bridges and jetties have been the best locations to find them.  Tog fishing has been outstanding from some of the jetties and better for the boats at the reef sites.  The store is open on a limited basis, so it’s best to call ahead for curbside pickup.

Badfish Charters in Ocean City had another week of targeting striped bass for personal fun as the charters are still postponed as per the state of New Jersey.  The skipper is hoping to begin running trips the first week of May, but that will depend on the state.

Sea Isle Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle is continuing to provide self-service bait in front of the store on a daily basis. They are running curbside pickups Thursdays through Sundays from 7 a.m. to noon and it’s best to call ahead for orders. The fishing scene has been outstanding for schoolie striped bass in the back on bloodworms and small soft plastics. Tog fishing has been excellent along the rocks and bridges, but you have to pick through a few to box keepers. Green crabs have been the “go-to” baits.

Avalon Hodge Podgein Avalon is looking to officially open May 1st for the 2020 season.  The fishing has been very good in the back of Avalon along the Great Sound and some of the adjacent thoroughfares for Striped Bass.  Tog fishing has been good around the Townsend’s inlet bridge and better from some of the reef site wrecks on green crab or white leggers.

Jersey Bait & Tackle in North Wildwood is still closed and there have been no news on when the shop will re-open for the season.

Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May Court House is still staying open online. Striped Bass continue to pick up bloodworms, clam, and small artificials in the Cape May vicinity.  Drumfish are slowly starting to make their presence known and it should steadily get better each week.

Jim’s Bait & Tackle in Cape May is open on a limited basis for curbside pickups or tackle drop-offs, but it’s best to call the shop.  Striped bass fishing was a little slow this week for the Delaware Bay stripers, but some anglers were able to catch on live bloodworms.  Tog fishing continues to get better at some of the area’s 60 to 80 foot wrecks, but the issue has been getting out with the weather

Greenhorn Outdoors in Bridgeton reported very good action the past few nights for striped bass on cut bunker or live bloodworms. Some of the areas up around Pennsville had some decent striped bass action.  The shop is open and does have orders of fresh bunker arriving periodically.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for this weekend looks for anglers to continue to target our backbays, sod banks, sedges, and bridges for striped bass. Most of the fish are in the short range, but more keepers are starting to be in the mix.  Bloodworms, 4-inch plugs and soft plastics continue to be the best offerings for anglers to use.  The outgoing tide is still the best with cooler temperatures on the incoming, so hopefully we get some warmer days which will elicit more aggressive behavior. If you prefer to hunt for blackfish, then green crabs or white leggers dropped at nearby jetties, wrecks or rockpiles should do the trick.  Land anglers may have issues as the state and county parks have been closed which coincide with good early season Tog spots.  Boaters should be working wrecks in the 55- to 75-foot range for quality-sized keepers.

Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!