Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - April 30, 2020

This past week was another great week for the tog fisherman who could make it out on the good ocean days.  Although the current was a little strong, most anglers reported limits of blackfish to 8 pounds.  Unfortunately all headboats and charters missed out on client-based fishing opportunities in April due to COVID-19.

I have seen a few boats trolling off the Seaside area and heard of one boat coming tight to a 30-pound bass, but the oceanfront striper fishing is getting started.  The back bays continue to be the place for consistent action on striped bass, but the beaches are starting to produce some bass on plugs as the water temperatures hit the 50-degree mark.  One of the shops even heard of an angler catching a fluke on artificials so that means they are arriving.  I’m hopeful that May is better than April on all front, with fewer new cases of the virus, more business reopening, and of course much improved fishing for stripers, bluefish, fluke, and sea bass.

Here is this week’s rundown:

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported decent striped bass action along some of the back sod banks along the west side of Barnegat Bay.  Small swim shads and soft plastics are doing the trick on these fish.  The April tog fishing was excellent according to Liza, but that fishery closed Thursday.  The shop is loaded with clams for striped bass and the upcoming sea bass opener, and anglers can call ahead for curbside pickups.

Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown / Barnegat Light had another busy week of personal fishing.  The skipper had multiple days of two- and three-person tog limits within 2 hours, and the crew released five fish over 9 pounds.  The skipper is tentatively booking sea bass trips starting May 15 as he awaits Governor Murphy’s decision.

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 15, depending on the viral situation.

Fisherman’s Headquarters on Long Beach Island reported some consistent striped bass action throughout Barnegat Bay as schoolie sized bass have been caught on the flats, around bridges, and off the jetties.  Tog fishing remained excellent throughout the week, but the season closes today.  There are some black drum around as a few anglers soaking clams have hooked up mid-Island and from some areas south around Holgate.

Absecon Bay Sportsman in Absecon reported some white perch still being as they spawn way up in the rivers.  There have been plenty of striped bass around to keep anglers happy as most areas have good numbers of schoolies and a few keepers in the mix.  Areas around Brigantine and Atlantic City have had bigger bass to 20 pounds. The bluefish are coming in more each day, and have started harassing the bunker schools.  I spoke to Dave and they just received a nice batch of surf clams.  The shop is open for curbside pickups.

Offshore Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City reported great tog fishing and some action on the weakfish. The tog have been going for green crabs fished on traditional rigs as compared to jigs.  The weakfish have been liking ¼-ounce jigheads with small pink soft plastics retrieved real slow, but anglers need to put in their time.  The shop has secured fresh clam, and should have it throughout the weekend as anglers have reported some good blowfishing in the back of AC.

Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported another good week for tog fisherman as the fish have been on the feed with green crabs working the best.  Anglers working the bridges and small structure did well on jigs.  There has been a lot of current in the ocean, so traditional rigs have been outproducing jigs before the season closed on Thursday.  Striped bass still remain a viable option, especially in the backwaters, and there have been some weakfish caught on small pink/white soft plastics. The shop continues to be open on a limited basis, but can also answer questions through their Facebook.

Badfish Charters in Ocean City is still waiting for the New Jersey governor to lift the ban on charter and headboats for the state.  The skipper continued catching striped bass in the tidal creeks behind Ocean City this week, and he even added a nice sunset shot.  Capt. Brian is in a holding pattern as are all other charter and headboats in the state. 

Sea Isle Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle said the shop will officially open May 1, and they will be adhering to strict CDC guidelines.  It was another good week of fishing for anglers working the wrecks off of Ocean City and Sea Isle with some nice tog being landed.  Anglers looking for striped bass have been finding them along the back channels and creeks.  Soft plastics and bloodworms have been the way to go.  The shop wanted to remind readers if you stop in, please have your face mask.

Avalon Hodge Podge in Avalon worked out their protocols and the store will be open for business this Friday (May 1st).  Fishing has been very good for tog this past week, but as that season closes Sea Bass will begin in the middle of May.  Striped bass are picking up soft plastics and small plugs in the back along with a few weakfish near the bridges.  Anglers working soft plastics also reported a few fluke, so that should be good news when that season opens the end of May.

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 reported good action this week for anglers fishing the jetty rocks along Cape May and Wildwood.  Green crabs tipped on jigs worked the best, but unfortunately the season closes today.  Striped Bass continue to keep anglers working plastics in the back creeks busy.  There have been some striped bass and drum caught along the Delaware Bay, but reports are trickling in.

Jim’s Bait & Tackle in Cape May had some good reports of Delaware Bay Drum this week as the bite is starting to develop.  Anglers soaking clams during the afternoon tides have been doing the best.  Striped bass are being landed around some of the sod banks and channel edges on the West side of Cape May as well as in the Delaware Bay.  The shop is open for curbside pickups and just received a fresh order of clams.

Greenhorn Outdoors in Bridgeton reported some decent striped bass action on bunker chunks this past week as anglers are beginning to land some bigger fish.  There are still plenty of schoolie bass up the meandering Cohansey which can be landed on bloodworms.  The shop is fully open and has fresh bunker and bloodworms. 

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for this weekend will be to fish the inside for striped bass until the ocean calms down.  The bays still have plenty of striped bass around and these can easily be targeted with soft plastics or 3 to 5 inch plugs.  Good areas to look are expansive eel grass or mud flats in the 2- to 4-foot range as schoolies will be patrolling these areas in search of small baitfish and shrimp.  The ocean bass fishing is in the beginning stages as this biomass is still migrating up the coast.  Trolling bunker spoons or mojos should give the best results as you can cover a large area. Another good option this weekend is to search for bluefish as there has been some sporadic reports.  Poppers and plugs are great ways to target these fish.  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!