Simply, “WOW”! I can’t underestimate the incredible run of striped bass we have had this fall with the epicenter being from Mantoloking to Long Beach Island (LBI). Southern parts of our state are finally beginning to see some of the bass, but it has been more of a trolling game along the 3 mile line. The Coast Guard was notified of quite a few boats from Brigantine to Ocean city well past the 3 mile line and engaged in striper fishing. Tog fishing has been a grind with reports looking good by picture, but the effort behind the scenes has been 8 to 10 hours of togging for 2- to 4-man limits. I would venture to say not great by any stretch. Areas that were red hot before the season 5-fish opener and now are tumbleweeds, seems to coincide with the gigantic striper biomass hitting our areas. Just a theory, but extreme southern jersey has very good togging as compared to some central areas of the state. In either case, it looks like we may have striped bass through the New Year.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had beach reports of striped bass to 40 inches from Lavallette south to Island Beach State Park (IBSP). White or yellowish darters, plugs, and poppers have been extremely hot. Anglers fishing the Rt.37 bridges are also finding some schoolie bass on bloodworms and by casting artificials.
Lacey Marine in Forked River had similar reports with surf fisherman making the drive to Seaside Park and LBI to find striped bass during the morning and afternoon tides. Plugs, plastics, and swimshads have been the main baits for this fall run. Togging was fair this past weekend, but the winds and seas made it tougher during the week.
Jerzey Buoyz Sportfishing said bass fishing has continued to be exceptional with striped bass trolled on umbrella shad rigs. The skipper has been trolling up his clients limits of bass on the recent trips and has a few dates remaining in December.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported an excellent weekend and start of the week for anglers fishing for striped bass. Stripers to 35 inches were hitting swimshads and plugs just outside Barnegat Inlet. Green crabs are still working on tautog off the inlet rocks, but it’s been mostly a short bite on those.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was busy on the water this weekend and ran a few striped bass charters. The skipper reported 10 and 12 fish limits on each trip with striped bass to 36 inches. The charters released a bunch of fish between 40 to 50 inches on soft plastics and plugs. The crew has dates available through December and plan on fishing into mid-January, so give them a call.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported a banner weekend again as lots of striped bass were landed and bonus tags used on recent trips. Jigs, shads, and some plugs were the hot tickets for most anglers working the rails. The skipper will be running the boat through the end of the year.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had excellent reports of striped bass caught from the beaches of Barnegat Light, Loveladies, and Surf City over the past weekend. Birds and blitzing bass were seen from the beaches with some anglers heaving heavy plugs past the bars to capitalize. Tog fishing has been somewhat slow over the past weekend and the best reports have been coming from anglers making the run to the AC reef site.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City received word of a flurry of striped bass action over the weekend, but the fish pushed past the 3 mile line quickly. Anglers chasing pods and casting poppers found success on fish to 34 inches as did boats trolling umbrellas. The beaches have been relatively quiet on striped bass, but there are plenty of short bass in the Mullica river along with some reports of white perch.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point has live eels and white leggers in stock as the tog bite has been very good from the southern reef sites and also from the deeper wrecks. The weather the past week has been uncooperative. Striped bass are harder to come by from the ocean with most of the action occurring 3 to 5 miles out. The backwaters do have some bass around to 30 inches being caught on live eels and spot.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported some nice catch and release action on striped bass as the skipper was able to find a few pods inside the 3 mile line. Capt. Brian has also been looking in the back to find smaller feeding bass around the marshes.
Also, reported by NJ Fish and Wildlife, we have a new state record albacore tuna:
“Matthew Florio has broken a New Jersey State Saltwater Fish Record by landing a 78 lb., 2.4 oz. Albacore Tuna in October, breaking the previous 1984 record by 3.4 ounces. Matthew was chunking off the Luna Sea at the east elbow of Hudson Canyon when he reeled in the record fish. This new state record Albacore Tuna measured 48 3/8 inches in length and had a girth of 37 inches. Congratulations, Matthew!”
The Cape May and Wildwood area had some shots at migrating striped bass over the past weekend and the early part of this week. Bass to 36 inches were caught by a few savvy anglers working areas close to the 3 mile line. The best action has been the sea bass caught from the deepwater wrecks and areas near the Cape May rocks. Many limits of big fish have been caught, but it’s the weather and sea conditions which have been the biggest factor. Tog fishing on white leggers is still going strong from the Cape May and Wildwood reef sites.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will look to be more of a shopping weekend for anglers getting ready for the holidays. A coastal system is creating big swells to 9 feet and the swells will be affecting our area through at least next Wednesday. I would bet the only shots for the weekend would be to fish off the beaches for striped bass. Plugs, poppers, and swimshads would be the “go-to” lures and the central areas are the spots to go. Seaside Park, IBSP, LBI, and parts of Brigantine would offer the best shots at striped bass in my opinion. Tog fisherman can play with short and some keeper tog off any of the rock lined jetties in our areas. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!