New Jersey Fishing Report- March 14, 2024

New Jersey Fishing Report

Steady rain followed by screaming winds made for tough fishing at the start of the week. But better weather finally arrived and the spring striper bite got back on track. 

Most rivers are giving up small bass and the fish are making their way into the bays, especially Barnegat Bay. The majority of the action is still on bloodworms but small plastics and plugs are working, mainly at night. White perch continue to be caught in the same spots and a few winter flounder have been reported as well. 
 
And speaking of flat fish, the Jersey Marine Fisheries Council approved Option 32 for summer flounder with a three-fish limit of 18 inches with a season from May 4 to Sept. 25.  That option offered the most fishing days. 

Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said the folks are picking away at bass in the Raritan and Hackensack rivers on bloodworms. He hasn’t heard much in the way of fish in Raritan Bay nor has he heard of any bunker in the bay as yet. Tackle World will be bringing its line of products to the Saltwater Fishing Expo this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison. 

Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said worm balls soaked in Fin-Essence are catching stripers in the back of Raritan Bay by South Amboy. He also said a few fish were caught on Mojos trolled in the Raritan River. Sciortino is selling pre-made worm balls at the shop. The Tackle Box will be at the Saltwater Expo as well. 

Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait said he’s heard of short stripers taken in the Navesink River but the fishing is still a little slow. The water remains on the chilly side, he said, but the late-week warm-up should help matters. The shop, Pinto said, is fully stocked for spring. 

Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch is getting reports of small bass in the local rivers hitting plugs and plastics with a slow retrieve working best. He’s seeing more birds diving on bait in the ocean and expects a new body of striped bass to move in fairly soon. TAK Waterman will be at the Saltwater Expo this weekend and Gleason said they will be bringing a load of rods, reels, lures, tackle and clothing. 

Jimbo at The Reel Seat in Brielle said the fishing is still a little slow but he did hear of bass in the Toms River on bloodworms and small plastics. He said the shop is gearing up for tog season which opens on April 1. The Reel Seat has also been getting plenty of new plugs into the shop with a shipment of Cedar Run Lures in a variety of colors arriving earlier this week. 

Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said the best fishing is way back in the rivers but the water has to warm up some before it really picks up. Consistent temperatures around 50 degrees should do the trick. So far, the fishing has been decent mostly in the dark under the bridges on suspending plugs and small plastics. 

Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick said the backwaters are producing plenty of action with stripers up to 36 inches on blood worms. The shop also weighed in a 2½-pound winter flounder earlier this week. White perch continue to bite on worms as well back in the bay. Gabriel Tackle will be holding a special seminar on planer board fishing for jumbo stripers this Monday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. 

Dennis Palmatier at the Hook House in Toms River said the heavy rain and big wind took a toll on the fishing over the weekend but there were fish caught when things calmed down. Anglers landed keeper bass on bloodworms in the Toms River and on plugs at a nearby park. He also had reports of stripers at the Mantoloking Bridge. Palmatier said the shop just got a new shipment of John Skinner Rods. 

Frankie Z at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said most of the bass action he’s heard of is in the Toms River and upper Barnegat Bay on blood worms. The white perch bite has also been good in the Toms River. He added that Grumpy’s will be having a big Spring Stock Up Sale on April 13 and 14 with special deals and discounts throughout the store. 

Korey Renart at Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said the striper fishing is pretty good for early spring. There have been some keepers among the shorts caught on soft plastics and small darters around the bridges. The Mullica River has been particularly good this week, he added. 

Tara at Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Somers Point said anglers are catching stripers around the bridges, mainly on blood worms. The white perch bite has been holding up as well in the rivers and creeks. Tara said the shop has expanded, with a special section devoted to its extensive line of rods and reels.  

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey! 

Best Bets for the Weekend

Unsettled spring weather is in the forecast for the weekend with some rain and wind scheduled to arrive by Friday. For the determined, however, there are bass to be caught. The backs of the local rivers hold the most promise with blood worms catching most of the fish. Small plugs and soft plastics are working in the dark. 

Freshwater is another option with panfish, pickerel and largemouth bass biting in local ponds and lakes. Just a reminder, most trout stocked waters are closed to trout fishing starting on March 18 and will reopen at 8 a.m. on April 6. Check the NJ Div. of Fish and Wildlife website for exceptions. 

You can also get your fishing fix at the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Edison this weekend. It’s one of the biggest fishing shows of the season and draws exhibitors from all over the northeast.