The striped bass bite is like a broken record – “epic”, “savage”, “phenomenal”, etc. The list goes on and on with this fall run being one of the best on record for both beach and boat anglers. The fish have been in the 20- to 40-inch range with the majority of fish being around 30-inches. The past week had bass rolling on 6-inch peanut bunker on the surface and a variety of surface and sub-surface lures were in play. Topwater poppers, Daiwa SP minnow plugs, and swimming shads had anglers hooked up in and out of bird-play pods. Most of the action has been occurring from Mantoloking to Brigantine with the northernly parts seeing more action. The tautog bite has taken the backseat and from the shops I spoke to it has seemed to be a spotty bite on keepers with good numbers of short fish.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had anglers working parts of the Toms River for a slower bite on striped bass with bloodworms. There are some white perch around, but the beaches have been the epicenter of the fishing world. Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, and IBSP have been on fire for surf casters throwing anything topwater.
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported good striped bass fishing from the beaches and ocean, but a much slower bite in the bay as the water has been in the mid-forties. Anglers working Island Beach and LBI found good numbers of bass and working birds in the late morning. Some anglers have been reporting over 10 fish per hour.
Jerzey Buoyz Sportfishing said bass fishing has been exceptional and the crew has been running up the beaches to find action on trolled bass with umbrella rigs. The skipper has been hitting some inshore pieces and inlet rocks to box keeper tautog for his clients. The crew has some openings to finish out at the month targeting both striped bass and tog.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a very good week for striped bass fishing as good numbers of bass were reported from both sides of Barnegat Inlet. Anglers running south found less boats and more fish. Poppers, plugs, kettle creek, and S&S bucktail jigs were the hot baits for the week.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has limiting on striped bass on nearly every charter with both tagged and overs boxed. One trip this past week had anglers boxing a limit of 8 keeper bass in less than 40 minutes. Swimshads and plugs have been the mainstay of the trips. Tautog action has been excellent for shorts, but slower on keepers. The skipper will start to run full 6hr tog trips in the coming weeks and there are some openings towards the end of the month.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported good jig fishing over the past week and the boat has been averaging close to one keeper per person. Tagged fish have been a little harder to come by with far more overs than unders. The boat will be sailing for striped bass with booked charters, but there are some remaining dates available.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had similar reports with some decent striped bass bites occurring 1 to 2 miles out and from the “red tower” south. Anglers trolling shad umbrella rigs have been hooking up with regularity as well as anglers casting shad and plugs. Tautog is still viable off the jetties, but there are many more smaller fish than keepers. Boats working the wrecks have reported fair action on keeper tautog, but you have to fish 6 to 8 hours.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City received good news on striped bass out front of Atlantic City and Brigantine, and smaller ones are still in the back waters. Live eels and spot are still working in the inlets, but anglers are starting to get more spiny dogfish. Tautog has been excellent off the AC Reef when anglers can make it out. There have been lots of quality tog on white leggers, so the AC Reef is the hot spot of the week.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point recently another shipment of jumbo and regular bloodworms which have been working for striped bass up the rivers and white perch in the backcountry tidal creeks off the Tuckahoe and Mullica. Striped bass fishing has been spotty off beaches, but better from the boats off the 3-mile line. The tog bite has been excellent from some of the southern reef sites and wrecks. White leggers and green crabs have been working equally for most anglers.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported some excellent surface action over the last few days and the skipper has been putting clients on nice striped bass to 32 inches. The skipper has some dates available and highly suggests keeping it catch-n-release.
The Cape May and Wildwood area reported some bigger bass to 40 through 50 inches hitting trolled bunker spoons and umbrella rigs near the 3-mile line. It’s been quieter insides, but there seems to be some larger schools entering the waters and anglers had a few keepers off the beaches. Most boaters have been focusing on the tog bite as the Wildwood, Cape May reef, and Reef site #11 has been on fire for fish. White leggers are the bait of choice and a few boats reported 3 to 4 man limits of keepers to 8 pounds. Anglers dunking clams or bunker off the beaches and bays are finding the occasional striped bass along with quite a few spiny dogs.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to forego Saturday as the winds look to blow 40+ knots, and focus on Sunday. I’m sure a few hardy types will be hitting the beaches to look for striped bass, and if you’re one of them – Seaside Park to LBI will be the spots to go. Darters, poppers, swimmers, and rubber shads should all be in the plug bag. The bite seems to come and go sporadically throughout the day, so be prepared as when it’s on – it’s on fire!! Sunday is the much better day and anglers will have good shots at striped bass and tog as long as the seas lay down. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!