Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
The one big change from last week is that the weather got worse. The storm that rolled in Monday and Tuesday brought heavy rain and pounding surf, keeping the tog boats at the dock and surfcasters off the beach. Prior to the blow, the blackfishing was decent and the stripers were still biting, especially down in the Seaside area.
It looks like Friday will be the earliest the party boats will sail and who knows what the storm did to the stripers that were still around. And the rain did the freshwater fishing, which was probably the best thing going, no favors. The water got muddy and levels are way up in rivers and streams.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said he heard nothing in the way of fishing reports this past week. He suggests anglers use this down time to replace hooks, get reels serviced and line changed so they’re ready when spring rolls around.
Things have been quiet at the Tackle Box in Hazlet. One definite event is Back Bay Day scheduled for Feb. 4 when Capt. Phil Sciortino Jr. will have a good supply of the popular plug makers lures in the shop. There will also be a storewide super sale that day.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the real die-hards, like Chris K., were still catching small stripers in the surf last weekend on sand eel imitations. Giglio’s is open every Saturday between 8 a.m. and noon and by appointment.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch reported a good striper bite down by Seaside over the weekend. Boaters were the only ones who could reach them as they were a couple of hundred yards off the beach feeding on adult bunker. Gleason said there were still stripers in the surf in Long Branch on sand eel imitations before the storm. He’s not sure the bass will still be around after this latest blow. Tak Waterman is open every day except Tuesday.
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The Big Mohawk and Capt. Cal II will be sailing again out of the Belmar Marina on Friday for tog. The bite was pretty good last weekend with the boats reporting a mix of keepers and shorts and a few limits.
Ted Imfeld at The Reel Seat in Brielle said he heard of stripers to the south before the storm and decent togging on the reefs and wrecks, but that’s about it. He advises stocking up on tackle and getting gear in order while the fishing is on the slow side.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach reported very good blackfishing over the weekend with a 15-pound tog taken at the Sea Girt Reef. He also had great reports on the striper fishing in the Seaside area with bass feeding on bunker on top about two hundred yards off the beach. Topwater plugs and shads were working with 5-inch NLBNs accounting for a lot of bass. Tangen said the plummeting temperatures in the forecast for next week will most likely bring an end to the bass bite. If you have reels to fill, Tangen suggests getting them in now to beat the rush. It will be spring before you know it.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach has been sailing for blackfish whenever the weather permits. Last weekend’s fishing saw a nice bunch of keepers come aboard along with plenty of shorts. The Mimi VI will be sailing open boat on Friday and plans to fish for tog through February.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said the weather has been playing havoc with the schedule but he plans on sailing for blackfish on Friday. He also plans on targeting tog through February.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick said there were nice size blackfish caught on the local wrecks and reefs over the weekend.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said it’s very quiet there. Everyone seems to have put their gear away for the winter and he’ll be heading south himself by Jan. 20.
Scott Thomas at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said there were still stripers around as of last week but nobody has been fishing for the last several days with the high winds and wild surf. Thomas said they’re busy getting the shop ready for the big super sale on Jan. 27 and added that they’ll be adding plenty of new products to the store this year.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
Friday looks like the only fishable day in the ocean as more wet and windy weather is slated to arrive for the rest of the weekend. The tog boats will be sailing and the surf will have calmed down enough to try surfcasting for remaining stripers. Freshwater is also an option as local ponds and lakes are giving up bass, crappie and perch.
You can also mark your calendar for the 31st Annual Asbury Park Fishing Club Fishing Show at the Berkeley Carteret Hotel on March 3.