Destroyer
God
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April 7, 2011
By Jimmy Fee:
Some big bass are beginning to nose into New Jersey waters. Pictures of a 26-pound striper were posted on the OTW Facebook page this week, and another angler caught and released a 40-plus pounder in the Delaware River, which has seen an influx of spawning stripers over the past few days. Winter flounder fishing has varied with the weather. Sunny days have produced incredible fishing action over shallow, mud-bottom flats. Blackfish action is steadily improving as well.
At the Fisherman’s Supply Co in Point Pleasant, Ronnie reported fantastic flounder fishing with anglers easily filling their 2-fish limit with 12- to 16-inch blackbacks. Barnegat Bay and Shark River have been productive flounder spots lately.
Stripers are being caught around the Seaside Bridge with soft plastics outfishing bait lately. Ron said the best baits have been small Fin-S Fish, RonZs and Al Gags Whiptails. One lucky angler even caught a nice-sized weakfish on a pink RonZ. These fish have been almost as rare as unicorns the past few seasons, but there are still a few caught. If you are fortunate enough to hook a tiderunner this spring, I strongly encourage you to let it go to spawn.
Cod fishing is drying up a bit, but Ronnie said the reports vary day to day, and some outings are still producing a great catch of codfish.
On Long Beach Island, the Fisherman’s Headquarters crew echoed the great flounder reports, and added that blackfishing is picking up. A few monster blackfish were taken on a recent trip aboard the Mary M out of Barnegat Light. One angler reported that about half of the 20 blackfish that were caught 20 to 30 miles off Barnegat Inlet were over the 8-pound mark.
The first short stripers are showed up in the surf in Brigantine on Wednesday according to a report from Andy at RipTide Bait and Tackle. Clams are doing to damage. Behind Ocean City small soft plastics are the baits of choice, but if you can get some herring, live-lining these silver bullets could help you tie into an early-season cow.
The Delaware Bay has some good striper action on clams, and many big stripers are working up to the river to spawn. Blackfish are being caught at reef sites off Cape May and Delaware and even in the Bay itself. Stock up on green crabs if you plan on getting after these buck-toothed brawlers over the weekend.
And who could forget about Opening Trout Day taking place this weekend. Streams, lakes and ponds across the state have been loaded up with rainbows and browns, and even some brookies and palominos, and starting Saturday at 8:00 a.m., anglers will be able to take a crack at these coldwater warriors. Stock up on salmon eggs, PowerBait, spinners, spoons and salted minnows and hit your favorite creek with family or friends. Opening day is a great tradition, one that I enjoyed with my old man since I was old enough to hold a fishing rod.
Best Bets for the Weekend
After the obligatory trout fishing, I recommend stocking up on sandworms and mussels and taking advantage of what Ronnie at Fisherman’s Supply is calling the best winter flounder fishing in years. If you are in the southern part of the state and winter flounder are less of an option, give blackfish a shot at some of the nearshore wrecks or in the Delaware Bay. Dunk clams for stripers along the beachfront and try casting soft plastics for them around lighted bridges in back bay waters.
