Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
A surfer’s dream and fisherman’s nightmare, especially for boaters, as epic swell and breaking waves up to 19 feet pounded our inlets and beaches over the weekend and early part of the past week. The fishing was excellent up until that point with a consistent, solid bluefin tuna bite occurring from the 2- to 12-mile range. Anglers reported seeing bluefin while togging and while striped bass fishing, “it has simply been that good!” Let’s hope that the weekend’s blow didn’t put the proverbial “nail in the tuna coffin”. Togging has been spotty depending on where you’re fishing, but some reef sites have been excellent on larger fish with 10 to 14 pounders being caught with some consistency. Striped bassing has slowed down tremendously from its furious pace off of Island Beach and Long Beach Island, but areas from Atlantic City to Cape May are experiencing daily blitzes on fish from 24 to 38 inches. The offshore sea bass bite was red hot and should quickly rebound after the heavy seas. Most party boats have been limiting out fairly quickly on 4 to 5 pound sea bass. Enjoy the holidays and get out on the water if you have the opportunity as Andy Williams said it best, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had a slower week in terms of reports due to the recent blow that brought epic waves to Island Beach State Park. A few anglers dunked bloodworms in the river to release short striped bass to 20 inches and there have been a few white perch caught. The shop has some major Christmas sales going on including deals on St. Croix rods, Penn and more.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a slower week in angler activity, but a few tog fisherman hit the jetties with green crabs. The reports were very slow on action due to the higher than normal tides and waves. Prior to the blow, some bluefin were being caught along the 3-mile line and anglers working the Garden State North reef have been limiting out on tautog.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown ran a charter right before the blow and his charter scored multiple “PB’s” (personal best) on the tautog trip. The guys boxed their 6-man limit of tog up to 10 pounds, while releasing a bunch of 8 to 12.5 pounders. The skipper noted that they had 100- to 300-pound bluefin tuna breaking next to the boat on the way in from the togging grounds. The boat will be sailing into the New Year for tautog before pulling it to end the 2023 season, call to get in for the last shot at tog for 2023 as there are dates open.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light was out striped bass fishing prior to Sunday’s storm and the boat jigged a few striped bass from slot to bonus tag size. The boat and crew will be finishing up their season and the skipper wanted to wish all of his clients a happy holidays.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin received decent reports of tog action from the Barnegat Light and Garden State North sites as well as the Atlantic City reef for some larger fish. Anglers working jigs from Seaside pipe to Ortley reported spotty action on striped bass. The shop hasn’t received many reports since the heavy rains and wind that pounded the area early in the week. There are some positive reports of white perch being caught along some of the back creeks off the Mullica River.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had similar reports of bluefin from 3 to 15 miles out, large tog off the wrecks and a good number of striped bass in the ocean from Atlantic City to Cape May. Since the Sunday-Monday blow, all bets are off as angler activity has been very low. Tog fishing should rebound towards the end of this upcoming week with fairer seas and ocean conditions. The shop has some nice deals on tackle, rods, and reels for the Christmas holiday, so stop in!
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Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point received solid reports of white perch action off parts of the Tuckahoe and Mullica. Anglers jigging for striped bass from Somers Point to Stone Harbor were rewarded with solid action from the 1 to 3-mile line. After the blow, it’s been very slow as anglers have been stopping in the shop for holiday deals, but this weekend’s weather looks excellent. Togging prior to the blow had fish to 15 pounds being caught and released off the Ocean City, Townsend, and Wildwood reef sites.
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Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported good bassing over the weekend up until Sunday morning, but since the storm the skipper has not been out due to the ocean swell. The bite was consistent with casting swimshads and drifting over scattered schools of striped bass. When the fish have been stacked, jigs and flutter-spoons have been the ticket to the action. The skipper will be targeting ocean striped bass over through the holidays.
The Cape May and Fortescue area received their fair share of rain and wind, but more importantly a good portion of the striped bass biomass is off the Ocean city to Cape May waters. Now is the time to get out there and jig up some striped bass as reports from the 1 to 3-mile line have bass being caught on swimshads, diamond jigs, flutter spoons, and trolled umbrella lures. Most of the bass have ranged from 20 to 40 inches and anglers have reported numerous areas of bird play. One charter skipper recommended if you don’t see birds, be sure to look at the sounder as some spots have had bass stacked up on bait. Tog fishing remained pretty solid prior to the storm with larger fish to 16 pounds being caught on light jigs and white crab. Slow reports this past week, but the bite should regain its pre-storm activity with calmer seas. Estuary and river action has been solid on small striped bass and white perch for the Cohansey rivers, but the recent buckets of rain have dampened the bite.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend might be your last hooray for 2023, so try to get out Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning as the wind and seas are favorable for anglers. Surf fishing participation was ultra low this past week, but with better seas and cleaner water it wouldn’t be a bad idea to cast some metals during the 1st few hours of sunup. Action seems to be spread out, so any beach is worth a shot for striped bass. Offshore sea bassing by far is the best bet to stock up the freezer with almost every headboat reported limit catches of beautiful humpheads. If you plan to make the 12- to 18-hour voyage, be sure to read the recommendations from the headboats on gear, clothing, and other amenities you need 60 miles offshore. Tog fishing or striped bassing is another option with the Wildwood to Cape May areas providing the best action on both species. Large tog to 16 pounds have been released from the wrecks and reef sites of Cape May, and tog jigs tipped with white crab are getting in done. If you don’t have a chance to make it out, stop by one of South Jersey’s local tackle shops to pick up gifts for the anglers in your family. Happy holidays, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!