Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
Things are pretty much the same as last week, and that’s the problem. Striped bass anglers are waiting for the dam to break.
Bass are being caught to the north in the back of Raritan Bay and south in Barnegat Bay, but the bite has yet to gain any momentum. One day they’re biting, but gone the next. Those who put the time in are the ones being rewarded.
There is reason to hope, however, as a warming trend is on the way and there will be a full moon on April 1, which always seems to get the fish moving. Blackfish season also opens on April 1.
There were also a few more reports this past week of winter flounder being caught in the Shark River and in Mantoloking.
Fishing has also been good on the freshwater front with plenty of largemouth, crappie, and pickerel getting pulled from local ponds and lakes.
Remember, patience is a virtue, and better fishing is on the way.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Paramus said people are picking bass in the Raritan, Hackensack, and Passaic rivers. Bloodworms are working best, but small plugs and plastics are accounting for a few fish. Hebert said folks fishing freshwater are doing well with largemouth, perch, and crappie, and everyone’s looking forward to the trout opener on April 11. Tackle World’s new store on Route 17 in Paramus will have a soft opening this Saturday with a Grand Opening, complete with special deals and discounts, scheduled for May.
Gary Carr at Keyport Bait and Tackle reported that striped bass fishing is going strong in the rivers, and the fish are starting to venture out into Raritan Bay. He’s had reports coming in of stripers from South Amboy through Keyport. Bloodworms are the go-to bait, he said, but guys throwing small plugs and shads are also getting fish. Carr said the shop is stocked with bloodworms, worm balls, salted clams, and frozen bunker. Keyport Bait and Tackle also has an outdoor vending machine with bait and tackle available around the clock.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said that the bass bite has become steadier along the Bayshore beaches and the Raritan River. Bloodworms and worm balls are the best bet.
Joe Julian Jr. of Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands had some excellent news this week, announcing that the shop will be back open for business on April 1.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said he’s heard of bass caught in the back of Raritan Bay on bloodworms, but that’s been about it. He said there’s still no word of any stripers in the Shrewsbury or Navesink rivers. Pinto said the shop is now carrying a selection of Lemire’s Plugs and new colors of Super Strike Lures.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said there hasn’t been much change in the striper fishing from last week. Folks are picking resident fish in the usual spots. He believes the fishing will improve in the next week as the full moon and warmer weather arrive. Freshwater fishing, on the other hand, has been solid, he said, with good largemouth and crappie action. Gleason said there are still some special Tak Waterman/Tuna Junkies poppers available at the store and online.
Jesse Thomas at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the shop has been selling a lot of bloodworms. The bass reports he’s been getting have been coming from up in Raritan Bay or down in Barnegat Bay. He did hear of winter flounder caught right there in the Shark River back by the floating dock. He also heard of some flatties landed by Mantoloking Bridge.
The Golden Eagle out of Belmar will be making its first trip of the season on Saturday, March 28 in search of cod and ling. The rest of the fleet, including the Big Mohawk and Capt. Cal II, will be sailing for blackfish on April 1.
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Stanley Gola at the Reel Seat in Brielle said it was a quiet week for stripers from what he was hearing. The back of Raritan Bay was giving up some stripers, but that was about it as far as he knew.
Christian Caparra at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said it’s been quiet around there as well, with a few bass reported around Mantoloking on bloodworms or small plugs and plastics using a slow retrieve. He also heard of a few winter flounder taken near the bridge on bits of clam.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle in Brick reported that striper fishing remains the same as last week in the backwaters of Barnegat Bay, with a decent bite on the outgoing tide. Bloodworms are your best choice.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said it’s been a slow week around there, with a few reports of stripers caught on worms around Barnegat Bay. He said the bay water is getting warmer, and the anglers putting in the time are picking bass around the sod banks.
Frankie Z. at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park said he’s been getting reports of stripers in Barnegat Bay, but it’s inconsistent. The bite changes day-to-day. You just have to keep at it, he said. Again, it’s bloodworms catching most of the stripers, but small plugs, like X-Raps and plastics, are scoring some fish.
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Best Bets for the Weekend
If striped bass are your target, dunking bloodworms in the backwaters of Raritan Bay or Barnegat Bay is your best bet. The bite isn’t crazy by any means, but there are fish to be caught if you put the time in. Small plugs and plastics retrieved slowly are also triggering some strikes.
The more consistent fishing can be found in freshwater, with local ponds and lakes offering largemouth, perch, pickerel, and crappie.