Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Last weekend threw out some of the worst weather imaginable for Memorial Day, but it’s not all doom and gloom because it lit up the fishing fireworks on our coastal wrecks with much better sea bassing. The heavy northeasterly winds ushered in warmer, and cleaner water, which got the sea bass feeding heavily. This past week, a good number of party boats reported full limits for anglers.
Fluke fishing has still been tough for most, since the feeding windows are very narrow, but there are some fish to be had if you can find them.
Striped bass are feeding off the beaches, inlets, and even some of the bay channels with the cooler incoming temperatures. Live spot, clams, and plugs worked along the drop-offs and points are producing fish to over 30 inches. A few puppy drum have been caught off the beaches from Brigantine to Wildwood.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported some striped to 30 inches being caught in the Island Beach State Park surf on clam and around the inlet on white plugs. There are a few striped bass in the bay as well, and the shop received word of some larger fish in Oyster Creek Channel yesterday. A few fluke have been caught off the beach and in the bays, but it’s been slow overall.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said fishing was dismal over the weekend, but the shop stayed busy with their annual Memorial Day tent sale. Anglers have been coming into the store with slow reports on fluke regardless of tide, but much better on striped bass from the inlets on live spot, clam, or plugs. Sea bassing saw a major uptick in action and more keepers off the wrecks as the storm put them in a feeding mood.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked 4-hour bay charters this past week with the captain and clients putting 3 to 6 keepers in the box. The skipper has been working some unique areas to put some nicer fish up to 6.5-pounds on ice, with the biggest one this past week measuring 25.5 inches. The crew is running daily and the website is fully updated, so clients can book dates and time slots—head to reelreactioncharters.com check it out.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported better sea bassing following the northeast blow. The boat has put many more sea bass in the coolers than pre-holiday and the skipper expects the good bite to continue over the coming weeks. The crew has started to book tuna and tilefish trips, so call to get on the schedule as these book up pretty fast.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had decent reports of fluke on strip baits and floating jigheads tipped with minnows along the shallows. Some of the flounder have been up to 24 inches long and they’re biting in the 6- to 10-foot-depth range.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point received a fresh shipment of scented salmon bellies and the shop said they have been pretty hot as of late. Anglers working bucktails with strips of salmon are landing some nice fluke to 24 inches. The action has been sporadic, so you have to put your time in. There were a few puppy drum caught off the beaches with clam, as well as striped bass to 30 inches. The bridges had a few sheepshead caught on sand fleas and the shop said it should only get better as the water warms.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point had a mix of bluefish, striped bass, and fluke reports from the area. A few blues have been landed closer to the inlets, while striped bass have been caught along the marshes and bridges (mainly at night) on plugs. Fluke are hitting minnows and Gulp in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City said it was “game on” for the stripes as the skipper put a few clients on some beautiful striped bass with the fly rod this week. The backwaters have been holding good numbers of bass and the heavy blow seemed to push some more fish in. Fluke are also around and they’re targeting them with light tackle on the warmer tides. The skipper has some openings in the coming weeks, so give him a ring.
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Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City reported some nice striped bass in the backwaters on plugs, poppers, and soft plastics. The skipper has also found a few out front, which have been cooperative. Fluke are around and are picking up baits on both sides of the tide, but the warmer outgoing water has them more active.
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The Cape May and Fortescue areas are still seeing striped bass, but the run of larger specimens seems to have slowed down over the past week. The good news has been the influx of large bluefish that have been roving Delaware Bay along with some smaller striped bass, both of which have been caught on cut bunker, clam, and plugs. Drum are being landed in 15 to 30 feet of water on clam baits, but anglers have to find the schools with depth sounders. Summer flounder fishing has been slow in most areas, but it seems the best reports have come at the start of the outgoing tides in the 8- to 12-foot depths with a variety of baits and Gulp working well. Sea bassing has been outstanding for most vessels out of Cape May and Wildwood, with reefs and wrecks producing a good mix of keepers and shorts.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend is to hit the backwaters on Saturday for fluke, striped bass, and bluefish. Sunday, as of the latest forecast, looks to be the best day to hit the ocean wrecks for sea bass with a 3- to 4-foot swell every 10 seconds. If you do choose to go for sea bass, bring some jigs and Gulp baits as the larger, keeper-size fish seem to prefer artificials at this time.
Bayside, inlets and bridges are producing striped bass on white or bone-colored swimming plugs. Blues have been in the same areas with some fish approaching the 30-inch mark on plugs. Judging by the reports from our local shops and charters, most fluke are hitting in the 6 to 12 foot depths—the key is finding clean, warm water to locate feeding fish. Anglers willing to trek on the marshes or bay beaches can also find feeding fish by working light jigs and Gulp. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!