New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Central New Jersey Fishing Reports

"Excellent fishing today," the crew of the Big Jamaica reported on Saturday, saying everyone easily caught their limit again on Saturday's special offshore wreck trip, that also produced good numbers of porgies, and some bluefish. If you were wondering where the inshore bluefish have gotten too, perhaps that's the answer. "Fishing has been excellent on all of our mid-shore and offshore trips so far this season," the crew reported, telling us the next special trips are Tuesday morning this week, Tuesday night and again Thursday night. Inshore, the Big Jamaica is targeting striped bass Thursday morning. "There has been a large body of striped bass close to the inlet, the weather and fishing is looking excellent for Thursday," they reported, saying they'll also run striper trips on Thanksgiving Day, and Black Friday.

Capt. Joe said the Jamaica II kicked off the week Monday with excellent action on the sea bass grounds, where porgies also helped fill the coolers. Tuesday brought plenty of promising fish readings throughout the grounds, but the bite wasn't quite as aggressive as it had been the previous day. Despite the slower action, anglers still managed to put a few limits together. Wednesday turned things around with another productive day, featuring plenty of limits and some quality sea bass mixed into the catches. Thursday's action slowed to a steady pick, but anglers continued to put together respectable catches and bring home plenty of fish.

Matt at the Reel Seat reported solid striper action both north and south of the inlet, with anglers finding success tossing bunker and working glide baits. Blackfish are also keeping rods bent, with good action reported throughout the canal and inlet. Meanwhile, bluefin tuna are making their presence known surprisingly close to shore, offering offshore anglers an exciting opportunity.

The crew at Fishermen’s Supply reported that striped bass are stealing the spotlight this week, with bunker proving to be the bait of choice. Anglers are finding productive action from Seaside Park northward, extending beyond the inlet, as stripers continue to feed throughout the area. Blackfish are also biting exceptionally well in both the canal and inlet, with green crabs producing plenty of action for anglers.

Capt. Bob on the Gambler kicked off the striper season in spectacular fashion! Their first trip delivered nonstop action throughout the day, with anglers hooking into some absolute jumbo bass. Live bunker proved to be the top producer, enticing some impressive fish, and the crew has circle-hook rigs available for anglers looking to get in on the action. A few stripers also fell for lead heads paired with 6-inch shad bodies, giving anglers another effective option for targeting these hard-fighting fish.

Cody at Jersey Nutz Sportfishing said Monday's trip was nothing short of a massacre! As Cody put it, “Man, it's amazing what can happen when boat traffic isn't insane.” The crew picked up a couple of fish before sunrise, but with the bait scattered, they decided to make a move rather than sit back and wait for things to develop. The decision paid off in a big way, as they found an incredible concentration of fish and enjoyed an hour of lights-out, lock-and-load action, with multiple hookups at a time. Once the initial madness settled, anglers continued picking away at a fish or two each drift before the pod eventually scattered. The crew spent the remainder of the day hopping from one small pod to another, getting a shot or two before increased boat traffic pushed them to move along. All in all, it was a fantastic start to the striped bass season!

Capt. Alan of Mushin Sportfishing reported an outstanding day on the water last Tuesday, with anglers finding bruiser-sized striped bass throughout the trip. Capt. Jay and mate Jon welcomed longtime clients and friends John F. and his family and friends aboard for an unforgettable day of striper fishing. Livelining bunker around schools of bait proved to be the winning ticket, with big bass aggressively crashing the surface as they fed. Once the live bait action settled down, the crew switched gears and found a productive trolling bite to round out an already phenomenal day.

Capt. Tom said the Norma K III kicked off the week with a bang, finding striped bass early and enjoying some phenomenal action on bunker. At one point, nearly every net was going over the rail with fish waiting, and anglers experienced nonstop bites during an all-out blitz that erupted one day this week. Bunker, flutter spoons, and shads have all been producing well. The action tapered off toward the end of the week as both bass and bait became harder to locate. The crew stayed on the hunt and eventually found several promising pods of fish, but strengthening south winds brought the bite to a halt. Saturday was a slower outing, with anglers managing to land a couple of fish while losing a few others. As the day wound down, however, bunker began stacking up along the beach, offering a promising sign of more action to come.

