New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Central New Jersey Fishing Reports

"Bottom fishing has improved and striped bass fishing has been slow so the Jamaica will be fishing for ling, blackfish, and cod through the end of April," said Capt. Howard towards the latter part of April from aboard the Big Jamaica. Of course, with blackfish shutting down for a spell as of April 30, hopefully those striped bass numbers will see an uptick off Manasquan. The crew is looking forward to the black sea bass opening on May 17. Meanhile there's a tilefish trip scheduled to set sail at 10 p.m. on April 30.

Capt. Joe said the Jamaica II got back out on the water Saturday for some ling and tog. The morning trip was better than the afternoon, but overall, not too shabby. They get back out there on April 27th and 28th, as long as the weather cooperates of course.

Tony at Paramount Deep Sea Fishing said they got out last Sunday and had a few dozen ling on the boat, which is a great sign for the season! They also had big keeper cod and some nice keeper blackfish with plenty of throwback action, especially on the last drop. There was plenty of life and action around the boat all day long. They got back out Wednesday and picked at some fish having better bites in the morning. Nice blackfish and ling made it over the rails. Saturday, they saw a similar pattern with a busy morning but slower afternoon.

Nick at The Reel Seat said bluefish are beginning to show up with their first run in the river, as well as some bass. Striper action in the bay is starting to heat up with folks getting them primarily on worms, but the lure bite is getting better. Blackfish action was red hot heading into the final days of the April opening. The big news on April 20th was the first bluefin of the season weighed in at 718 pounds out of Brielle.

Adam at Canyon Runner Sportfishing said several Canyon Runner Coaching Members got in on the first giant bluefin bite of the year off of New Jersey on April 20-21 with multiple bluefin up to 110 inches hooked, only within 10 to 15 miles from most central New Jersey inlets. Trolling big bally and wolfpack tails way back was the ticket. Adam said it looks like it’s going to be an early season for tuna in the NY Bight!

Jason at Fishermen’s Supply said blackfish action in the canal picked up substantially. Striper fishing in the river and bay picked up and it seems like anglers are doing better throughout the day fishing the outgoing tide. Soft plastics fished slow on the bottom are key. A few blues have been caught from the inlet to the north end of the canal. Anglers fishing Shark River reef are doing okay with blackfish, ling, and cod, but not spectacular.

Capt. Bob on the Gambler said his April 16th 12-hour Taugathon started out a bit slow, but gradually the bites got better as the day went on. The fish were taking green crabs, white crabs, and clams. Baits didn't seem to matter as much as being at the right place at the right time. The fish seemed to hold in a few areas of the wrecks. They also saw a couple cod, a small pollock, a big ling, and a huge porgy.

Capt. Alan of Mushin Sportfishing congratulated mate Jon Cavaliere who landed a nice black drum he boated from his tin boat on April 15. Scott W and friends got out the day after and had a great time, however, the fishing was not so great. By Friday, the bite picked up a bit for Dave T and friends who landed some stripers. A new body of bass definitely moved in for great action on Raritan Bay, all were overs except one. Friday afternoon, Mike B and friends crushed some more bass, all overs up to 40-inches. Saturday morning, Ismael, Julio, Bill, and Justin picked away at fish with everyone getting their limits and doing some catch and release with fish up to 39 inches.

Capt. Danny said the Norma K III got out a few times this past week and managed to reel in plenty of fish. Blackfish up to 10 pounds bent some rods and short-life action kept anglers busy at the rails. “The fishing just keeps getting better and better each day,” Capt. Danny told us, saying the important thing is to stay in a spot, be patient, and they will chew. They started posting dates for tuna trips online so make sure to reserve a spot.

Frank at Gabriel Tackle said the surf is showing life with reports of stripers being landed on clams and bucktails. It seems the black drum bite slowed down in the south end of the bay, it might be because they are spawning, or they moved further north, or did they head out already? It will be interesting to see what’s next with them. The striper bite in Barnegat Bay remains good on bloodworms, but they are finally hitting lures more consistently. The Raritan Bay bite has been a little tough, but some nice size stripers have been landed. Good reports came from the Delaware. Frank thinks the water temperatures need to rise a little higher to really kick off the run. The first reports of blues from the Manasquan had just came in from Chris Kahler when we spoke.

