Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The leaves along the Jersey Shore and surrounding coastal forests are beginning to change color, ghostly and ghoulish decorations jot many of the neighborhood front yards, and the October full moon has just passed. Nothing signals the beginnings of the fall migration more, and right on cue, a few schools of trophy-sized striped bass have begun to swim through our area from their northernly summer dwellings in the New England area. This past week saw large numbers of 40- to 50-pound class fish make their way as far as Lavallette, with a bunch being caught and released to swim the rest of the East Coast gauntlet. Togging remained excellent for another week from rocks, jetties, and anything with bottom structure. The tuna bite came off the highs of prior weeks, but there have still been a few caught at the mid and southern canyons. Sea bass fishing remained consistent at the reefs and wrecks, but some spots are starting to get picked over, making for a few more moves to find a full box of fillets. Pumpkin spiced lattes, apple cider doughnuts, and the arrival of striped bass—what a combination!
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had good reports of cow bass from boats working the 1- to 3-mile line from Mantoloking north on pods of bunker. The beach scene has been spotty with some bluefish and just a few striped bass and skates being caught. Bayside striped bass are feeding on peanut bunker and spearing along some of the shallow flats and around the bridges. Blowfish are still being landed from the bridge to the “BI” buoy.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported sea bass are still active at the reef and wreck sites, but the bite has slowed down to more shorts than there are keepers. The shop advises bringing plenty of clam baits or dropping down a few AVA’s to target bigger fish. The surf zone had a few skates and bluefish being caught, and there was word of some larger sharks off IBSP being released. Most of the striper fishing has been resident fish in the backwaters with a few oceanside bass being caught.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown took a few days off to spend some time down south along Virginia’s eastern shore with his family. The skipper will be back at it this upcoming week for striped bass, tautog, and sea bass.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been targeting sea bass mainly on the weekends from 6 AM to 2 PM and the boat has been putting some decent numbers in the cooler. They will continue to target sea bass until the season closes, then will switch over to striped bass and bluefish.
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Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had similar reports as the prior week with good numbers of tautog being caught along the south jetty of Barnegat Inlet on green crab and small tog jigs. There was a push of bigger bass moving down from Mantoloking and Lavallette along with massive schools of bunker and whales. The surf has been slightly quiet with the bigger surf, but there are some striped bass around the cuts and holes. Anglers working plugs have been finding some fish. Bait fisherman have been finding bluefish, dogfish, and some skates.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported good action off the Atlantic City inlet and surrounding jetties with tog feasting on green crabs. Tog have been measuring up to 20 inches, but you have to work through tons of shorts according to the shop. Offshore fishing remained fair with yellowfin tuna being caught in the canyons along with a few swordfish on the nighttime chunk. Bay anglers have been finding striped bass to 32 inches on drifted live eels and spot around the bridges.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had nice reports of striped bass fishing improving along the backwaters with good action on live spot and eels in the deeper channels. Midshore bluefin tuna have been biting jigs, poppers, and soft plastics with fish up to 60 inches. Tog are still being caught off the jetties and bridges with jigs and green crabs.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the bayside tautog bite has been super fun with lots of fish around and some keepers to almost 20 inches. Ocean water has been in the mid 60s and the skipper said a lot of bunker and whales pushed in, but nothing on them. Back in the bay they’ve had lots of stripers to 24 inches on Rapala Skitter Walks. The skipper has openings for the rest of October through November, so give him a ring.
The Cape May to Fortescue areas had good fishing for sea bass at the reef sites with more shorts than keepers, but good rod-bending action. Wrecks past the reefs accounted for better numbers of keepers. Tog fishing around the jetties and pilings has been good on green crabs and fiddler crabs. Offshore action was excellent on yellowfin tuna in the 25- to 55-pound range on sardines and butterfish. The inshore lumps have been red hot for bluefin up to 55 inches, with poppers and large Z-Man soft plastics leading the way. The Wildwood, Cape May and Delaware Bay surf continued to consistently produce croakers and weakfish up to 20 inches.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The weekend looks to be a potential wave-out with large coastal swells predicted from an entity that is supposed to develop off Long Island. Wave heights up to 6 feet may put sea bass off the bite or push them around on the wrecks. The inlets may also be tricky to navigate, so if you decide to give it a shot – be extra careful. Bayside bass fishing will probably be the best bet to bend rods as there has been plenty of short to keeper striped bass plying the backwater flats and channels. I wouldn’t count out a few weakfish in the mix, so use those Gulp or Zoom soft plastics, specifically in the color pink. Tautog or blackfish from jetties is another surefire bet and has been a staple for jetty, bridge, and bay jockeys over the past 2 months. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!