Tautog Fishing Report

Now’s the time for a great shot a tog fishing both in the boat on the wrecks and reefs as well as land based spots. We’ve got some prime baits to help you find the monster April tog you are looking for!

A few reports from the Barnegat Inlet Jetty came in late today. One was a smaller but keeper size tog weigh in from Rick R. He reported catching a few shorts and getting the one keeper. Daryl M shared, “I picked up some clam and had two keeper size tog on the rocks. Thanks for the info and the report!” David Gerard reported that yesterday was slow for him tog fishing but, “the guy next to me got two fishing the jetty with shrimp. “Another report came in from Nate K. who said the bite was non-stop on the ripping incoming tide, “I found a hole between the rocks that was loaded.” The next couple weeks should be good for tog fishing.

Striped Bass Fishing Report

Striped bass fishing is going strong and it’s only going to keep getting better as more fish arrive into our waters. The prime early season spots are firing on all cylinders too.

Winter Flounder & Perch Fishing

Both winter flounder and perch are two options right now. The best way to target winter flounder is fishing the mud bottom holes in the bay or channels with bloodworm baited small hooks. It’s a very similar style fishing to blowfish. Anchor up and chum! White perch are being caught right now in the lagoons as well as upper reaches of creeks and rivers. Small jigs are a fun way to target them. The best bait would be live grass shrimp.

Bait Situation

At the time of this post we have live bloodworms (expecting more Friday), live clams (just in today), live green crab (might run our until more on Friday), live white crab (should have enough for the whole weekend unless we get slammed) and a very limited supply of live hermit crabs (a tog delicacy). We expect to get fresh bunker in hopefully in the next few days… trying for the weekend. Live eels will be later this month as well as live minnow.

This will be the only fishing report post for about a week. Sorry I’ll be out of town. But! I do have a blog or two scheduled to be released so stay tuned.

Do you love striped bass fishing? If so act now and show striped bass some respect. For all of the hours enjoyment (and heartbreak) that striped bass haven given up this is the least we can do!

The Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) wants your input and encourages the public to submit comments on Draft Amendment 7 (D-Amd7) to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan. The deadline is 11:59PM EST on April 15, 2022. Email: [email protected] , Subject Draft Amendment 7

If you are out of the loop… there’s a lot to read and know but here is the quick and dirty. Since 2003’s Amd6 the status and understanding of the striped bass stock and fishery has changed. Striped bass are overfished and overfishing is occurring. After recent (2021) public comment and hearings, D-Amd7 was developed to address key issues; Management Triggers, Recreational Release Mortality, Rebuilding Plan, Conservation Equivalency.

Warning this is a heavy one! Here’s a link to the Draft Document which is out for public comment. Here’s a condensed striped bass stock status, Page 17.

Here’s a link to ASA’s (American Sportfishing Association) Guide to the Striped Bass Draft Amendment 7.

The ASWGA (American Saltwater Guides Association) also has a lot of information from podcasts to blogs and a summary page. They are also offering a raffle to all who submit public comment.

Please take the time to submit your public comment!

Below is my letter to the ASMFC. Feel free to copy and modify as you see fit. Please act now. The deadline for public comment ends on April 15.

Dear ASMFC,

A robust striped bass fishery is very important to me, my family, my businesses and my community. I am a light tackle fishing guide from Central New Jersey who primarily focuses on striped bass. While sometimes keeping a fish here and there, most of my clients want to enjoy a great experience on the water and support catch and release. I am also the general manager at Fisherman’s Headquarters, a bait and tackle shop that was established in 1962, which currently employees 22 full time year round staff. I am also the father of a two year old boy who loves the water, the beach, the boat and fish. I hope he can experience the same great striped bass fishing that I enjoyed growing up on the Jersey Coast.

Living in a fishy shore community on a barrier Island (Long Beach Island) striped bass fishing has a rich history and is the way of life here. When the bass are running the community is vibrant. Everything from hotels, restaurants, marinas, convenience stores, gas stations, tackle shops and other small businesses are busy and the local economy is strong. Anglers come from far and wide to enjoy a day/weekend/week/month on the Island fishing the beaches and boats. The trickle down spending radiates from the striped bass economic engine.

While striped bass fishing has been really very good the past few years in my local waters and elsewhere in my state, I understand there is a coast wide issue. I’m curious to learn more about the results of 2020’s 18% reduction as well as other news on the striped bass stock when the new stock assessment will be coming later this year.
I support a responsible and precautionary management style with regulatory stability and reasonable access to the fishery.

