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LBI Fishing Report 4/19/22

The powerful coastal low pressure system, late season Nor’Easter, blew a gale on Monday and cleared out this morning leaving a breezy westerly wind and a powerful swell on the beaches of LBI today. The west wind had gannets active painting a very fishy seascape. Here’s the Long Beach Island Fishing Report for April 19, 2022.

Unfortunately we didn't score a photo of the dive bombing birds but this white water give a good visual of what the beach was like today.
Unfortunately we didn’t score a photo of the dive bombing birds but this white water give a good visual of what the beach was like today.

LBI Surf Fishing Report

Today there’s a powerful southeast swell in the water with waves in the 4-6′ range. The offshore winds have the swell groomed just right for the surfing crowds that has packed the Island’s more prominent sandbars. We have no report to share from the past 24-28 hours but we can share some updated since the last fishing report post on 4/13/22.

On Friday Rob Swift caught two striped bass off the mid-Island surf. Both were on clam.

Here's a photo. that Rob quickly took when measuring and de-hooking his catch.
Here’s a photo. that Rob quickly took when measuring and de-hooking his catch.

Another surf side report came in from Eric, “Third cast with a tin and teaser!”

We anticipate a slow pick at striped bass on the surf side for the next week or so. Possibly a showing of bluefish. Soon (May) the action will heat up!

The ocean waters continue to creep up and are currently in the mid to upper 40's. We've built a base and have not seen the temps drop below 45º in over a week.
The ocean waters continue to creep up and are currently in the mid to upper 40’s. We’ve built a base and have not seen the temps drop below 45º in over a week. From now to the end of the month we expect the next leg up to the 50º mark. Once we hit it and stay there, things will really come alive. This chart here shows the water temperature at the Barnegat Inlet. The lows are the incoming ocean water (colder) and the highs are the outgoing bay water (warmer).

Boats targeting striped bass nearshore usually start catching at the 48º mark. We will be there any day if not already. It’s game time to get out front and start pulling some spoons! 

Tautog Fishing Report

Right now there’s good tog fishing on the wrecks and reef sites as well as for land based anglers fishing at the Barnegat Light State Park. Here’s a recent catch photo from Richie at the rocks. There’s only this week and next for spring tog fishing! The season ends on April 30th and does not reopen until August 1st to November section at one fish.

Striped Bass Fishing

The striped bass fishing around the Island this spring has been really good. It popped off early and has been going steady. There is and has been an abundance of smaller sized stripers, but keeper sized fish in the schools. While the local south-central Jersey spring fishery (Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay, Great Bay) is radically different from the north jersey fishery of Raritan Bay, it does offers unique favors and highlights with much different vibes.

It’s a fun light tackle fishery that can be joined in by land based approach or from a boat or kayak. As far as time there’s fish caught morning, noon and night. Don’t over look the high sun hours and afternoons because these can offer some of the best spring fishing.

Live bloodworm and clam are the best baits to soak. If a more active approach is preferred get into the fun with small lures, jigs and soft plastics. Fishing the right windows can fire off some great action.

It should be noted that the recent storm could slow the bite for a day or two but we expect it to bounce back fast.

Striped bass fishing continues to be nothing short of epic up north in Raritan Bay. With April’s Full “Pink Moon” behind us we are getting closer to the next stage of spring fishing. Right now bigger bass are present and on the feed before making a charge to spawn! Soon some will make an exit into the ocean and cruise down the Jersey Shore’s beaches, active and hungry, after an energy spent spring spawn.

Here's store staffer Willie with a quality striped bass he caught in recent days.
Here’s store staffer Willie with a quality striped bass he caught in recent days.

It’s great to see New Jersey’s vibrant spring striped bass fisheries rocking strong despite the rest of the Atlantic coast striped bass being in trouble.

Clam Up The Black Drum

Now is the time for black drum fishing in the bay. Reports started earlier this month and a few have trickled in over weeks. Locally Great Bay and Manahawkin Bay are the places to fish with clam. 

Speaking of clams

Ryan Warford was out clamming and got a nice Easter haul. Spring is a great time to get our and enjoy some clamming.

Ryan Warford was out clamming and got a nice Easter haul. Spring is a great time to get our and enjoy some clamming.

13 Day’s To NJ Fluke Season

The 2022 NJ Fluke Fishing Season opens this year on May 2nd. Here’s a link to the new Fluke Slot Limit Regulations

While we have not had an early season shot like this before, we expect the fishing to be good in the back waters. We have already heard about a couple out of season bycatch fluke reports.

Donald Tharp caught this 23" fluke the other night. "I wish the season was open. This fluke went for a Savage Sand Eel."
Donald Tharp caught this 23″ fluke the other night. “I wish the season was open. This fluke went for a Savage Sand Eel.”
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Author: FishHead.Greg

A Long Beach Island native with life long experience fishing and navigating the local waters, Greg is a distinguished Master Captain (the highest qualified operator license), holding a US Coast Guard Masters 50T Near Coastal License with Towing Endorsement. Raised in and now managing his family's bait and tackle business, Fishermans Headquarters (Since 1962, The Saltwater Fishing Bait & Tackle Experts) Greg is daily immersed in fishing. He is the Chief Contributor of FishingLBI.com (Long Beach Island's best fishing report blog) as well as the Admin for the shop's social media pages (on Instagram and Facebook). Be sure to follow!

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