Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Spring has sprung, but I guess the weather didn’t get the memo this week as we received a chillier week that we have been getting. The stripers have been on the feed the prior week with dry conditions and multiple days with temperatures up to the 70’s. Some areas were having bass chase and hit worked artificials, but back with colder temperatures and a slight cool down of bay temps – we are back to the bait and wait game. White perch and winter flounder have been picking up bloodworms, along with grass shrimp in certain locations. The winter flounder action has been spotty, mainly because of lack of participation. But the countdown has begun, only six more weeks until the opening of fluke season.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River has been restocking the shelves for the upcoming spring season. The shop is loaded with bloodworms, nightcrawler, and tanks full of shiners for freshwater and saltwater. Schoolie striped bass and some white perch are being caught along the Toms River out to the Route 37 bridge. Island beach has had some sporadic bird action, but mostly on Atlantic herring and slow on the striped bass front. There have been a few striped bass caught along the backside rocks off the Barnegat Inlet.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported striped bass action from Graveling Point to the Toms River with schoolies and a few 29 inch fish being caught on jumbo-sized bloodworms. Anglers throwing soft plastics are not seeing consistent action as of yet. White perch have been chewing in parts of the Mullica and the Toms River. A few hardy souls have ventured out to do some bay side clamming and rewarded with 50-60 clams. The shop also heard of a few winter flounder being landed on bloodworm.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has the backwater skiff ready to go for striped bass action on the flats and some of the skipper’s choice areas. The larger boat is having routine engine maintenance completed and should be ready for the slip in the next two weeks. Most weekends have been completely booked out, and there are dates available from mid June through September.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been performing their scheduled painting, engine maintenance, and other duties in preparation for the sea bass season. The vessel will be targeting sea bass for the season opener in May. The skipper has mentioned that they may plan to get it in for the start of the tautog season in April.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said the hot white perch bite has been occurring in the areas around the Mullica River and additional reports coming from the Toms River. A few locals have been fishing the areas behind Beach Haven West, but only finding a small pick of perch. Striped bass are being caught in multiple locations with the western side of Barnegat bay having the best bites. Most of the fish have been in the 18 to 24 inch size range and caught on bloodworm or small soft plastics.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had reports of white perch hitting the banks of the Mullica River and some of the areas up to Lower bank and Green bank on grass shrimp. Bloodworms has been working on white perch, but better for striped bass. Graveling Point has had a few bass caught as well as areas from Atlantic City south through Stone Harbor.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point received local reports of striped bass, white perch, and even some winter flatties in the backbays of Great Bay and the Mullica River. Angler participation has been sparse, but of the few that have been going rods have been bent with multiple species. The shop received a shipment of bloodworms and has clam chum for winter flounder species. Some of the area bridges are supporting schoolie striped bass on the outgoing tides with small soft plastics or drifted bloodworms.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City has been working on the vessel and has ran a few scouting runs to the striped bass grounds. The skipper has found a few areas with cooperative schoolie striped bass as shallow as three feet. The crew is booking trips for 2024, so give them a ring or message on Instagram.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area has mostly smaller sized striped bass from the Cohansey River on bloodworms and also some white perch. Bloodworms has been the best bait of choice for these. The Fortescue beach area has given up a few striped bass up to 34 inches on live bloodworm and clam baits. The beaches of Cape May have been slow, but hopefully with some warmer weather in the coming weeks that changes. Most boats are being worked on in preparation for the upcoming spring season.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend is to find inside activities on Saturday as it looks like the congruence of low pressure systems might dump buckets of rain on us. It’s a perfect day to hit the “honey do’s”, work on gear, or hit one of the local tackle shops. Anglers looking to get out may encounter dirty water with all of the rain run-off from the predicted weather for Sunday. But if you want to give it a go, pick up bloodworms or grass shrimp and go searching for striped bass or white perch along some of the rivers. In terms of fishability, Friday may be the best day to hit the bays as I’m sure striped bass, winter flounder, and white perch may be on the feed ahead of the weekends wet weather. Good luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
Delaware Bay Report?