The weekend was a washout in terms of rain and it also put the early kibosh on the spring tautog season. The bright note has been the opening of summer flounder for New Jersey. Back bay temperatures are chilly, but fluke are still on the feed during certain parts of the tide. Some of the shops reported good bites on minnows and white Gulp along with small pieces of cut fish. The striped bass bite has grown steadily with most inlets having consistent action on the moving tides. It seems that some bigger fish have moved in with 30 to 36 inch fish being landed. The word is out on social media as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has enacted an emergency order on striped bass changing harvestable fish to 28 to 31 inches as of the second of July. New Jersey still has to sign or ratify the emergency order, but it pretty much looks like a done deal.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported a tough weekend with mostly shoppers hitting the store due to the weather. Most were buying fluke tackle for the season opener and the shop said there were fluke caught around the Route 37 bridge as well as the “BB” marker in Barnegat Bay. Striped bass fishing has been getting steadily better off the beaches.
Lacey Marine in Forked River had some nice reports of summer flounder being landed on the first few days of the season. Most of the keepers have been in the 18 to 22 inch range caught on Gulp and minnows. Striped bass were biting along the Barnegat Inlet under some birds. White paddle tails and plugs have been the hot baits.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported good fluke action from the back-channels and along the stick markers. The short to keeper ratio has been 10 to 1. The shop said Gulp and minnows has been the top baits.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown had both tog charters cancelled due to the weekend weather, but the crew did recon some new spots for fluke. The skipper boxed a few for dinner amongst a dozen shorts in just 2 hours of fishing. Weekends are booked out through September, but weekdays are available.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light is looking to get out and hit striped bass at the inlet as the recent bite has become more consistent. The boat has been booking sea bass trips for the upcoming opener.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported decent white perch fishing in some of the marshes on the west side of the bay. The Mullica River up to Batsto has been loaded with large perch. Striped bass fishing remains solid for most areas of Barnegat Bay and has become better off the Long Beach Island beaches. Anglers are also seeing some bluefish from the inlet and parts of the bay near the inlets. Fluking was pretty decent for the opener and beyond with fish being landed around the clam stakes in Great Bay and north of Barnegat Inlet.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had some nice reports of fluke to 4 pounds being landed on live minnow and Gulp baits. Most of the fish have been caught in the 4 to 7 foot depths on falling tides. It seems that most of the marshy areas are holding good numbers of fluke. Striped bass action has been much slower off the Mullica, but better around the sods and sedges closer to the inlets. Bridges have been spot on with bass and soft plastics, plugs, and darters have been solid on fish to 30 inches.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey!
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point received some good fluke reports from the backbays of Ocean City and Wildwood. Anglers working parts of Rainbow channel, Grassy channel, and similar areas have been finding 10 to 1 short to keeper ratios. Pink, chartreuse, and white swimming mullet Gulp in the 4-inch range has been working for keepers.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City worked on striped bass to 30 inches in the back on artificials and the fly. Capt. Brian has been working combo striped and fluke trips as the season recently opened. The skipper has some weekday dates available, so give them a ring to get in the schedule.
View this post on Instagram
The Cape May area, which has been the hot spot for tautog, had an early end to the season due to the weekend storm. I did hear of some hardy anglers fishing the inlet between the raindrops and were able to box a couple of keepers. Striped bass resumed back to normal over the past few days with clam and bunker chunks producing keepers to 34 inches from the ocean and bay beaches. The good news has been a few weakfish being picked up on soft plastics meant for striped bass. Fluke season has had a solid start for most of extreme south jersey with ratios 15 to 1 on keepers. The issue has been the colder water temperatures and baits have to be worked much slower according to tackle shops.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
It looks like we finally get a break with the weather this weekend and I’m sure the bays will be stacked with anglers on boats and foot targeting fluke. Land-based anglers will have the best shots casting small jigs tipped with Gulp around tidal creeks and backbay marshes, so have the chest-waders and gnat spray ready as the full-moon tides will be a bit higher. 1/4 oz to 1 oz jigs worked ultra, let’s say it again, “ultra slow” is the way to go. Boat based anglers should be looking to hit areas in the 4 to 7 foot range for bay fluke. Based on most of the shop’s reports, minnows and Gulp have been fairly equal on keepers. Anglers looking for stripers will have the best shots at keepers around the inlets and beaches surrounding inlets. The outgoing and incoming has been even in terms of hook ups, and basically anglers just need a moving current. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!