Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
They’re banging the drum in Barnegat Bay.
There are normally a few black drum around this time of year but this week saw unusually good fishing with multiple big fish landed all on clams. The bite was best south of the Route 37 Bridge with a few fish in the 50-pound range.
Striper anglers found the going a little tough again with chilly water and a lack of bait cutting down on the action. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of bunker around. On the plus side, more stripers have been reported in the surf with clams doing the trick.
Blackfishing reports have been good from the local reefs with boats finding solid action on keepers and shorts. The bite has been decent in the Point Pleasant Canal and at the inlets as well. Tog season closes on April 30.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said bass fishing slowed down in Raritan Bay. Folks are marking fish but it’s been a bit of a struggle to get them to bite. He did say anglers are having luck with lake trout at Round Valley Reservoir. Tackle World will be hosting Shimano Day on Sunday, April 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will in-store deals on Shimano products along with a seminar and panel discussions on slow jigging and tuna tactics from industry experts.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the bass fishing in Raritan Bay was a little better this week with fish caught on shads and Mojos. He also reported a few bass taken on clams in the surf at Sandy Hook.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said there’s more traffic in the store but the stripers aren’t cooperating. He’s heard of some fish caught in Raritan Bay by the Driscoll Bridge and Laurence Harbor, but it’s been far from hot.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said bass fishing slowed down in the rivers. Stripers continue to be caught but the bite isn’t what he’s been expecting. He’s not seeing a great deal of bait around.
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Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said bass fishing has been good and bad. Bass up to 20 pounds are being caught on NLBN shads and metal-lip swimmers but the absence of bunker is making things tough. He has received reports of bass on the beach on bait. Gleason is betting the upcoming full moon will help get the bunker moving and the bass biting.
In Ocean Grove, Two-Pole Mike Compoly landed his first bass of the year, a 30-incher, on sand bugs.
Jesse Thomas at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said there was a better striper bite this week with some action reported from the surf but it’s still a little slow. He did report that a winter flounder fisherman back in the Shark River caught and released two fluke to 21 inches. That season doesn’t open until May 4, with a size and bag limit of three fish at 18 inches. The party boats out of the marina, including the Big Mohawk and Capt. Cal II, are reporting pretty good blackfishing. Thomas also reported tog being caught at the Shark River Inlet. Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar is going to be spending more time looking for stripers and less time fishing the bottom. Check his website for more information and schedule.
Capt. Jay Richardella on Side Job Charters said the fishing up in Raritan Bay has been tough but things are bound to improve. He’s got open dates for bass and will be fishing for tuna when they show up. Check his website for details.
Stanley S. at The Reel Seat in Brielle said there are a lot of blackfish being caught on the local reefs. The tog seem to favor white leggers at the moment. He also got word of giant bluefin about 12 miles out but no catches were reported.
Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said black drum fishing in Barnegat Bay blew open this past week. Anglers tossing clams south of the Route 37 Bridge have been scoring a number of big fish. Tanger also reported good blackfishing on the local reefs with friends of his catching tog up to 13 pounds. He also heard of a 6 pounder landed at the Manasquan Inlet. Green crabs were doing the trick. There have been a few bass caught in the surf on clams, he said, while the striper fishing in general is sluggish. Everybody is awaiting the arrival of more bunker. Tanger said the freshwater bite has been good locally for crappie and largemouth. Just in time for fluke season, Tanger said the shop is now stocking Baitfuel grubs, a new entry in artificial bait. The grubs come in 4-, 5- and 6-inch sizes and packages sell for $4.99 and $5.99
Capt. Danny Gregory of the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said the blackfishing has been very good lately and it seems to be getting better. A 10-pounder came over the rail on Tuesday and Wednesday’s trip produced a number of keepers around the boat with fish up to 6 pounds. The Norma K III sails every day for blackfish at 7:30 a.m.
Chris Parlow from Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach said the shop re-opened for the season this week. He reported that there has been a decent tog bite on the Axel Carlson Reef and a lot of action in the canal. He also reported that striped bass have been being caught around the bridges in the Manasquan Inlet and up in Barnegat Bay.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. said black drum have invaded Barnegat Bay. Clams are your best bet, he advised, and head toward the lighthouse. He also said the surf is finally showing some life with stripers and black drum in the suds. Blackfishing has been good in the Point Pleasant Canal with worms and clams working along with green crabs, he added.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach also reported on the big drum in Barnegat Bay. They are being caught south of his location, closer to Seaside. Bass anglers are doing better in his neck of the woods on bloodworms from the docks and close to the bridges.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said this blast of black drum in Barnegat Bay is very unusual and he’s never seen or heard of anything like it. The bite is all on clams and the fish are between 20 and 50 pounds. He said there are a lot of stripers all around the bay as well with bloodworms out fishing plugs and shads. Kerico added that there are more bass being caught in the surf with fish up to 33 inches hitting clams.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
There are stripers to be caught in the bays, on the beach and in the rivers. You just may have to work a little harder for them. Bloodworms have been the most reliable bait, but shads and metal lips are accounting for some fish. Clams are the go-to bait on the beach.
Blackfishing has been good on the local reefs, at the inlets and in the Point Pleasant Canal. Worms, clams and crabs are working in the canal while white leggers and green crabs are doing the job on the reefs and inlets.
You can also head to Barnegat Bay and get in on this crazy black drum bite.