Northern New Jersey Fishing Report – May 7, 2020

Tough times got a little tougher this week as recreational fishing in New Jersey took another hit.

Party and charter boat captains were hoping to set sail on May 15, but on Wednesday, Gov. Murphy extended the public health emergency for another 30 days.

Now it looks like the boats won’t be welcoming anyone aboard anytime soon. The fleet has already missed the April blackfish season and an excellent spring striper bite. The beginning of the fluke season is now in jeopardy

Bait and tackle shops will have to stick to curbside service for the foreseeable future as well.

As for the fish, they keep on biting.

Northern New Jersey Fishing Report

Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet reported more bluefish have showed up in Raritan Bay and the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. It’s not a full-blown invasion as yet and there are still plenty of big bass around.

The boats are getting them on bunker spoons, Mojos, live bunker and bunker chunks. Bay beach anglers are catching them on worms and chunks with the better fishing at night.

One bright spot, he said, is that Sandy Hook is reopening this Saturday for fishing.

Butch at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said things are going well there considering. They continue to do a brisk business in jumbo blood worms with guys fishing along the bay beaches doing well on stripers.

From what he’s hearing, bunker spoons were catching most of the big bass in the bay this week.

Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the Shrewsbury River is giving up keeper and short bass with the better action at night. Blues have showed up in the rivers as well.

He said the surf remains on the quiet side with a just a pick of short fish reported. The water temperature is still on the cool side and some warmer days should help. We’re going to have to wait on those as the forecast is calling for chilly weather through the weekend.

Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch reported that big stripers are still hitting Ben Nichols Flutter Spoons, metal-lipped swimmers and big shads.

When the fish are on top, Doc 9-inch Spook lures are a good choice. The Docs are also getting a lot of attention from the blues in the area.

Gleason said the bay action was a little spotty this week, but the fishing is good. The Shrewsbury River is producing bass as well on plugs and shads.

The surf bite remains picky, he said, with a few shorts taken on bait and plastic paddletails.

Beach fishing in Ocean Grove has been picky as well with me, catching schoolies on clams and worms. I’ve had no luck with artificials as yet.

I have seen a few boats trolling offshore for stripers but there doesn’t appear to be much going on.

Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the Shark River is loaded with fluke. The season doesn’t open until May 22 but Matthews said plenty have been caught and released by winter flounder anglers and those getting some pre-season practice.

There are still tog fisherman at the inlet playing C&R with blackfish now that the season is closed, he said.

He’s heard of a few bass here and there in the surf, but that bite remains slow from the reports he’s been getting.

Eric Bunz at the Reel Seat in Brielle said there plenty of short bass in the Manasquan River but he has yet to hear of any blues. They may be in there, he said, but access is a problem and not a lot of people are able to fish the river.

There have been reports of fluke in the river, mostly by the Route 70 Bridge.

Winter flounder fishing slowed down, he said, and that may be due to lack of interest. Cod continue to be caught on the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reefs and he’s getting wind of tuna by the Bacardi and Triple Wrecks.

Kyle at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said the blues are definitely around with fish scattered throughout Barnegat Bay, the back of the Manasquan River and on the beaches. It’s not a crazy bite, but they’re here.

He said winter flounder are still being picked at the Route 37 Bridge.

Anthony at Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach also reported bluefish around with a few caught in the Manasquan River. Many of the boats visiting the gas dock are on their way up to Raritan Bay for stripers.

Frank at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick said it’s still a mix of short and keeper stripers over by the Mantoloking bridge and in the Manasquan River. Small plastics and worms are catching the fish.

Frank also had reports of blues in the Point Pleasant Canal and in the Manasquan River.

Pete at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said the situation looks a little more promising now that Island Beach State Park and other local beaches, including Normandy Beach, have reopened.

There are small bass and blues in the surf, he said, and plenty of schoolie bass in the bay. Check out the small creeks and inlets in the bay, he said. There was a cinder worm hatch earlier in the week.

Frankie Z at Grumpy’s in Seaside Park said the reopening of Island Beach State Park provided a welcome shot in the arm last week. Business was good and the fish cooperated with bass and blues hitting clams and bunker chunks in the surf.

Small poppers and plugs also worked on the stripers and bluefish in Barnegat Bay. The walk-up window at Grumpy’s is now open and ready for business.

Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park also reported a flood of customers on Saturday as IBSP opened up. The shop reported excellent bass fishing in the bay, mostly on bloodworms.

There were also reports of bass and blues on the ocean side on bait.

Northern New Jersey Fishing Forecast

The bays, rivers and inlets are still holding a lot of bass with more bluefish showing up every day. Plastics, plugs, worms and bunker chunks will all catch fish.

The surf fishing is less than hot right now, but should improve as water temperatures rise. That’s not going to happen in the next couple of days as chilly weather is on the way.

Freshwater anglers have been enjoying a good spring, especially on trout, so this might be a good weekend to check out local lakes and ponds.

Stay safe and socially distant.