I support the following…

Section 4.1 Management Triggers
Tier 1: Fishing Mortality (F) Triggers
Option A: Sub-option A1
Option B: Sub-option B1
Option C: Sun-option C1

Tier 2: Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) Triggers
Option A: Sub-option A2
Option B: Sub-option B1
Option C: Sub-option C3

Tier 3: Recruitment Triggers
Option A: Sub-option A2
Option B: ASA’s Variation of Sub-option B2

Tier 4: Deferred Mgmt Action
Option A: No Deferred Management Action

Section 4.2.2 Measures to address Recreational Release Mortality
Option B: Sub-option B2-a No Harvest Spawning Closure
Option C: Sub-option C1 & C2
Option D: Sub-option D1

4.3 Commercial Fishery Mgmt MeasuresI know this isn’t the time or place however it must be stated that striped bass are exponentially more valuable as a game fish. Now’s the time for striped bass coast wide game fish status.

4.4.1 Recruitment Assumption
Option B

4.4.2 Rebuilding Plan Framework
Option B

4.6.2 Management Program Equivalency
Option B: Sub-option B1-a & B1-c
Option C: Sub-option C3Option D: Sub-option D1
Option E: Sub-option E2

Regards,
Captain Greg Cudnik

So far April has offered great fishing both locally in the Ocean County, Long Beach Island area as well as else where around the state. Early season spots are firing on all cylinders and other areas are picking up. Here’s the fishing report update for Monday April 11, 2022.

The two primary species right now are striped bass and tautog. Some other to target and catch are white perch, black drum, bluefish, winter flounder and trout.

Striped bass on the feed.

After the cold winter, striped bass are on the feed. As the waters warm the action is only getting better. Anglers are and have been catching consistently for a number of weeks here in bay’s of Long Beach Island. Both day and night are offering a bite with anglers fishing both lures and bait.

On the bait side of things bloodworms are hands down the best spring time bait for linesiders. Clam is also an options and especially a good choice if looking to find a black drum. More on that below.

On the lure game, fish 3-5″ size baits locally here in the LBI area. Our top picks are Kettle Creek Paddle Tails and Tsunami molded soft baits like the Tsunami Split Tails & Tsunami Swim Shads or on the hard bait side the Yozuri Mag Minnow or Yozuri Darter and the Rapala X-Rap.

With a better class of fish arriving the Raritan Bay has been hopping. If venturing to the state’s spring striper mecca (and joining half the world’s anglers) be sure to bring some bigger presentations. Land based anglers are catching on Super Strike Darter and the 5-1/4″ Yozuri 3D Twitchbait. Boat side fishing has been great with anglers catching on Flutter Spoons, swimbaits like the Tsunami Swim Shads and No Live Bait Needed. The Nomad Vertrex has also been a standout. Remember you can’t leave home without a Doc Top Water Spook!

Black Drum & Bluefish?

Yup they are both here and should be making their presence more know this month. The cover photo of the latest video report below, is angler Mike Green with a big black drum he recently caught fishing the bayside. He was fishing a land based spot on the bayside with bloodworms hunting for striped bass. Needless to say it took him for a ride! The background was photoshopped to protect the land based area he was fishing. On the bluefish topic, we heard of “two very small larger than snapper” size bluefish caught down in Great Bay. Our fingers are crossed the gators show this spring and put on a show.

Tog is open all of April.

April a great month to catch good size fish on the wrecks and reef sites. There’s also opportunity for land based anglers to get in on the action too, fishing the state’s inlet jetties. Barnegat Light in particular can produce some nice fish but no where near the hot drop and reel action it’s known for in the fall.

Traditionally softer baits like clam and shrimp are very effective during the spring time, but never head out tog fishing without some crabs! As with other species cold water means fish are in a lethargic state; slow to move and slow to digest. Soft baits are easy for fish to digest.

If fishing the wrecks cod and ling are common catches right now bottom fishing with clam baited rigs.

White Perch

Heard one reports this past week from Dave Spendif. He reported catching a couple of small jigs in his lagoon.

Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association Update

Spring has arrived in Beach Haven although low temperatures and gusty winds might suggest otherwise. The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are putting the finishing touches on their boats and fishing gear for the upcoming fishing season.

