New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Central 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.
Well, since another highly successful Saltwater Fishing Expo has wrapped up, and spring officially sprung on Tuesday the 19th, I can say with all honesty and frankness that the winter show season is over. What that means for me is a return to the local rivers this week to try my hand at plugging up a striper or two. Look to score on either side of the bay at this point, as well as inside the inlets and salty rivers with small plastics like Kettle Creeks or NLBNs, though Ill let you know if that new Tsunami iPop popper (4-inch model) that we gave away for the winter shows is enticing any topwater takers; Ive been anxious to see that pop pop pop and splash that I left behind in the fall of 23.
The 125 Jamaica is pressing east this Friday night at 11 p.m. (March 22) in search of tilefish. Additional tilefish trips are slated for April 13 and 30, as well as May 4 and 11....
The 125 Jamaica is pressing east this Friday night at 11 p.m. (March 22) in search of tilefish. Additional tilefish trips are slated for April 13 and 30, as well as May 4 and 11.
Today was slower than yesterday, but we caught a few cod and a handful of ling, was the Sunday report from the crew of The Paramount, while also noting they were looking forward to trying some new s...
Today was slower than yesterday, but we caught a few cod and a handful of ling, was the Sunday report from the crew of The Paramount, while also noting they were looking forward to trying some new spots on Wednesday. Well be sailing Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 to 3:30 for the month of March, they added.
Honestly, it sounds like the bass bite here in the bay here is gaining momentum, said Jason at Fishermens Supply on Monday morning. And while the action locally in the upper stretches of Barneg...
Honestly, it sounds like the bass bite here in the bay here is gaining momentum, said Jason at Fishermens Supply on Monday morning. And while the action locally in the upper stretches of Barnegat Bay out to the Manasquan River isnt on fire yet, Jason said local anglers are hitting the regular spots with 4-inch pearl shad bodies and small, shallow-running plugs and have been getting some fish. Mostly unders with a few keepers in the mix he said. It sounds like that Raritan Bay bite has finally kicked off too, with fish up to 35 inches, Jason noted on that striper run. Surprisingly, a few decent tautog bycatches have been reported from shore by guys on the hunt for winter flounder, so that April 1 blackfish reopening could be good for casters as well as boaters.
Frank at Gabriel Tackle had an 18-inch winter flounder weighed in at the shop last Wednesday, the first reported blackback weve seen for the 2024 season. On Monday morning the day of the big sem...
Frank at Gabriel Tackle had an 18-inch winter flounder weighed in at the shop last Wednesday, the first reported blackback weve seen for the 2024 season. On Monday morning the day of the big seminar in the shop with Chuck Many Frank reported on stripers being landed on bloodworms and small swim shads like Kettle Creeks and 3-inch NLBNs. Barnegat Bay has been producing some nice stripers between the bridges, find yourself a good spot in send some worms out, Frank said, noting how thoe winter flounder reports are now trickling in from both the bridge and canal areas. Also reports of white perch up to 14 inches being landed in the bay, he added.
I spoke with Pete at Charlies Bait & Tackle on Monday morning who called the striper action sporadic thus far. There are more reports of bass in different locations in the bay, Pete said, n...
I spoke with Pete at Charlies Bait & Tackle on Monday morning who called the striper action sporadic thus far. There are more reports of bass in different locations in the bay, Pete said, noting that one customer with green lights on the water behind his house sees plenty of stripers in there at night; by day, a few bloodworms caught a fish or two from the same location. Pete said anglers should keep in mind that when we have a stretch of rain the bass in Toms River will push out into the bay, returning once that freshwater has run through. First reports of winter flounder at the south end of the Point Pleasant Canal, with blackfish showing up in there as well, Pete said, while out front along the beach he says gannets are diving on bait, but no one has reported any bass landed there in the surf.
They're getting a good amount of bass, and they're getting them on our side of the bay which is early for this time of year," said John from Betty & Nicks reporting in his first video report of the ...
They're getting a good amount of bass, and they're getting them on our side of the bay which is early for this time of year," said John from Betty & Nicks reporting in his first video report of the season on Monday morning. Usually you get them way up the river, Long Point, and there still may be some fish there, but were really starting to get them good on our side, on the east side of the bay, he added. Folks are starting to hit the front beaches on nicer days, and hes expected 20 dozen fresh, lively bloodworms in the shop on Wednesday.
They had fish this weekend, said Scotty at Grumpys Bait & Tackle, adding there are still fish in the rivers but theyre pushing into the bays now as well. Scott said the guys up north are st...
They had fish this weekend, said Scotty at Grumpys Bait & Tackle, adding there are still fish in the rivers but theyre pushing into the bays now as well. Scott said the guys up north are starting to plug fish up north on the Raritan, while Kettle Creeks and XRaps are working locally near the shop. Kayakers are having better luck that surfcasters at this point; which as a reminder, Scott said the Tupperware Swap Meet for kayak anglers will be held at Great Bay Outfitters in Tuckerton on Saturday starting at 10 a.m.
Mario at Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said there were striped bass in the Toms River, and a few white perch after dark. A couple different locations along the Toms have been producing those...
Mario at Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said there were striped bass in the Toms River, and a few white perch after dark. A couple different locations along the Toms have been producing those striper reports, with bloods getting the number slot, followed by smaller plastics and plugs.
I caught Liza from Creekside Outfitters walking around the Saltwater Fishing Expo over the weekend, and she reminded me that the shop will be open seven days a week in April. The shop has bloodworms ...
I caught Liza from Creekside Outfitters walking around the Saltwater Fishing Expo over the weekend, and she reminded me that the shop will be open seven days a week in April. The shop has bloodworms and sandworms in stock for saltwater anglers on the hunt for stripers and white perch, nightcrawlers for freshwater.
Weve had waves of northern gannets migrating through the area, reported Greg from Fishermans Headquarters last week, with video and photos shared by the shop of the birds just off the beach an...
Weve had waves of northern gannets migrating through the area, reported Greg from Fishermans Headquarters last week, with video and photos shared by the shop of the birds just off the beach and crashing on bait. It is our assumption that they are feeding on herring, bunker and/ sand eels, possibly a mix of the three, he said. While we were working together at the Saltwater Fishing Expo over the weekend, I showed Greg a photo the black drum reported out of Atlantic City on Saturday. I told you, he said to one of the fellow staffers in the FishHeads booth, adding you said you saw gnats, and gnats mean drum! FishHeads has bloodworm deliveries on a regular basis at this point, but perhaps its time to starting looking around for fresh clams too!
Last weekend in March well open, said Steve said at Jingles Bait and Tackle, adding that the Miss Beach Haven will go in the water right around April 1 as well. Well start running trips in ...
Last weekend in March well open, said Steve said at Jingles Bait and Tackle, adding that the Miss Beach Haven will go in the water right around April 1 as well. Well start running trips in April, he added.
Yesterday fishing for striped bass in the bays was reported as pretty good in the morning then slower later, said Tommy and crew from Surf City Bait and Tackle on Monday morning. A number of an...
Yesterday fishing for striped bass in the bays was reported as pretty good in the morning then slower later, said Tommy and crew from Surf City Bait and Tackle on Monday morning. A number of anglers were going out last night at sunset to fish the change of the tide while it was starting to ebb - but have not heard from anyone yet, he said. One angler reported a small black drum of about 22 inches, the second black drum of the year reported thus far at the Jersey Shore.