Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
It’s another case of striper interruptus. Just when the bite gets going, a nor’easter comes along and shuts it down. However, before we get to the report, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has voted to maintain the status quo for striped bass for 2026 with no catch or season reductions. More information on an updated management plan will be forthcoming throughout the year.
Back on the water, striper fishing got a bit frustrating over the weekend after big bass showed up last week, but then went quiet. Boaters picked fish on Saturday and Sunday, but it wasn’t the bonanza everyone was expecting. The action picked up again at the beginning of this week when bunker became the main course. Then came the wind again.
Those who opted to fish for tog did well on the rocks, reefs and at the inlets. And tuna anglers had to be satisfied with catching and releasing bluefin as the yellowfin have disappeared.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said that a lot of people he talked to headed out on Saturday with dreams of glory, but came up empty-handed. They reported miles and miles of bunker, but not a lot of bass. Sunday was a better day with some jumbos caught, but it took a bit of searching. One customer, John Sweeney, landed a 45-pounder.
Capt. Dan Mazza of Thin Blue Tide Charters out of Keyport said he took a run out to the ocean over the weekend for stripers and tog. He marked piles of sand eels but found only a few small mackerel. He then anchored up on a couple of rock piles and got to work on blackfish. The Dave Chalek party caught a boat limit of tog, plus loads of throwbacks.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said there were plenty of bass around, but not everyone caught them. Folks chasing clouds of birds were frustrated as there were no stripers underneath them. Those fishing bunker pods had better luck livelining and on shads. Eels on planer boards also produced. He said there were stripers on top in Raritan Bay, and he expects the bay will light up after this current storm passes.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said he’s had reports of monster bass from his boat customers, but it’s been tougher for people fishing the beach. The stripers, he said, will move closer in November. The blackfishing has been very good on structure around the Highlands Bridge, Julian added, and there have been some big blues in the Shrewsbury River.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said there is bunker everywhere, but the striper fishing off the beach has been spotty. The more consistent fishing has been at night, he said, and more anglers are now showing up on the beach. Pinto said they will have Invincible Shads in stock very soon.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said there’s been a pick of stripers for the brave souls hitting the beach. Loads of boats have been chasing bass out front, and they have had some shots at really good fishing. Plugs, shads and jigs have all worked. Tak Waterman will be holding a big storewide sale this Saturday that will include plugs, clothing, and tackle. The event will also feature the launch of a special craft beer called Fall Run On Sunday, Tak Waterman will be on hand at the Sandy Hook Bay Marina for the Kids Striper Classic.
The ocean off Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Belmar was packed with boats over the weekend, and they seemed to be constantly on the move. Reports of fish were sparse, but the bite started to pick up on Sunday and Monday.
Tim Rizzuto at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the blackfishing at the Shark River Inlet is very good right now, with loads of action and plenty of keepers. Party boats out of the marina have been catching some of the jumbo bass. He said the Big Mohawk got into them big time on Sunday and Monday with dozens of big fish landed, and the pool winner coming in at 48 inches. He also had a report of a 30-pound striper caught in the local surf on a spook, and there are smaller bass hitting plugs in the Shark River.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar said bottom fishing is holding up with sea bass, porgies, blackfish and triggerfish biting.
Oscar Meier at the Reel Seat in Brielle said bluefin of all sizes are swimming offshore, but they are strictly for catch-and-release anglers. The yellowfin bite appears to be over. He said sea bass fishing at the Rezor Wreck was wild with drop-and-reel action, and the swordfish, mahi-mahi and tilefish bite was good as well. The shop also reported good bottom fishing for sea bass and blackfish, big bass in the bunker pods off the beaches, and stripers from the sand in Seaside Park.
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Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said blackfishing is really good in the Manasquan River with keepers at the inlet and loads of action in the Point Pleasant Canal. Striper fishing in the river has also been excellent with slot-sized fish hitting soft plastics and live eels. Eels are also working in the canal for bass. The bite has been good all the way back to the Mantoloking Bridge. As for the striper bite out front, Tangen said the fish have been on sand eels and bunker, and the bite seems to be better in the afternoon. Offshore, there are lots of thresher sharks around, and there have been solid reports on swordfish, tilefish and sea bass. Tangen added that there are plenty of stripers up in Raritan Bay as he fished there earlier this week. Shads and flutter spoons were working, and he got a nice one on a fly rod. Once this latest storm passes, Tangen believes the fall run will kick into high gear.
Brian Flanagan Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach said there have been loads of boats off Asbury Park since the weekend, but the action has been hit or miss. Nobody has sailed since Monday, and Friday looks like the first fishable day. Before the nasty weather arrived, Flanagan said the sea bass and blackfish bite was good at the Manasquan Reef, and there’s excellent togging at the Manasquan Inlet.
Capt. Tom Wolfe on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said the striper fishing picked up last Monday when there were a lot more bunker around. Livelining was doing the trick. The latest storm has kept him at the dock since then, but he plans on sailing on Friday for stripers at 6:30 a.m.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick said the local beaches from Bay Head to Lavallette are starting to produce some stripers. He also said when the weather keeps you off the ocean, the Point Pleasant Canal is a good place for tog on green crabs and stripers and blues. The bass are hitting live eels and soft plastics, and it’s plugs and metal for the blues.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said bunker chunks are taking a few bass off the local beaches. He also reported stripers in the Toms River and the back of Barnegat Bay. Kupper said there have already been a good number of sign-ups for the annual Surf Turkey Tournament taking place over the Thanksgiving weekend. Full details are available at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle Facebook page.
Frankie Z at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park said anglers are slamming blackfish at the north jetty of Barnegat Inlet, and a lot of them are keepers. Folks are also picking bass in the surf at first light and at dusk. Sand eels showed up off the beaches, but Frankie said there were more boats out there than fish. He added that the shop is fully stocked for fall.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Once this latest nor’easter moves out of the way, the hunt for striped bass will resume. The bait and bass are still around, from Raritan Bay on south, and will meet again once things settle down. Boaters will likely get on the fish first, but, hopefully, with the wind going west after the storm, surfcasters will get a shot at some stripers.
Blackfishing is also very good right now, on the reefs, wrecks, and jetties. The Manasquan and Shark River inlets have been good spots with plenty of keepers reported.