Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
We have had the winter that just won’t quit with nighttime temperatures bottoming out in the 40s, which does not bode well for bay temperatures. Fluke wise, boat and bay fishermen north of Ocean City had an extremely tough time with narrow bite windows and cold outgoing temperatures. The bites have been very slow for anglers working either minnows or artificial lures. Somers Point to Cape May has been considerably better on the keeper fluke. Striped bass are moving north and anglers from Atlantic City to Island Beach State Park are getting great shots at bass to 35 inches off the beach.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported striped bass to 28 inches on soft plastics and clam baits in the bay. Island Beach State Park was good on plugs, swim shads, and surf clams. Fluke fishing was very slow over the past week with only a few fish reported during the outgoing.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said fluke fishing has been very slow in the bay, but according to the shop staff, minnows and Gulp have been the best combination. Striped bass fishing the inlet rocks and out front was much better with good numbers of bass being caught this week. The shop has clams and sea bass rigs for the opener this Friday, so stop in and pick up your baits.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown had a few bay fluke trips this past week, but numbers were very low with between 10 and 27 shorts caught. Keepers have been incredibly tough to come by as water temperatures are especially cold for the time of year. With a major warm-up coming, the crew is hoping for a big increase on the keeper side of things.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light will be starting their season Friday; the crew will be heading out to the sea bass grounds. Capt. Ted said he has some weekday openings to target ling and sea bass, so give them a ring. They also said open tilefish dates will be posted for July, so stay tuned to their social media or check the website.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had better reports of summer flounder coming over the rail or marsh banks around Wreck Inlet and some of the adjacent marshy thoroughfares on minnows. Anglers working more common areas are finding some fish during the warmer tides. Striped bass off the beaches, bridges, and inlets have been hitting soft plastics, plugs, and glide baits. There are a few gator bluefish around too, so be ready with heavier leader material.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said the fluke bite has been good at times, although consistency hasn’t been the norm. Colder water and slime have been challenging at times, but there are a few nice fish 26 inches around. Striped bass have been much more cooperative and seem to be liking the colder than normal spring conditions. Fish are being caught off the beaches, bridges, and inlets and are hitting a variety of lures from soft plastics to hard baits. The shop is fully stocked for the upcoming sea bass season, so stop in and grab gear for the Friday opener.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point said striped bass have been pretty good in the back with anglers catching some nicer fish to 30+ inches. The beaches have also been good for anglers working plugs in the morning or soaking clams during the day. Nighttime fisherman are finding good success at the bridges, but better shots by boat or kayak working the light lines. Flounder fishing has been better over the past week, but the shop expects the bite to improve next week with the warmer temperatures.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City had some trips with striped bass close to 40 inches that have been smacking glide baits. The skipper said there has been some flounder action on Gulp baits with a few keepers in the mix. Capt. Brian expects better action in the coming weeks as the water should significantly warm up.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City has been mixing it up with striped bass on soft plastics, hard baits, and glides. They had bass to 40 inches on spinning and fly tackle. The skipper said the fluke side of things has been slower with cooler water temperatures, and 40-degree night temperatures are not helping the situation. Bluefish action has been very spotty, though there are some gators around picking up large swim baits along with the striped bass.
The Cape May and Fortescue area has been the better spot for flounder in the backwaters, from Wildwood to Cape May along the marshes and holes/channels in the 8 to 10 foot range. Minnows tipped on Gulp baits, or plain Gulp baits on bucktails, are working for flounder to 22 inches. Most of the action has been on the warmer part of the tide cycles. The Fortescue beaches are still popping with striped bass measuring up to 43 inches with clam and bloodworm baits doing the job. Striped bass fishing has been very good for most of the spring and the bite continues to impress. Drum fishing has been a tad slow for the start, but a few nicer specimens were caught this past week as the new moon approaches. Bottom fishing will ramp up on Friday with the start of the sea bass season, and anglers are primed and ready to hit the reef sites and offshore wrecks.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to jump on a head boat, charter, or personal recreational vessel to target sea bass. With the cooler water temperatures, anglers may have to run a tad further to find better numbers of sea bass. Ling should be in the crosshairs also due to the cooler bottom temperatures. Summer flounder is another prime option for weekend anglers and working the back bays by kayak, boat, or walking the banks are all viable ways to catch a few. The key is to try to work some of the cleaner, warmer water and anglers should find success with 3/4- to 1-ounce bucktails tipped with minnows and/or Gulp. The inlets are the best bet to tangle with some larger bluefish and a good mix of striped bass. Ocean County is the spot to look for striped bass in the inlets, while Atlantic and Cape May counties are better bets for flounder and sea bass. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!