Captain Dave Wittenborn has already splashed the “Benita J,” and additional BHCFA captains have their boats mere days away from the water.

There is much to be done for a charter captain in preparation for a busy season on the water. Besides readying the vessel, fishing gear must be examined and upgraded where needed. Licenses and inspections are always front and center chores. Safety equipment and accommodations for angler comfort are regular concerns.

Lining up mates for the year can be a daunting task at times, but the development of the BHCFA Junior Mates Program has been a tremendous help in producing competent mates.

Bookings have already been made although final regulations for species such as summer flounder and black sea bass are not set. The rules concerning season dates, minimum sizes, and daily bag limits will be finalized soon. 

The early fishing story has been a positive one as the first month of the inshore striped bass fishery has been a good one. More fish have been taken already than in previous recent years including a surprising number of keeper fish. As water temperatures continue to rise, this fishery will only get better.

April and May have been good months in recent years to fish for stripers and black drum in the bay waters near Long Beach Island. As summer nears, many of these fish will move into the ocean to join up with migrating striped bass for some strong late spring action.

Anglers looking to get in on some of this early action as well as preferred fishing dates later in the season are advised to reserve slots now. Many of the prime fishing opportunities fill up quickly as warm weather arrives.

Complete information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association and its member boats and captains can be found on the internet at www.BHCFA.org 

The recent cold snap really put the breaks on what was a great early spring start. Things already started to bounce back temperature wise and we expect the fishing to rebound too. Here’s the Long Beach Island Fishing Report for March 30, 2022.

Tautog opens on Friday April 1st for NJ’s saltwater anglers.

LBI Spring Surf Fishing Tournament registration has begun. The event runs 4/2 to 6/26. $20 to join. For more info https://www.lbisfc.com/lbi-spring-surf-fishing-tournament

LBI’s Bayside Fishing Report

The bayside striped bass fishing has been nothing short of phenomenal. Great feedback has poured in just about all month long. The past week or two was the best of it with schoolie striped bass hungry and feeding on both bait (bloodworms) and lures (3-4″).

The crew from the shop has been getting out and finding fish both day and night. Frezza reports, “Numerous nights, the bass were piling on the pink Yozuri Mag Darter.” This should be a surprise as the Mag Darter is a proven fish catcher year in and year out.

Another great lure (which is new to the scene) that the bass are loving right now is the Nomad Vertex. I fell in love with this new lure when first fished a sample last fall. It’s hard not to love a lure that hooks up on the first cast with. Long story short is a Vertex aka Vibe is a rattle trap and rubber swim shad morphed together. They can be fished many different ways; burn it, straight crank, snap jig, stop and go, yo-yo, even slow and steady. A straight crank with an intermittent sweep is my most effective. This lure has sold like wild fire since its release and was a hit at the recent Saltwater Expo. We have a limited selection with more expected soon. Check one out today and keep an eye out for the next deliver.

Early season spots (backbay, creeks, rivers, sod bank points) are where you want to focus time but any day things will break on the surf. If you’ve looked at the surf maybe you say the bird activity. Some days it looked like armageddon. The recent stiff west winds had the gannets fired up and diving. Both bunker and herring are in the waters. 

Spring has arrived. You may not know that from current air temperatures, but the calendar says it is so, as do some early catches of striped bass.

The early arrival of stripers in the back bays and tributaries bodes well for the upcoming start of the 2022 version of the annual LBI Spring Derby. This year marks the 20^th anniversary of the popular kickoff to the Long Beach Island surf fishing scene.

This year’s contest opens on Saturday, April 2, and concludes on Sunday, June 26, at 6:00 PM. Entry into the event is $20 with a unique prize structure. There is a 100% pay out of money taken in. The winning striped bass receives half of the entry fees while the second largest bass is good for 25%. The third bass rakes in 10%.

In addition to the striped bass prizes, there is a 15% payout to the largest bluefish weighed in.

Anglers are advised to have cell phones or cameras on hand while fishing. Adding spice to the tournament are weekly prizes for photos taken while fishing the event as well as a grand prize-winning photo.

Here’s a link for more information on the Spring Derby.

The spring fishing tournament was an outgrowth of the ever-popular Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic which has run in the fall months since 1955. Surf anglers have enjoyed that event so much, a parallel tournament in the spring was a natural. Thus, the spring contest sprung up.

