Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The summer flounder season opened with tough weather conditions, but hardy anglers willing to work through the elements found some fluke around. Areas from Atlantic City to Cape May produced some solid numbers of fluke to 5 pounds. Barnegat Bay and parts of Great Bay were hampered by cooler than normal water temperatures, which made for a slow pick on fluke. The Manasquan and Shark River inlets had better numbers of keepers. Gulp baits, cut mackerel, and squid strips were the main bait contenders over the past week. Striped bass fishing is in full swing for most of South Jersey with some nice specimens to 44 pounds being released. The Cape May area has exploded on the striped bass and drum fishing fronts with quality fish for both species being caught in the Delaware Bay.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said bloodworms have been accounting for some keeper striped bass to 30 inches along the Toms River and upper parts of Barnegat Bay. The shop’s fresh clams have been working on striped bass in the surf off of Island Beach State Park and parts of Seaside Park. The Manasquan River has been the best place to go for fluke as compared to areas around Barnegat Light which have been very quiet. The Barnegat inlet has been very good for striped bass to 38 inches from the north jetty and along the beaches of IBSP according to boaters.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had some reports of keeper fluke being caught from the “BI” to “BB”, but it’s been relatively slower. The usual spots of Double Creek and Oyster Creek have some fish around, but overall it’s been a slower pick to start the season. The best baits have been live minnows drifted on long leaders attached to a 1/2 to 1oz weight. The good news has been the striped bass and bluefish bite occurring along the inlet and out front. Small plugs, soft plastics, and fresh clam baits have been the trick on these fish and the early morning tide has been working. Anglers are finding bluefish trolling pony tails from the “BB” to the Route 37 bridge. The shop has a full assortment of Gulp baits, so stop in and pick them up.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was out during the week with return clients on a 4hr charter after the fluke season opener. The skipper reported tough conditions with water temperatures and clarity not the greatest, but the crew released 25 shorts and boxed one 19 incher. The vessel will be sailing weekday afternoons from 3 to 7pm until school lets out and then the schedule changes to running 7 days a week (morning and afternoon).
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light will start their charter fishing season on May 17th as I received official word from the captain. Capt. Ted will be targeting sea bass to begin their 2024 charter season.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin received reports of slower fluking along most parts of Barnegat Bay. The bridges do have some fluke around in the deeper holes and some fish have been pulled from the Tuckerton area on live minnows. Anglers throwing small plugs have been getting a few bluefish and striped bass from the inlet area. The surf of Long Beach Island has been producing striped bass with some regularity, especially the areas of Ship Bottom and Surf City.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported some nicer striped bass being caught along Atlantic City and Ocean City. The inlet jetties and some of the beaches produced on fresh clam and bunker chunks. Anglers searching for backbay fluke are finding most of the action in the 4 to 8 foot depths along the back stretches of the ICW. Rainbow channel has been a good along with some of the other “off-channels”. Small jigs tipped with mackerel strips, Gulp or minnows worked well over the first week of flatty season. Drum are starting to bite clam baits in the Delaware bay, so if you can find good tides in the late afternoon through dinner – be prepared to hook up.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said the reports of flounder have been coming in and anglers have been picking them up along some of the shallow flats near the ICW, Rainbow channel, and others. Gulp minnow and shrimp have been the hot baits and the shop just received a limited shipment of the new Gulp colors. Striped bass are being landed along the bay bridges, inlets, and beaches. Bloodworms are still working well in the back, while bunker and clams are doing the job out front.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City had another decent week with back bay bass on light tackle and the fly. The charters had a few bluefish mixed in along with a couple of flatties. The skipper is running weekly trips, so give him a call for a spot on the vessel in May.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area had phenomal action from the Delaware bay with an influx of hungry drum hitting the area. Clam chumming and dunking worked well for anglers fishing the 25 to 40 foot sloughs. Most of the drum are in the 40 to 60 pound range with a few bigger ones being landed. In addition to these croaker cousins, striped bass have been landed in the same areas on both clam and bunker. A few fish from 40 to 47 inches have been released on clam baits meant for drum. The beaches off of the bay and Cape May are also seeing better striped bass fishing. Anglers searching for flatties are finding some keepers behind Wildwood and Cape May. The shallower bay areas are the places to try right now, but working a small jig along the surf has produced a few also. The rivers of the Maurice and Cohansey are still giving up striped bass and white perch on bloodworms.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
Our weekend weather pattern is for the birds right now, with gorgeous weekday fishing opportunities, but the weekend brings strong winds and rain. Based on the most recent forecast, which seems to be flip-flopping like voters going to an election, has Saturday as the day with no-rain gear needed. Anglers looking to catch a few flatties should be working both sides of the outgoing tide to find the best water temperatures. Jigging Gulp, fish bellies or live minnows tipped on a small bucktail provides the best opportunity for success. Location does seem to matter, with the Manasquan River and areas south of Barnegat Bay having the best action in the first weeks of the flounder season. Bluefish and striped bass are around and provide another viable action for our weekend fishing brethren. Most of the inlets are great places to find both of these species right now, and baits or plugs are the “go-to’s”. The final option would be to hit the Garden State Parkway and head straight for mile marker 0. Grab clams, find a boat and anchor for spring drum. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!
What about carp fishing??