Pete at Charlie’s Bait & Tackle said bass are biting in the back. North of Seaside bridge there seems to be more bass than drum. Bass and blackfish are producing in the canal with a few winter flounder near the entrance on the southside. Bloodworms are working for bass and flounder while clams were doing the trick for blackfish. South of the bridge there is a slower bite. Off the beach, stripers are finally hitting artificials during the day and on clam at night. One angler throwing artificials reeled his line in to notice the tail was bit off which is a good sign for blues. It was quiet for a bit but they finally heard their first blue report caught in the Manasquan River.

John at Betty & Nick’s said anglers were killing the black drum game off the docks but it slowed the last few days. Good news is the striper action out front picked up and is getting better each day. Clams and rubber shads are the ticket.

Connor at Grumpys Bait & Tackle said the bass bite out front on clams has been excellent right around the tides. The drum bite slowed a bit in the back, while the blackfish action on boats was hit or miss heading into the final week of the spring season.

The improving beach bite out front along the local beaches has been keeping the crew at Hook House Bait & Tackle pretty busy during the second half of April, so much so that Dennis and crew are looking for part-time help (15 to 18 hours a week) over at the second shop. If interested, stop by Go Fish and see Maryann, Monday through Thursday 9-3.

Capt. Ray Lopez of Miss Liane Charters said the boat is going in the first week of May to target tilefish, sea bass, and bluefin. The bluefin tuna are already here and close to shore, and he’s taking reservations for those charters now.

Capt. Joe Rizzo of Barnegat Bay Fishing Charters said he’s been working up along the Navesink and still has not seen any signs of bunker. A few short stripers were landed over the weekend but no true action. Some bird play started so maybe bluefish are coming in. He heard of shorts along the sod banks in Barnegat.

Jorden at Creekside Outfitters said anglers are using clams to reel in some drum from the bay. Stripers continue to chew on bloodworms. A few reports came in of anglers soaking clams and landed stripers off the surf. Tog are biting good at the reefs and wrecks with some reports off the jetty.

Sounds like things are breaking open along the north end of LBI, as the folks from Bobbie's Boats said they were too busy to give a report. With the summer flounder season getting underway on May 4, look for the first catches coming from the backwaters not far from the shop, typically along the channel edges and flats.

Tom at Surf City Bait and Tackle said the windy weather slowed the fishing down early in the week, but despite that, blackfish action in the inlet didn’t slow up. Once the weather calmed it got even better with numerous limits reported. Some kingfish were caught in the bay and surf. Drum are being landed all over the bay, right on the island. Someone landed six drum right near the shop. The action has been hit or miss. Striped bass action exploded on Saturday the 20th on the island with fish caught from Barnegat Light to Holgate with anglers absolutely killing them up and down, both big and small.

Steve at Jingle’s Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven said the spring blitz for striped bass in the surf has started. Anglers have been getting them on the south end of the island. Numerous fish are of keeper size biting on both bloodworms, artificials, fresh surf clam, and salted clam. Steve is still getting reports of black drum as well. Smaller schoolie stripers continue to bend rods in the bay around the sod banks. Kingfish have been reported on bloodworms.

It is starting to look like “spring has sprung” in the Long Beach Island area, and the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are excited as the 2024 fishing season arrives. There have been some serious catches of striped bass in the local inshore waters during the second half of April, while black drum have also begun to make their presence known. The BHCFA captains are in various stages of preparation. Capt. Gary Dugan has the Irish Jig ready to go and reports he will be targeting striped bass and drum right away. Capt. John Lewis of Insatiable Sportfishing has spent the past two months delivering boats up and down the Atlantic Coast, but says he is looking forward to staying in Beach Haven and putting anglers on fish. Meanwhile Capt. Dave Wittenborn has been working feverishly readying the Benita J for action and plans a launch in early May for the heart of the striper season.

Greg at Fisherman’s Headquarters said he got his first report of a kingfish catch this season. Both Barnegat Bay and Great Bay have a ton of drum. Tog fishing out in the ocean has been really good during the second half of April. Meanwhile Raritan Bay and Delaware River are both producing great bass action.