Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
So far, it’s been a striper season of fits and starts. There’s plenty of bass around, but they’re not always biting. One day it’s on, then the next bites are scarce.
Fluctuating water temperatures have made the fish finicky. Warmer weather is on the way and that should bring more consistent fishing. Those who are putting in the time are catching stripers. There was even a confirmed report of a beach bass this week. And now there’s more fishing options.
Trout season opened and its start was marked by the annul Trout Contest for Kids in Spring Lake. Justin Carey, 12, of Leonardo took the Grand Prize with a 5-pound, 5-ounce tiger trout. The contest, sponsored by the Shark River Surf Anglers, saw hundreds of young anglers line the edge of Spring Lake trying their luck.
Blackfishing has been decent if not spectacular, ling and cod are being caught and there were reports a few winter flounder landed.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said he had good reports on the trout opener, especially from the smaller state-stocked lakes and ponds. Striper fishing in the back of Raritan Bay has been decent, he said, but nothing crazy, and he’s been getting fair reports on blackfishing.
Danny Stolba of Fish Tail Bait and Tackle in Carteret said the pier regulars continue to pick bass on frozen and fresh bunker. He reported a 40-inch bass was caught from the pier last Sunday morning. He also reported a few boats have been fishing the Arthur Kill and catching stripers on shads.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said anglers went old school to catch bass this week relying on bunker chunks and worms to get the job done. Water temperatures have been bouncing up and down, he said, and it would help the fishing if it stayed around 50 degrees for a while.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the bass fishing was pretty good in the local rivers. The Shrewsbury River in Sea Bright has been giving up nice fish on shads, bucktails and swimmers. Pinto said Blitz Baits and Salty C’s plug have been working well. The shop is now open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said the striper fishing keeps improving. He added that a new wave of bigger fish has moved in and anglers are reporting better fishing. NLBN shads, paddle tails and metal-lipped swimmers are all working. Gleason said that he has a new batch of Swagger Bait Co. plugs arriving at the shop this Friday. TAK Waterman was one of the sponsors of last Saturday’s Youth Fishing Derby which returned to Lake Takanassee after a long hiatus following Hurricane Sandy. Gleason said the derby was a success it will now return as an annual event, organized by the Long Branch PBA.
Jesse Thomas at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the party boats out of the marina, including the Golden Eagle, Big Mohawk and Capt. Cal II, have been catching blackfish, cod and ling. He also heard of blackfish being caught at the Shark River Inlet on white leggers. The striper reports from Raritan Bay indicate the better fishing is on bait with worms and bunker chunks.
Capt. Steve Spinelli of the Skylarker out of Belmar said he had a good day on Monday with cod to 12 pounds and blackfish up to 5 pounds. He did say there was a lot of bunker out in the ocean.
Stanley S. at The Reel Seat in Brielle said he’s been getting good reports on the striper fishing in Raritan Bay and decent blackfishing on the local reefs. He got his limit of tog on his own boat earlier this week.
Jason Szabo at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said he got a good report on winter flounder from the south end of the Point Pleasant Canal to the Mantoloking Bridge on clams and sandworms. The striper fishing is still not great but it’s getting better, he said. There are stripers in the canal and around the bridges and soft plastics fished slowly along the bottom have been working. Szabo also reported that toggers are doing pretty well, even a bit better than expected.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said the blackfishing is improving every day. He had keepers up to 7 pounds over the weekend along with some nice-size ling. He said there’s been plenty of short life around the boat. The Norma K III is sailing for blackfish every day at 7:30 a.m.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach reported that a 13-pound tog was caught and released on Monday’s trip.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick reported that blackfishing has been good for boats heading offshore and folks fishing the canal. Green crabs, blood and sandworms are all working. Bloodworms are also working best for bass in Barnegat Bay, he added.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach reported his first surf stripers of the season. Christine Sturla caught a nice fat bass when she tossed a clam into the surf during a family day at beach. Barnegat Bay continues to give up bass on bloodworms and Kettle Creek shads around the bridges and docks, he added.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle said they have yet to get a surf bass, but more folks are starting to try. He has clams in stock. He said bloodworms are still the best producers for bass in Barnegat Bay but shads and small plugs are getting some fish. Grumpy’s annual Spring Stock Up Event is this Saturday and Sunday with special sales throughout the store. They will also have casting demonstrations by ODM Rods, Tsunami, RH Custom Rods and Daiwa. Complete details are on Grumpy’s Facebook page. Grumpy’s will also be returning to full time hours this Saturday, open every day from 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
Warmer weather starting on Saturday may be just what we need to break things loose on the striper front. Bloodworms and bunker chunks seem like surer bets but fish are hitting shads, metal-lips and small plugs. Clams off the beach are also worth a try.
Blackfish are biting on the local reefs and wrecks and cod and ling are filling out the catches. Tog are also being caught in the Point Pleasant Canal and at the inlets.