Boy, talk about being dealt terrible cards that’s the way most South Jersey anglers feel after the past two weeks of heavy NE winds and swell. The passing of Ophelia and her sustained effects had pretty much all of the boats tied to the docks and anglers watching mega surf off the beaches. Some true salty types did find windows to the hit the bridges and back bay marshes for striped bass and some weakfish. The Sea Isle, Avalon, and parts of Stone Harbor were the hot spots for the weakies. What a shame the tuna bite had some real traction prior to the storm with the Hudson Canyon yellowfin bite being off the charts.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had a relatively slow week for anglers as the weather and seas have been pretty uncooperative. Anglers working the bridges and piers of Berkeley are finding spot, blowfish, and some schoolie stripers during the evening. Berkeley Island Park has been decent for small bluefish during the incoming tides. The shop is promoting the 5th annual beach brawl, so stop in the shop for details.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a slow week in the store with anglers stopping in to gear up for the upcoming sea bass and striped bass season. Anglers found a few blowfish from the “BB” to “42”, but some days have been pretty fickle. The offshore bite was excellent pre-storm at the Hudson canyon. The shop is hoping it rebounds after the systems finally move offshore.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown spent the weekend gutting both vessels of fluke tackle and gearing the boats for sea bass, tautog, and striped bass. Bait in the terms of green crabs, spot, and white leggers are on order and expected in the upcoming week or two. The crew has some dates available in October and November for stripers and tautog, so give them a ring.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light spent the week tied to the dock due to the heavy NE winds and swell. Fluke season closed on Wednesday and the crew will be prepping for the sea bass opener over the weekend.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported some action at the local bridges on striped bass, small bluefish, and lots of juvenile sea bass. Soft plastics in the 3 to 4 inch varieties have been the best baits. Tog fisherman fishing away from the inlet swells have been finding some success off the rocks near the Barnegat Light condos. Green crabs tipped on jigs and simple one-hook rigs have been the best for anglers.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City received a few sparse reports of weakfish in the Stone Harbor and Avalon areas, especially around the bridges during the night. Pink soft plastics tipped on 1/2- to 3/4-ounce jigheads, and live-lined peanut bunker has been the best baits. Fluke fishing has been ultra slow with not too much angler participation over the past week due to the terrible weather pattern. The shop has its shelves loaded with sea bass gear for the upcoming opener on Sunday.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had a couple of anglers working green crabs around the docks, piers, and bridges to put keeper tautog on the plate. Togging has been the only game in town due to the weather. Striped bass became more active with the strong NE winds and some of the bridges have had fish bordering the 30 inch mark. With the fluke season closure, the shop is stocking the shelves with striped bass, tog, and sea bass gear.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City took advantage of the poor weather by performing some routine maintenance. The skipper will be chartering full tilt in the inlets and backwaters in the coming weeks for striped bass. Capt. Brian said he has some dates left for October and November, so give him a ring.
The Cape May and Fortascue region had a few positive reports despite the epically bad sea conditions. Some salty, dedicated anglers found success on striped bass in the back creeks, channels, and along some of the smaller bridges. Most of these fish have been schoolie sized, but they still do a great job bending the rod for light tackle action. Weakfish have been around the bridges in Stone Harbor, Wildwood, and Cape May.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to hit the jetties away from the inlets and bridges for tautog. In most areas, the fishing has been as simple as drop and reel for short tautog, but if you stay and work through them there are keepers to be had. The key is to bring enough bait to last around for the 15-inch keeper. Asian shore crabs (invasive), sand fleas (if you can get them), and green crabs are great baits for bay and inshore tautog. With fluke season being closed and the opening of sea bass on Sunday, some anglers in bigger vessels or headboats may be able to make it out. The wrecks are loaded with biscuits, but the issue will be the seas. Hopefully, we will have better seas next week, but it could be hard to find like the Red October. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
It would be nice if you could give us some reports on how the surf fishing is making out. It’s weather like we’re having now when salty anglers hit the beaches. There’s probably more surf fishermen than boaters nowadays anyway and yet there’s nobody giving out the places to go, the best time of day or tide, and what baits are bringing the bites. There hasn’t been a day where nobody has seen me fishing off the banks and not paused to ask me for the info I just mentioned so I’m sure your posts will attract more readers and the bait shops will see more sales and tails because us landlubbers will have more knowledge of the many hotspots along the coast. Thx guys