With all of the Covid-19 Virus talk consuming our live, news, social media and daily conversation hopefully you will find this a happy change of tide. Here’s the Fishing LBI “End Of March Fishing Report” Update for Saturday March 28, 2020.

Fishermans Headquarters is open daily however no public access. Curbside pick up and web/mail orders only. Call Us ( 6094945739 ) for sales and service inquiries.

The Current Situation

Looking at the entire picture, the two major rivers (the Delaware and the Hudson) as well as their respective bays (Delaware Bay and Raritan Bay) have fish and lots of them. The Raritan Bay has been cranking for a couple weeks now and more recently has broken wide open! These prespawn striped bass are making moves.

More locally, the rivers (Mullica and Toms River) as well as their respective bays (Barnegat Bay and Great Bay) have an abundance of striped bass. Most are resident schoolies but there’s lots of them making it fun light tackle fishing. There’s a few better size ones in the herd.

Long story short is this season is off to an epic start with good fishing all around the state. We put out a recent poll on our social. The results showed out of almost 500 voters, two thirds are fishing and one third are not.

If you are fishing or planning to fish please do your part and give the utmost respect to others. Fishing is a great way to practice social distancing and put food on the table! Be Safe – If you can touch someone fishing beside you with your rod you should spread out. Forget your fishing buddies. This is the time to fish solo. Fish Local – Stay close to home to keep trips short and eliminate travel time. Be Flexible & Adaptive – Choose alternate locations and/or times if an area is inhabited. Avoid groups! Curfew – Know the rules and follow them! If everyone can follow these simple rules there’s a good chance the little bit of freedom we still have will continue. Don’t ruin it for everyone!

LBI Fishing Report

The local waters of Long Beach Island have four primary species; striped bass, winter flounder, black drum and white perch. The first two are prime and the later two are slowly progressing and we anticipate both will be good for the whole month of April.

Stripers are on the move crusing the sod banks as well as mud flats and they are active at the docks and lights in the evening. The most common question is, What catching best?

Early Season Spring Baits

For the bait guys clams and worms are by far the best early season baits. Bloodworm is our first suggestion unless you are looking for a drum. Then clam is the call. Wait on bunker a week or two.

Early Season Spring Lures

For the lure guys keep it simple. Soft baits are always an early season killer. Our top picks are the Kettle Creek Shad (paddle tail), Lunker City Fin Z (fork tail) as well as Ron-Zs (tapered tail). Rig them on a leadhead (depending on location and current 1/4 – 3/4oz) like a Kalins Swimbait Jig Head or a Kalins Bullet Jig Head and you are in the game. Small plugs from Rapala, Yo-zuri and Stillwater are also top choices! Leave the bigger presentations for another couple of weeks.

LBI Surf Fishing

The surf is slowly warming up but no striped bass reported in. We have only hear of dogfish from anglers trying. With that said when there’s dogfish there’s commonly striped bass. We expect to see some surfside striped bass soon. The LBI surf temp is in the mid to high 40’s.

Free Surfcaster Journal Issue

While talking surf fishing we want to share some info and free content. Check out Issue 60 at the Surfcaster’s Journal. The SJ team decided to make this entire 150-page issue free and accessible to all surfcasters. Check it out now!

Now To Individual Reports

Barnegat Bay

Jim Crane fished Friday and got two bass up to 22″ in a short 45 minute session. He said Lunker City Fin-s softbaits were working.

Dave Moores is still catching in the bay. This time around he reports, “All little winter flounder. It is tough with all the small bass. The super dinks wouldn’t leave us alone.” Side note… The blueclaw crabs are getting active!

Striped bass love to sniff around the shallow mud flats and sod bank sin spring looking for worms.

Carl Hartman enjoyed the perfect weather on Friday catching a couple bass. He said it was an awesome day. Carl also wants to share that the Century Rods & American Angler LBI Casting Demo is still tentatively set for 1pm May 3rd at Bay View Park in Brant Beach. Other local news… This week we saw the coast guard out on the bay setting out the seasonal aids to navigation.

Raritan Bay

Jim Kuhl reported, “It’s been good. Some awesome topwater feeds. Friday afternoon was non top with fish ripping across the surface chasing bunker. We were truly blessed to have days like these!”

Nick Honachefsky reported, “We crushed them today! Saturday monring was stripers galore on shads! It was really good the past couple of days and this morning.”

Delaware River

Todd Avery reports, “No slobs yet but it’s great to be out fishing.”

