The short mild winter gave us early buds and blooms. The dogwoods and forsythia show the tell tale signs that the spring fishing season is upon us! Here’s the LBI Fishing Report for Sunday March 15th.
BUT First A Huge THANKS to everyone who came out to the Saltwater Soiree! It was an awesome time. All of the feedback received so far is positive. While it was our first, we are already planning on another.

Barnegat Bay Fishing Report
Every spring the backwaters start first. The rivers, shallow mud flats and especially lighted areas (docks and bridges).
The past few nights were lights out fishing for a lot of the Fish Heads crew. Seems like their MVP is Kettle Creek Shads rigged on a lead head. If you aren’t sure where to go, stop in and get talking with the boyz. Here’s a recent photo sent in from local angler Jared Grady.

Simon and friend stopped in for some live bloods on Saturday morning. A few hours later they reported back, “Great action early in the day with small bass fishing worms.” Long time Fish Head regular Jamie Gramley was out on Saturday and shared, “Not a bad day fishing Barnegat Bay. I caught a couple bass up to 25″ today.”
Gary Adiar enjoyed his Saturday morning fishing a popular early season sod bank. He said the fishing was good, “Little man laid the wood to ’em and caught over 20 bass up to 25 inches.”
John Bellingeri stopped in on Saturday to check out the Saltwater Soiree. While enjoying the event he picked up some Kettle Creek Shads and then put them to use on the bayside. He tagged us in a photo and said, “It’s on! Don’t read the reports. Be the reports!

Winter flounder reports were few and far between until this weekend.
Kyle Majka reported, “We managed a two man limit today in three hours. Biggest flounder was 1.62#. Start chumming and keep chumming.” Another winter flounder report came in from Dave Moores. He been putting in the time and catching them in Northern Barnegat Bay. Dave reported on his Facebook page, “Get out and fish! Catch some flounder and then enjoy a great dinner.” Dave is also releasing bass on light tackle.
*Winter Flounder NJ Recreation Fishing Regulations Are Two Fish Bag Limit At 12 inch Minimum Size

LBI Surf Fishing
St. Patricks Day is the holiday which, for the Jersey Shore, marks a time when surf anglers opportinues start. Usually catching a bass off the surf before St.Patty’s Day requires a legit ton of luck. Even though this year is ahead of schedule we have yet to learn of a surf side striped bass on the beach of LBI.
We expect it’s any day. Why? The waters have already began their creep up from the winter’s low and there’s lots of life. A quick look will show abundance of sea ducks and lots of gannets. For some Saturday mid island LBI gannet diving video check out our instagram story, sent in by John Bellingeri. Both herring and bunker are present in the LBI surf.
Tog Fishing
Captain Mike Kelly aboard the “On Point” is still down in Ocean City, MD catching tog. He reported a slow yet steady grind on Saturday. He said the crew worked hard for them and managed 19 keepers up to 6 pounds.
NJ’s Tog Season Is Quickly Approaching. It Opens April 1st with a Four Fish Bag Limit at a 15″ Minimum Size.