New Jersey Fishing Report
Update: January 30, 2025
Ice anglers are now enjoying their favorite pastime for the first time in years. They are, however, the only ones having any fun.
Conditions this time of year are never pleasant and high winds and low temperatures of late have limited the opportunities for ocean-going boats to sail. Most folks are now content to get tackle ready for spring and attend the shows and flea markets that make winter bearable.
We just have to hang on as the opening of striped bass season is about a month away.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said all of the northern lakes and ponds have safe ice and the hardwater folks are enjoying a steady catch of sunfish, perch, crappie, pickerel and largemouth bass. This Sunday, Feb.2, Tackle World will be holding its annual Saltwater Seminar/Customer Appreciation Day with seminars from industry professionals on jigging and popping for tuna, blackfishing and sea bass and fluke. Seating for the seminars is fully booked but there will be standing room available. There will also be storewide sales, raffles, door prizes and refreshments. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said their big winter sales event will be this Saturday, Feb. 1 when it will be Back Bay Day. The shop will offering a wide selection of Back Bay Plugs for sale with doors opening at 7 a.m. Sciortino added there will be 30- to 50-percent off the entire store along with raffles, door prizes and other special deals on rods and reels.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said it has been very quiet there and he’s hoping for some rain to melt the ice on some of his favorite freshwater spots. He said the shop just received a big shipment of new merchandise including hats and clothing and they are getting ready for show season. Tak Waterman will be at Surf Day on Feb. 15, the Asbury Park Fishing Show on March 2 and The Saltwater Expo in Edison, March 15 to 17.
Johnny O. at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said there isn’t much going on around there. There’s ice in the Shark River and only boats still sailing are the Ocean Explorer and the Big Mohawk, but bad weather and lack of anglers have made for infrequent trips. The Big Mohawk is currently booking charters for stripers, fluke and black sea bass for the 2025 season
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar said he finally called it quits until spring. He’s got open dates for sea bass, stripers and fluke.
Sarah Cloos at the Reel Seat in Brielle said there was little to report as far as fishing goes but the shop is very excited about Shimano Pro Day on Saturday, Feb. 22. There will be a slow-pitch jigging seminar at 11 a.m. presented by Benny Ortiz and a 2 p.m. panel presentation on jigging and popping for tuna. Customers who spend $100 in the store will also be entered in to a raffle for a $500 Reel Seat Gift card.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said a few folks have been ice fishing, mostly to the north. He also heard of ling being caught in deeper water and that the bluefin fishing at the Outer Banks is outstanding. But locally, it’s very, very quiet. He’s been busy with new inventory and getting ready for Surf Day. The shop, he added, has new one-piece rods from ODM and Tsunami Carbon Shield II rods.
The Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach is still trying for blackfish and will keep at it through February as long as the weather cooperates and there are people who want to fish.
Frankie Z at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said it’s quiet on the fishing front but they’re busy in the shop. Grumpy’s is continuing the big sale held last weekend through this week. There are deals to be had on rods, reels, tackle and just about everything in the store. Frankie said the shop will be at Surf Day and the Saltwater Expo. He added that the shop will have bloodworms for opening day of striper season on March 1.
Liza at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said that starting this Saturday, the shop will be open on weekends. For the time being, ice in the creeks and rivers has put the kibosh on white perch fishing. That may change soon as there is some warmer weather on the way.
Paul at Fishermen’s Headquarters on Long Beach Island said there’s not a lot going on around there with everything frozen. He said they will be at the Southern Regional Fishing Flea Market on Feb. 8 at the Southern Regional Middle School, then at Surf Day and the Saltwater Expo in Edison.
Bill at Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township said there was little to report from there this week but expected that to change in about a month as striper season opens on March 1.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Lakes and ponds to the north are offering those who like to fish through the ice a welcome opportunity this weekend. Reports have been good on a variety of species being caught. Just be careful, warmer weather is on the way along with some rain.
There are also several special sales and events taking place at local tackle shops that will help ease the pain of winter.
Update: January 16, 2025
Frigid temperatures and howling winds make for lousy fishing. But, with the exception of just a few days, that’s what we’ve had for last couple of weeks.
What else can you expect from January? One thing is ice. Hardwater anglers are about the only group not complaining about the conditions. Lakes and ponds to the north and west are providing them with a long-awaited chance to pursue their passion.
