Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
“Exit Stage East” – It’s a shame to end the fluke season with a four day northeast blow, with flounder leaving the inlets in droves to head to deeper water for the spawn. A few boaters were able to get out in the bays this past week, but the reports were fair at best, with a few nicer specimens being landed on live spot. The bite was pretty good just before the system—which caused lots of flooding down in the Carolinas—arrived off our coast. The yellowfin bite has been incredibly productive, but we haven’t heard of many reports due to the weather over the past few days.
But it’s not all negative, the blackfish bite continues to be excellent off most of the inlets and bridges with cut green crab, sand fleas, and Asian shore crabs working well on the tog. Most of the tog have been in the 12- to 14-inch size range, but fishermen putting in the time have been rewarded with a 15+ incher. Striped bass fishing got a jumpstart with a pretty good bite in the backwaters as mullet, peanut bunker, and spearing are on the menu. Small poppers, plugs, and Clouser flies are working on fish from the shallows to the bridges. There are also some weakfish being caught along some of the inlets on peanut bunker. Shhh!
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said it was a slow go on fluke in the bays and off the beaches. The heavy surf had most anglers taking some time off from fishing. Anglers working the bays found a few decent weakfish to 3 pounds on live peanut bunker and some blowfish around the Route 37 bridge. The night bite at the bridges has been good for striped bass and a few small bluefish on pink and white soft plastics.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had a slower week with the heavy winds, but a few salty anglers attempted fluking in the bay with limited results. The best the shop had was a 6-pound fluke weighed-in that was caught on live spot, but it has been mostly shorts. Togging off the rocks remains consistent for action and a pick on keepers.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown ran a few trips this past week prior to the blow and ocean trips had 5 keepers to 5 pounds with over 40 shorts. The bay fishing had a tougher bite on keeper fluke, but plenty action on short fluke, tog, and a few weakfish. The skipper will finish out the fluke season this week and will begin ocean sea bass and night-time skiff striped bass charters.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light was out prior to the weekend for blues, bonito, and a few Spanish mackerel. The crew took the weekend and week off due to the weather. The boat is working on booking sea bass and striped bass trips.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had slower reports on fluke as most anglers did not have shots to hit the ocean reefs where most of the action has resided. The bay fisherman dealt with fast drifts and a few had keepers on live spot and peanut bunker. The deep channels and sedges ultra close to the inlets were the best locations for fluke. Striped bass, weakfish, and bluefish continued to be more active at the inlets and back to parts of the ICW with bird action on harassed schools of peanut bunker. Crabbing along the 4 to 6 foot sloughs had some nice 5.5 inchers. The shop is loaded with lots of fall bait and lure options for tog and striped bass, so stop in.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported a slow week of fishing, but a busier week in the shop with anglers purchasing gear for the upcoming sea bass season which opens on October 1st. Bay fisherman picked at flounder with live bait and a few fish have been caught on 6-inch Gulp. Striped bass and weakfish are being found in the deeper channels around the marshes with soft plastics and plugs. The shop has been sending anglers to the bridges for solid tautog and sheepshead action.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point received a shipment of fresh mullet in the shop and the bait has been great for bluefish and flounder off the inlets and beaches. Beach fishing has been tough with the bigger waves, but there have been some fish around. Green crabs for tautog remained the hottest fishery of the week and areas of Atlantic City, Somers Point, and Ocean City are producing some solid keeper action. Weakfish are around and are being caught Pink Zoom plastics along the shadow lines of the bridges during the night tides. There are still some nice sheepshead around for anglers dropping crabs down in 5-foot increments along the pilings.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City had a slower week with the winds, but the skipper said he did brave it for some nice action on bay striped bass. It was particularly good due to fewer anglers being on the water. The skipper is pumped as he will be targeting striped bass in the next few weeks. Ocean fishing prior to the blow had great action on Spanish mackerel, bonita, and bluefish.
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The Cape May to Fortescue areas were better for a mix of action over the last few days with croakers, spot, kingfish, and weakfish. Anglers working the beaches of the Delaware have been deflected by the NE winds, giving ample opportunities to catch fish. Cut bloodworms are working for these fish, while whole bloods have been hot on some of the marshy channels for striped bass. I did not receive any offshore reports due to the weather, but just as all of the shops have said, it was hot offshore for yellowfin prior to the blow.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
With the poor wind forecast, this week’s best bet looks to be to grab a bucket full of green crabs from one of the local shops and target tautog. There are plenty of short tog to keep anglers of all levels very busy. If you’re feeling extra zealous, grab some bunker, a small net and drop hand-lined bunker in between the inlet rocks. Green crabs and Asian shore crabs are in abundance at the inlet and provide fantastic bait-crabbing opportunities for kids and adults. Just be careful on the rocks as they can be slippery.
Tog jigs to 1 ounce will usually work between the rocks, as well as single-hook rigs tipped with crabs. It is not uncommon to go through a ton of crabs before you find a keeper due to the number of short fish off our jetties in the fall. If you can find a window, hit the inlets or deep channels with large minnows, small spot, or peanut bunker for flounder. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!