Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
Remember that ferocious northeast wind from last week’s report? It’s still blowing.
With the exception of a few brief respites, the steady howl hasn’t changed direction or intensity. Boats remained at the docks as a middling fluke season ended with a whimper. Yet, determined anglers will always find a way to catch fish.
Schools of mullet attracted bass in the roiling surf, bluefish were caught in the rivers, bays and off the beach, blackfish bit at the inlets and there are still spot, snappers and crabs around. We just need a break from this relentless wind so folks can get back out in the ocean chasing tuna, stripers and, come Oct. 1, black sea bass.
Mark Fuduli at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said it was a tough week with the weather, but a few anglers picked bass from the foamy surf on Sandy Hook and in Long Branch and Deal throwing SP Minnows. He also heard of a few big fluke taken in the Shrewsbury River opposite Twin Lights. Unfortunately, that train has left the station.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said it was a quiet week but that eels were catching big stripers by the Statue of Liberty and in New York Harbor. Porgies and triggerfish are on the local rock piles and he said all the mullet and peanuts around should make for a good fall run.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said the Shrewsbury River is loaded with mullet and spearing and bluefish are having a feast. He also reported bass up to 40 inches caught on eels near the Highlands Bridge.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the year’s fluke season got very low marks in his estimation. The Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers are holding blues and anglers are getting them up to 10 pounds at night. He’s also had reports of bass in the wash on bucktails and plugs but it’s tough fishing with the high surf. Bait, he added, is thick in the local rivers and around Sandy Hook. Pinto also said that Giglio’s now carries the new ODM EVO X surf rods.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said stripers are pushing mullet in the surf and anglers putting in the time are catching fish. There are blues off the beach as well despite the heavy seas. Bass and blues are in the rivers hitting plugs, shads and metal. Gleason said he’s expecting a new batch of Back Bay Plugs in the shop shortly.
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Mullet have been running along the beach in Asbury Park and Ocean Grove and bass have been on them in the surf.
Tommy Palmisano at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the wind has been a thorn in the side of the party boat fleet but a few managed to get out over the weekend. Fluking was tough in the fast drift and the fleet is really looking forward to sea bass season. People were still catching keeper fluke in the Shark River through the close of the season and blackfishing has been good at the inlet with a lot of action but not a lot of keepers.
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar is among the very few who have sailed in the last week. He got out Monday and Tuesday of this week and found good bluefishing on both trips with diamond jigs doing the job. The Golden Eagle will be targeting sea bass come Oct. 1.
Stanley S. at the Reel Seat in Brielle said stripers up to 36 inches are being caught in the surf from Avon down to Brick on bucktails. A shop regular said he got 12 stripers in one morning from the beach. He said fluking was good in the Manasquan River as the season ended with a couple of 8 pounders reported caught. He also reported good blackfishing in the Point Pleasant Canal and at the Manasquan Inlet.
Chris Parlow from Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach had very little to report this week with the ocean being virtually off limits with the constant northeast wind. He did report that fishing along the Manasquan Inlet wall produced decent catches of fluke with a few very large fish in the mix. Blues and false albacore have also been coming in and out of the inlet. Stripers are also being caught at various locations along the Manasquan River.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III said he can’t remember the wind blowing in the same direction for this many days in a row. He managed to get out last Saturday night for bluefish and reported good fishing for all on board. He’s also heading offshore for tuna on Thursday night, Sept. 26, and has four spots available. It’s a nice weather window, he said, and to call 732-496-5383 if you’re interested. The boat leaves at 6 p.m.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said the Manasquan River is the place to be since the ocean has been so inhospitable. There are big bluefish in the river along with striped bass. He also said that if you liveline mullet or spot in the river there’s a good chance you’ll hook a weakfish. The Point Pleasant Canal is also giving up bass and blues on live spot and eels along with blackfish. Tangen said that he spoke with a lobsterman who returned from tending his pots earlier this week who told him there were still loads of mahi-mahi around. Offshore fishing, he believes, will be good once the boats are able to sail.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick reported that blackfishing in the Point Pleasant Canal has been consistent. Anglers are also picking stripers at the bridges in the Manasquan River late at night or early in the morning.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said anglers there are waiting out the weather like everyone else. He did say blues are being caught in the surf and upper Barnegat Bay. Stripers are also biting at night in the bay under dock lights.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said there’s a decent amount of fish around but conditions are making it difficult to catch them. The wind has pushed so much water back on land that Grumpy’s posted a video of a blowfish swimming in the street. He said there are blues in the surf hitting mullet and metal. There are stripers in the wash as well going after shads and bucktails. Kerico knows the weather will change eventually and the shop is stocked and ready to go for fall when it happens.
Best Bets for the Weekend
According to the forecast, there will be a brief pause in the wind direction on Thursday, but it will be back to northeast for the next several days. Until things settle down, anglers will have to stick to surfcasting for blues and bass, targeting the same in rivers and bays and blackfishing at the inlets and in the Point Pleasant Canal.
Porgies and triggerfish are also on the rock piles around Raritan Bay. And remember, forecasts change. A weather window can open at any time.