Capt. Anthony of Sligo Sportfishing reported that the local striped bass bite is officially on fire! Bunker is accounting for the majority of the action, although some quality fish are also falling for the troll. The crew is averaging double-digit catches on every trip, making for some exceptional fishing right now. Their calendar is nearly booked solid for the remainder of the season, so anglers hoping to get in on the action should move quickly. If landing one of the biggest bass of the year is on your bucket list, the crew strongly recommends booking within the next two weeks before the remaining dates disappear!

Capt. John Zema at Yankee Rose Fishing reported an unforgettable day on the water with Justin Candelaro and his two sons. Jake landed his first striped bass aboard the boat two years ago, and this trip was his younger brother Jax's turn to make a memory of his own when a 44-inch striper hit the deck! The crew also enjoyed one of their best outings of the week, chasing fast-moving schools of bass along the beach. It was a mad dash to get ahead of the fish, with each stop producing two to four big bass before the crew battled them to the boat, landed their catches, and raced off to intercept the next school. Every stop brought another round of chaos and excitement. The action slowed around midweek despite returning to the same productive area. Saturday was a slower pick, although anglers still managed to put a quality 45-inch bass on the deck. Sunday brought a welcome improvement, with the bite picking up once again.

Frank at Gabriel Tackle reported that the striped bass bite continues to fire on all cylinders, with catches coming in from just outside Manasquan Inlet south to IBSP. Trolling, jigging, and legal snag-and-drop techniques have all been producing fish, giving anglers plenty of ways to get in on the action. The surf bite has also kicked into high gear, with solid catches reported from Manasquan down through Seaside Park. Bunker is abundant throughout the area, and all signs point to the fall striper run being officially underway! Meanwhile, local wrecks and reefs are giving bottom fishermen plenty to smile about, with quality-sized blackfish and sea bass making their way over the rails. The Point Pleasant Canal is also producing, with both blackfish and stripers keeping anglers busy. Live eels have been the go-to offering for stripers, while shrimp, green crabs, and sand fleas are all finding favor with hungry blackfish.

Amanda at Jersey Hooker Outfitters reported that blackfish action remains steady in the Point Pleasant Canal, with some fish also being caught in the inlet. Stripers are showing up in the canal after dark, giving night anglers a shot at some action. Along the beachfront, from Point Pleasant down to IBSP, anglers are finding striped bass both in and just off the surf. Sea bass fishing is also holding up, with anglers continuing to put fish in the coolers.

Pete at Charlie’s Bait & Tackle said the past week delivered some excellent surf fishing, with plenty of big bass cruising the beaches and crushing a variety of plugs. Bunker, jointed baits, and other offerings all produced well. Friday’s rain put a damper on the action, but anglers managed to pick away at stripers throughout the weekend, although the larger fish were noticeably less abundant. It appears the bunker weren't making their way over the bar, despite plenty of baitfish holding offshore. Reports of larger bass continue to come in from farther north near Sandy Hook, keeping hopes high for a stronger bite in the coming week. The canal is also holding some stripers, with live eels and fresh bunker producing fish. Right now, it's one of the best bets for anglers looking to put a keeper in the cooler. The shop is also gearing up for its annual Surf Turkey Tournament!

The crew at The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights reported that the striper action has slowed somewhat, although plenty of bunker continues to push through the surf. A few anglers are still finding success by live-lining bunker, picking off bass feeding along the beachfront. With baitfish abundant, there is still plenty of potential for the bite to fire back up!

The crew at Grumpys Bait & Tackle reported that striped bass action remained productive throughout the week, with anglers finding fish despite some challenging weather. Liz Ribas kicked things off Monday morning by locating the bass and landing a nice boat fish. Popek found success from the surf, connecting with a quality slot-sized bass on a metal-lip plug, while Jen put a solid big bass on the beach midweek. One angler enjoyed an especially productive outing, landing six stripers on glide baits and pencils before releasing them all. David also put in the time from the surf and was rewarded with several quality bass. The action continued even through the less-than-ideal weather, with Wes toughing it out and landing a jumbo striper that he safely released. Bunker chunks have been proving to be a reliable offering, keeping anglers connected with some impressive fish!

