Fishing is good with striped bass, weakfish, bluefish and fluke all biting in New Jersey waters.
But before we get to the reports, a quick bit of news.
The ASMFC’s Striped Bass Management Board approved an emergency action on Tuesday to implement a 31-inch maximum size limit for striped bass effective immediately. The move was in response to the extraordinary 2022 recreational harvest, which was almost double that of 2021, and deemed necessary to help rebuild the stock. So, just like that, New Jersey had seven inches lopped off its slot size. Anglers can now keep one fish from 28 to 31 inches. The change will remain in effect for at least 180 days.
Back on the water, there were excellent reports from the fluke opener on Tuesday and stripers continue to bite in the rivers, bays and surf.
Bluefish, big and small, have also showed up in those same places along with more weakfish.
Danny Stolba at Fish Tail Bait and Tackle in Carteret said anglers fishing the pier on the Arthur Kill have been catching stripers on bunker chunks. The weekend’s bad weather put a crimp in the action but fish up to 32 inches were caught before the rain fell. Stolba, who is waiting for construction on the new shop to be completed, can be reached at (732) 718-5835.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said the weekend’s downpour brought a little too much rain to the parched streams up north. High water made for a tough weekend but he expects the trout will be biting again as conditions improve. The weather didn’t help Raritan Bay striper fishing either, he said, as the bass shunned lures and shads and went just for Mojos.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the stormy weekend cut into the striper action but there were still plenty of bass caught, especially on worms. Worms also accounted for some very nice weakfish. The fluke opener was unexpectedly good, he added, with the Sea Tiger II out of Atlantic Highlands reporting solid catches.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright reported the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers are still giving up a lot of bass. Blues have also joined the party. Stripers are on the beach as well hitting clams. Pinto also reported fluke in the surf on opening day hitting Gulp.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said the fishing remains good despite the weather interruption. Bass are still in the bay and rivers and bluefish up to eight pounds are all over the place. He’s also hearing of more and more weakfish as well. The surf, he said, is giving up bass on plugs, shads and bait and he expects to hear more reports of tuna on artificials in the next couple of weeks.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said it was a good fluke opener in the Shark River with three friends from Lancaster, Pa., catching seven keeper fluke up to 25 inches between them. The group fished the river in a Den rental boat. He also reported bass on the beach on bait and weakfish in the local rivers.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey!
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar will have the Parker Pete Express ready to go for the opening of sea bass season on May 17 when there will be a morning and afternoon trip. There will be two trips on the 18th as well and there is room on both. This weekend, the Big Mohawk out of Belmar will be sailing for cod and ling while the Capt. Cal II, also out of Belmar, will be looking for stripers and fluke.
Matt Haeger at The Reel Seat in Brielle said the fishing is very good with bass, blues, fluke and weakfish being caught in the Manasquan River. Gulp, jerk shads, and soft plastics have been working for fluke, bass and weakfish. The blues are big and will hit poppers, metal and swimmers. Haeger said the beach bite is picking up for stripers on bait — specifically clams and worms — and plugs. Bigger fish seemed to have moved in over the past few days.
Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said it’s a mixed bag of everything right now. The Manasquan Inlet had big bluefish all weekend, the river gave up fluke and bass and Tanger got a report of a 26-inch weakfish. He also reported an uptick in the winter flounder fishing back in the bay by the Mantoloking Bridge.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI said Tuesday was a successful day with ling and cod so he will stick with that for the next couple of days. Open boat trips are now on the schedule.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey!
Chris Parlow at Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported that the bluefish have arrived. He said nice size blues were being caught on SP Minnows and X-Raps just inside the inlet and along the Dog Beach. For the fluke opener, Parlow did hear of some caught back by the Point Pleasant Canal.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle in Brick said spring time is bait time and the striper action is improving in the surf on clams. He also said the Point Pleasant Canal is giving up stripers and blues on eels. Fluking was also good on opening day with Mike Velez getting his limit from a kayak.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said the big blues have invaded and are being caught in the Point Pleasant Canal, back bay, Manasquan River and in the surf. Metal, poppers and swimming plugs will all work on the yellow-eyed demons. Kupper said stripers can be found in those same places with bait working on the beaches and soft plastics in the back.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said they weighed in bass from the beach all weekend despite the bad weather. Big bluefish are around as well, both on the beach and in the bay. He, too, had reports of weakfish up to five pounds. Kerico said it’s going to be a big weekend with the 28th Annual Berkeley Striper Club’s Fisherman’s Flea Market taking place directly across the street on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grumpy’s will be holding special seminars and sales in conjunction with the Flea Market and Big Rock Plugs. Check the website for details.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The forecast looks decent both days so pick a favorite target and go.
There’s fluke, stripers, blues and weakfish in the rivers and bays and bass, blues and weakfish in the surf.