There are also blackfish being caught on the few party and private boats still sailing and white perch are biting on bloodworms in rivers and creeks. Thickening Ice has made that fishing more difficult in the last few days.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said ice anglers are catching perch, crappie and pickerel at Budd Lake and other local ponds. Be careful, he said, as there is still open water in some places but there is fishable ice as well. He’s been getting mixed reports on blackfish but did hear from a friend who was togging that there were schools of stripers breaking water where he was fishing. Hebert said the shop will be holding how-to seminars on striper, blackfish and tuna fishing on Sunday, Feb. 2 given by representatives from Daiwa and Shimano. There will be special sales offered at the seminars, which are free but those interested are asked to register online ahead of time.
Dan at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said he’s been catching white and yellow perch in the local rivers but an increase in ice has put an end to it for now. He said the shop is getting ready for Back Bay Day on Sat., Feb.1 when the Tackle Box will have a wide selection of Back Bay Plugs for sale. Dan said there will be additional sales and specials available that day.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said that things are quiet and he’s spending time getting ready for show season and spring fishing. He was fishing local ponds for crappie and bass but they are now locked up with ice.
Johnny O. at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the Ocean Explorer and the Big Mohawk are the only party boats still sailing out of the marina. Blackfishing is up and down but the ling fishing aboard the Explorer has been very good. The recent weather, he added, isn’t giving the boats many opportunities to sail. The Big Mohawk last sailed on Sunday and found some tog in deeper water. The boat will be sailing again on Friday.
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Steve at the Reel Seat in Brielle said that from what he’s hearing the blackfishing is still pretty good but there aren’t a lot of people fishing. Beyond that, things are pretty quiet.
Kyle Tanger at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said it’s been pretty uneventful there as well, but he did hear of a lone bluefin of about 65 inches caught on a popper last weekend. He’s had some good reports on tog but the weather has been keeping boats at the dock and not a lot of anglers are getting out. Tangen said the shop is getting new shipments of rods, reels and tackle in almost daily and they’re busy getting ready for Surf Day taking place at Brookdale Community College on Feb. 15. Surf Day, presented by the Jersey Shore Surfcasters, has become a highlight of the spring show season.
The grandfather of all fishing shows, the Asbury Park Fishing Club’s 32nd Annual Fishing Show, will take place on March 2 at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park.
Dennis Palmatier at the Hook House in Toms River said the perch fishing was okay in the Toms River on bloodworms but it’s now iced up with the only open water by Huddy Park. Palmatier said the Hook House will be at the American Angler Fishing Flea Market on Jan. 26 at the American Legion on Route 9 in Barnegat. Admission is $3 and hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Jared at Fishermen’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said the chill has put a definite damper on the fishing. There were perch being caught in the back of Barnegat Bay but it is now iced over. He said the shop is busy getting ready for spring and they just got a new shipment of Quantum Benchmark and Strive reels.
Scott Thomas at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said between the wind and cold, it’s been pretty much a ghost town. He did say that shop owner Ray Kerico was out blackfishing last weekend and saw schools of stripers on top about four miles out. Thomas added that the shop has a couple of events coming up in the next few weeks. This Saturday is Ladies Night with a girls-only seminar on how to catch the big ones given by Grumpy’s own Jenni Ackerman. The one-hour presentation starts at 5 p.m. Grumpy’s will then be holding its Winter Sales Event on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 25 and 26 with Scabelly Lures in the house on Saturday and Swim Duck Lures on sale both days. There will also be unadvertised sales and blowout tables of rods, reels and tackle. Seminars on striper tactics by Shell E. Caris and jigging tog by Mike Kim have also been scheduled for Saturday. Check Grumpy’s Facebook page for details.
John Bushnell at Betty and Nick’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said the ice has ended fishing in Barnegat Bay and there hasn’t been anyone fishing the beach. He’s keeping busy with reel repairs.
Tara at Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Somers Point said it has been beyond quiet this past week with just two customers coming into the store. Ice in the rivers and creeks has put and end to perch fishing there for now.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Pickings are slim for fishing opportunities this weekend. Warmer weather is forecast for the next couple of days but so is some rain and snow.
There are blackfish, ling and porgies to be caught offshore with the Ocean Explorer and Big Mohawk still sailing out of Belmar and the Big Jamaica out of Brielle. And there is ice to the north for the hardwater anglers among us.
Update: January 9, 2025
Before the wind machine cranked up, but after the snow machine cranked up, a few boats hit the reefs and wrecks, where, even in the snowstorm, the tog were biting. For now, NJ fishermen are looking to white perch and freshwater fish to satisfy their fishing jones until the wind dies down.
Update: January 2, 2025
It’s winter time and the fishing is, well, not easy. But for the truly dedicated, and there are many in the Garden State, it just means more layers of clothing and maybe a change in tactics or targets.
Tog anglers are still at it with good results, though the limit is now four. White perch are also biting in the tidal rivers and creeks on grass shrimp and blood worms. Offshore wreck fishing for porgies, cod and pollock is also an option. Stripers are off limits in these waters until March 15.
