Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Striped bass have been throwing the tricks out to anglers with good bites some days and zilch the next, but the treat has been the steady tautog bite with fisherman able to easily keep their 1-fish limit of tog. Bags of tog-tasty green crabs have been flying out the tackle shop doors faster than those kids taking the bowl of Halloween candy left on the front steps. The tuna front is still going strong with yellowfin in the canyons, and some tilefish being landed for boats staying overnight and remaining on the chunk. The midshore ridges have some solid bluefin tuna action as close as 3 miles off the beach, which has produced fish to 66+ inches. Sea bassing remains a pick as most wrecks up to 20 miles have been stripped of most keepable fish and anglers have to move over quite a few wrecks to put a catch together.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported striped bass biting plugs during the early morning hours off the beaches of Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. Island Beach State Park has been a slow pick of bass with most of the schools much further north. Bay side action was slower this past week with a few short fish being caught around the bridges.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a slow week for bay fisherman targeting striped bass in Barnegat Bay. Live spot and eels accounted for a few fish, but the action was far from the norm. The bay temperatures have been above average and there was a good amount of sea cabbage in the water. The shop said anglers have been running up to Asbury Park and Sandy Hook to find the best striped bass fishing for the time being. Tuna fishing remains excellent for another week in the canyons and the midshore ridges.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown ran a few charters during the week for their after-work specials. The skipper reported a slower bite on striped bass with a few shorts and a half dozen fluke (released) on live bait. When the tide was right, they switched over to tautog and kept easy limits to 19 inches while releasing between 40 to 50 others between 13 to 16 inches. They also worked plugs, poppers, and small bucktails on bluefish in the inlet to 10 pounds.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued the weekday wreck fishing for its charters targeting sea bass, porgies, and some bluefish. The weekends remain solid for canyon yellowfin up to 50 pounds and the boat reported the fishing should continue for another few weeks.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said the Barnegat Inlet has been yielding bluefish up to 8 pounds on a variety of tackle from bucktails to metals. There have been a few striped bass during the early morning tides caught on both sides of the inlet—white plugs produced the best results. Tautog are still biting green crabs around the inlet and back-bay striped fishing is slowly starting with a few fish being caught on live spot.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported striped bass starting to bite better on spot and live eels behind Brigantine and south of Atlantic City. The tautog bite remains super hot from the rocks with crabs on tog jigs. Keepers have been more plentiful as of this past week compared to shorts. Bluefin tuna are close to the beaches working bait balls under subtle bird play. Anglers working the night tides are finding a few striped bass along the bridges and jetties on soft plastics.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point got another batch of fresh mullet in this past week, which are perfect baits for bluefish and striped bass off the surf. Anglers working plugs during the hours of darkness are finding some striped bass to 27 inches from the bridges and adjacent marshy areas. Boat anglers dragging live eels or spot at night in the deeper channels are picking at a few stripers. Bluefin, bluefin and more bluefin are being mugged up close to home for boaters able to find feeding fish.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City had some nice weather this past week and anglers were able to throw flies in the backwater to striped bass to 28 inches. Anglers also worked poppers and soft plastics to play with cooperative striped bass. The skipper said togging around the bridges, piers, and jetties continues to be excellent, too.
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The Cape May to Fortescue areas had slower and spottier reports on sea bass from the wrecks in the 100- to 150-foot range. Keeper sea bass were harder to find with a large number of short fish around. The Cape May and Wildwood reef sites produced the same results with even more short sea bass. Surf fishermen have been catching croakers and snapper bluefish off the beaches and tog continued their epic bite from the jetties. Green crabs and Asian shore crabs are working best for keeper tautog. The offshore scene was excellent for yellowfin tuna from the canyons with sardines and butterfish chunks working well.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend depends on the weather, but if it looks to be too rough for boats or head boats, the inlet jetties will be the place to work plugs and bucktails for early morning or late evening striped bass. The water temperatures are slowly cooling to striper-like numbers in the upper 50’s on the outgoing tides. Bluefish have been biting on the opposite tide with the cleaner, warmer water pushing bait along the inlets. Rock-lined inlets have been much more productive for striped bass and bluefish as they provide cover for schooling baitfish.
Tautog continue to be caught on the rocks and provide an excellent opportunity for anglers of all abilities to bend the rod. One word of advice with the water temperatures and tautog activity: you have to be ultra-fast with getting the slack out of the line once the offering hits the bottom. Most times the bites are instant, so be ready to swing for the fences. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!