Strong winds and temperature swings have the fish on and off the feed. As we near the beginning of the third week of April, temperatures have soared to the mid-seventies during the day, which has helped the bay temperatures. Striped bass are still being landed around the usual early season spots: bridges, mud flats and the marshes. But we are finally seeing some larger fish being landed oceanside. Several fish in the 40-inch range were caught from boats on the troll from Brigantine to Long Beach Island. Tog fishing has become more consistent over the past week with better numbers of keepers being caught. Although it’s out of our reader area, the Raritan is still on absolute fire with lots of nice fish being caught on swimshads, trolled mojos and umbrella rigs.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said the tog fishing has been very good from the Point Pleasant Canal, Manasquan Inlet rocks, and the Barnegat Inlet rocks with green crab or clam. Some anglers have reported limits on the outgoing tides. Striped bass fishing remains the same this week for anglers casting bloodworms along the banks of the Toms River. Most of the action has been on schoolie stripers to 26 inches.
Lacey Marine in Forked River was busy over the past weekend with paint and electronics sales as the warmer temperatures has spurred more boating action. There are schoolie striped bass in the lagoons and along some of the back channels, but the bite has been hit or miss each day. Togging has been good along the inlet jetties and along the submerged north jetty.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown has their 2nd store open and both stores have been dealing out bloodworms as the stripers have been hitting baits along some of the marshes and bridges. The route 37 and Long Beach Island bridges are holding some striped bass to 28 inches. Anglers casting small swimshads and plugs are also finding success. Tautog fishing has been hot and cold depending on the tide when fishing the jetties, while the reef sites are producing better action.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was out over the past week to target schoolie striped bass with bloodworms and tautog in the bay on green crab and clam. The skipper has a packed schedule the rest of the April, but has open fluke dates in July and August.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light is planning on running trips for the sea bass opener and is currently booking for sea bass in May and fluke in June.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had another solid week of night time striped bass action with much less action during the daytime tides. Bass have been hitting on 1/2oz white bucktails tipped with soft plastics and 4-inch Storm shads. Tog fishing has been steady off the Barnegat Inlet rocks with anglers doing well on green crab and clam.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported schoolie striped bass action along the back channels of the ICW and parts of the marshes leading to the main rivers. Most of the bass have been in the 18 to 27 inch ranges. Bloodworms tipped on rigs or Berkley Gulp baits tipped on small jigheads have been working. White perch fishing was on the slower side this past week. Tog fisherman continue to box some nice sized keepers at the reef sites on white crabs.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported a good number of short tog off the local reef sites with some keepers to 6 pounds in the mix. Striped bass action was solid over the past week with a few keepers weighed in. Bloodworms, cut bunker, and clam baits have all been working. The shop received a new shipment of bait over the past week, so stop by and pick them up.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City has been finding some nice schoolie striped bass action on the fly and light-tackle spinning gear. The skipper was busy this past week working some of his favorite spots and he has openings this upcoming week.
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The Cape May area had excellent reports of striped bass from 30 to 40 inches being caught on bloodworms from Delaware Bay beaches. It’s been an ultra-hot bite, but you need to bring out the jumbo bloodworms. Several shops are selling them and it is recommended to call around to see who has the jumbo-sized worms. Clam baits are working also, but they haven’t been as effective in terms of numbers. Schoolies are also cooperating along the back marshes which can be targeted with small plugs and soft plastics, but they have to be worked very slow. Tautog bite has been very good at the reef sites from Wildwood to reef site #11. White leggers are the choice baits on the wrecks. There was word of bluefin tuna busting on bunker within 7 miles of the beaches around the Wildwood area.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will ultimately depend on the weather forecast as the seas are predicted to have a decent chop. Anglers able to make it out will have good tautog action on the reef sites with white leggers and green crab. The jetties are also a great place to look for keeper tautog and the past week had some decent sized whitechins weighed in. The bite should only get better as the water temperatures begin to warm. Striped bass action remains solid from the bays and if you plan on targeting it seems that jumbo bloodworms are the best baits. The hottest bite has been coming from the Fortascue beaches, so instead of making the trek to the Raritan head south on the parkway to catch a South Jersey cow. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!