As a diehard Phillies fan, it’s a great day to see the boys back on the diamond and it’s a nice to see, on the fishing side of things, more fish being caught at our backwater bay spots. Striped bass, white perch, and even some winter flounder were caught over the past week. Soon enough, weakfish will begin showing up, and I would even bet some are already in our extreme Southern Jersey spots. Sandworms, bloodworms, and small pink or purple soft plastics are perfect presentations to try for these tide runners.
As the weekend wraps up, our opening day of tautog is right around the corner—time to get the green crabs, tog jigs, and lead out.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had fisherman traveling to parts of the Raritan to cash in on a nice striped bass bite on bigger fish. Swimming plugs and bloodworms have been the best for these bass. Anglers working the Toms River have been finding decent action on striped bass with a tad slower bite on white perch.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said there was a good striped bass bite this week for kayak anglers in Toms River with fish up to 30 inches. Anglers chumming parts of Manahawkin Bay from the BB to the BI and the backside of Harvey Cedars found winter flounder cooperative on small pieces of bloodworms.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown officially splashed the vessel this past week and will be running some shakedown cruises to double check existing tracks. The skipper did work soft plastics and the fly rod to release close to a dozen striped ones on the night tides. Weekday night and 3-hour skiff trips are available over the next two months, but these trips are strictly fly and artificials.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light will be moving the vessel to their Barnegat Light home to start the sea bass season for May. The skipper may have some trips available for the end of April, but it’s best to give them a call.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had excellent reports of striped bass being landed from shore, bridges, and boats over the past week. The night tides have been fairly good for bass along shadow lines with bloodworms and small soft-plastic baits performing best. The shop said 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jigheads with natural, white, and pink soft plastics have been key. White perch are picking up bits of bloodworms and grass shrimp baits along some of the lagoons in Beach Haven West. Two hours before sundown is prime time for striper action.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported white perch along most of the creeks along the Tuckahoe and Mullica rivers. If you can find small tidal tributaries dumping into the rivers, you’ll be in the money for these tasty perch. Anglers working grass shrimp have been finding the best success, followed by small pieces of bloodworms. Striped bass have been getting more frisky with better action on topwater and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows. The shop has a wide selection of plugs and poppers for early season action. Weakfish should start showing up pretty soon, so hit those deeper holes with bloodworms or sandworms.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had the word of bass on bloodworms for most of the Somers Point and surrounding Great Bay Area. Two to three bloodworms on a circle hook has been working for surfcasters fishing the sedges along some of the major rivers. Anglers, especially kayakers are finding some solid white perch and catfish action on bloodworms far up the tidal creeks. The shop is fully stocked with bloodworms and will be getting green crabs in for the tautog opener next week.
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Badfish Charters in Ocean City said fishing has been about the same as last week with some decent shots at striped bass in the bay shallows and flats on light tackle. The skipper has noticed steadier bird action off the beaches with what he thinks are herring pushing up the coast. He will be working the backwaters in the coming weeks, so give him a ring.
The Cape May and Fortescue area continued to have decent striped bass and white perch action for anglers working the rivers. Some of the offshoots have produced spawning perch up to 2 pounds. Bloodworms and self-acquired grass shrimp continued to be the hot baits for coastal Cape May. Anglers working the marshes by foot and boat are finding good striped bass action, with some fish pushing 31 inches plus on 4 1/2- inch plugs.
The night bite at the bridgess has been “on” during both swings of the tide around the high tide mark. If you can find clean and/or warm water, you’ll find the most active bass. There was word of a few bluefish and weakies, but it hasn’t been confirmed from local shops.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
It looks to be our best weather weekend in recent memory, with temperatures predicted to be close to 75 degrees! Wow, that will feel wonderful. Striped bass fishing with worms in the backwaters seem to be the best bet everywhere, as action has increased over the past week tremendously. I would look to hit the bay creeks, channels, and marshes with 3- to 4-inch swimming plugs and be sure to work the lures very slow. Bloodworms dunked or drifted along the same areas or through deeper channels should provide good action on striped bass.
White perch are the other play, but it’s important to work the less-traveled paths as it seems the popular spots have been slower.
Lastly, use this weekend to get your tautog tackle ready for next week’s opener, and be ready to throw out the first crab. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!