609-494-5739 Some years start off cold and slow but not this year. So far early spring striped bass fishing the bayside of Long Beach Island has been nothing short of exceptional. The bass are and have been ravenous, chewing baits and lures. The team is getting into good fun fishing. Reports from customers fishing the greater local area are also positive. The local river action continues and spots in the adjacent river mouths/bays are turning on.
Bloodworms are the bait of choice! We suggest fishing bloods on a high-low rig (2/0-4/0 circle baitholder by Eagle Claw) with a 2-3 ounce bank sinker. Fish Heads Tip: DyanBait freeze dried bloodworms or Fishbites BagO’Worms are two great options to get more milage out of your live bloods. Also juice it up with Fin-Essence
In the evenings and nights cast small swimming plugs like a Daiwa SP Minnow, Yo-Zuri Inshore Fingerling in both sizes, Nomad Shikari 95 size and Rapala SXR 10. Swim shads are a go too option and must have in the bag. NLBN 3 inch with a ⅜- ¾ oz head or a 5” Kettle Creek paddle tail has always been a staple.
During the early months of the season the bass tend to hang around the sod banks, bridges, rivers, river mouths and bays. A seven or eight foot rod (Option 1: Tsunami Airwave Elite Light – TSAWESS-762LT $169.99, Option 2: Magictail Inshore Light – MT-701SL $219.99) paired up with a 3-4k sized reel (Option 1: Penn Battle DX 3/4k $149.99, Option 2: Shimano Stradic 3/4k $219.99) make the perfect combo to have fun with some of the local early season schoolies!
Other Fishing Opportunities
White perch are highly sought after during the winter and spring. These delicious panfish can be caught on bait and artificial. Grass shrimp, bloodworms and earthworms are the baits of choice. Small grubs and minnow style soft plastics 1-2″, 3″ at absolute most, work on a small jig or can be fished on a float.
Winter flounder are another tasty species to catch during the spring months. These are best targeted using bloodworms as well as clam and/or a kernel of corn. Chumming is suggested. Winter flounder have much smaller mouths than summer flounder so be sure to use a small hook or use a classic winter flounder rig.
Tide Chasers Podcast
Over the winter I was asked to join in on the podcast and share a little bit about myself, business, fishing, the LBI area, offshore wind and much more. The Tide Chaser Podcast is live now!
