The striped bass fall run is on in Northern New Jersey. Big bass hit the surf this week, and boat fishermen cleaned up fishing around the bunker schools.
Before we talk bass, the bottom fishing is going strong for porgies reported Akira from True World Tackle. He also reported good blackfishing at the Sandy Hook Reef.
Striper fishing, Akira said, has been good in the East River and around the Statue of Liberty.
Steve from the Skylarker was returning from the canyons when we spoke. He’d had a good trip, catching yellowfin to 70 pounds, longfin to 50 pounds, and some mahi to top it off. Inshore, the porgy fishing has been good, Steve said. He’s also been catching bluefish around the bunker schools.
Robbie at Harry’s Army Navy reported kay largemouth fishing at Mercer and Aussunpink lakes. The Delaware River has been dirty, which shut down the smallie bite, but the Susquehanna has had excellent smallmouth fishing lately.
Robbie said the bass bite fired up from Sea Bright to Lavallete with boats fishing around the bunker schools catching fish to 40 pounds, and big numbers of them. The fish are also in the surf, with Sea Girt producing this week, Robbie said. With big bass on big bait, Robbie recommended plugs like the Super Strike Darter, which Harry’s Has in stock.
There’s great fishing in the surf in Sea Bright and Sandy Hook reported Tom at Giglio’s. Surfcasters at Sandy Hook have been hooking into false albacore every day this week Tom said. Some anglers landed as many as 10 albies in a single day! The striper fishing also turned on. Stripers to 25 pounds were beached using pencil poppers, swimming plugs and snagged bunker.
The bass action is improving in Bradley Beach as well. According to The Bait Shop, fishermen are catching schoolies on Bombers and SP Minnows. Keeper fish are being caught sporadically clams, with the best action coming at dusk.
Pete of Parker Pete Sportfishing is setting his sights on Fall Run striper fishing now, and has been hearing excellent reports of big stripers off Monmouth County.
The Miss Belmar has been catching big bluefish while fishing east of Shark River Inlet. Drifting and jigging has been working on bluefish to 20 pounds.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Break out your snag hooks, pencil poppers and metal lips, the fall run is on! The big bass on bunker bite may not last long, (if past falls are any indication) so get out there now. If you’re hitting the beach and have a need for speed, head to Sandy Hook to try your luck with false albacore. Slim metals like the Daddy Mac bonito/albie jig and the Deadly Dick are some of the top lures. Don’t hit the beach without a snag hook either. Bunker schools have been moving within range, and fishermen snagging the baits have been rewarded with 20-pound plus stripers. On some more southern beaches, clams at dusk have been the key to success.
Was out fishing on Monday the 12th , didn’t see a thing from Barnegat to the axel Carlson . Caught a mix of throw backs , small fluke , spiny dogs , sea Robins , etc. On the way back saw birds at the swimming beach at Island Beach , casted small metals and caught several small weakfish, all were returned . Bad day fishing , and searching revealed nothing .