So far this spring anglers have been reporting a high level of success in many of the customary early season “hot spots.” This includes sodbanks on the west side of the bay and various areas at the mouth and tributaries of waterways such as the Mullica River. While bloodworms traditionally produce the best results, some fish have been taken on plastic lures and even plugs.

Usually, the first catches in March of stripers are almost completely comprised of throwback fish too short to be legal. So far this year, there have been keeper sized fish reeled in practically every day. This early season success seems to suggest that more fish are spending their winters inshore than in past years.

It is difficult to say why this trend is so. One reason might be that there was an abundance of bait in the water back in the fall that kept the fish around. Also, water temperatures are already in the low 50’s, which has gotten the fish moving around much sooner than usual.

The LBI Spring Derby is the opening fishing tournament in the southern Ocean County area. It is set up for shore-based anglers only. 

Last year’s winning fish was a 22.44-pound striper caught by Garry Grippaldi. Charles Avila reeled in the largest bluefish weighing 10.42-pounds.

With a limited number of prizes, the rules are designed to make the event a “low kill” event. Unless a fish will be on the leaderboard or taken home for the dinner table, safe releases are recommended. 

Anglers are urged to do all they can to ensure fish are released safely. The regulation that only circle hooks be used while fishing with bait for striped bass is a large help. 

All fish releases should be done as quickly as possible with a minimum of handling. Anglers are urged not to hold fish by the gills or allowing them to flop around on the ground. Release the fish gently back into the water avoiding waves that might wash it back to the beach.

The photo prizes give anglers the opportunity to share their catches and still release them safely.

Registration for the Derby can be accomplished at any of the three official weigh-in stations. These are Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, and Surf City Bait and Tackle in Surf City.

The official website for the event is  https://www.lbisfc.com. Those of you on Facebook can check out the event on its Facebook site, LBI Surf Fishing Tournament.

Spring Has Sprung! Warm sunny days have the water temperatures creeping up and that has fish active. The fish are biting. Let’s go fishing!

Mid-March fishing on and around LBI has been good for striped bass, winter flounder and perch. Some great reports are coming in from around the state too. The weather is great and it’s time to get out and enjoy some time on the water. Let’s fish!!!

Here’s an update to supplement the recent fishing report post, Early March LBI Fishing Report. Today Paul Lindsey weighed in a 29″ striped bass and won the $100 gift certificate for the first striped bass of 2022 season. He turned around and donated it on the spot to the Southern Regional Fishing Club. Four members (high school students) just scored $25 Fish Heads Gift Cards. Thanks & Congrats Paul!

Do You Fish The Artificial Reefs?

Most every saltwater anglers fishing the Central Jersey Coast has fished the local reef sites for fluke, sea bass and tog. If you want to give back and support their ongoing reef building project please Donate Now! No amount is too small or large.

The Beach Haven Charters Fishing Association needs you help to keep the project growing! Last year they spent $100,000 to buy and deploy two new pieces; a tug and a barge. Right now they have 60 reef balls coming up from Florida and need to fund the purchase, transportation and the deployment. Check out this short video of the reef building process.

We kicked off March with some great weather which had anglers out and about comfortably fishing. The main target species right now are striped bass, perch and winter flounder. Catch reports have come in from all around our local area. Here’s the report…

Striped Bass

Early season striped bass fishing is all about targeting areas where are holding over and the areas in close proximity. Also focus on finding and fishing the warmest water temperatures which also coincide with the most fish activity. This means fishing higher sun, afternoons, evenings and the outgoing tides.

Right now the rivers and creeks have hungry bass eating both bloodworms and lure. We’ve also received reports of striped bass out back on the mid-Island bayside.

Shop alumni Jordan reports great fishing on the west side of Barnegat Bay, “The bite has been good. I found some healthy sized fish (over 28″) Wednesday evenings.”

Last night Paul Lindsney reported action fishing the mid-Island bayside last night, “The conditions were grassy but I was wailing bass.” He mentioned that lures were tough to fish in the conditions so he switched to bait. This time of the season hungry bass can’t resist the live bloodworms. “I lost my grandfather on Tuesday and he was sending me these fish on almost every cast.”

Winter Flounder

Two reports in one from a land based angler who fished the mid-island bayside. He chummed hard but didn’t catch any.

A boat report came in from Dave Moores who is in the northern Barnegat Bay area. He was fishing with his buddy Nick and they caught some winter flounder yesterday.