From all of us at Fisherman’s Headquarters… Happy Thanksgiving! We give thanks for friends, family and FISHING! We hope you have a great day!
The phenomenal fishing continues out of Barnegat Light. There’s lots of hungry striped turkeys! Yesterday was another great day and we heard that fishing was very good this morning in the rain. It simply doesn’t get any better. Here’s a short report update from yesterday. I included some striped bass fishing video showing the all new Quantum saltwater spinning reels, both the Strive and Benchmark is action. These all new reels from Quantum are in stock now at the shop. Stop in and check ’em out. Also don’t miss out on our weekend sales, Black Friday- Cyber Monday… Fishing Tackle Sale – There’s some great deals ranging from 15-50% off on tackle!
The windy westerlies this weekend offered up some great fishing but bluster conditions. Today (Monday 11/25) those winds backed off and gave way to a phenomenal day with Lake Atlantic conditions and even better fishing. The Central Jersey striped bass fishing is hot! Here’s a quick fishing report video update…
The waters out of Barnegat Light are teeming with striped bass in a full range of size class; unders, slots and overs. Striped bass fishing via boat has been particularly good in recent days with lots of bait stretched along the beaches out to the 3 mile line. Bass are gorging on sand eels, peanut bunker and adult bunker.
Anglers are catching on both topwater (spooks, pencils, poppers) and jigging (shads, spoons, jigs). Those looking for a less active methods are hooking bass on the troll pulling 9er umbrella rigs, mojos and bunker spoons. At times there is good action live lining bunker on the schools too; however, this very well may turn into a spiny dogfish raid.
While the surf fishing scene on Long Beach Island has not contended with the action of northern beaches there are striped bass sliding down and a couple waves have already moved through the LBI area. There are striped bass in the suds. The next coupe weeks should offer good fishing for LBI surf anglers.
All In All – This is about as good as it gets. The weather is getting colder and the striped bass fishing should remain strong but it will not last forever. Now’s the time! Get out and score great fall fishing!
It’s mid-November and prime time for fall fishing. We had the full moon a few days back to that marks the next stage in the progression. The ocean water temperatures are current sitting around the mid 50’s, there’s bunker and sand eels around and there’s lots of fun fall fishing. Here’s the Fishing LBI Fishing Report for Monday November 18, 2024.
Striped Bass Fishing Report
As we enter the 2nd half of November the local fishing has picked up. This past weekend was a windy one but some fish were caught, both slots and overs. There was some weigh in activity in the LBI Fall Classic. Take a look at the LBI Surf Fishing Classic Live Results Page for some details.
Surf angler Kevin shared this photo of a 50” beauty he caught on a SP minnow while fishing the mid-Island surf Friday.
Most of the striped bass caught on the surf are on sand eel imitation lures; diamond jigs, needlefish, SP minnow, sand eel soft baits. Dragging a diamond jig along the sand is not an exciting way to fish; however it is a simple and effective method to catching striped bass on slow days. It’s extremely effective to fish with a teaser. For more details on how to match the hatch when sand eels are present CHECK OUT this detailed sand eel blog.
Fishing in the boat along IBSP and northern LBI has been phenomenal. Some days are better than others, but for the most part it has been really good fishing when weather allows. We expect this fishing to remain right through Thanksgiving and hopefully right through the end of the year. We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out.
Shop alumni Dan D has been fishing hard this fall. He was in the boat yesterday and reported awesome fishing just a few mile from the inlet, off the north end of LBI. He was fishing soft plastics and top waters like The Doc Spook, Magictail Ahab and the Yo-Zuri Magdive. These large profile topwater lure raise big fish!
The days when the bite isn’t busting loose, troll mojos and umbrella rigs. Nothing beats a 9er umbrella rig to score bites on a slow day!
Tautog Fishing Report
It’s that time, the current bag limit is 5 fish are 15″ minimum size. The fishing on the wrecks and reef sites will only get better into late fall.
Land based fishing on the rocks in Barnegat Light is still a solid choice with anglers picking keepers. Some days there are anglers getting their limit which is an impressive land based feat.
Here’s a photo of Paul who wasn’t afraid to battle the westerly winds this weekend while tog fishing. He scored this 17′ keeper.
Bluefin Tuna Fishing Report
We’ve had an awesome year of Bluefin fishing so far and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Reports continue to flow in daily. Dante of Magictail Outfitters even went 3/4 and even hooked one while bass fishing on a 4000 spinning reel. The run and gun guys are getting their shots casting at them but trolling with planers has been the effective methods this fall. A ballyhoo with a Joe Shute or HooMagic Head combo has accounted for the majority of catches. Utilizing a planer to get the bait down 20-30’+ helps significantly.
Select and Horse sized ballyhoo are the bait of choice and we are stocked up with them right now.
Here’s a photo of Richard Fieramosca, Zach Michot and Gary Adair with a recent bluefin catch.
Striper fishing is breaking open up and down the coast, and now the weather is here to get us out. Lots of W and NW wind in the forecast translates to calm seas in tight to the beach. There is a mix of all size stripers along the beach from Island Beach to the Atlantic Highlands. Migration style fishing: jigging, casting, trolling.
