Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The April full moon and hot weather has started to tap the drum bite. A few black drum were landed from the bay and beaches over the past week on soaked bivalves. The bay waters heated up fairly quickly with even some crabs being caught in backwater spots as air temperatures hit 75°F. Ocean water is still cold, but it did warm up enough to get the tog chewing; the bite has drastically improved since last week. Striped bass, almost nonexistent the week prior, bit much better this week—especially around some of the bridges from Toms River to Cape May. The Raritan is still the spot to be for more consistent action and bigger bass. Unfortunately, there may be a slow down next week as we are expecting another shot of colder temperatures bottoming out to nighttime lows in the 30s. At least we are well into April and can look forward to better tog bites through the end of the month.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said the Toms River had a few striped bass being landed on bloodworms while the Seaside Park area gave up drum on clams during the beginning of the week. Ospreys are regularly being seen carrying bunker, so that’s a good sign for the migratory run of striped bass in the coming weeks.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said it was a much better week than last in terms of fishing participation and action. Striped bass are being caught along the Route 37 bridge and Causeway bridges during the midnight timeframe. Small 3- to 4-inch soft plastics are working the best, as well as some smaller swimming plugs. Togging has been pretty slow for the first half of the season, but the shop received better reports along the rocks on the south side of Barnegat Inlet, where clam and green crabs are doing the trick.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown ran a few charters last week after the colder nights but, according to the crew, the temperatures had shut the bite off. Striped bass were very hard to come by and togging wasn’t much better, with only a few shorts caught. The crew will be at it again this week, targeting striped bass and tautog.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been tied up at the dock awaiting the opening of sea bass in May.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City received reports of anglers dunking clams for striped bass and drum along Graveling Point with a mix of both species being caught. White perch are still being picked along the Mullica River with grass shrimp and small soft plastics.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said that striped bass fishing improved over the past week with some spots producing fish on soft plastic Zoom baits, swim shads, and small swimbaits. Tog fishing has been solid at the 70- to 90-foot spots on white crabs or shrimp. Anglers working spots closer to the inlet or bay found a few short tog. The shop also heard of some drum being caught further north on soaked clam.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported a slightly better week in terms of striped bass in the backwaters, with fish from 24- to 28-inches being caught on artificials and bloodworms. Togging has been better at the ocean reef sites with white leggers, green crabs, and clam working on fish to 8 pounds.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City had some striped bass from 20- to 26-inches in the backwaters this week. The skipper has been seeing them cruising along the flats and on the depth finder. Bites have come on artificials with soft plastics, plugs, and some fly patterns working duping shallow water bass. The skipper will be running more trips this upcoming week.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City is back in New Jersey and said there is definitely striped bass activity in his home waters. He will be booking trips for bass, blues, and weakfish.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area had solid reports of striped bass coming from the beaches of Delaware Bay from Fortescue to Cape May. Bloodworms and soaked clams have been the best baits for shots for stripers. Some of the striped bass caught on bloodworms have been up to 50 inches, and it seems more fish are migrating along the Cape May peninsula. Drum should begin to hit in the next few weeks, but it’s not a bad time to try to soak a few clams for them. Tog fishing has been on fire off Cape May and Wildwood, with the reef sites producing a good number of keepers on white crabs.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend is to get out and try togging off our wrecks since the bite has noticeably improved. The southern spots are definitely still the most productive, so hit Ocean City south to Cape May for more keepers and larger fish as those areas have less pressure. Stripers are feeding in the backwaters and with the uptick in temperatures, the action has been better. The bridges are the best spots to find bass, especially during the night tides; white 3- to 4-inch swim shads have been the best baits. For anglers interested in trying for drum, consider soaking clams at some of the popular bay spots or hit the beaches. Some of the osprey cams are showing birds picking up weakfish, so it may be time to grab some bubblegum soft plastics and get after it. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!