Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
For anglers, it’s not the most wonderful time of the year. There are still fish around but participation fell way off and the gloomy, wet weather isn’t helping matters.
Most private boaters have pulled their boats and bait and tackle shops are switching to winter hours. For the truly determined, however, there are fish to be caught. Stripers remain in the surf and there are tog waiting on the wrecks and reefs.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said he hasn’t heard much of anything this week. The blackfishing is inconsistent and the striper bite is pretty much a pick. There’s isn’t much in the way of freshwater action either, he said, as water levels in the rivers, streams and reservoirs are just too high.
Danny Stolba at Fish Tail Bait and Tackle in Carteret said it’s business as usual with pier regulars pulling stripers from the Arthur Kill. That spot will shut down on Jan. 1 as striper fishing in bays, rivers and streams closes.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at The Tackle Box in Hazlet reported small bass in the surf and said the blackfishing has improved over the past couple of days for boats out of Atlantic Highlands. He mentioned that the shop will be holding its annual Super Sale on Feb. 4 featuring Back Bay Plugs.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said those that continue to fish the surf are finding short bass on Avas and other sand eel imitations but not a lot of folks are trying. Giglio’s has switched to winter hours, open only on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon and by appointment.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said things are much the same in the surf there with small stripers hitting diamond jigs and Savage and Tsunami sand eel imitations. Gleason said the bluefin bite has pretty much wrapped up for the season.
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Tim Rizzuto at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the tog boats, including the Big Mohawk and Capt. Cal II, have been sailing from the marina but he hasn’t heard much in how they’re doing. There are a few bass being caught on the beaches, he said, but other than that it’s been quiet.
Capt. Pete Sykes on Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar said the stripers disappeared after last week’s blow so he’s done with them for the season. He’ll be keeping an eye on the weather to see if there will be a blackfish trip added to the schedule. Check the website for details.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker said the blackfishing has been a bit slow but he has a couple of charters on the schedule and plans on fishing through January.
Jimbo at The Reel Seat in Brielle reported a decent blackfish bite over the past few days with white legger crabs providing an advantage. There are small stripers in the surf on sand eel baits but he said the bluefin have moved on.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said that he hasn’t heard much from the surf on stripers but added that there was good bass fishing in the rivers. Anglers fishing the bridges with soft plastics and 4- and 5-inch Mag Darters with a teaser are catching bass up to 33 inches, he said. There are also stripers in the Point Pleasant Canal. Tangen said if you want to get in on this bite, you better hurry as inland striper fishing comes to an end on Jan 1. Blackfishing reports have been mixed, he said, with some anglers doing better than others. Boats that can get on the smaller pieces seem to be having more success. A friend of his recently got a 31-inch tog. One bright spot, Tangen added, is freshwater, with local ponds and lakes giving up bass, crappie, pickerel and panfish.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach said the togging has picked up with a good catch on Tuesday and a number of limits on recent trips. The Mimi VI is sailing open boat every day and has plenty of room available for next week.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III had a successful offshore sea bass trip over the weekend with plenty of limits. The Norma K III will sail for blackfish every day, weather permitting, leaving the dock at 7:30 a.m.
Chris Parlow from Captain Bill’s Landing reported that tog fishing has been decent over the last week. Fishing for stripers and bluefin, however, has been quiet since the last weekend’s big blow. Capt. Bill’s Landing will be closing for the winter on Dec. 31.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick reported that stripers are still being landed off the local beaches on Avas and needlefish with a teaser. Black fishing, he added, is picking up outside on the wrecks and reefs with some nice size keepers being landed.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said a few folks are still fishing the beaches, picking up small stripers right in the drop. Better bass fishing can be found in the Toms River where kayakers are catching fish from 18 to 33 inches. Curly tail plastics have been effective. Kupper said the kayakers are trolling until they find the fish then casting for them.
Scott Thomas at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said a few bass are still being picked in the surf. He went togging at the Shark River Reef over the weekend and said they absolutely crushed the fish, with blackfish up to 10 pounds. He mentioned that a bluefin popped up behind the boat to grab the discarded crab legs.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
Better weather is in the forecast so there will be an opportunity to fish the surf for stripers. Avas, needlefish and sand eel imitations with a teaser should do the trick.
The party boats will be sailing for blackfish as well. Happy New Year.