Recent Trip To The Pacific

We love to see our customer gear up and then report back with stoke. Jay Sawczak stopped in to prep for some fishing while on a sailing trip in Tahiti. The team helped him out setting up some reels with line and leaders. He said, “Willie was a perfectionist and it paid off. Thank you guys for helping me catch some fish on my trip!”

Spring is officially here! Yesterday, March 19 marked the first day of spring. The earliest spring since 1896 to be exact! Not only does the calendar say it’s spring but so does the weather and fishing.

There’s lots of fish around and on the chew. Solid fishing reports continue on striped bass, winter flounder and perch. Soon other species like black drum will be here and chewing. Speaking of Black Drum…

Drum Fishing With Kirsten Holloway

Spring time is the right time to target classy black drum in the bays and coastal waters of the Central and South Jersey Coast. Get ready to clam it down! Tomorrow Saturday March 21, at 7 am tune into 97.3 FM for Rack & Fin Radio on ESPN. Host Tom P will talk drum with Kirsten Holloway a local angler who knows her stuff. Here’s Kirsten with a big Great Bay black drum.

Barnegat Bay Winter Flounder Fishing Report

David Moores is in on the action flounder fishing hard this year. “Been catching good! And some nice ones too. Today Mike Moores got his first fatty flatty.” Get live bloods, anchor up and start chumming.

George Miller has been out and reports, “Flounder fishing in good.”

Barnegat Bay Striped Bass Fishing Report

Anglers are catching on baits (Live Bloodworms, Dynabait Freeze Dried Bloodworms, Fish Bites Bag O’ Worms) and lures (softbatis, jigs, small swimmers). The night shift is best with lures while daytime bait prevails.

Helpful Tip: Fin-Essence Scent helps big time!

“I love my new fishing rod and reel setup! In about an hours time last night, I caught six bass on the old school classic, Lunker City Fin-S.” ~Jim Crane

Jamie Gramley reported, “Got another one fishing the back bay!” Dan Piazza (@backattack) tagged us in a photo this morning (below top). Got ’em on the Kettle Creek Paddle Tails. Grey Colston is always dialed in and right now is no different (below, bottom right). He’s catching on the Ship Bottom bayside. Sloanne Endick is catching nighttime linesiders (below, bottom center). Anthony Gagliardi shared a photo of a super dink he recently caught (below, bottom left).

Great Bay Striped Bass Fishing Report

Anglers are worming and catching good numbers of small striped bass. Ken Chew reported, “Fishing live bloodworms and low tide produced on the sand banks. We caught nine stripers Thursday. Eric Spinner got his first bass!”

Ken Maxwell fished with his kids and caught some striped bass.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, We Are Open For Business Daily 8-5pm, serving bait, tackle, and essential fishing gear. However access to the retail store is prohibited. Curbside Pick Up & Web/Mail Order ONLY. Unfortunately No Public Access To The Store!

All Sales & Serive Inquiries Are Via Phone (Call US 6094945739) or web.

There’s no better way to practice social distancing, responsible recreation and put food on the table than FISHING! Follow these great tips…

• Be Safe – 6’+! If you can touch someone fishing beside you with your rod you should spread out. Forget your fishing buddies, Fish Solo.
• Fish Local – Stay close to home to keep trips short and eliminate travel time.
• Be Adaptive – Choose alternate locations and/or times if an area is inhabited. Avoid groups!
• Curfew – Know the rules and follow them! Don’t ruin the little bit of freedom we still have.

We greatly appreciate your business over the years and especially in these tough times. We hope that you and your families are healthy and stay safe. ~ Team Fish Heads

The short mild winter gave us early buds and blooms. The dogwoods and forsythia show the tell tale signs that the spring fishing season is upon us! Here’s the LBI Fishing Report for Sunday March 15th.

BUT First A Huge THANKS to everyone who came out to the Saltwater Soiree! It was an awesome time. All of the feedback received so far is positive. While it was our first, we are already planning on another.

Barnegat Bay Fishing Report

Every spring the backwaters start first. The rivers, shallow mud flats and especially lighted areas (docks and bridges).

The past few nights were lights out fishing for a lot of the Fish Heads crew. Seems like their MVP is Kettle Creek Shads rigged on a lead head. If you aren’t sure where to go, stop in and get talking with the boyz. Here’s a recent photo sent in from local angler Jared Grady.

Simon and friend stopped in for some live bloods on Saturday morning. A few hours later they reported back, “Great action early in the day with small bass fishing worms.” Long time Fish Head regular Jamie Gramley was out on Saturday and shared, “Not a bad day fishing Barnegat Bay. I caught a couple bass up to 25″ today.”

