Yesterday Justus Mirth sent in a catch photo and report, “Thanks for the rigs and clam! I got this 40.5″ right after sunset and also had a 29″ bass earlier in the session. Mid-island surf.”
Yesterday at 1pm Dennis Street weighed in a nice 12# 33″ striped bass. He reported, “A caught a couple and missed a couple fishing clams at low water.” Low tide was at 12:23pPM Today low tide is at 1:06PM.
Emmit from Top Notch Tackle Rigs caught this black drum off the LBI surf a few days ago. In recent days reports of black drum off the surf and in the bay have been good. They love clam!
American Anglers Surf Fishing 101
American Anglers Fishing Clubs is hosting a Surf Fishing 101 this Saturday April 30th from 9am to 1pm on the beach in Brant Beach.
Use the enterance ramp on 66th Street which is near the Long Beach Twp Muniucipal Building at 6805 Long Beach Blvd, Brant Beach NJ 08008.
Itinerary: 9AM – Meet at the beach. Either drive or walk on and set up for fishing. 10AM – Bayside Dave: Introduction to Surf Fishing & Q/A 11AM – Greg Cudnik: Reading The Water & Q/A 12PM – Carl Hartmann: Fishing Techniques, Rigs & Equipment for Targeting Multiple Species ALL DAY: Demos & Vendors – Century Rods, Milspray Rustproofing, Top Notch Tackle
This past weekend was a good one here on LBI with anglers catching fish. For the most part clam was the top producer hooking up both striped bass and drum. The next 6 to 8 weeks are prime time fishing here on LBI. Let’s go fishing!!!!
LBI Surf Fishing Report
The water temps reached 50º this past weekend and things popped. There are striped bass of all sizes from schoolies to trophies. Now’s the time to hit the surf with clam to target striped bass. Here’s just a some of the reports that were sent in and shared.
Tommy McCann reported a pair of striped bass; a 25 and a 26 inch. Dave Minnick reported catching his first keeper of the year this weekend. Randy Edwards caught a couple good ones. First, a 42″ that he released and then the next day a 37.75″ that he kept for the table. Both on clam.
Patrick Shapiro caught a 33.5″ striped bass off the south end surf fishing clam at the high tide.
Tog fishing is good now to the end of the month when the season closed. The Barnegat Inlet Jetty has been producing for a lot of anglers.
There’s also herring present which offered anglers light tackle fun this past weekend. Bob Haines reported, “No bass for us today but we caught a handful of Jersey Tarpon (slag for large herring).” We previously reported a striped bass catch from the inlet. We anticipate more bass reports from the rocks in the coming days and weeks. We are also on the look out for bluefish which SHOULD be here right now.
It’s the final days of spring tautog fishing. With good fishing from land based and boat anglers try your best to squeeze in another trip. The nearshore wrecks and reef sites have fish as well as the offshore wrecks.
Tony Butch and son got out this past weekend and enjoyed quality time on the water.
Good cod reports have come in from the deeper water areas (100’+).
Here’s a photo of Vaugh K who had a great spring break fishing with his uncle Swag.
Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay, Great Bay Fishing Report
Spring offers some of the best fishing in the local bays. Right now there’s lots of life. The two primary targets are striped bass and black drum. Fishing clam and bloodworms would be the two best to soak.
Here’s one of three black drum recently caught by Todd Brophy fishing the local bay.
Todd Brophy fished clams in the bay via boat and reported 12 bass and three classy drum. We’ve heard a number of good black drum reports from bay beach and boat anglers.
News worth notes: This weekend’s bunker delivery also came in with inlet. Our local gill net bait boat caught a couple kingfish, blowfish and large herring. Do you recall the last report post (4/22) and the photo of the blowfish washed up on the beach? There’s more around than we all might think!
NJ Summer Flounder Opens May 2
Fluke season is only a week away. We are stoked to get in on some early season fishing this year. Quality fish are already staging up and eating. Here’s a recent catch by Camille Caruso who was fishing with John Howell who has a commercial hook and line permit. Camille Caruso caught this fluke on a jig with a large Gulp Grub. Here’s the specifics on 2022 NJ Summer Flounder / Fluke Season Regulations.
Camille Caruso caught this fluke on a large Gulp Grub.
It is not too early to start booking fishing trips with the boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association. Most of the 2022 New Jersey saltwater fishing regulations are now official, and the seasons are quickly approaching.
The summer flounder season will be opening on Monday, May 2, with a 3 fish per day bag limit. However, this year anglers may now keep two fish from 17 to 17.99-inches and one fish 18-inches or over. In recent years, all three fish in a bag limit had to be 18-inches or longer. The season will end on September 27.
