The wait is almost over.
Come Tuesday, it will be legal to catch striped bass in rivers and bays, and the winter flounder season opens. The striper season is expected to get off to a good start as there are reports of bass in most of the local rivers and the back of Barnegat Bay. If you don’t want to wait until Tuesday to wet a line, the freshwater action has been good for trout, crappie and bass in local ponds and lakes.
Mark Fuduli at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said last weekend was the end of ice fishing with many of the ponds and lakes opening up, which is good news for anglers who prefer to do their fishing from shore. He did say the trout fishing has been pretty good in the Pequest and Paulinskill rivers. He also got a good report of pike in the Passaic River on jointed swimmers retrieved slowly. Fuduli said the store is well stocked for the opening of inland striper season with every kind of lure or plug you’d want. The word he’s getting is that the Hackensack River is already full of bass.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said he will open the shop at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. The Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers are always good spots for early season stripers and Giglio’s is fully stocked with small plugs and plastics.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said the highlight of this past week was the freshwater action. The fishing was good for bass and crappie. He, too, is all set for Tuesday’s opener with a wide selection of lures and plugs including SP Minnows and Mag Darters. Gleason said he’s heard of stripers farther south and suspects they’re in the local rivers and bays as well.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the Ocean Explorer is still sailing for blackfish but it has been slow. Most of the action, he said, has been in freshwater with perch, catfish and crappie being caught. He’s expecting there will be more saltwater reports following Tuesday’s opener for winter flounder and striped bass.
Paul Puccini at the Reel Seat in Brielle also reported good freshwater fishing in the area, with some local folks doing well with trout. He expects Barnegat Bay will be giving up stripers early next week.
Kyle Tanger at Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said the freshwater fishing has been excellent. This transition time into spring is a favorite of his and he’s been doing well with trout on a fly rod. The fish are hitting all small stuff, he said, but there’s plenty of action. Carp and crappie are also biting well in the ponds and lakes. Tanger is anxiously awaiting the legal striper season and will be fishing on Tuesday. He’s a big fan of jerk baits and believes most small plugs will work this time of year. He recommends the Yo-Zuri twitchbait and Rapala X-Rap XR10. On the retrieve, give the lure two hard pulls, then let it sit suspended in the water. That’s when the strike comes.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach was hoping to get out a final time for the season last Saturday but the weather kept him at the dock. The Mimi VI will sail again on April 1 for the blackfish opening.
Jenni Ackerman at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said there hasn’t been much going on fishing-wise this past week but excitement is building for Tuesday’s opener. Scouting reports put a lot of stripers in Barnegat Bay and the Toms River and the shop is fully stocked with lures and blood worms.
Liza Martin at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said it’s still pretty quiet there but perch are being caught in the Mullica and other tidal rivers. The shop has blood worms and is open just on the weekends until the end of March when it’s open full time.
Capt. Dave Showell at Absecon Bay Sportsmen in Absecon said the white perch fishing in the local rivers has been very good with some nice fish being caught. He expects to see a few keeper bass come into the shop on Tuesday and said that he’s got plenty of worms on hand to make that happen. The shop is also fully stocked with artificials for those who favor plugs. If you want grass shrimp, Capt. Showell said you will have to catch your own.
Best Bets for the Weekend:
Freshwater holds the best chance of action this weekend. The ice is gone and local ponds and lakes are holding trout, largemouth, crappie and carp. Trout are also being caught in the back of the Manasquan River and the white perch bite has been good in the Mullica and other tidal rivers.
You can also get ready for Tuesday’s striper opener by visiting your local tackle shop or the 26th Annual Fishing Flea Market sponsored by Ocean Fire Co #1, on Sunday at the Antrim School, 401 Niblick St., Point Pleasant Beach from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.