Gary Adiar enjoyed his Saturday morning fishing a popular early season sod bank. He said the fishing was good, “Little man laid the wood to ’em and caught over 20 bass up to 25 inches.”

John Bellingeri stopped in on Saturday to check out the Saltwater Soiree. While enjoying the event he picked up some Kettle Creek Shads and then put them to use on the bayside. He tagged us in a photo and said, “It’s on! Don’t read the reports. Be the reports!

Winter flounder reports were few and far between until this weekend.
Kyle Majka reported, “We managed a two man limit today in three hours. Biggest flounder was 1.62#. Start chumming and keep chumming.” Another winter flounder report came in from Dave Moores. He been putting in the time and catching them in Northern Barnegat Bay. Dave reported on his Facebook page, “Get out and fish! Catch some flounder and then enjoy a great dinner.” Dave is also releasing bass on light tackle.

*Winter Flounder NJ Recreation Fishing Regulations Are Two Fish Bag Limit At 12 inch Minimum Size

LBI Surf Fishing

St. Patricks Day is the holiday which, for the Jersey Shore, marks a time when surf anglers opportinues start. Usually catching a bass off the surf before St.Patty’s Day requires a legit ton of luck. Even though this year is ahead of schedule we have yet to learn of a surf side striped bass on the beach of LBI.

We expect it’s any day. Why? The waters have already began their creep up from the winter’s low and there’s lots of life. A quick look will show abundance of sea ducks and lots of gannets. For some Saturday mid island LBI gannet diving video check out our instagram story, sent in by John Bellingeri. Both herring and bunker are present in the LBI surf.

Tog Fishing

Captain Mike Kelly aboard the “On Point” is still down in Ocean City, MD catching tog. He reported a slow yet steady grind on Saturday. He said the crew worked hard for them and managed 19 keepers up to 6 pounds.

NJ’s Tog Season Is Quickly Approaching. It Opens April 1st with a Four Fish Bag Limit at a 15″ Minimum Size.

Join us this Saturday (March 14th) from 11am-3pm at Fisherman’s Headquarters on Long Beach Island. The Saltwater Soirée will be small laid back gathering with saltwater fishing conversation and some music to boot!

Get in on the “SHOW” specials… 15% Off Shop Wide! *Sorry some exclusions apply. There will also be select deeper discounts on “Sidewalk Sale” closeout items… rods, reels, line, lures and apparel.

Meet with some top tackle reps from Nomad, Dexter, Stormr, Magictail, Reel Innovation Outrodders, Bomber Eyewear and Rhodan Marine Trolling Motors.

The day will include interactive saltwater fishing technique talk with top anglers and captains. These Fish Head Ambassadors will be on site for most of the day. If you have questions come prepared! Why ask Facebook and get 30 answers that will spin you in circles when you can ask a top rate source?

Short Seminar Schedule…

• 11:30 – Fluke Fishing Tactics with Matt “Swagmattic” Sorrentino
  • 11:45 – Fluke Panel Q&A w/ Matt & Garrett
• 12:30 – Swordfishing with Capt. Jeff “Sword Lord” Warford
  • 12:45 – Big Game Panel Q&A w/ Jeff, Pat “Forever Two Worlds”
• 1:30 – Rigging Up Right For Tuna On “Light Tackle” with Captain Adam Sherer
  • 1:45 – Tuna Q&A w/ Adam
• **Special Guest Garrett Weir, the 2019 Fisherman Dream Boat Challenge Winner & 2018 Dream Boat Challenge Runner Up. This top multi-species angler will be answering questions.

It’s not a Soirée without some music… so we have Benton and friends who will be jamming some live reggae tunes!

Come out and enjoy a great Saturday at the Fish Heads Saltwater Soirée!!!

For those that can’t make it to the shop this weekend but would still like to take advantage of the “show” specials… We have a limited time web promo code 15OFF that is live. Shop Now!

Here’s the LBI Fishing Report for the week ending Sunday March 8, 2020.

A good presence of striped bass showed this week. The abundance at night was impressive and some quality ones hinted at good fishing ahead. Now with daylight saving we are on the fast track to spring fishing!

The night shift is the best times to work the shadow lines with small jigs and plastics. The Kettle Creek Paddle Tails are a standout choice! A few days back store staffers Jordan and Dan both had productive outings. They fished separate areas at different times and both has a blast reporting numerous striped bass.

