The spring fishing season here in the Long Beach Island region is good with anglers catching a few different species in a variety of locations. It’s great to see fishing in the region stretching out. Here’s my latest fishing report video from yesterday…

LBI Surf Fishing Report

On the surf, the ocean is cold 46-47º but it’s creeping up. Once that warming trend gives us 48-50º things will pop. Yesterday afternoon we heard of the first direct report with a photo of a surf side striped bass. It was caught by Ship Bottom Beach Patrol’s Tom Smith. He puts a lot of time fishing all year long and it pays off! Congrats Tommy!!! His photo is included in the fishing report video thumbnail above, but his report came in after the video was published so it didn’t make the cut.

The LBI Spring Surf Fishing Tournament is underway. Sign up now and participate in this fun spring fishing event. There are prizes for striped bass and also the largest bluefish. There’s also a catch and release division. More info here.

Barnegat Bay – Manahawkin Bay – Great Bay Fishing Report

In the bay, striped bass and black drum are the two primary games. At times the bite has been excellent. Both of these are taking clams in a many different areas from the Island’s west side street ends, bulkheads, bay beaches and sod banks to the mainland’s many public access points. Bloodworms are also a great bait for striped bass as well as winter flounder (no reports but now’s the time to target them). As the waters are finally back up from another round of chill, striped bass on artificals has improved.

Late April and May offer great light tackle striped bass in the bay.

The black drum fishing since this past full moon (4/12) has been good. They tend to trend in waves and the prime days/tides were outstanding. In the fishing report video thumbnail above you’ll find team Fish Head staff Max (left) and Tyler (right) each with big drum they recently caught and release fishing clam on the bayside at night.

Barnegat Inlet Fishing Report

At the Barnegat Light State Park, Barnegat Inlet tautog (tog – blackfish) are on tap. Fishing is not epic but it is an opportunity to take advantage of while the season is open. It’s only open for the month of April, 4 fish bag at a 15″ minimum. [Soon striped bass, bluefish and fluke will spice up the scene!]

Fishing crabs (green crabs, mole crab – sand fleas) on a simple single hook rig or a tog jig around the rock jetty and/or bulkhead to score. Anglers working the inshore wrecks and reefs are also catching. The bite has been on the slow side due to unseasonably cold ocean waters but there’s fish to catch. We expect the water to warm and the fishing to improve just like last year. The last stretch of the season is always the best.

Looking ahead, the weather looks good for the next few days. It’s time to get out and fish.

We are looking forward to some bluefish showing up and also summer flounder fishing season kicking off May 4th!

Fish Head Alumni Sam scored a good day on the water flounder fishing where he lived now in Virginia. He reported, “Here in VA the flounder season is open all year. I got out and caught 22 with 8 keeper size. All on Gulp and minnow. The bite was best on the outgoing tide’s warmer water.” Can’t beat that for a first trip of the year! I can’t wait for my first flounder trip of 2025.

Fish Head regular Joe Handley is down in OBX and scored some fun fishing with bluefish. Hey Joe, once you get your fill, please send some up this way!