Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Striped bass and bluefin tuna fishing remains red hot for parts of Atlantic and Cape May counties as both species are migrating south on the heels of sand eels and bunker. There is a scene in the movie Polar Express where the main character looks up the definition of North Pole and it shows—“devoid of life”. This pretty sums up the striped bass fishing from Little Egg to Point Pleasant, as the only northernly striped bass catching I heard of was off of Bay Head.
Tog fishing was a little challenging with the full moon currents, but some of the northern reef sites were red hot for white chins, like Axel and Sea Girt. The water temperature has been hovering in the upper 40s, so it pays to work white crabs to build and sustain the bite. Headboats have begun to target offshore sea bass at the 60 to 80 mile wrecks, and from what I heard, there is a good number of fish, but tougher conditions with the offshore current.
Our last report will be next week as a good number of anglers have packed it in for the season, so have a great holiday and check out the local tackle shops as the deals are there. It’s crunch time!
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported much slower week for anglers working the beaches. A few bass were caught in the 15 to 21 inch range and there were reports of a seal or two on the beach. The Toms River area has some white perch biting the hooks baited with blood worm or grass shrimp. The shop has some holiday deals, so stop in.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said the week was slower with the lack of striped bass and poor wind conditions. Anglers venturing out are saying the tog bite has been hit or miss and it seems most of the bluefin action has slid south off Atlantic City and Ocean City. The shop is running their annual gift card sale with anglers getting an additional gift card with the purchase, check out the shop for details.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown said the striped bass fishing came to a quick halt, but his charters have been working the wrecks for tautog. Some days it’s good keeper life with fish up to 11 pounds, while other trips have been more challenging with the conditions and currents making keepers a tougher pick. The skipper will be running up to the Christmas holiday and then will be pulling the larger vessel for the 2024 season. The backwater skiff will be available for limited white perch trips through the winter, but this will depend on availability of bait and conditions—inquire for details.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light said they are pretty much done for the 2024 fishing season unless they have a group for blackfish in the next week. The skipper said he would like to thank all of their patrons for a great season and has started booking for 2025.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said a few hardy anglers tried for tautog off the jetties in Barnegat Light and it was slower with only a few short fish. Striped bass slowed down dramatically over the past 2 weeks and the shop hasn’t heard of much caught off the beaches. White perch have been taking baits in the Mullica and Toms River according to some anglers. Tog fishing on the reef sites was a pick with the full moon swell, but the shop heard the Axel and AC sites were the best bet.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported very good striped bass fishing from Atlantic City to Wildwood on striped bass from the boats and beaches. Bluefin tuna are whacking rigged ballyhoo on Wolfpack heads trolled way back, and the majority of the action has been around the 4 to 10 mile range. The bluefin have been mostly been between 50 and 70 inches. Tog fishing was decent from the reef sites over the past few days with calmer seas, but the currents have been running strong making it more of a rig bite. White perch fishing up the Mullica River was good for anglers working rigs tipped with grass shrimp. Striped bass were still being caught along parts of the river.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said striped bass and tuna are biting for the boats that are still in the water. Striped bass are moving south, but schools remain off of Ocean City and Wildwood. Jigging AVA’s and metals from 1.5 to 3 miles are producing, while bluefin are being caught on the troll and plugs 5 to 15 miles off. Tautog fishing slowed down inshore, but the wrecks in the 60 to 100 foot range are producing better numbers of keepers with fish to 12 pounds.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the back bays are still bringing some action, but it has slowed down a bit with the colder water temperatures. The ocean bite has been inconsistent, but when they find bass, the fishing has been very good. The skipper said the fish have been on schools of bunker and sand eels.
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Wildwood to Cape May area has been the epicenter of striped bass action for most of New Jersey as some nice-sized schools are traveling through Cape May county. The fish have been feeding on sand eels and bunker, and there has also been some large whales guiding anglers to the action. Tuna anglers have been hitting packs of bluefin tuna up to 70 inches on the troll and on soft plastics casted ahead of the feeds. Offshore sea bass fishing is in full swing with headboats trying to work trips through the last days of the season. Toggers working the wrecks in 90 to 120 feet are swinging on fish up to 10 pounds with rigs and white leggers. The Cohansey and Maurice rivers are producing some decent white perch action on both blood worms and grass shrimp.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The weekend weather looks a little tough for anglers looking to fish before Christmas. The current forecast from NOAA has winds to 27 mph out of the NW and frigid temperatures on Sunday. The beaches should be flat and Cape May county probably offers the best bet at catching striped bass due to the presence of large schools of stripers down there. Backwater anglers dressing warm and for the wind have the best shots at hooking hungry white perch from the Toms, Mullica, Cohansey, and Maurice rivers. Small pieces of blood worm or rigs tipped with 2 to 3 grass shrimp will work best. If you can find some deeper holes adjacent to creek inflows/outflows, they are prime locations to find these tasty perch. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!