A shop regular stop in Wednesday purchasing a new pair of waders for spring fishing. While in he show a photo but wouldn’t allow us to share. It was a picture from a recent fishing trip and the biggest bass we saw to date this year… A nice high teen, possibly hitting the 20 pound mark bass. 

Saturday midday Hunter Dargay stopped in and got some live bloodworms. Within minutes he tagged us in this photo… They are chewing!

NJ Saltwater Expo

The NJ Saltwater Expo is almost here! There’s a terrific line-up of seminars presented by top-names in the areas fishing front. Also take advantage of special offers and promotions the crew at Fish Heads will have on display. Stop by Booth 445 and say hi!

Save The Dates: March 13, 14, 15 at the NJ Convention & Expo Center in (97 Sunfield Ave, Edison, NJ 08837) the saltwater.sportshows.com/

Long Beach Island Party Boat Fishing News

Fishing The Miss Barnegat Light

The Miss Barnegat Light posted an update… Here’s our 2020 schedule!

We start Memorial Day weekend with fluke and sea bass, sailing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. June 19th we’ll start sailing daily. Canyon overnight trips start September 19th fishing every weekend through October. Starting November 6th we’ll be fishing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for striped bass.

Fishing The Carolyn Ann III

The Carolyn Ann III posted an update. They are preparing for the season and will start fishing mid-May for sea bass. “We’ll be sailing everyday; however, no blackfish this spring.” Stay tuned for a new schedule set for the upcoming summer. The boat will be sailing one five hour trip (8am to 1pm) daily.

2020 NJ Striped Bass & Bluefish Regulations for recreational anglers has changed from past years. Here’s what you need to know!

The 2020 Striped Bass & Bluefish regulations for recreational anglers fishing New Jersey take effect on April 1, 2020.

NJ Striped Bass Fishing Regs

1 Fish 28″ to less than 38″

Yes, All fish smaller than 28″ must be released and all fish 38″ or larger must be released.

NJ Striped Bass Bonus Program

The 2020 Striped Bass Bonus Program (SBBP) runs from May 15 to December 31st. With the SBBP, an angler is allowed one fish at 24″ to less than 28″ per permit. SBBP Applications will be accepted April 1st. SBBP harvest reporting is mandatory within 24 hours.

Striped bass have a special gamefish status in New Jersey. Meaning there is no striped bass commercial fishing season. In 1990, the commercial quota was transferred to the recreational anglers and NJ’s Striped Bass Bonus Program (SBBP) was started. The quota is distributed between individual anglers and party/charter boats. The program has successfully allowed anglers to participate in providing valuable data on striped bass to the state’s fisheries management.

2021 Striped Bass Circle Hook Mandate

Coming down the pike next year in 2021, there will be a Striped Bass Circle Hook Mandate. The use of circle hooks will be mandatory when using natural bait. This means all anglers fishing baits (live or dead) from the beach or boat must use circle hooks. The traditional “J-Hook” style fishing hooks such as the Octopus, O’Shaughnessy, Bait Holder, Siwash, Wide Gap, Live Bait as well as weighed trebles hook snags will be prohibited.

NJ Bluefish Fishing Regs

New Jersey’s new 2020 Bluefish Regulations divided the recreational sector into two categories; Private and For-Hire. Private includes all land based recreational anglers as well as all anglers who fish from private boats. All anglers fishing aboard a For-Hire vessel with a licensed captain such as charter boats and party boats fall under the For-Hire category.

• Private – 3 Fish Bag Limit
• For-Hire – 5 Fish Bag Limit

With no closed season anglers are allowed to fish and harvest bluefish all year.

There is NO minimum size limit on bluefish. Therefore snapper blues, cocktails and tailor blues all have the same bag limit based on the category (private or for-hire).

Winter for the most part was mild. It’s not by any means over, but it’s close! Spring is 23 Days Away! Better than that, March first is this Sunday and that means the backwaters will be fair game!

With the unseasonably mild weather, there’s anglers getting out and enjoying the outdoors. We’ve got a couple reports from anglers catching perch in the rivers and creeks. Some anglers fishing the state’s fresh waters are having a blast. Some good fun clamming going down too. No positive reports from the surf, but there is guys trying. There’s a bunch of catch and release guys who just couldn’t wait for March 1st on the back waters. Can you blame them?

