Destroyer
God
March 15, 2012 Jimmy Fee
Forecast: New Jersey
Once again brought to you by On the Water Fishing Magazine www.onthewater.com Please support them and their sponsors if you can.
Bottom fishing options are limited with tog and black sea bass currently closed, but some incidental, out-of-season catches are giving anglers hope for a productive season with winter flounder – which opens on March 23. Striper fishermen dunking clams and worms have been treated to a few winter flounder catches already, though the fish have to be released. Rich at Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Point Pleasant said he believes the warm bay temperatures could mean that the blackbacks have already spawned and are headed for the inlets and ocean.
Normally the flounder season (and some of the flounder themselves) gets cut short when the bluefish invade the bays and rivers, but the blues may not get the chance this year. Ernie at Giglio’s in Sea Bright said the Raritan River has been one of the locations where the winter flounder have been stealing baits meant for stripers. When the season opens next week, the action could be hot and heavy, but short-lived, so if you want to catch some blackbacks, get out there as soon as you are legally able.
Backwater striper fishing is excellent all over the state. Curt at Absecon Bay Sportsman said the rivers – referring to the Great Egg Harbor and the Mullica – have good numbers of small stripers, with the occasional keeper-sized fish up to 30 inches. Bloodworms and cut bait (excluding herring, which is off limits) are working. So are some lures. The white perch fishing, which was consistent all winter, is becoming a bit more sporadic as the waters warm and the perch go into spawning mode.
Barnegat Bay was another hotspot this week. The waters near Oyster Creek, the Mantoloking Bridge produced bass this week also reported Fishermen’s Supply Company in Point Pleasant. Soft plastics and small plugs have been doing the damage.
Another location anglers are finding luck with lures is the Manasquan River, where small plastics and swimmers are again tempting the school-size stripers.
If bait-dunking is more your game, clams on the outgoing tide in the Raritan Bay has been tough to beat. The fish are active and feeding heavily on this favorite bait came the report from Fisherman’s Supply Co. Also, bunker have been spotted in the Raritan according to Ernie at Giglio’s, but no word whether or not anglers are chunking the oily baitfish with success just yet.
The surf is still producing bass, and just about every shop had a similar report, adding credence to the run of small stripers from Asbury Park to Sandy Hook. These fish are taking lures more than bait, and Vision Sand Eels, Tsunami Sand Eels and Bomber plugs. Nearly all of the fish are undersized, but anglers have been catching as many as 15 or 20 fish in an outing.
Party boats are still picking away at ling according to Fisherman’s Supply Co, but cod are few and far between.
Rumor has it, bluefish have arrived on the scene on the southern end of Long Beach Island, teeth gnashing and yellow eyes glaring. Though it was only a rumor, with bay temperatures routinely rising into the low 50’s, it would not be too surprising to see the yellow-eyed demons make an early appearance.
Stripers continue to trickle into the Delaware River, where they’re joining some good-sized catfish that are currently biting well. Eric at Harry’s Adventure Outfitter in Robbinsville said 10- to 15-pound cats are taking baits fished on the bottom in the Delaware River right now. Other freshwater action with pickerel and crappie has been excellent also, with both fish binging before they spawn.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Well there are some good fishing-related events this weekend, including the Saltwater Fishing Show in Somerset, which will have a large number of saltwater-specific vendors, seminars and gear. OTW will be there giving Hogy lures gift packages to anyone who subscribes or renews their subscription to On The Water Magazine at the Show. Speaking of great deals, Harry’s Adventure Outfitters big sale is coming to a conclusion this weekend, with some great deals on Penn Reels and Kayaks. This is certainly worth stopping by to round out your winter buying in preparation for 2012 fishing.
For fishing, seems like anywhere you go is a good bet for bass. Try the back bays with small lures, the rivers with bloodworms or the Raritan Bay with clams. Or you could also check the jetties from Asbury Park north with small sand eel imitations. Reports of bass hitting clams on Island Beach State Park also came in this week, so that is an option as well.
Pickerel and crappie make for a fun duo with shiners and fathead minnows in freshwater, and largemouth bass are stirring as well.