Bob at Better Bait and Ice reported good blackfish action around Barnegat Lighthouse, the surrounding rocks, and throughout the lagoons, where anglers are finding fish in several productive areas. Porgies are also making an appearance near the Point Pleasant Canal. Striped bass are showing up around the bridges, with juvenile fish being caught near the Point Pleasant Bridge and around the Seaside Bridge at dusk. For anglers looking to tangle with some larger bass, Ortley is offering better opportunities, with bigger fish making their presence known along the beachfront.

Beck at Hook House Bait & Tackle reported blackfish action in both the canal and inlet. Striped bass are also cruising the beachfront, with some schools of bunker holding bass underneath. However, not every bait pod is producing, so anglers may need to do some searching to locate the schools with hungry stripers in pursuit.

Capt. Ray Lopez of Miss Liane Charters reported that striped bass fishing has been exceptionally productive, with a red-hot bite keeping rods bending and anglers busy. The crew continues to find plenty of action and is still accepting reservations for the season. Anglers looking to get in on the hot striper bite are encouraged to give the captain a call and book a trip!

Capt. Joe Rizzo of Barnegat Bay Fishing Charters was talking to The Fisherman’s editor Jim Hutchinson at last Thursday’s New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council meeting in Stafford Township, and from Jim said Capt. Joe is finding a few stripers for clients along the quiet, outback waters in Barnegat Bay, mostly on the drift.

Tom P at Creekside Outfitters reported that striped bass have arrived in force, with fish aggressively taking a variety of offerings, including glide baits, flutter spoons, diamond jigs, poppers, live eels, and live spot. Larger-class stripers are now pushing into local waters right out front, giving anglers an excellent opportunity to tangle with some quality fish. The shop also shared an impressive catch from Sloane Hall, who weighed in an 8.91-pound striped bass caught in Barnegat Inlet on Creekside live spot. With the bite heating up and bigger fish moving into the area, anglers are encouraged to get out there and take advantage of the action while it's hot!

Capt. Sam Rescigno of the Mary M IV reported a mixed weekend of striped bass fishing. Friday's trip produced several oversized bass weighing between 35 and 45 pounds, giving anglers some impressive fish to battle. The crew also got an unexpected thrill when a thresher shark made an appearance, adding some extra excitement to the day. Saturday brought plenty of bunker throughout the area, but unfortunately, the striped bass never showed up to join the party.

Capt. Lenny of Miss Barnegat Light reported a slower-than-expected striper trip this past Saturday, with very little action despite an abundance of bunker throughout the area. The crew worked the coastline north to at least Belmar but came up empty-handed, as the bass simply weren't cooperating. While the striped bass bite was disappointing, there was no shortage of wildlife, with plenty of whale activity spotted along the way.

Capt. Ted of the Super Chic announced that striped bass trips will get underway Wednesday, with several dates still available for anglers looking to get in on the fall run. Those interested in booking a trip are encouraged to give the captain a call and secure a spot while openings remain!

Greg at Fisherman’s Headquarters reported plenty of bunker stretching along the LBI and IBSP beachfront, with some quality-sized striped bass being caught in the surf. November is historically one of the prime months for targeting striped bass, and so far, this season is living up to that reputation. Bass are also showing throughout the backwaters and inlet, giving anglers additional opportunities to connect with fish. With bait abundant and good-sized stripers on the move, the fall run continues to deliver exciting fishing!

Steve at Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven reported that the fall striped bass run has officially arrived on Long Beach Island, with quality-sized bass being landed up and down the entire island! Two local anglers and friends, Harry and Randy, shared impressive catches measuring 46 and 51 inches, respectively. Both trophy stripers were caught in Beach Haven on bunker chunks and safely released after battling through plenty of pesky dogfish. Augie also celebrated a memorable milestone, landing his first-ever striped bass, an impressive fish weighing approximately 37 pounds, on bunker. With trophy-sized bass showing up throughout LBI, the fall run is delivering some outstanding fishing!

Fred at Surf City Bait and Tackle reported excellent action on multiple fronts, with striped bass, bluefish, and tautog all providing hot fishing. Anglers have plenty of opportunities to bend a rod, making this a great time to get out on the water or hit the beach. The shop is stocked with fresh bunker and live sand fleas to help anglers take advantage of the productive bite.