Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The middle of May means one thing for New Jersey anglers: we are ready to start the sea bass season. From what I have seen on some scouting trips, the wrecks are loaded with tasty humpheads.
Looking back at the past week, we saw better fishing off the beaches, especially along Long Beach Island, Brigantine, and Island Beach State Park. Chucking and soaking clams been the ticket for striped bass up to 45 inches off the beaches, and it’s been pretty regular action during the dinner time (dusk) tides. Fluke fishing was tougher for some as the snot algae flooded parts of Barnegat Bay and Great Bay. If you can find cleaner areas, the fish are hungry—a few 8 pounders have been landed on live spot. Drum fishing is going strong in Delaware Bay and even as far as north as LBI, with several large specimens landed from the suds.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said it’s been all clam and striped bass coming off of Island Beach and Seaside Park. Most of the bass have been between 28 to 40 inches, and the shop recommends putting in the time if you want to hook a big one. The surf also has a few blues being caught on artificials, especially near the inlet. The bridges and surrounding marshes have a good number of schoolie bass around. Crabbing kicked into gear throughout the week with warm bay temperatures.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported drum, striped bass and bluefish being landed off the beaches of LBI. Ship Bottom has been the spot for the dinner time bivalve bite for striped bass. Fluke fishing has been hit or miss for most anglers working the main channels and surrounding backwaters, with most keepers just hitting the 19-inch mark.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was busy working charters over the past few days just prior to the rain. The skipper reported good numbers of fluke with charters averaging 35 to 40 fish per 3 hours of fishing, and keeper fluke up to 23 inches. Most charters are bringing home 5 to 8 keepers per trip. Both vessels are up and running with the larger targeting sea bass this upcoming weekend, and flats skiff working the shallows for fluke, so give them a call. The crew has been perfecting their new “hammer” series ultralight rods for fluke and are currently taking orders.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light said they are primed and ready for the start of sea bass season and the boat will be leaving the dock around 530 A.M. Capt. Ted said it was a long winter and they are ready to sling some fish over the rail.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported a good fluke bite south of Holgate with areas around the clam beds producing keepers up to 8 pounds on floating jig/minnow combinations. Barnegat Bay has been good, but the bite recently became more challenging with the algae. Anglers looking for striped bass should hit the Surf City and Ship Bottom beaches with fresh surf clam. Blues and bass have also been active around the inlets on the start of the outgoing tides, hitting swimming plugs and topwaters.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City said striped bass and bluefish have been chewing for anglers slinging clam, bunker chunks, and artificials. There have been some monster blues around the inlets and in some of the back channels. Atlantic City has been on fire for both species, and fluke action has been decent. Jigs, Gulp and mackerel strips have been the ticket for the bay flatties—the shop said the 6- to 10-foot depths have been very good. The drum bite was excellent the past week from Brigantine to Long Beach Island as anglers looking for bass on clams found some beating drums!
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had fresh surf clams in stock but they have been flying out the door due to the demand for striped bass and drum off the beaches. Bay fishing for striped bass was excellent this past week off the sedges and marshy areas with fish up to 32 inches being caught on poppers and plugs. The shop recommends working the 4- to 6-foot flats and points for feeding fish. Fluke fishing was also solid on minnows and Gulp along the 5- to 10-foot depths, and several of the thorofares and off-channel areas are producing keeper fish.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City had good action on bay striped bass as Capt. Brian has been consistently putting clients on stripers. The charters worked light artificials and flies for striped bass up to 34 inches in the bay. Fish are chewing on a mix of topwater and subsurface offerings in the shallows. The skipper has some openings, so give him a ring or DM him on Instagram.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area was the hot bed of drum and striped bass action for bunker chunkers and snot slingers this week. The deeper drops are producing better action in the lower bay, while the upper bay has drum in the shallows. Striped bass are also around and the Cape May ocean front is seeing better numbers of bass, especially around the jetties. Bayside action has been all fluke, with solid number of keepers coming from behind Wildwood. The reef sites and wrecks are loaded with sea bass, so it should make for a good opening off Cape May.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to try to sneak out early for sea bass on Saturday during the season opener, but Mother Nature may have different plans for most of us under 25 feet with strong winds starting early in the morning. Clam, spearing, and metal diamond jigs sent down on the wrecks should produce a good catch of humpheads.
Striped bass and drum are another solid option for beach anglers or anchored boats in Delaware Bay soaking clam. Fluking seems to be better than fair for most of our state up to the Manasquan River. Jigs, Gulp, mackerel and scented salmon bellies are producing the best results. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!
What is the mortality rate of a striper taken out of the water when caught and then released.