Mother Nature proved to be a tease last weekend offering a hint of spring before tossing us back into winter at the start of the week. The brief respite opened up some ponds and gave freshwater anglers an opportunity to catch some fish. Other than that, and the white perch bite in tidal rivers, things are still pretty quiet. We’ll just have to be patient a little while longer. The opening of spring striper season is less than two weeks away.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said the ice held up during last weekend’s warm spell and the fishing was good at Greenwood Lake for perch, crappie and bass. Mike Sancetta from the shop got a nice largemouth on a jig. There’s more warm weather on the way so if you do plan on heading out onto the ice, make sure it’s safe. Hebert added that those looking to get started or improve their fly fishing skills, the East Jersey Chapter of Trout Unlimited is offering an eight-week course in fly fishing from March 15 to May 3. The fee is $60 including gear and instruction. Visit www.eastjerseytu.org for details.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said he’s been getting ready for the March 1 opening of striper season in rivers and bays. He’s hoping the Raritan Bay bite will pick up right where it left off with big bass and plenty of them. The shop will be open full time on opening day.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said it was a fun week on the local ponds that opened up with the warm weather. He said there were lots of bass and crappie caught on jigs, jerkbaits and swimbaits. A swimbait, he said, caught a bass of several pounds. Gleason said that he just finished putting up an entire wall of freshwater tackle with everything you’ll need.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the blackfishing was slow for the Ocean Explorer, the only boat still sailing out of the marina, but it did pick up last Saturday with better fishing. A 15-pound, 9-ounce tog, caught earlier this month, is the fish to beat for the seasonal pool. There have been some ling, pollock and cod caught along with the blackfish. Matthews said the freshwater folks were out this past week as the ponds opened up with white and yellow perch caught along with panfish and pickerel. He also mentioned that the Shark River Surf Anglers will be bring back its Trout Contest for Kids after a two-year hiatus due to Covid. The contest is at Spring Lake on April 9.
Paul Puccini at the Reel Seat in Brielle said it’s been pretty quiet with folks turning to freshwater as that’s about the only game in town. Bass, perch and trout are the targets.
Kyle Tanger at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said it’s been pretty much the same there although the cold snap at the beginning of the week chased even the die-hards inside. He said the store received a new shipment of Shimano trolling rods for the tuna folks and there will be some custom trolling rods coming in soon as well.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz of the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach extended his season by a week and will be sailing for blackfish through Saturday. He still has a few spots open for Saturday’s trip and can be contacted through his website.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle said it’s quiet there but he’s been getting reports of stripers back in Barnegat Bay. He advises leaving them alone as it’s illegal to target bass in the offseason and the conservation officers are out enforcing the law. The season opens March 1 and Kerico expects the fishing will be good.
Capt. Dave Showell at Absecon Bay Sportsmen in Absecon said the white perch fishing was very good during the brief warm spell with plenty of fish caught in the tidal rivers. The best action, he said, was in the mid-river areas where the saltwater was starting to mix with the fresh. He’s been able to keep bloodworms in stock and will have them for the weekend. Showell said there are stripers in the rivers as well and he’ll be giving out gift certificates for the first keeper fish weighed in at the shop when the season opens.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Local ponds and lakes are opening up with the warmer weather and freshwater anglers are doing fairly well with bass, trout, perch and panfish. There’s still ice up north, but how safe it will be with the rain in the forecast is the big question. You can also get your fishing fix indoors at two fishing and boating shows scheduled for the weekend.
The New Jersey Boat Sale and Expo is at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison from Thursday through Sunday, and the Philadelphia Fishing Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Friday through Sunday.