Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The Grand Slam band is officially reuniting with fluke, striped bass, bluefish, and weakfish coming together in some parts of South Jersey. Anglers working soft plastics in the backwaters surprisingly found a few large bluefish to 30+ inches and some nice tiderunner weakfish. Summer flounder are biting, too, with a few nice fish being caught in the bays, but the biggest obstacle has been the bloom of algae, otherwise known as “snot grass”. Striped bass anglers in the backwaters have also complained of it, for most of Barnegat and parts of Great Bay have been affected. Still, plugs are working in and around the marshes for bass to 30-inches while the beaches continue to produce larger striped bass to over 40 inches on soaked clam baits. The drum bite has begun to heat up in Delaware Bay after the recent full moon, so now is the time to grab a bushel and soak a few.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported some nice striped bass caught off Island Beach State Park on soaked clams. Plugs have been working early morning or around dusk, but it’s been a spotty bite for most. A few blues are reportedly being caught around the Barnegat and Manasquan inlets on plugs and soft plastics.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said some anglers were in the shop purchasing minnows for the fluke opener, but the bite was severely hampered by lots of snot grass which is also affecting the bay striped bass bite. The surf of Long Beach Island and Island Beach State Park have been more consistent for stripers to 40 inches. The best baits off the beach have been hunks of fresh or frozen clam, while the backwaters are producing striped bass on smaller plugs and plastics. A few large bluefish were also caught around the inlet, which is good news for jetty anglers casting metals.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked a 4-hour afternoon charter on the fluke opener with winds to 25 knots. The skipper said the winds weren’t the issue due to new Minn Kota trolling motor technology, but the amount of snot grass was unbelievable, which was the largest factor inhibiting the bite. The crew had a hard time keeping baits clean, but ended with 10 shorts and 1 keeper to 21 inches. Once the snot grass begins to clear up, it should be game on.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light is counting the days down until the sea bass opener and Capt. Ted is pumped to get out on the wrecks to fill up the coolers. The skipper said he has been booking some offshore tuna trips for the summer and hopes the bite is as good as last season.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had mixed reports on summer flounder action in the bay with some fish to 23 inches landed. A few anglers reported 3-fish limits, but between the wind, weather, and snot grass the bite has been very tough.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported some fluke action coming from the back bay with the areas around Rainbow Channel and Skull Bay producing flounder to 21 inches. Anglers working Gulp and minnow combinations have been doing better, but it hasn’t been easy as you have to work through lots of snot grass at times. Striped bass are being caught off the beaches on clam and around some of the bridges on artificials. Blues were the news, though, with a few gators invading the backwaters, mostly north of Ocean City.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point said the area has seen a recent influx of large bass off the beaches and in the back. Flounder fishing kicked off with not-so-great weather conditions, but a few diehard anglers made it out to work the 6- to 10-foot areas and found some active fish. Gulp, minnows, and jerkbaits were working on the start of the season fluke. The marina had a few fish to 22 inches caught, which is promising to see despite the conditions.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported his charters catching bass to 40-inches on glide baits over the past week, as the oceanfront is seeing an influx of larger bass moving through. Bay wise, it’s been a pick on bigger fish with not too many small ones around. Summer flounder are cooperative if you can keep the baits clean, and that bite should get better in the coming weeks.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City had similar reports from the Ocean City and Sea Isle area with larger bass being caught on swim shads, plugs, and occasionally on the fly. The skipper has been working the backwaters for bass as well as summer flounder.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area has been the hot bed of striped bass action on the oceanfront, with fish caught off the beaches and boats on soaked clams and bloodworms. Anglers have been releasing fish up to 50 inches, which have been inhaling both baits. The recent bite has been much more consistent as a massive school of large striped bass pushed out of the Delaware River. Drum fishing started off slowly, but the area’s charters have begun to report better action on clam-eating drum. The shallower sloughs are working as of late. Fluke fishing was hit or miss for most anglers as the weather was not too conducive with high winds. Minnows have been the hotter bait down south and if you can hit some of the 7- to 10-foot holes, fluke should be in the area.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to target striped bass on Saturday as the winds and tide will be better for bass fishing. Bloodworms seem to be the bait of choice from Wildwood to Fortescue, while the bivalve is the better option further north. The beaches continue to offer the best shots at striped bass with Long Beach Island, Brigantine and IBSP producing. Don’t count out the yellow-eyed predators, as a few slammer blues to 30+ inches have been landed this week. These fish should be targeted along the inlets during the incoming tide, and in some of the back bay areas; look for small, isolated bird action to key in on surface-feeding blues. Based on the latest forecast, fluke fishing will be a better bet on Sunday when the wind is lower. Clean baits and warm water are the keys for springtime fluke success—find these and you’ve got it made! Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!