Forecast: New Jersey
Once again brought to you by On the Water Fishing Magazine www.onthewater.com Please support them and their sponsors if you can.
Bottom fishing options are limited with tog and black sea bass currently closed, but some incidental, out-of-season catches are giving anglers hope for a productive season with winter flounder – which opens on March 23. Striper fishermen dunking clams and worms have been treated to a few winter flounder catches already, though the fish have to be released. Rich at Jersey Hooker Outfitters in Point Pleasant said he believes the warm bay temperatures could mean that the blackbacks have already spawned and are headed for the inlets and ocean.
Normally the flounder season (and some of the flounder themselves) gets cut short when the bluefish invade the bays and rivers, but the blues may not get the chance this year. Ernie at Giglio’s in Sea Bright said the Raritan River has been one of the locations where the winter flounder have been stealing baits meant for stripers. When the season opens next week, the action could be hot and heavy, but short-lived, so if you want to catch some blackbacks, get out there as soon as you are legally able.
Backwater striper fishing is excellent all over the state. Curt at Absecon Bay Sportsman said the rivers – referring to the Great Egg Harbor and the Mullica – have good numbers of small stripers, with the occasional keeper-sized fish up to 30 inches. Bloodworms and cut bait (excluding herring, which is off limits) are working. So are some lures. The white perch fishing, which was consistent all winter, is becoming a bit more sporadic as the waters warm and the perch go into spawning mode.
Barnegat Bay was another hotspot this week. The waters near Oyster Creek, the Mantoloking Bridge produced bass this week also reported Fishermen’s Supply Company in Point Pleasant. Soft plastics and small plugs have been doing the damage.
Another location anglers are finding luck with lures is the Manasquan River, where small plastics and swimmers are again tempting the school-size stripers.
If bait-dunking is more your game, clams on the outgoing tide in the Raritan Bay has been tough to beat. The fish are active and feeding heavily on this favorite bait came the report from Fisherman’s Supply Co. Also, bunker have been spotted in the Raritan according to Ernie at Giglio’s, but no word whether or not anglers are chunking the oily baitfish with success just yet.
The surf is still producing bass, and just about every shop had a similar report, adding credence to the run of small stripers from Asbury Park to Sandy Hook. These fish are taking lures more than bait, and Vision Sand Eels, Tsunami Sand Eels and Bomber plugs. Nearly all of the fish are undersized, but anglers have been catching as many as 15 or 20 fish in an outing.
Party boats are still picking away at ling according to Fisherman’s Supply Co, but cod are few and far between.
Rumor has it, bluefish have arrived on the scene on the southern end of Long Beach Island, teeth gnashing and yellow eyes glaring. Though it was only a rumor, with bay temperatures routinely rising into the low 50’s, it would not be too surprising to see the yellow-eyed demons make an early appearance.
Stripers continue to trickle into the Delaware River, where they’re joining some good-sized catfish that are currently biting well. Eric at Harry’s Adventure Outfitter in Robbinsville said 10- to 15-pound cats are taking baits fished on the bottom in the Delaware River right now. Other freshwater action with pickerel and crappie has been excellent also, with both fish binging before they spawn.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Well there are some good fishing-related events this weekend, including the Saltwater Fishing Show in Somerset, which will have a large number of saltwater-specific vendors, seminars and gear. OTW will be there giving Hogy lures gift packages to anyone who subscribes or renews their subscription to On The Water Magazine at the Show. Speaking of great deals, Harry’s Adventure Outfitters big sale is coming to a conclusion this weekend, with some great deals on Penn Reels and Kayaks. This is certainly worth stopping by to round out your winter buying in preparation for 2012 fishing.
For fishing, seems like anywhere you go is a good bet for bass. Try the back bays with small lures, the rivers with bloodworms or the Raritan Bay with clams. Or you could also check the jetties from Asbury Park north with small sand eel imitations. Reports of bass hitting clams on Island Beach State Park also came in this week, so that is an option as well.
Pickerel and crappie make for a fun duo with shiners and fathead minnows in freshwater, and largemouth bass are stirring as well.