Another tough week for charter and headboats as the Governor has extended the “stay-at-home” orders for another 30 days. Captains are hoping that charter and party fishing boats will be allowed to open for next week’s Sea Bass opener, but that remains in question. Fishing would be much better if the weather would cooperate as we literally have March temperatures for May. Striped Bass are very active around most sod banks, bridges, and inlets during the past week. Bluefish have started to arrive at some of the inlets (north of us) and areas up to Brigantine. The fishery should get better in the coming weeks. Drum fishing has been the hottest topic of the past week with the Delaware Bay on fire and the usual spots: Tussey’s slough, Pin Top, and the Punk Grounds. Anglers have reported consistent bites and with the upcoming Full Moon — It should be “game on”.
Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a good week for anglers fishing the Barnegat Bay for Striped Bass as plenty of shorts have been caught In the inlet area and back towards Oyster Creek. Blowfish have been showing up in the bay with anglers chumming and using clam. Bluefish have been a little slow to show, but it should be any day for the Spring racers. The shop is open for curbside pickup and deliveries, so get them a call.
Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light spent the week breaking in the new skiff with his wife and son as charters are a “no-go” until Governor Murphy gives the green light. Striped Bass and some Fluke were released on light tackle as the skipper tried some of the usual spots. A couple of the bass were caught on clouser flies and with the addition of the skiff, fly fishing charters will be available when the season gets started.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continues to book trips for May and they are tentatively going to start running Sea Bass trips around May 15th depending on the viral situation. The skipper prefers to keep small groups of 6 anglers as compared to open boat trips due to COVID concerns.
Fisherman’s Headquarters on Long Beach Island reported a good solid week of angling with Striped Bass being caught along the North Jetty and areas near the inlet. Soft plastics and plugs have been producing the best. Anglers have been trying for Bluefish in the bay, but no real bite as of yet. The bay has offered up some nice Blowfish in the 5 to 8 foot depths, but heavy chumming is mandatory. The surf has had some Striped Bass picking up clam baits on the soak. The shop is open for curbside pickup and can take orders ahead by calling.
Absecon Bay Sportsman in Absecon worked some areas off the Absecon Creek and found some good schoolie action on the Gulp Nemesis. The sod banks produced for Striped Bass and there are some Bluefish starting to show up as anglers have started landing them on chunked bunker. Dave said that it’s a good week to try the beach for Black Drum on clam, but the Delaware Bay Drum bite has been red hot. The shop is open for curbside pickup and limited store customers (mandatory mask in effect).
Offshore Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City reported some Bluefish being landed off the T-jetty in Atlantic City. The fish were caught on the Daiwa SP Minnow along with several Striped Bass. Weakfish have been picking up soft plastics during the night tides and most of these fish have been falling for a slowly worked 2.5” Fin-S fish. The shop is open and is fully stocked with bushels of surf clam to target Striped Bass.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported some decent action from Corson’s Inlet on Striped Bass and a few Weakfish. Most of the stripers are on the smaller side and a fair amount have been caught on bloodworms. The inlet area has been producing some Bluefish over the past week. The shop is open for curbside pickup, so give them a ring.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the back-bay stripers have begun moving onto the flats, out of the channels. Spearing are moving up as well, and their numbers should continue to increase. Brian’s been catching a number of fluke around the flats while targeting stripers, some over 20 inches. A good sign for the coming opener of the fluke season.
Sea Isle Bait & Tackle in Sea Isle continues to have good numbers of Striped Bass in the back and around Corson’s Inlet. Bluefish are around and have been picking up baits and worked plugs. Anglers working the bridges and areas around the inlet are finding some Weakfish on pink soft plastics. The shop is open, but it’s best to check their Facebook page as they post the updated hours.
Avalon Hodge Podge in Avalon reported schoolie Striped Bass from the backwaters, but the beaches re-open on Friday for fishing. Chunked bunker or clam bellies would be the best bet for targeting the beach. The shop is fully open and has lots of fresh baits available.
Jersey Bait & Tackle in North Wildwood is still closed and there have been no news on when the shop will re-open for the season.
Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May Court House reported a good week on Drum fish on the Delaware Bay with the usual spots producing for this time of year. Striped Bass are still picking up soft plastics and bloodworms in the back and around the jetties. The shop is open for curbside pickup.
Jim’s Bait & Tackle in Cape May said the Drum fishing in the Delaware Bay has been borderline “on-fire” with the action steady on clam. The deeper sloughs have been producing the best. There are schoolie Striped Bass around the jetties and tidal creeks, but the action has been centered on the Drum. Some anglers did report a few released Fluke while working soft plastics for bass. The shop is open and fully stocked with Drum and Striper baits.
Greenhorn Outdoors in Bridgeton reported a slower week due to the weather, but there are still plenty of Striped Bass in the rivers. Most of the Striped Bass have been landing on bloodworms with the keeper sized on bunker. Boat anglers did pretty good on bunker earlier in the week. The shop is fully open and has bloodworms and fresh bunker daily.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend would be to target drum from the Delaware Bay and boat owners should hit the deeper sloughs. Clam is the main bait and anglers should put out a solid slick to get them feeding. Anglers working the beaches around Higbee’s and North Cape May may also have shots at them. Striped Bass are around a lot of back bay locations, but areas along bay meadows, sedges, or sod banks are ideal places to target. Small soft plastics, plugs, and poppers worked slow will do the trick. The water temperatures have been slow to trickle upwards, but trolling for Striped Bass in the ocean should be prime in the next week or two. Finally, if your fishing the inlets or bays try working some of the lures quick as our Spring Bluefish should be around sometime in the next few days. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
Haven’t been able to do any deepsea fishing for while because of health issues. I finally got the ok from my doctors to go fishing .I would like the best areas to fish in .