Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
By every measure, it wasn’t a good week for anglers. Snow, wind, and cold brought fishing to a halt. Togging and offshore sea bass fishing are about all that’s going on right now, and even those were crippled by the weather.
No doubt there are some stripers around, but there seems to be little interest in chasing them. Most private boats are out of the water, and many surfcasters have stowed their gear for the winter.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said the offshore sea bass fishing is on fire when the boats targeting them can sail. He said togging has been up and down depending on the day. There has been some ice in the northwestern part of the state, but he’s uncertain if it will last as warmer temperatures are on the way. Hebert said the store has loads of holiday sales going on, in-store and online, and the shop will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Gary Carr at Keyport Bait and Tackle said it is beyond quiet there, with no reports coming in over the past week. The shop is offering 10 percent off gift cards for the holidays, and Carr said they will remain open through the winter.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said only the tog boats have been trying since the snow fell, and he hasn’t received much in the way of reports. The shop, he said, has plenty of gift buckets available to put under the tree.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said store traffic has dwindled to zero. He’ll be taking some time off after the store closes on Christmas Eve and heading south.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright reported absolutely nothing going on for the last week. The shop will be closing for the winter after Christmas Eve, but will open for appointments. Pinto said Giglio’s will be carrying Malosi Studio Lures come spring.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said it’s been pretty quiet there as well, but there are still bass around. He posted drone footage shot on Tuesday of stripers cruising through a massive school of peanut bunker off a nearby beach. Gleason said there are new lines of clothing in the shop just in time for Christmas.
Johnny O. at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the blackfish boats are doing fair when they can sail, but there hasn’t been much of an opportunity this past week. He’s sure there are winter flounder in the back of the Shark River, but nobody is trying for them.
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar has been doing well on his offshore black sea bass trips, catching jumbo sea bass, porgies and bluefish. He will be heading out again this Saturday, and there are just a few open spots left.
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Capt. Payton Gepp on the Big Mohawk out of Belmar reported decent blackfishing last Friday and Saturday, with keepers and shorts coming over the rail. He said they bounced around both days, finding plenty of life on every stop, but it fizzled out the longer they stayed. The pool fish was 6½ pounds on Saturday with jigs out fishing rigs. The Big Mohawk planned on sailing on Thursday and again this weekend.
Capt. Ron Kish on the Captain Cal II out of Belmar reported a successful tog trip on Wednesday with a steady pick of keepers all day long. He said seasoned toggers, along with beginners, all went home with fish.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar fished several days in a row before the snow arrived and reported a consistent tog bite. There were limit catches and lots of short life. Green crabs, he said, were getting more bites than white leggers.
Bill Hoblitzell at the Reel Seat in Brielle said the party boats are doing well with tog when they can get out. And it’s been the same for offshore sea bass. He said store-wide sales are going on right now for rods, reels and tackle, with special discounts on selected St. Croix and Lamiglas models.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said togging is okay on the inshore spots and better farther offshore. He, too, had good things to report about offshore sea bass. There are special discounts throughout the store for the holidays, Tangen added.
Brian Flanagan at Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach said it’s been slow, but he did hear there were stripers around as the Gambler reported catching a few before Sunday’s storm. He found decent togging this past Saturday when he last got out, and added that sea bass fishing is excellent. Flanagan said they will be closing Dec. 31 and will reopen in the spring.
Capt. Tom Wolfe on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said blackfishing was good, but not great, on Wednesday’s tog trip. It was a mix of keepers and shorts. The water, he said, dropped several degrees, and the fish were coming up a bit gray, telling him it’s cold on the bottom. The Norma K III sails every day for blackfish at 7:30 a.m. with a special tog trip every Wednesday that leaves at 6:30 a.m., with limited space and a mandatory $100 super pool.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick reported that the back of the Toms River is producing plenty of bass on the outgoing tide. Blackfishing, he added, has been good on the local wrecks and reefs.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said he hasn’t heard a thing all week. He’ll be open until the second week of January, then he’s heading south for the winter.
Elizabeth Ribas at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park said there are still a few folks trying their luck in the surf, but it’s been slow. The shop is waiting for the first weigh-in for the Polar Striper Plunge Tournament that runs through Dec. 31. Grumpy’s 10 percent store-wide sale continues this Saturday and Sunday, and there is still time to donate to St. Jude’s Children’s Charity at the store.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Unless you’re heading out for blackfish or sea bass, your best bet for the weekend might be to hit the holiday sales at your favorite bait and tackle shop. Most are offering special discounts on rods, reels, tackle and clothing ahead of Christmas.
For those determined to fish, the weather will be wet and windy on Friday, but clearing on Saturday and Sunday. Strong winds may be a factor, especially on Sunday.