New Jersey Fishing Report
Update: February 27, 2025
The wait is over—almost. Come Friday at midnight, the striped bass season in rivers and bays opens. And it can’t come soon enough.
Things have been pretty quiet this winter and anglers are straining at the leash to get back out there. At least there was some ice this year to keep the hardwater folks happy. What to expect in these opening days is anybody’s guess. There have been a few stripers caught as bycatch by people perch fishing back in the rivers and creeks so there are bass around. But the water is still pretty chilly, so it might take a string of sunnier, warmer days to get the season off to a good start.
And don’t forget, winter flounder season gets underway as well on March 1.
This Sunday will also see the return of the Asbury Park Fishing Club’s 32nd Annual Fishing Show at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park. The show draws the finest plug makers from around the country and also offers rods, reels and tackle. Doors open at 9 a.m.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said there is still some ice up north but advised anglers to use caution before stepping out. Monksville Reservoir had anglers on it, he said, but the last couple of days have been warm and may have made for questionable conditions. He heard of a few cod caught offshore but that’s been about it. Hebert expects the shop will have bloodworms by next week and there will be folks targeting bass in the back of Raritan Bay.
Capt. Jay Richardella of Side Job Charters will have his new boat up at Lockwood Boat Works in South Amboy for the spring bass bite and will be running two trips a day. He can be contacted through his Facebook page.
Dan at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said he had his best year ever catching perch in the Toms River. He added that there were a few small stripers caught as well. The shop will have bloodworms in by the weekend and he said they will be at the Asbury Park show as well.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said the shop will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon. He added that store hours will vary during the week until they open full time so call ahead.
Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch said freshwater anglers are doing okay with crappie, perch, pickerel and largemouth in local ponds and lakes now that the ice has gone. He said the shop is fully loaded for the spring season and he’s certain there will be anglers back by the Driscoll Bridge looking for bass this weekend. Gleason will be bringing Back Bay Plugs, more lures and TAK Waterman clothing to the Asbury Park Show on Sunday.
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Tommy Palmisano at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said it’s been extremely quiet there with the Ocean Explorer the only boat still sailing out of the marina. The Explorer has been picking some cod and ling. The Shark River, he said, can usually be counted on for some early winter flounder depending on the water temperature. Some sunny days will get them biting. Palmisano said he will have four tables of lures, reels and tackle at the Asbury Park show.
Jimbo at the Reel Seat in Brielle said he’s had good reports from the local ponds and lakes on pickerel and largemouth. The shop, he said, is well-stocked for striper season and they just received a shipment of Sea Falcon stick baits and Nomad Chrome trolling lures for when the tuna arrive.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said they are all loaded up for stripers. He’s had reports of bait in the back bay coves and the shop has all the small plugs, like X-Raps, that are effective this time of year. Tangen added that the spring orders of rods, reels and clothing are now arriving.
Dennis Palmatier at the Hook House in Toms River said the perch fishing has been good at night in the Toms River and there’s been the occasional striper as well. Bloodworms are doing the job and Palmatier said he’ll have them in the shop this weekend. He added that his other store, Go Fish, also in Toms River, will have worms as well.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said it’s been quiet around there but they are all ready for the start of striper season. Kerico said the shop will be holding a special in-store Back Bay Striper Seminar on Friday at 5 p.m. Presented by Grumpy’s own Scott Thomas, the seminar will cover everything you need to know to catch stripers in Barnegat Bay. Those attending will be offered special store discounts. The seminar will also be on the Grumpy’s Facebook page on Friday and there will be a discount available to those logging in to the presentation.
Mike Taylor at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said he hasn’t heard much lately in the way of reports but they will be open Saturday and Sunday for those folks anxious to fish.
Paul at Fishermen’s Headquarters in Surf City said the perch fishing in the Mullica River has been good on bloodworms and grass shrimp. There have been some stripers caught—and released—as well. He added that Fishermen’s Headquarters will be at the Saltwater Expo in Edison, March 14 to 16.
Bill at Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township said white perch fishing in the Mullica River is the only thing going on down there right now. He expects that will change when backwater striper fishing opens.
Tara at Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Somers Point said they’ve been busy getting ready for striper season. She also reported good perch fishing in the Egg Harbor River. The shop, she added, is now carrying Guy Cotton Waders.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The long-awaited opening of backwater striper season is finally here. Whether the bass are ready to cooperate is the big question. The water remains on the cool side so we’ll just have to wait and see how motivated the stripers are.
There are fish around as some stripers have been caught by white perch anglers in the rivers and creeks. The Toms and Mullica rivers have been good spots for white perch and the occasional bass.
