New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Southern New Jersey Fishing Reports
New Jersey & Delaware Bay Video Fishing Forecast March 14, 2024
NJ Fluke Meeting Wrap Up & Spring Striper Outlook
Birds wheeling and diving off the LBI beaches kick off our weekly video fishing forecast as herring and bunker schools are more prevalent now along nearshore waters. Ocean water temps this morning, March 14, out of Atlantic City are at 45 degrees which is a great benchmark for striped bass success this weekend. Spend 6 minutes in a summary of last week’s regulatory meeting in Galloway, get a look at the Saltwater Fishing Expo specials going on this weekend, and prep with our team to begin plugging stripers heading into the first week of spring. A rundown on the March edition of The Fisherman with freshwater news from New Jersey and our report from the Pocono Outdoors Guy, we wrap up this week’s full video news update for the New Jersey, Delaware Bay region with a look at more fishing events coming up this weekend, and answers to the question "what about the commercial guys" when it comes to our recreational fluke limits.Â
Jim Hutchinson, Jr.-Southern New Jersey Highlights
March 18, 2024 - 15:00:11
While drum charters on Delaware Bay wonÂ’t really begin until late April and into the May/June timeframe, a healthy boomer was already reported out of Atlantic City last week. I checked the Atlantic City ocean water temps on Monday morning at 10:37 a.m. and found the reading at 46.4 degrees, a fine temperature for getting more bass (and hopefully drum) on the feed and close to shore. Someone over the weekend mentioned the first gnats appearing in the southern part of the state, which fits in well with the old time belief that those first pesky bugs coincide with the arrival of black drum. Keep an ear open for the sound of laughing gulls and ospreys, as spring has officially sprung at the Jersey Shore!
I spoke to Dylan from Empire Fishing and Tackle on Monday who said the weekend fishing was great! “Graveling Point was lit up with all kinds of stripers, and perch all over the bay too,” he said. ...
I spoke to Dylan from Empire Fishing and Tackle on Monday who said the weekend fishing was great! “Graveling Point was lit up with all kinds of stripers, and perch all over the bay too,” he said. “Mostly bloods, but one guy reported one on a topwater, which is early yet,” Dylan said. Bloodworms in a ball, some clams as well, but if you’re looking to give plugging a shot try those suspending lures that get down deep at least 3 feet or so, perhaps 3- to 4-inch soft plastics as well. And who knows, if one bass was reported on a topwater, there must be a few more in the mix as well!
Justin at AllenÂ’s Dock along the Bass River said striped bass are in the Mullica and the bay. “I hear Graveling Point is going pretty good right now, and boats are showing up to fish that area too,Â...
Justin at Allen’s Dock along the Bass River said striped bass are in the Mullica and the bay. “I hear Graveling Point is going pretty good right now, and boats are showing up to fish that area too,” Justin said, adding “the guys are putting in their time there are doing well.” One guy reported back to Justin about losing a fish along that stretch that felt much bigger than a normal striper, which we both thought could have possibly been an early black drum. “Perch and catfish are back in the Bass River near the marina as well,” Justin said, adding “Some good size perch in there too.”
The word from Violet and crew at Chestnut Neck Boatyard is that theyÂ’re open every day from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. as of this past Friday, March 15, and they will be stocked with bloodworms....
The word from Violet and crew at Chestnut Neck Boatyard is that theyÂ’re open every day from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. as of this past Friday, March 15, and they will be stocked with bloodworms.
Capt. Dave with Absecon Bay Sportsman Center is busy keeping fresh bait in the shop for striped bass and white perch. “Bloodworms may be the best striper bait right now and we got' em, but little min...
Capt. Dave with Absecon Bay Sportsman Center is busy keeping fresh bait in the shop for striped bass and white perch. “Bloodworms may be the best striper bait right now and we got' em, but little minnows catch the jumbo perch,” he said over the weekend. Speaking of which, Jamil Highsmith checked in with Dave on St. Patrick’s Day with a keeper striper from along the sod banks during Sunday afternoon’s high tide using bloodworms. “He also had some nice catch and release action,” Dave noted.
Andy from Riptide Bait and Tackle is back from Florida and back on the Rock for the 2024 season. “There has been bird action out front, but most of the striper action is still out back,” he said. ...
Andy from Riptide Bait and Tackle is back from Florida and back on the Rock for the 2024 season. “There has been bird action out front, but most of the striper action is still out back,” he said. “I’m glad to be back, shop is open, ready to roll, now let’s just see those ocean stripers hit the beach now,” he said.
“This is mayhem here,” said Noel from One Stop Bait and Tackle on Monday morning, adding “a lot of bass in Lakes Bay, the average person is catching two or three on bloodworms, but they’re also pl...
“This is mayhem here,” said Noel from One Stop Bait and Tackle on Monday morning, adding “a lot of bass in Lakes Bay, the average person is catching two or three on bloodworms, but they’re also plugging especially at night.” The big news out of One Stop over the weekend was a 45-pound drum weighed in by the entire De La Rosa family. Now dad David was first with a legal striper this season a few weeks prior, but his 14-year-old son Dillanez was the one that reeled in this mammoth drum over the weekend. “The whole family goes fishing, the wife and all,” said Noel. Surely things are weeks, if not a full month ahead of schedule with this particular report!
Fin-Atics is officially open for the 2024 season. Guys are catching stripers, mainly on bloodworms,” Billy said when I asked about the 9th Street Causeway. “I haven’t heard of anything outside of ...
Fin-Atics is officially open for the 2024 season. Guys are catching stripers, mainly on bloodworms,” Billy said when I asked about the 9th Street Causeway. “I haven’t heard of anything outside of the back bays just yet,” he said noting that action at Corson’s could be underway earlier than usual. “There’s still perch back in the rivers too,” he said. And yes Fin-Atics is back in the bloodworm game too for ’24!
Checking the social media accounts down along the Fortescue Beach area, the folks at HigbeeÂ’s had a lot of good reports from folks soaking bloodworms for striped bass. During many colder winters we ...
Checking the social media accounts down along the Fortescue Beach area, the folks at HigbeeÂ’s had a lot of good reports from folks soaking bloodworms for striped bass. During many colder winters we donÂ’t see that stretch really producing until the middle of the month, but things were heating up along the Fortescue Beach stretch early in March; with action heated up now, I expect weÂ’ll see those spawning class fish reported up around the Salem area and into Pennsville well before April 1.