Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Well, that’s a wrap for the 2024 South Jersey reports as the fishing season is coming to a close for most anglers. The holidays coupled with colder temperatures had most pulling boats, shopping for loved ones, or getting ready for Santa. Striped bass fishing has been ultra slow for most of the northern parts of New Jersey with only the residential schoolies hanging around. Cape May has been the best spot to catch keeper-size striped bass. AVA metals and white swimshads have been working best in the 2 to 3 mile zones. Bluefin are still being caught for most of the southern counties such as Atlantic and Cape May. It seems there is no signs of stopping—it’s bluefin mania to round out December!
Tog fishing continues to be spotty along our coast with some reef sites on-fire and others either burned out or never lit. Offshore sea bass fishing has been very good according to most of the headboats running to the 60 to 70 mile wrecks. Even though were are turning the page on 2024, there are still togging opportunities for the month of January.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said the white perch bite along parts of the Toms River and some of the surrounding creeks off Berkeley have been excellent. Perch are biting bloodworms and small minnows along the banks and the shop is loaded with bait, so stop in.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said fishing has been pretty slow with a few anglers stopping in the shop to buy crabs. Togging on the wrecks and reef sites was slower this week as fish have been scratchy on the bite. Some of the wrecks are producing good action on shorts, but only a few keepers. Striped bass action was slower this past week and the only bite has been way north. The shop will be doing inventory in the coming weeks, so call before you stop in.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked a charter prior to the Christmas holiday and the skipper reported good numbers of shorts, but the crew only found 9 keepers to 8 pounds. There are a few more charters, but the ocean vessel will be pulled for the season by New Years. The skipper will be targeting white perch for the January through March months, but these trips are subject to changes due to weather, temperature, and presence of ice.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey!
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light are finished for the season and mentioned to wish all of their clients happy holidays and a healthy New Year. The vessel will be going through the normal winter maintenance schedule.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had good reports of white perch chewing on grass shrimp along parts of the Mullica and also north along the Toms River. Tog fishing has been better at the Garden North reef as compared to the southern reef site. The bass bite along Long Beach Island has been non-existent as most surfcasters have packed it in. The season will close by next week to all bay fishing until March. Andy said the shop has some nice winter deals, so stop in and get ready for 2025.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported quality togging at most of the southern reef sites, but the key has been white crabs or hermits. Greenies are not working nearly as well over the past week with the colder water temperatures. Bluefin has been the hot bite as of late with a fair number being caught.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had some excellent bluefin reports prior to the Christmas holiday and the shop said there have been plenty around for anglers trolling heads with rigged ballyhoo. Tuna spinning setups with NLBN swim shads or large RonZs have also been working when casting ahead of the feeds. Striped bass fishing was also still going strong with good numbers of fish from 28 to 32 inches being caught on jigged metals and trolled umbrellas.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the bite has been more inconsistent in the back bays, but better along the ocean front with striped bass. The skipper told me he has no plans to pull the vessel yet as the bass bite is going in the ocean. He plans to start running March 1st with the opening of the 2025 striped bass season.
Wildwood to Cape May area has been the hot spot to end the year with bluefin, striped bass, and tautog from the wrecks. The striped bass bite has been hot and cold depending on the day, but much better along the 2 to 3 mile lines. Bluefin tuna have kept many anglers from pulling their vessels as the bite has been good to close out the month of December. Wreck fishing remains solid for tog on the deeper wrecks and the head boats hitting the Cape May rocks are picking limits of large sea bass.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The weekend weather looks decent for anglers aiming to tackle tog, striped bass, or a potential bluefin. If you have the time, means, and ability, fish from Ocean City to Cape May to find the best action for striped bass and bluefin. The wreck sites are better along Atlantic and Cape May counties for tautog, but be sure to have the white leggers and hermits if you go. It’s been a wonderful season talking to captains, tackle shops, and anglers, we can’t wait to get out the reports for 2025! On The Water will be at several of the New Jersey fishing and boat shows, and we hope to see you there. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!