New Jersey Fishing Report
Everyone is just counting down the days until striper season opens on March 1.
That was the mood at last weekend’s Surf Day, organized by the Jersey Shore Surfcasters at Brookdale Community College. Tired of winter and suffering from cabin fever, hundreds of people braved a minor snowstorm to be with fellow anglers and talk fishing. They were also scooping up deals on rods, reels, plugs and tackle and filling up the seminar rooms. But unless you’re after white perch or freshwater species in local ponds and lakes, talking is about all that’s left.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said there wasn’t much to report in the way of fishing but there are a lot more browsers in the store getting ready for spring. Hebert said the seats for Tackle World’s three live seminars on fluking, striped bass and blackfish are fully booked for this Saturday but there will be standing room available and the in-store television screens will carry the presentations. There will also be special sales on selected inventory. Details are available on the shop’s Facebook page.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at The Tackle Box in Hazlet said the few folks that are trying are finding white perch in the back of Raritan Bay and the local rivers. Stripers are there as well but off limits until March 1. The shop has blood worms and a 24-hour bait machine out front.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said only fishing he’s hearing about is taking place in freshwater. He said there was a good crowd at the Jersey Shore Surfcasters’ annual Surf Day last Saturday with anglers anxious to start fishing again. The shop is fully loaded for spring with several new plug makers available. Gleason said he’s also expecting a new shipment of Back Bay Plugs very soon.
Things are quiet at the Belmar Marina with the Ocean Explorer the only party boat still sailing. Capt. Bobby Quinn is planning on going for blackfish and anything else that has a mind to bite whenever the weather allows. Blackfish season closes Feb. 28.
Jimbo at The Reel Seat in Brielle said a few die-hards are blackfishing but it’s just been a pick. There have been a few cod caught as well. The Reel Seat will be holding special classes on how to rig ballyhoo with wire on March 2. A seat can be reserved for $10 which includes a rig, ballyhoo and special giveaways. Jimbo said the 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. classes are sold out and there are just a few seats left for the 3 p.m. session. Depending on demand, another class may be added on March 2 or a later date.
Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said they had a good day at Surf Day as well. Everyone is gearing up for striper season and Tanger suggests putting a couple of X-Raps, his personal favorite, in your bag ahead of the opener. Plugs that suspend in the water column work well in the early spring, he said. Winter flounder season also opens on March 1 and Tanger mentioned that the Mantoloking Bridge and southern mouth of the Point Pleasant Canal are usually good spots.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach posted that he’ll be running a limited capacity tilefish trip on March 8. Full details are available on the website.
Mario Depolvere at the Hook House in Toms River said white perch in the Toms River and pickerel in the local ponds are about the only things going on right now. Everybody is waiting for a crack at the stripers in the river and word is there are plenty to be caught. The shop has bloodworms and new spring inventory is arriving daily. The Hook House is now open seven days a week.
Scott Thomas at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said they’re expecting a good turnout for Saturday’s special backwater striper seminar at 3 p.m. Thomas will be running the seminar and said there will be deals and discounts to go along with all of the valuable information. Thomas expects the early striper season to get off to a good start.
Mike at Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said folks are getting white perch in the back bay on blood worms with some small stripers caught as bycatch. The perch have been in the one-pound range. There are also a few blackfish being caught at the Barnegat Inlet. Fishermans Headquarters will be at the Saltwater Expo, March 15 to 17 in Edison.
Liza at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said she hasn’t heard much lately on the fishing front but the shop is only open on weekends. That will change when Creekside opens full time on March 23 with loads of new inventory.
Carl at Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township said white perch and the occasional striper is all that’s going right now. The perch fishing has been pretty good in the Mullica River, he said.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
Just one more weekend to get through before the opening of striper and winter flounder seasons. The forecast doesn’t look too bad so you can spend some time in the backwaters fishing for white perch or chasing panfish, pickerel and largemouth in local ponds. You can also get your gear in order for another, hopefully, excellent striper season.
Make sure your calendar is marked for Sunday, March 3 for the Asbury Park Fishing Show at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park. It’s one of the oldest and best fishing events around.