LBI Surf Striper Bite Still Cranking! Big Bass Showing, New Moon Shift & Memorial Day Outlook
The spring surf fishing season on Long Beach Island continues to fire on all cylinders with striped bass dominating the action up and down the beaches. Anglers fishing clam are seeing the best success, while some are also finding fish on bunker chunks and lures. Another less popular but very effective method is fishing live sand fleas, mole crabs. That’s what these fish rooting around the suds are eating!
After several weeks of incredibly consistent fishing, there’s been a slight taper in the overall abundance of bass BUT quality fish are now becoming a bigger part of the story. The catches of 40″+ striped bass are becoming more common the season transitions through the recent new moon phase. We are now in the final chapter of spring fishing with only one month to summer on June 21.
Water temperatures remain cool and it has helped keep the striped bass locked into the area longer. Currently the Long Beach Island surf is in the mid-50’s. It seems like for the most part they have been parked on the LBI beaches and fortunately for us they are hungry. Surf anglers continue catching even with salted and frozen clam. The black drum bite has slowed but they remain here and a viable target for at least a coup-le more weeks. Bluefish are beginning to trickle into the mix and some fluke reports are starting up in the bay, inlet and surf. Offshore, black sea bass season is underway with better reports coming from deeper water trips (80’+). Once the inshore waters warm up in a couple week we should have a better shot with a shorter run.
Penn Van Tour Event
Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial kickoff to summer on LBI and here at Fisherman’s Headquarters we are ready. RAIN OR SHINE – The Penn Van Tour rolls into Fish Heads this Saturday May 23, 2026 from 10am to 2pm. There will be special deals, new apparel, tackle blowouts and plenty of popular best selling fishing gear for the spring and summer fisheries. Spend $50 on Pure Fishing Brand Products (Penn, Fenwick, Abu, Berkeley, Spiderwire, Stren) and score a chance to win a Fenwick rod & Penn Fathom 300 low profile reel outfit. Also bring your recent catch to the event… Live Fish Prints by Tim at Tiger Shrimp Prints.
Whether you’re chasing striped bass in the surf, gearing up for fluke season or looking for the latest local fishing intel… Stop by Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom or shop online at www.FishermansHeadquarters.com
