New Jersey & Delaware Bay - New Jersey & Delaware Bay Surf Fishing Reports

Phil at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said some big bass were hanging along the Raritan Bayshore as Cliffwood Beach to the Amboys saw huge linesiders whacking metal lips, SP Minnows and Hydro minnows. Those fish seem to be stuck in the back. Out front along Sandy Hook to Sea Bright some stripers were caught on bunker chunks.

At Betty and Nicks in Seaside Park, tons of snapper blues are in the wash as are a load of houndfish. Nightshifters are finding some kingfish biting on Fishbites. Bass have been scarce lately but should show up soon.

Philly Billy at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said the surf is mainly tiny bluefish right now along with the occasional striped bass here and there.

Greg of Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said the top two species on the feed right now seem to be kingfish and blackfish. Kings are on top of bloodworm baits and FIshbites and tog are apt to crunch on green crabs at the south jetty of Barnegat Inlet. Be on the lookout for some night striper action

Kyle from Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant said stripers were being found north of the Manasquan Inlet as some fish were caught on plugs in a wave of bass that has been staying up that way. Local waters are seeing some blackfish off the jetty and inlet rocks and in the canal. Snapper blues are loading up the surfline.

Frank at Gabriel Tackle in Brick stated he heard of stripers being taken off the local beaches in Brick along with a ton of small bluefish, meaning super snapper size. Blackfishing is pretty darn good off the Manasquan Inlet rocks and inside the canal. Live eels are working to find slot caliber stripers off the river banks as well.

The crew at Grumpys Tackle in Seaside Park said the surf has loads of small bluefish up to 1.5 pounds hitting ava jigs and Hopkins metals. Kingfish and spotted hake are eating up Fishbites and bloodworms in the night surf. Some brown and sharpnose sharks are gobbling up bunker chunks during the night hours. Blackfish are being taken off the north jetty and there have been loads of houndsfish in the surf hitting metals and poppers.

At the Hook House in Toms River bloodworms have been flying out of the fridge for anglers searching for kingfish on the IBSP and Seaside Surf. Small bluefish and houndfish have been terrorizing chunk baits as well as metal lures during the morning hours. Spotted hake are biting on clams and bloods at night too in the suds.

At Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven reports were of a lot of kingfish starting to suck down bloodworms and Fishbites baits with some reaching a pound or more. Spike weakfish also showed up in the mix this week in the surf.

At Fin-Atics in Ocean City there are plenty of blackfish to hit green crabs on the Longport Pier and 9th Street Beer Pier areas. Occasional kingfish are being found on the mid-island streets.

I wasn’t able to reach the folks at Hands Too Bait and Tackle on Sunday, but our South Jersey field editor Anthony Califano did, and the word is of some good striper fishing in the back bays. “Anglers fishing the sod banks and bridges found plenty of stripers willing to take soft plastics on 3/8-ounce leadheads, including several fish in the 40- to 46-inch range, and a 48-incher,” Anthony noted, adding that he also had word of a, quote, “honest bass blitz” out at Hereford Inlet.”

Noel at One Stop Bait and Tackle in Atlantic City said blackfish really got on a chew off the AC Jetties as greenies and sand fleas are scoring big. Some stripers are being hooked on soft baits and plugs off the rocks at night time. Kingfish have also been milling around the surfline in AC hitting bloodworms.

Andy of Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine stated that the blackfish bite is going on strong at the jetty as green crabs are fantastic baits to find keeper class tog. The beach itself awaits the first keeper class striper to show up. A few kingfish are still nibbling away at bloodworms and Fishbites baits.