The sea bass bite is off the charts, monster stripers lurk offshore and there are fluke and blues in the rivers and bays. If it weren’t for the global pandemic, this would be considered a good spring.
The excellent sea bass fishing has raised everyone’s spirits. Boat limits are common and a lot of the fish are pushing 4 pounds. Jigs and bait are both working and coolers have been filling up in no time
There have been loads of ling and numerous cod caught along with the sea bass.
In addition, a bigger class of striped bass have moved into the area and boats trolling Mojos and bunker spoons offshore are catching and releasing fish up to 50 pounds. It’s been a struggle to get one into the box as most are well in excess of 38 inches.
There have also been some nice fluke catches reported with a number of early season keepers landed.
In short, fishing is good.
Ron Tucci at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said their customers have been getting into the bass and blues in Raritan Bay and fluke in the Shark and Manasquan rivers.
But, he said, it’s been the trout fishing that keeping folks in his neck of the woods happy. Rick Hebert from the shop fished the Pequannock River over the weekend and caught and released more than 25 trout.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said the fluking in Raritan Bay has been okay since the opener but the water is still a little cold.
The bass fishing in the bay, which has been good since March, is still going strong. Bunker chunking was doing the trick around Old Orchard with stripers up to 50 pounds reported.
And there are blues in the mix as well. Folks were catching both at the Keansburg Pier earlier this week.
Joe Julian Jr. at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said there have been a lot of bluefish by the Oceanic Bridge on the Navesink River. They’re long and lean, he said, hitting metals and poppers.
Stripers are biting there as well. Julian said they’ve been feeding on blue claws and grass shrimp.
Guys fishing chunks are still catching keeper stripers from Raritan Bay beaches and boats trolling Mojos and spoons are getting bigger fish out in the bay, he said
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright reported a number of bass in the teens were caught this week in the Shrewsbury River. The bite is mostly at night on chunks and plugs, specifically bottle plugs. Dom Licari weighed in a bass close to 19 pounds.
He said there’s been an increase in bunker schools just off the beach and one in Monmouth Beach had big bass in it earlier this week. It was just a bit too far off for shore anglers.
Pinto said the fluking was just getting started but he did weigh in some nice ones. Shop regular, Linas I., got a 5.4 pounder from his kayak off Leonardo.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said the beach bite is improving with small bass and blues along with some kingfish.
He’s had reports of fluke in the suds as well, but the fish are on the small side. Bigger fluke are in the rivers and so are blues and bass.
Flutter spoons, shads, chunks, livelining and trolling continue to catch nice stripers in Raritan Bay, he added.
A small fluke hit my sandworm in the Ocean Grove surf this week and there was an increase in the number of stripers I caught, although they remain on the short side.
Bob Matthews at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the party and charter boats out of the marina are having a field day with sea bass. All of the boats are reporting excellent fishing.
The fluking isn’t quite as good in the Shark River, he said, but it’s early days yet.
Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters out of Belmar said they’ve been getting their charters on big bass over the last couple of days trolling spoons and Mojos.
The fish have all been in the 40-plus-pound range and he said it’s going to be tough to find one to keep as they’re all well over 38 inches.
When sea bass are the target, he said the fishing has been lights out. Parker Pete’s is currently booking striper, sea bass and fluke trips.
Capt. Jay Richardella of Side Job Charters, also out of Belmar, has also been on the big bass with fish between 40 and 50 pounds. He said he finally got one for the box on Tuesday with a fish that was 38 inches on the nose.
The sea bassing, he said, has been “off the chain” with just extraordinary fishing on clams and jigs.
Tommy Freda at the Reel Seat in Brielle reported that the sea bass fishing was grabbing all the headlines. It’s been drop-and-reel fishing at the Farms, the Rattlesnake and almost all of the reefs and rockpiles.
Monster bass are also being caught on the troll out by the three-mile line from Sandy Hook down to Seaside.
The fluking in the Manasquan River, he said, is still a little slow.
Capt. Kenny Namowitz on the Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant Beach said the sea bass fishing has been excellent every day he’s sailed. Everyone is limiting out and there are some winter flounder in the mix. One measured 23 inches.
He’s also been getting into some nice fat ling, he said, with about 300 coming over the rail on one trip last weekend. His trips have been booking up so call ahead for reservations.
Capt. Matt Sosnowski on the Norma K III also reported terrific sea bass fishing last weekend with jigs and bait putting fish in the coolers. Ling along with a few cod were also mixed in.
He said they Norma K III will be sailing for sea bass until the season closes on June 22.
Vinny at Fisherman’s Den in Point Pleasant Beach said sea bass anglers are catching fish as fast as they can. Party and private boat anglers are getting them two and three at a time.
He also reported a mini-blitz of bluefish at the Dog Beach in the Manasquan River earlier this week and keeper fluke caught by the bridges farther inland.
The tuna bite went a little quiet, he said, but he did hear of white marlin in the Hudson Canyon
Frank at the Gabriel Tackle Co. in Brick said there are stripers and bluefish over by the Mantoloking Bridge and in the Manasquan River.
He’s been getting good reports on big stripers caught on the troll in the ocean with Mojos and spoons. He also mentioned that the white perch bite has been good on bloodworms in the back of the Manasquan River.
Hunter at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said bigger bluefish have joined the stripers in Barnegat Bay. There are fluke by the bridges, he added, and they’ve been hitting spearing and bucktails.
Phil at Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights said there’s good fishing by the Mantoloking Bridge for fluke and bluefish. He also reported a 28-inch fluke caught near Good Luck Point. He hasn’t heard of any blue claws showing up in the bay as yet.
The shop is now open for curbside business.
Bob Hyrszko at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said the surf continues to give up stripers and there have been some keepers among the shorts. Bob said more fish are being taken on bucktails lately while clams continue to catch fish as well.
There are also bluefish and blowfish in the surf.
Finally, John Bushell at Betty and Nick’s in Seaside Park said the fishing has been good in the bay and on the beach for fluke, blues and bass.
The stripers ranged from shorts up to 34 inches.
Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey
The sea bass fishing is red hot right now. Party and charter boats have limited space due to restrictions so call ahead for reservations.
The surf bite is definitely improving with blues, stripers, kingfish and even a few fluke. The forecast looks favorable so it’s a good weekend to head to the beach with clams, worms or bunker chunks. Bring some shads and metal for the bass and blues.
Stay safe.
I can’t believe how people catching bass 40+ pounds complain they can’t catch one small enough to “put in the box” like they’re going to starve.
I agree, we should classify them as gamefish and release them all.