The reduction in size should mean more fish fillets heading home for dinner.
The black sea bass regulations break the season into four segments with varying daily limits. It begins on May 17 until June 19 with a 10 fish per angler allowed daily. The second season goes from July 1 to August 31 with a 2 fish per day allowance. The next season is from October 12 to October 31 with a 10 fish per day limit.
The final segment runs from November 1 to December 31 with 15 fish allowed per day. The size limit for all segments is 13-inches.
The daily bag limit for porgies is 50 with a 10-inch minimum size. Anglers once again are allowed one striped bass daily of 28 to 37.99-inches. The early season for blackfish will end on April 30.
Anglers interested in taking advantage of the numerous saltwater fishing opportunities are advised to make their reservations early with one of the experienced captains of the BHCFA. Most of the prime dates fill up fast. Those who want to try their luck big game fishing for species such as tuna, marlin, and mahi-mahi are advised to contact individual captains for complete details.
Detailed information on the boats and captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can visit the website www.BHCFA.net
There’s great weather and good fishing opportunities right now here on Long Beach Island. Let’s go fishing!!! This fishing report update is to supplement recent posts 4/19/22 & 4/13/22.
The best striped bass fishing in the local area continues in the bay. The open bay flats are starting to produce. Here’s a photo of Fish Head’s Alumni Dan D from this morning fishing Barnegat Bay.
We’ve already heard of a couple striped bass caught in Barnegat Inlet and there’s striped bass being picked off the front beach too. One report of an inlet striped bass came in from Aaron Parker a few days ago who was tog fishing, “I never expected to catch a striper on a green crab at the Lighthouse this time of year.”
On the beach, a really nice 37-7/8″ 18.12# striped bass was caught by Pat Gallen yesterday on salted clam. Today Shawn Gallen caught a 33″ 14.28# striped bass on slated clam. Pat and Shawn currently are the only two fish in the LBI Spring Surf Fishing Derby.
The drum action in Great Bay has kicked up a notch and we expect a few more bluefish reports any day.
Store staffer Frezza got into good fishing yesterday aboard the No Limit with Capt Jon. He caught a big tog as well as a good size monkfish (not rare but an uncommon catch).
It looks like blowfish are showing up to the area too!
The powerful coastal low pressure system, late season Nor’Easter, blew a gale on Monday and cleared out this morning leaving a breezy westerly wind and a powerful swell on the beaches of LBI today. The west wind had gannets active painting a very fishy seascape. Here’s the Long Beach Island Fishing Report for April 19, 2022.
Unfortunately we didn’t score a photo of the dive bombing birds but this white water give a good visual of what the beach was like today.
LBI Surf Fishing Report
Today there’s a powerful southeast swell in the water with waves in the 4-6′ range. The offshore winds have the swell groomed just right for the surfing crowds that has packed the Island’s more prominent sandbars. We have no report to share from the past 24-28 hours but we can share some updated since the last fishing report post on 4/13/22.
On Friday Rob Swift caught two striped bass off the mid-Island surf. Both were on clam.
Here’s a photo. that Rob quickly took when measuring and de-hooking his catch.
Another surf side report came in from Eric, “Third cast with a tin and teaser!”
We anticipate a slow pick at striped bass on the surf side for the next week or so. Possibly a showing of bluefish. Soon (May) the action will heat up!
The ocean waters continue to creep up and are currently in the mid to upper 40’s. We’ve built a base and have not seen the temps drop below 45º in over a week. From now to the end of the month we expect the next leg up to the 50º mark. Once we hit it and stay there, things will really come alive. This chart here shows the water temperature at the Barnegat Inlet. The lows are the incoming ocean water (colder) and the highs are the outgoing bay water (warmer).
Boats targeting striped bass nearshore usually start catching at the 48º mark. We will be there any day if not already. It’s game time to get out front and start pulling some spoons!
Tautog Fishing Report
Right now there’s good tog fishing on the wrecks and reef sites as well as for land based anglers fishing at the Barnegat Light State Park. Here’s a recent catch photo from Richie at the rocks. There’s only this week and next for spring tog fishing! The season ends on April 30th and does not reopen until August 1st to November section at one fish.
Striped Bass Fishing
The striped bass fishing around the Island this spring has been really good. It popped off early and has been going steady. There is and has been an abundance of smaller sized stripers, but keeper sized fish in the schools. While the local south-central Jersey spring fishery (Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay, Great Bay) is radically different from the north jersey fishery of Raritan Bay, it does offers unique favors and highlights with much different vibes.
It’s a fun light tackle fishery that can be joined in by land based approach or from a boat or kayak. As far as time there’s fish caught morning, noon and night. Don’t over look the high sun hours and afternoons because these can offer some of the best spring fishing.
