So far April has offered great fishing both locally in the Ocean County, Long Beach Island area as well as else where around the state. Early season spots are firing on all cylinders and other areas are picking up. Here’s the fishing report update for Monday April 11, 2022.

The two primary species right now are striped bass and tautog. Some other to target and catch are white perch, black drum, bluefish, winter flounder and trout.

Striped bass on the feed.

After the cold winter, striped bass are on the feed. As the waters warm the action is only getting better. Anglers are and have been catching consistently for a number of weeks here in bay’s of Long Beach Island. Both day and night are offering a bite with anglers fishing both lures and bait.

On the bait side of things bloodworms are hands down the best spring time bait for linesiders. Clam is also an options and especially a good choice if looking to find a black drum. More on that below.

On the lure game, fish 3-5″ size baits locally here in the LBI area. Our top picks are Kettle Creek Paddle Tails and Tsunami molded soft baits like the Tsunami Split Tails & Tsunami Swim Shads or on the hard bait side the Yozuri Mag Minnow or Yozuri Darter and the Rapala X-Rap.

With a better class of fish arriving the Raritan Bay has been hopping. If venturing to the state’s spring striper mecca (and joining half the world’s anglers) be sure to bring some bigger presentations. Land based anglers are catching on Super Strike Darter and the 5-1/4″ Yozuri 3D Twitchbait. Boat side fishing has been great with anglers catching on Flutter Spoons, swimbaits like the Tsunami Swim Shads and No Live Bait Needed. The Nomad Vertrex has also been a standout. Remember you can’t leave home without a Doc Top Water Spook!

Black Drum & Bluefish?

Yup they are both here and should be making their presence more know this month. The cover photo of the latest video report below, is angler Mike Green with a big black drum he recently caught fishing the bayside. He was fishing a land based spot on the bayside with bloodworms hunting for striped bass. Needless to say it took him for a ride! The background was photoshopped to protect the land based area he was fishing. On the bluefish topic, we heard of “two very small larger than snapper” size bluefish caught down in Great Bay. Our fingers are crossed the gators show this spring and put on a show.

Tog is open all of April.

April a great month to catch good size fish on the wrecks and reef sites. There’s also opportunity for land based anglers to get in on the action too, fishing the state’s inlet jetties. Barnegat Light in particular can produce some nice fish but no where near the hot drop and reel action it’s known for in the fall.

Traditionally softer baits like clam and shrimp are very effective during the spring time, but never head out tog fishing without some crabs! As with other species cold water means fish are in a lethargic state; slow to move and slow to digest. Soft baits are easy for fish to digest.

If fishing the wrecks cod and ling are common catches right now bottom fishing with clam baited rigs.

White Perch

Heard one reports this past week from Dave Spendif. He reported catching a couple of small jigs in his lagoon.