Freshwater anglers are finding largemouth, crappie and other species in local lakes, ponds and rivers. There is also the promise of ice this winter, but we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed on that one.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said blackfishing has been good and fairly consistent. At the same time, local lakes that were stocked are giving up trout. Beyond that, he said, things are quiet, which is not unusual for this time of year. Hebert added they will be getting ready for the upcoming show season.
The Sciortino’s at the Tackle Box in Hazlet are taking a few days off after the holidays but will be back and getting ready for Back Bay Day on Feb. 1. The shop will be offering a wide selection of Back Bay Plugs for sale and other special discounts available throughout the store. Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright is now on winter hours open only on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon or by appointment.
Tim Rizzuto at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the party boats out of the Shark River Inlet are doing pretty good with blackfish when they can get out and toggers are still picking a few fish at the Inlet. The Capt. Cal II will be sailing for blackfish until the middle of the month, the Big Mohawk through February and the Ocean Explorer sails all winter.
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar reported good fishing on his last offshore sea bass trip of the season. Falcone said there were limits all around with fish up to 6½ pounds. In addition to the sea bass, the crew caught bluefish, weakfish, ling and dinner-size plate porgies. There were bluefin tuna around the boat as well and Falcone reported they hooked a few but weren’t able to land any. Just a reminder, sea bass fishing is now closed.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar said they had a solid day of blackfishing last Friday with 30 keepers caught and fish up to 8 pounds. Capt. Spinelli plans on sailing through January and has open dates.
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Jimbo at the Reel Seat in Brielle said the blackfishing is surprisingly good on the local reefs. Jigs are out fishing rigs, he added, and white leggers are the bait of choice. He had a few reports of stripers off Long Beach Island and there are bluefin around but not a lot of people still chasing them. Offshore sea bass fishing has been good with jumbo porgies in the mix, he said.
Dean at Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach said the shop is now closed until spring but he did hear of blackfish being caught at the Manasquan Inlet.
Capt. Danny Gregory on the Norma K III reported very good blackfishing on his last trip of the season with a several limits and other anglers coming very close. The Norma K III is now heading to the boatyard to get ready for spring.
Jason Szabo at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said bluefin are still hanging around the Tolten Lump and Barnegat Ridge. NLBN 8-inch straight tails and 3-ounce candy apple heads were catching the fish, he added. Szabo said the offshore sea bass fishing had been drop-and-reel for those making the trip. Blackfishing has been good on the snaggy bottom. Even though winter is here, Szabo said things haven’t slowed down at the shop with new rods, reels and tackle arriving every day.
Capt. Bob Bogan on the Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach said the striper fishing was still pretty good up until about a week ago but then the fish moved beyond the three-mile line. The Gambler will be heading to the yard now but Bogan said he’s put several tilefish trips on the spring schedule and he’s now accepting reservations. The tilefishing was very good last spring, he said.
Kevin Thomas at Hook House Bait and Tackle in Toms River said white perch are biting in the Toms River on bloodworms. There were a few stripers in the river as well but striper fishing ended on Dec. 31. Thomas said freshwater fishing has been very good with crappie and largemouth bass hitting killies in the local lakes and ponds. The Hook House will remain open all winter.
Scott Thomas at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said there was one striper caught off the beach this past week but that was it. He did say there were a lot of bass back in Barnegat Bay but that is closed until March 15. Thomas said that blackfishing at the Axel Carlson is very good with a number of fish between 7 and 9 pounds reported. Grumpy’s, he added, will be holding a special Single Hook Day on Sat., Jan. 11 where anglers can have treble hooks on their lures switched out for single hooks of the right size. The event starts at 4 p.m.
Jim at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said that from what he’s hearing the blackfishing is better to the south of the Manasquan Inlet rather than north. He also reported a few bluefin around but they are moving farther off. Creekside Outfitter will be closed for a couple of weeks after the holidays then open on weekends until the spring.
Mike Frezza at Fishermen’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said white perch are biting in the Mullica River on grass shrimp and bloodworms. People were catching stripers as well up until Tuesday. Frezza said the togging has been okay on the offshore wrecks and reefs. The shop, he added, is currently offering 25 percent off on selected Shimano reels.
Tara at Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Somers Point said tog fishing has been good on the wrecks for those making the effort. Freshwater anglers, she added, are doing well with largemouth in the lakes.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
Blackfish remain the best option the bite has been solid on the local reefs. There are still tog to be caught at the inlets as well.
Freshwater spots deserve a shot as well. Winter fishing for trout, crappie, largemouth and other species is usually very productive and a great way to scratch the fishing itch during the colder months.