Spring is here and so is the bait. Adult and medium-sized bunker arrived in big numbers this week and are stacked up in Raritan Bay, spread out in the rivers and in Barnegat Bay. Now we just need the stripers to answer the dinner bell.
Bass are already biting in the usual spring spots but with all the bait on the scene, it’s just a matter of time before the action really takes off. Judging by the tremendous turnout at last weekend’s Saltwater Expo in Edison, everyone is dying to start fishing. The show was packed for three days and all the shops and vendors in attendance seemed delighted with the results.
This past week also saw the first reports of winter flounder landed.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said he got word of all the bunker around and added that the bass just need to show up. Folks are already catching some in Raritan Bay and the local rivers. It should really pick up soon, he added. Hebert said trout stocked waters are now closed until opening day on April 5 but freshwater anglers are catching crappie and perch in lakes and ponds that are not set to be stocked.
Danny Stolba at Fish Tail Bait and Tackle in Carteret said there are bunker around the pier and he caught a near-keeper bass on a bunker chunk last week. There have also been a few white perch taken.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said it’s shaping up to be a terrific spring season with all of the bunker around. They’re thick in Raritan Bay and have infiltrated all the local rivers. Sciortino said the striper fishing is about to pop. Back bay anglers are already getting bass on bloodworms, NLBNs and SP Minnows.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands talked about all the bunker around as well. He spotted them on the Navesink River. There were no reported catches but he reported some big swirls around the Oceanic Bridge. They may have been bluefish, he said, as a few small blues were caught in the Atlantic Highlands Harbor earlier this week by young anglers fishing with bunker. He added that the striper fishing picked up around Cliffwood Beach, Port Monmouth and Union Beach.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said bunker are in the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers but he hasn’t heard of any bass taken as yet. Giglio’s is now open full time, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 a. m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Pinto said the shop has a big selection of Alan’s Custom Plugs and ODM Rods.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said adult and medium or “walnut” bunker are up in Raritan Bay and both the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers. Anglers fishing the usual spring spots are getting stripers on swim shads, metal lips and SP Minnows. He expects the fishing to heat up quickly with all the newly arrived bait. Gleason said the shop had a very successful weekend at the Saltwater Expo and now they have a new shipment of Salty Degenerate Plugs for sale in the store.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey!
Tim Rizzuto at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar had his first reports of winter flounder caught in the Shark River this week. He said several were caught up to 16 inches on worms and bits of clam from the floating dock next to the L Street Pier. Anglers using chum have the advantage, he said. Rizzuto said he’s been selling a lot of worms to folks heading north to fish around Raritan Bay and south to the Toms River.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar said his first trip will be on April 6 for blackfish. Capt. Spinelli said he still has open dates for tog and spring stripers.
The Big Mohawk and the Capt. Cal II will be sailing for blackfish on April 1 out of the Belmar Marina.
Stanley S. at the Reel Seat in Brielle said he heard of stripers caught in the back of Raritan Bay and down in the Toms River but things are still on the quiet side as far as he can tell. There aren’t a lot of people fishing yet, he said. The recent influx of bunker, rising water temperatures and the opening of blackfish season should change that.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said all of the bunker around arrived right on schedule. He mentioned to me several weeks ago that St. Patrick’s Day is when things really get started. He said the arrival of the new moon on March 28 and the warming water should really set things off. In the meantime, anglers are picking bass in Raritan Bay, in the Toms River and around Barnegat Bay. He also said that boats heading out of the Manasquan Inlet for spring shakedown cruises are seeing bass offshore. This Saturday, March 22, Fishermen’s Supply will be hosting Saltwater Seminar Day on Inshore/Offshore Tuna Tactics. One session will cover kite fishing for tuna and the other jigging and popping. Check out the shop’s Facebook page for details.
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Point Pleasant Beach said he will be starting his season on May 17 for sea bass on the newly re-powered Parker Pete Express.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick said the bite is picking up in the back of Barnegat Bay for stripers and perch on bloodworms. The bass are also hitting soft plastics. He also reported a few winter flounder caught in Barnegat Bay.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said stripers are being caught all around Barnegat Bay from Bay Head to Seaside Park on bloodworms and small plastics. He said there’s tons of spearing swimming in the Toms River.
Bob at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park also reported improved striper fishing in Barnegat Bay and the Toms River. Again, it’s bloodworms, X-Raps and small shads. He also mentioned that the shop is offering customers a chance to sample the latest fishing tools, including split ring pliers, crimpers, scissors and regular pliers, from Toit Tools.
Best Bets for the Weekend
The stage is set with loads of bunker now inhabiting our rivers and bays. There is currently a steady pick of stripers in the back of Raritan Bay, in the Toms River and around Barnegat Bay on worms, small shads and plugs. The main event can kick off at any time once the bass find the bait.
Plus, winter flounder are biting in the Shark River and in Barnegat Bay.
Freshwater anglers are also having fun with crappie, perch and pickerel in local ponds and lakes.