We were going to report it previously but thought it was a bit too early. Now that “Opening Day” is technically less than a week away… Let’s let the cat out of the bag. The bass are snapping! The reports are too good to actually believe so we’ll just say the back water fishing is very good. Sorry no spot burns here. Look towards the early season spots which produce year in and year out. You’ll find them!

2020 NJ Striped Bass Fishing Regulations (recreational)

One Fish at 28 to less than 38″

Yes, 38″ and larger must be released. Please respect the fish and get them back in the water fast. Try to hold your breath *Note: Not Yet Set In Stone… however will be anyday.

Winter Fishing Shows

Surf Day was awesome! Thanks to all who came out and stopped by the booth last weekend. Hope you all enjoyed the show just as much as we did. We are already looking forward to next year!

So what’s on the Fish Head’s schedule the next couple weeks? There’s alot going on at the shop with rod and reel repair. We already have our spring orders arriving so we’ll be stocked up!

Berkeley Striper Club’s 25th Fishermen’s Market

This Sunday March 1st is the Berkeley Striper Club’s 25th Annual Fishermen’s Flea Market. We’ll be there with a couple tables of essentials offering some steals and deals. This is one of the can’t miss shows packed with some of the North East’s best plug builders. It’s at the Toms River Intermediate North School, 150 Intermediate North Way, Toms River, NJ 08753. Be there when the doors open 9am.

The Saltwater Expo – Booth 445

Then March 13-15 we’ll be at the Saltwater Expo. Check us out at Booth 445. Be sure to attend this great three day show that is jam packed with a long list of seminars each and every day. You don’t want to miss out on the info that will be shared! The Saltwater Expo is at the NJ Convention & Expo Center, 97 Sunfield Ave Edison, NJ 08837. The show hours are Friday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Save The Date – February 22, 2020

Surf Day 2020 Is Days Away

Surf Day 2020 is this Saturday. Save the date! You don’t miss out on the year’s best fishing show.

• Who: The Jersey Shore Surfcasters

• What: Surf Day 2020

• When: Saturday Feb 22, 2020 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

• Where: Brookdale Community College at 765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ 07738

This pure surf fishing show run by JSS (the Jersey Shore Surfcasters) is well known as the best surf fishing show of the year. Many have tried to copy the format and ideas; however none come close. This long standing show is a must attend show for surfcasters of all ages and abilities.

The seminar schedule looks great this year with top speakers lined up. Dr. Doug Zemeckis from Rutgers will share “What We Know About Striped Bass” discussing striped bass biology, migrations patterns and status of population. Tom Kosinski will details information on “Fly Fishing The Spring Estuaries” and DJ Muller with “Four Keys To Surfcasting Kick Butt”.

Two that no one should miss are Bill Wetzel’s “Plug Selection” and Alberto Knie’s “Connection Trophy Catches” with hints about big fish habits. These are just some of the top seminars. There will be others too.

While the seminars are the backbone of the show, the special part is seeing
the surf fishing community all under one roof. The networking and knowledge shared is second to none. Whether a rookie, novice or veteran Surf Day is for you.

The crew here at Fisherman’s Headquarters is looking forward to the show. We’ll have a full spread of surf fishing tackle, equipment and supplies from A to Z… all at Show Special Pricing. For those that have attended in the past, we will be at our same location. Upon entering walk through the cafeteria and into the main room. As you enter we are on the left side. Stop by and say hello!

Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association Mid-Winter Happenings

by Jim Hutchinson Sr.

Contrary to what many might imagine, the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have not gone into hibernation. Rather they are up and about spreading the word about Beach Haven fishing at area fishing flea markets and fishing shows.

This Saturday, there will be BHCFA captains and junior mates at the Southern Regional High School Fishing Club’s annual fishing flea market. This very popular event is considered one of the best of its kind with many great bargains, and proceeds benefit the high school anglers. The event is at the Southern Regional Middle School in Manahawkin on Cedar Bridge Road and runs from 8am to 2pm.

The following week is the Philadelphia Fishing Show that runs for three days, Friday, February 21-23. It is held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at 100 Station Avenue in Oaks, Pennsylvania. In addition to manning the BHCFA’s booth, captains will also be attending some of the fishing seminars to hone their skills.

The following week BHCFA captains and junior mates will be on hand at the nationally famous Atlantic City Boat Show. This event runs from Wednesday, February 26 and ends on Sunday, March 1. It takes place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City.

The captains of the BHCFA urging anglers to shake the effects of cabin fever and come out to any or all of these events and check out what the captains and young mates have to say. Additional information on the BHCFA and its many activities can be obtained at www.BHCFA.net.