Sailing Open Boat Stripers:
Monday Nov 18 and Tues Nov 19, 6AM to 2PM, $300 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared.
Also possible to charter the boat these dates for Stripers, Bluefin, or a Striper/Bluefin combo.
I am on the water more than I am on the computer so it is best to call or text me rather than email.
Here’s a video and pic of Luke Warwick and his 9 year old son Dylan with one of their big stripers last weekend on a live bunker. Released right after pic.
Here’s a prime time Long Beach Island Fall Fishing Report from your friend’s at Fishermans Headquarters – There’s a few different primary fisheries right now for saltwater anglers to take advantage of fishing the central Jersey coastal waters; Striped Bass, Inshore Bluefin Tuna, Tog – Sea Bass -Porgy Wreck / Bottom Fishing. Here’s the report for the evening of Monday November 4, 2024.
Striped Bass Fishing Report
First and foremost, striped bass on tap in the bay (Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay) as well as the Barnegat Inlet and out front along the beaches. These are obtainable for both beach and boat anglers. Without a doubt, a classy wave of migrating striped bass has moved into our waters. Don’t miss out on much more as some have already passed by. We should have 3-4 weeks (maybe more) of good fall fishing from now into Thanksgiving and into December. My fingers are crossed things stay warm and we have them into the new year!
The beaches have been a slow pick but that should pick up as we progress into November. Most bait (bunker and/or clam) fishing surf anglers are catching dog fish. Even lure anglers are picking a few so you know they are thick. However, there are some nice striped bass here, both keepers and overs. Ralph Vital from the Brant Beach Rod & Reel Club weighed in an 11# striped bass today. Photo below. He caught it on the south end fishing a lure. A few other bass were entered today into the LBI Surf Fishing Classic.
Check out the LBI Surf Fishing Classic Live Results Page to see all of the weigh ins as well as the recent catch and release submissions. There are a few really nice fish on the board!
Screenshot
Bluefish Report
The bluefish action seems to have waned with the mullet run’s fade but there are a few left. It’s nothing like it was a few weeks back however we still have a couple choppers and cocktails sleuthing around. Thomas Shelly reported losing some paddle tails this weekend to small blues fishing the mid island surf. Best bet to score a yellow eye right now will be fishing mullet or bunker off the surf or catching lures in the surf or inlet. Let’s hope some more invade to make for some fun fall fishing.
Tautog Fishing Update
Barnegat Inlet Tog
Anglers continue to catch tog at Barnegat Inlet. That action is on sand fleas and green crabs using a jig or a rig. Check back on a previous report from more details on this fishing. I think the the climax of this fall inlet fisher is behind us however there is still plenty of great fishing left in the tank this month.
Bottom Fishing The Wrecks & Reefs
It’s time to catch sea bass, porgy and tog! Remember…
NJ Black Sea Bass Opened November 1 to 12.5″ minimum size with a 15 Fish Bag
NJ Tautog Fishing Opens November 16th to 15″ minimum size with a 5 Fish Bag
This year the fall tuna bite started early and has rolled on strong for months. It’s still rocking and there an abundance of bluefin in close to the shore. In some areas the tuna are mixed with the striped bass inside the 3 miles line. Both are hungry for bunker and sand eels. There’s also mid-shore grounds areas that are lit up with good fishing; however most are saving the time and gas targeting the tuna closer in.
Inshore the tuna are being caught on lures (stick baits) as well as on the troll. Trolling ballyhoo on Shutes has been the most consistent producer. Some boats have found that fishing a bait deep on a planer as been the most effective.
Mid-shore anglers are catching chunking and jigging too.
I’ll mention it again, there’s lots of bait around right now. We have bunker schools and sand eels along the Central Jersey coast. There’s also butterfish, squid, bay anchovies and hopefully in the next couple of weeks schools of peanut bunker.
The marine forecast looks pretty good for Sat, Sun, and Mon, Nov 2, 3, and 4. We will be running Open Boat for Stripers or Bluefin Tuna/Striper combos.
I will do whatever the majority wants to do. The lion’s share of the stripers are still up north by Asbury Park, but some fish have finally started to slide closer to us, and every day will bring more and more. I intend on running to where the biggest concentration of fish are. The other good news on this front is that there are now some keeper size fish in the mix along with the big bruisers. It’s fun to catch both, but it’s nice to go home with a Ziplock. Most of the action has been jigging and livelining bunker.
The bluefin tuna are anywhere from 7 to 20 miles offshore. 100 to 200 lb fish airing out of the water and aggressively feeding at the surface. It is something to see, but they are not easy to catch. Casting poppers and trolling ballyhoo are two techniques that produce hookups, we will be prepared to do both.
It is possible to fish for the tuna first and then switch to stripers. It has to be in that order, as we can not possess striped bass beyond the three mile line from shore.
Open Boat Stripers or Stripers/Bluefin Tuna:
Sat Nov 2, Sun Nov 3, and Mon Nov 4
5:30 AM to 2:30 PM each day. $300 per person for Striper Trip or $350 per person Striper/Bluefin Tuna combo. 4 people max. All fish are shared.
Of course these dates are also available for your private charter. Call right up until “go time’ to reserve a spot. Phone is the best way to contact me.
609-494-5739 
