Spring, welcome back to New Jersey—we have missed you! Striped bass fishing has begun to ramp up tremendously in the backwaters over the past few weeks. Anglers are catching striped bass on bloodworms as well on some soft plastics. There are some nicer fish in the mix, but most will have to be returned to the salt or brackish waters.
White perch continues to be option two for many anglers looking for a few tasty meals. The bloodworm bite on perch has been so-so, but if you can find the grass shrimp, you will be able to find the white perch gold on the other end of the line. We are beginning to see some of the returnee Osprey swooping in on nesting sites in Cape May, so it won’t be long for more to arrive. These are always a welcome sight as this means good fishing is very close to becoming the main-stay of the season.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had fisherman stopping in the shop reporting good white perch biting in the Toms, as well as striped bass to 29 inches from the river and Bayville area. They said to work some of the tidal creeks with 4- to 5-inch plugs for cooperative bass.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said it’s been mostly a perch and striper bite as the shop is awaiting some other species and regulations to come into play. They have bloodworms and will also be taking orders for green crabs for the start of tog season.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown will be on the fly over the next two weeks prior to their official 1st trip of the season during the last week of March. The skipper will be scouting some old and new striped bass spots for skinny water spinning and fly sorties.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued their pre-season maintenance schedule with captain and mates working hard on painting, engine work, and prepping the fishing tackle. Capt. Ted said dates are available for both sea bass and striped bass in May.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin received some positive reports from anglers working the mid-island bridges with small 3-inch swim shads. Striped bass to 29 inches were being landed and it was a welcome sight to see NJ Fish & Game patrolling the area. There are a decent amount of shorts being caught, but the hot spot for most anglers has been the 10-mile drive up the parkway for striped bass and perch in the Toms River.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City said it’s been a good striped bass bite and a tougher white perch bite for anglers working the tidal creeks and brackish bay holes. Grass shrimp have been really hard to find as striped bass and perch have been gobbling them up. Anglers working small plugs to 4 inches, poppers, and soft plastic Fin-S baits are finding better action on stripers up to 27 inches. Most of the rivers are holding good numbers of resident schoolies with a few migratory fish in the mix.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had some nice reports of short striped bass being caught on live bloodworms with the jumbo sized worms doing better. But regular-size worms are working if you use 2 to 3 on circle hooks. Anglers casting 3- to 4-inch soft plastics around the local bridges and tidal creek mouths are finding a solid number of small striped bass. The shop is back to their regular season hours and will have tautog baits for the start of the season in the coming weeks.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City was able to get out and get into some fun striped bass fishing in Capt. Brian’s skinny water areas. He said working small baits along some of the salt marsh banks were producing fish up to 30 inches. He noted that he is seeing more migratory fish in the mix based on the presence of sea lice.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area had more participation on the striped bass front over the past week due to the warmer temperatures and presence of more fish. Anglers working bloodworms, clam, and artificials were able to find bass to 31 inches. White and chartreuse soft plastics on jigs have been working for these early season stripers. White perch fishing has been pretty solid along the Jersey-side rivers emptying into Delaware Bay. Small pieces of cut bloodworms on double-hook rigs, worked along the deeper holes, have been the best approach for perch.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
Striped bass fishing looks to be the best bet for the weekend as the bay bite ignited over the past week. Soft plastics in white, pink, or chartreuse (especially after spring rains) on white or plain lead jigheads from 1/2 to 3/4 oz. are standard. The other option would be to use bloodworms (2 to 3) on a circle hook, worked from either land or boat for striped bass. Freshwater influences continue to be the best spots for finding early season striped bass. Points, tidal creeks, and drop-offs adjacent to salt marshes are great places to start.
White perch are definitely around and starting to filter into the normal early spring areas. Grass shrimp, blood worms, and FishBites are all good baits to go with, but grass shrimp are the best baits—although they have been extremely tough to get. The weather is supposed to be in the 60s, which is perfect for walking along our back bay marshes in search of striped bass. It is also great weather to get that bottom-paint on the vessel, so good luck, be safe, and tight lines!