New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Southern New Jersey Fishing Reports

Dockside Cafe and Marina reported that perch action has picked up in the last few weeks with the warmer daytime temperatures. Much of the action has been in the Mullica River where anglers are also coming across lots of short stripers. All the action has been on bloodworms so far this season.

No fooling, Mike with Tuckerton Bait and Tackle has set April Fools Day, April 1, as the first day of business for the 2025 season. So far we have heard that the early season spots like the mouth of the Tuckerton and Mullica Rivers producing stripers from 15 to 33 inches on bloodworms.

Early season anglers who are already in the water are finding good striper action according to Justin with Allen’s Dock. Many of the fish are on the short side of the tape, but there is lots of action to be had as we have heard of some other anglers picking up as many as a dozen fish to 22 inches further up the Mullica River. Perch fishing is also making a strong comeback after a frigid winter had the fish hibernating.

Violet and Mary Ann have a little contest going on at Chestnut Neck Boatyard this spring. They are offering gift cards for the first keeper striper weighed in and also for the first jumbo perch over 1-1/4 pound. The keeper stripers have been alluding anglers for the last few weeks, but there are plenty of short fish in the river. Perch action has also been good with some very large perch just over the 1-pound mark, but none quite large enough to take home the gift card. The ladies have all the striper and perch gear you need and they are fully stocked with bloodworms. The Boatyard is back to extended spring hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily, and this year, they have 20 brand new jet ski docks for rent.

Wind has been blowing hard lately, but according to Capt. Dave at Absecon Bay Sportsman Center, if it keeps up westerly, that should fill the bays and rivers with bait and stripers. Graveling Point and Lakes Bay are already seeing some decent striper action on bloodworms. Anglers are seeing cormorants finding bait fish from the inlets all the way up and into Absecon Creek. As the water warms, Capt. Dave will be looking around for a supply of green crabs as the tog begin to chew.

The Riptide Bait and Tackle Spring Fishing Derby is underway with categories for stripers, blues, drum and tog. This is in addition to the $50 gift card up for grabs for the first legal size striper caught from the Brigantine Surf. Thus far, anglers have been finding short fish in the back bays and along the Mullica on bloodworms.

Before moving the boat back to Atlantic City, the crew of Jersey Nutz Sportfishing Charters will be fishing out of Keyport to get in on the early April striper bite on the Raritan Bay. After that, or concurrently as the case may be, the crew will have at least one boat sailing to the canyons for tilefish.

The Great Egg River has been the striper hotspot so far this season according to Noel with One Stop Bait and Tackle. Many of these fish are short or just barely in the keeper size range, but that should change any day now as the big ocean-run fish start moving in. The March bite has been exclusively on bloodworms and the range of these fish has been from Jeffreys Landing all the way to the bulkhead in Mays Landing. Off the beach, there are signs that the bunker pods and other baitfish have arrived as there are gannets diving regularly each morning. As the water warms, the tog will start to turn on just in time for that season’s opening and Noel will certainly be well stocked with tog gear and green crabs.

Not many reports out of Scott’s Dock so far this season, but with the warming weather, all that should change. Stripers typically get a jump on all the small baitfish that begin to funnel into the back bays of Margate this time of year. This month will also start the first full season for the Captain Robin, a 40-foot pontoon boat making daily open boat back bay trips.

Matthews Run to Old River Road was producing both white perch and stripers according to reports from customers at Waterfront Marine. Bloodworms were the top bait, but for large perch, live grass shrimp worked very well. Anglers told us they had about a dozen good eating size perch per trip. Stripers were pretty much a bycatch for these anglers as they were using small perch hooks. The stripers ranged in size from 16 to 25 inches and were caught from the same holes and cuts along the banks as the perch were.

Justin at Fin-Atics reports that perch and stripers are being caught not only in the Great Egg Harbor River, but also along many of its tributaries like the Middle River. Bloodworms have been the top bait as they will not only catch the stripers, but you also have a chance at some very large perch that are currently getting ready to spawn in these areas. The shop has plenty of bloodworms, as well as all the striper and perch setups you could ask for.

Mighty Heron Charters is back in the water as of April 1st and Captain Mike is ready for tog. The spring tog fishery can be spectacular, especially early in the season when there isn’t much pressure on the wrecks and reefs. Charters are available and Captain Mike will also be offering some open boat dates this season.

The white perch action is picking up again after a short stall in March due to the weather according to reports out of Bait N’ Hook. With anglers fishing the Great Egg and Mullica Rivers, there has been a mix of perch and short stripers being caught on bloodworms. Reports from the Delaware River have been scarce, but we know that the big spawning stock of fish are either already there and just not eating yet, or they are on their way.

The few boats in the water so far report that the back bay striper action has been pretty good according to Pier 47 Marina. The fish are along the bridge pilings and are being caught during the daylight hours on quarter-ounce leadheads tipped with 3- to 4-inch soft plastics. Colors in the yellow, green and chartreuse range are a popular choice for this early in the season. A super slow presentation is also needed as the fish are not always willing to expend much energy in the middle of March to chase a bait; that all changes as of April of course!

We have heard of some small stripers being caught from the back bays of the Wildwoods on small soft plastics in the 3 inch size range. These are resident fish in the 14- to 20-inch size range and are keeping anglers busy after a long cold winter. Nick at Hands Too Bait and Tackle is stocking up on bloodworms because the big fish should be making their way into the Delaware Bay and River very soon.