Northern New Jersey Fishing Report- March 21, 2024

Northern New Jersey Fishing Report

Slowly but surely, the spring striper fishing is gathering steam. All of the usual spots for early bass are reporting action. Raritan Bay, Barnegat Bay and the local rivers are giving up fish on bloodworms, sandworms and artificials. 

As might be expected, the fickle spring weather has been hampering participation, but anglers aching for their first bass of 2024 are getting out there and catching fish. 

White perch continue to be caught as well, but most of that action has been in rivers and bays south of Toms River. There have been reports of bait in the ocean but no catches as of yet. Water temperatures are creeping up and the full moon coming in a few days might kick that fishery loose. 

Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said there’s plenty of stripers in the back of Raritan Bay and the Raritan and Hackensack rivers. Bloodworms, shads and small plugs have all been working. Hebert said he also had reports of gannets diving on bait off the beaches. The shop is getting ready for the opening of trout season on April 6. 

Danny Stolba of Fish Tail Bait and Tackle in Carteret said the bass are in the Arthur Kill with several caught in the last week on frozen bunker. Stolba got a 33-inch bass on Saturday night. 

Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said Raritan Bay lit up earlier this week between with bass up to 30 pounds. Metal-lip swimmers and NLBN shads were doing the job. The bass were on bunker, Sciortino said. 

Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the striper fishing there is slowly coming together. Boat and kayak anglers are pulling fish out of the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Some of the bass are keepers. Pinto said Blitz Bait shads available at the shop are getting good reviews from his customers. There haven’t been any reports from the surf as yet but Pinto thinks the coming full moon on March 25 will help get things started. 

Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch also reported good fishing but you have to work for them. He reported fish caught up to 25 pounds with boat anglers getting them on shads and metal lips while shore anglers are having success with metal-lip swimmers. Gleason said he’s expecting a new shipment of Back Bay Plugs and to sign up for the Tak Waterman newsletter at the website for the drop date. 

Tim Rizzuto at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said most of the action he’s heard of is up in Raritan Bay and he’s been getting bass up in the Amboys on white shads. There hasn’t been any word on winter flounder in the Shark River, he added. The party boats out of the marina will be sailing soon with the opening of blackfish season on April 1. 

Jimbo at The Reel Seat in Brielle said from what he’s hearing Raritan Bay is the hot spot. He also reported there are bass in the Manasquan River and Barnegat Bay on worms and plugs. The Big Jamaica, he added, did very well on its recent tilefish trip and the shop is gearing up for the blackfish opener.  

Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said he’s been getting good reports on stripers in Barnegat Bay around Bay Head. Bloodworms and small plugs are working. He also reported winter flounder in the same area with a 3-pounder reported. Anglers fishing with clams and worms for flounder are also getting hit by blackfish, which is a good sign. Tanger said the bass reports from up in Barnegat Bay have been good on Red Fins, shads, minnow plugs and needlefish. A slow retrieve is key, he said 

Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick reported stripers are being caught in Barnegat Bay on bloodworms and small swim shads like Kettle Creeks and 3-inch NLBNs around the bridges. He’s also had a few reports of winter flounder at the Mantoloking Bridge and the south end of the Point Pleasant Canal.  

Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said there are a lot of stripers moving around Barnegat Bay with bloodworms getting most of the attention. He also reported blackish around the Point Pleasant Canal hitting the worms. 

Mario at the Hook House in Toms River said there are stripers hitting blood worms and small plugs like X-Raps in the Toms River but you have to keep moving to find them. There are fish in the back of Barnegat Bay and around Forked River as well hitting the same baits. The trick is to stay on the move until you locate the fish, he said. 

Conor Thompson at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said shads have been working well on Barnegat Bay stripers along with blood worms. The shop, he said, is gearing up for the ocean clam bite which should be getting started soon. 

Liza at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said they’re getting good striper reports from the west side of Barnegat Bay on bloodworms, sandworms and poppers. The white perch bite has also been good in the Mullica River. Liza said they have jumbo bloodworms and sandworms and just received a big order from Nomad Tackle. The shop is now open Wednesday through Sunday but will be open full time starting April 1. 

Max at Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said there are stripers all around Barnegat Bay with bloodworms getting the bites during the day and plugs and plastics working at night.  

Carl at Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township said it’s the same story down there with stripers in the back waters hitting bloodworms and small plugs and plastics. The white perch are biting as well on bloodworms. 

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Best Bets for the Weekend

The forecast doesn’t look too friendly with Saturday a potential washout. But the bass are there as long as you’re willing to work for them. The usual spring spots around Raritan Bay, Barnegat Bay and the local rivers are giving up stripers on bloodworms, sandworms and small plugs and paddletail shads. Artificials have been working best at night. 

There have been some winter flounder taken, mostly in Barnegat Bay, and the white perch bite is holding up in the bay and in nearby rivers and creeks.