Freshwater is an alternative as the reports have been good on crappie, bass, perch and pickerel in local ponds and lakes.
February 13, 2025
It’s show time and that’s a good thing since there isn’t a lot of fishing going on. This weekend will see the return of Surf Day at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft on Saturday and the Philadelphia Fishing Show in Oaks, PA, on Saturday and Sunday.
These, and the upcoming Asbury Park Fishing Show and the Saltwater Fishing Expo in Edison, both next month, offer a chance to get out of the house, see some fishing friends and check out the latest in rods and reels. It’s also an opportunity to stock up on plugs, lures and tackle ahead of the spring season.
And that is nearly upon us. In a little more than two weeks, striper seasons opens up in rivers and bays. Winter flounder season also starts on March 1. We just need to hang on a little longer.
As for actual fishing, ice fishing up north is still pretty good, there have been reports of white perch in the rivers and creeks down south but things have been fairly quiet out in the ocean.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said ice fishing is holding up nicely with anglers recording good catches of crappie and pickerel in Lake Hopatcong, Budd Lake and other local spots. He hasn’t heard much on the saltwater front but he believes it will be a good winter flounder season when it kicks off March 1. This winter has been colder than previous years and Hebert said that keeps the flounder in the mud longer so they don’t head out before anglers get a chance to fish for them.
Capt. Phil Sciortino from the Tackle Box in Hazlet said they will be at Surf Day and the Philadelphia Show this weekend. On Sunday at noon in Philadelphia, Capt. Sciortino will offer a seminar on catching trophy striped bass with eels on planer boards.
Capt. Jay Richardella of Side Job Charters has a new boat and will be sailing out of Lockwood Marina in South Amboy for spring stripers in Raritan Bay. He’s currently booking charters and can be reached through his website
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said the ice is gone on local ponds and anglers are catching crappie and pickerel. Gleason said they will be at Surf Day on Saturday and offering a wide variety of much-in-demand Back Bay Plugs. There will also be specials on Tak Waterman clothing and an assortment of plugs, lures and reels. He also said the shop is fully stocked and ready to go for spring fishing.
Tom Palmisano at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said it’s very quiet there with the Ocean Explorer the only boat still sailing out of the marina. Bad weather has made it difficult to get out on a consistent basis, but when conditions permit, the Explorer has been catching tog and ling. Palmisano said they’ve been busy getting the shop ready for spring and there are specials on rods, reels and tackle. He said Fisherman’s Den will be at the Asbury Park Fishing Show on Sunday, March 2 at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel.
Jimbo at the Reel Seat in Brielle said the only fishing reports he received are guys heading north for steelhead or south to North Carolina for bluefin. He said the bluefin bite has been phenomenal down there. He said the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach is still sailing for blackfish and reported a good catch of tog last weekend. The Mimi VI plans on sailing on Presidents’ Day. The Reel Seat will be at the Philadelphia Fishing Show this weekend and will be hosting a Shimano Pro Day at the shop on Feb. 22. Check their Facebook page for details.
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Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said that the Voyager’s most recent tilefish trip was decent with a few bluefin caught in addition to the tilefish. Tangen added that he went steelhead fishing last weekend up north at the Salmon River and managed to catch a couple. Fishermen’s Supply will be heading to Surf Day on Saturday bringing a wide array of merchandise including Sims clothing, Yo-Zuri Lures, rods, reels and tackle. Tangen said a full line of products available at Surf Day will be posted on the shop’s Instagram page by Friday. He added the shop is now offering the new ODM Terra inshore rods and the one-piece ODM DNA surf rods.
Ray Kerico at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park said they will be bringing loads of rods, reels, plugs, lures and tackle to Surf Day this Saturday. As far as fishing goes, there’s nothing going on at the moment but the bay is clear of ice and the shop is all set for spring stripers.
Mike at Fishermen’s Headquarters on Long Beach Island said the ice is gone and there have been some white perch caught in the back of the Mullica River on grass shrimp. They will be at Surf Day on Saturday and the Saltwater Expo in Edison in March.
Henry at Tight Lines Bait and Tackle in Somers Point said the white perch fishing has been pretty good in the local rivers and creeks. He said there have been a number of stripers caught —and released —as well. Blood worms, grass shrimp and fish bites have all been working.
Best Bets for the Weekend
With wet weather in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday, your best bet is to hang indoors at one of the fishing shows this weekend. You can at least talk fishing with old friends, check out the latest in rods and reels, attend seminars on angling tactics and techniques and stock up on the lures, plugs, and tackle you’ll need for the upcoming season.