Live bloodworm and clam are the best baits to soak. If a more active approach is preferred get into the fun with small lures, jigs and soft plastics. Fishing the right windows can fire off some great action.
It should be noted that the recent storm could slow the bite for a day or two but we expect it to bounce back fast.
Striped bass fishing continues to be nothing short of epic up north in Raritan Bay. With April’s Full “Pink Moon” behind us we are getting closer to the next stage of spring fishing. Right now bigger bass are present and on the feed before making a charge to spawn! Soon some will make an exit into the ocean and cruise down the Jersey Shore’s beaches, active and hungry, after an energy spent spring spawn.
Here’s store staffer Willie with a quality striped bass he caught in recent days.
It’s great to see New Jersey’s vibrant spring striped bass fisheries rocking strong despite the rest of the Atlantic coast striped bass being in trouble.
Clam Up The Black Drum
Now is the time for black drum fishing in the bay. Reports started earlier this month and a few have trickled in over weeks. Locally Great Bay and Manahawkin Bay are the places to fish with clam.
Speaking of clams
Ryan Warford was out clamming and got a nice Easter haul. Spring is a great time to get our and enjoy some clamming.
13 Day’s To NJ Fluke Season
The 2022 NJ Fluke Fishing Season opens this year on May 2nd. Here’s a link to the new Fluke Slot Limit Regulations
While we have not had an early season shot like this before, we expect the fishing to be good in the back waters. We have already heard about a couple out of season bycatch fluke reports.
Donald Tharp caught this 23″ fluke the other night. “I wish the season was open. This fluke went for a Savage Sand Eel.”
We just got in the water this past weekend. We are available for charter or Open Boat this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, April 23, 24, and 25. My plan is to try a few hours of winter flounder and a few hours of casting for schoolie stripers in the bay. We could try anchoring with clams in the channel for the bass, too.
7AM to 1PM. $165 person on the Open Boat, 4 people max, all fish are shared. $650 for the whole boat if you are chartering it.
This is earlier in the season then I usually start, but I am going to load up on worms, clams, and chum and go on the hunt with plugs and soft plastics looking for life in Barnegat Bay. Looking forward to seeing everyone on board this season. Dave DeGennaro
I would like to announce that I have opened up my 2022 dates for Fluke/Summer Flounder Guided Surf Fishing Trips on Long Beach Island N.J. >> *Daily starting 6/1/22 and running until 9/27/22. The last few seasons the fishing has been great and I expect that to continue this year and into the future now with some new regulations in place. First, we will have a much longer season this year and we will be protecting some of the larger breeding size fish which is good for the fishery plus we will be able to bring home a couple more eating size fish for the table. So its looking like it’s going to be a great summer. I’m really looking forward to hitting the beach again with everyone as last year was so much fun and looking forward to making some more memories and friends. I will once again be providing all tackle, bait and gear needed for a fun day fishing on beautiful LBI. *I would suggest if you are interested in joining me to Book as-soon-as-possible as I expect it to be another busy season with prime dates/days going fast. You can contact me for more information via email at Nightstrikes@comcast.net – Cell # 609-276-6983 or Direct Message me on my FaceBook and Instagram pages. Thank You,, Steve George / Nightstrikes Surfcasting Guide Svc. LLC
LBI FLUKE Happy Anglers Good Times 2022 NJ Fluke Regulations
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.
Tony Butch caught this pair of tog fishing an ocean snag earlier this week.
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.
Johnny-o was out fishing the Barnegat Bay for winter flounder and get some. Here is his nephew holding up a pair.
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: comments@asmfc.org , Subject Draft Amendment 7
This is what striped bass fishing is all about! Here’s youth angler Brayden O’Connell with a big striped bass he caught and released off the LBI surf fishing bunker chunks May 27, 2020.
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.
Fortunately we have one of the best conservation minded and proactive fishing clubs in the county in our back yard, the Berkeley Striper Club. They put this graphic together to quickly show and easily reference the key parts of the document and where each organization stands. By using this and the documents below (as well as the find function) a reasonably good understanding of the state and stance can be determined.
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.
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.
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.
Here’s the Barnegat Bay water temperature from the USGC Station Barnegat Light. This past weekend the outgoing bay water temperature hit and broke above 52º twice. Looking at the chart it’s also shown that the ocean temperature is about 45-46º.
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.
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!
Store staffer Willie has been doing a number on the striped bass fishing the new Vertrex from Nomad. This lure has been good to him fishing all over this spring from the back bay of LBI before and after work, to his current area of Manasquan and his home town stomping grounds of Raritan Bay. Be sure to check these lures out this spring!
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.
