Southern New Jersey Fishing Report- November 2, 2023

Southern New Jersey Fishing Report

There was a lot of movement with the start of November, cold air, wind turbines, cooler canyon water, and larger striped bass spreading into our areas.  The yellowfin and mahi bite ended over the past two weeks with cooler swaths of ocean water moving in which pushed most of the fish to their southern locales.  There are some bluefin hanging around wrecks in the 160 to 240 foot depths.  Most of our backbays and inlets have a decent number of striped bass to keep anglers busy, but fish between 28 to 31 inches are a slow pick.  Surf fisherman are finding striped bass under and over the limit off of Island Beach State Park, Long Beach Island, and parts of Brigantine.  The hottest bite around is the tautog, which has been so consistent that you wish you could make a wager on it at the casinos.  The biggest news of the week has been the cancellation of the wind turbine projects off our coast from Danish windmill developer Orsted.  Whether it’s component sourcing issues or pressure from the shore community, the canned plans are welcomed by most commercial and recreational fisherman in our region.

Here is this week’s rundown: 
 
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had slow reports of striped bass off the beach over the past week.  Stronger tides and the passing of the full moon narrowed the feeding windows for fish and fisherman.  Slot-sized fish to 27 inches are a pick off bunker chunks, but anglers looking to find bigger fish are making the drive 30 miles north to find steady beach action.  Togging off the Barnegat Inlet was extremely consistent on sand fleas or green crabs.  The Route 27 bridge area was alive with schoolies during the night tides and most have been targeted with small soft plastics. 

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported some striped bass action around the north and south inlets of Long Beach Island.  Live spot, eels, and bucktails tipped with rubber worms or shads accounted for most of the action.  Most of the bay fish have been from 20 to 28 inches.  Anglers working parts of LBI with chunked bunker found fish up to 38 inches during the full moon tides.  Tog fishing has been excellent around the condos in Barnegat Light with green crab, Asian shore crabs, and sand fleas doing the work. 

 

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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked the bay and inlet over the week to put charters on keeper striped bass to 29 inches along with a few tagged slots.  After the bassing, the charters finished out the trips boxing 4-man limits of tautog to 17 inches while releasing over 30.  The crew will be sailing the entire upcoming week for striped bass and tautog, and there are only 2 dates remaining on the 2023 schedule. 

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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light had a good window to work the offshore grounds with one of the area’s fishing clubs.  The charter originally booked for yellowfin, stayed short of the canyons to box 6 bluefin for the high school.  The skipper has a few upcoming dates available for fall striped bass, so give him a call.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said tog fishing at the Barnegat Inlet was red hot this past week for fish from 12 to 17 inches and ratios are 15 to 1.  Striped bass fishing at the local bridges was a little slower with the full moon tides as was fishing off of the beaches.  Anglers working spot on the south end of the inlet scored fish from 25 to 28 inches along some of the main channels and holes of the ICW. 

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had quality reports of striped bass along the rivers and deeper channels behind Atlantic City and Brigantine.  Anglers working live eels at night or spot during the day are finding a good number of cooperative fish.  Tog fishing off the rock walls of Brigantine, Atlantic City, and pretty much any inlet south have anglers putting tog in the bucket.  Green crabs tipped on small jigs have been the hot choice for anglers.  Bayside action along the marshes has been consistent on poppers or Rapala skitter-walks in 3 to 4 feet of water.

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said it’s been all tog and striped bass over the past week.  Togging has been exceptional off the rocks and bridge structures while striped bass action was consistent for anglers using live bait.  Live eels are the right bait for the night shift, while spot rule the day bite.  Anglers working the 15 to 20 foot holes are finding some success of keepable fish.  There wasn’t much word on offshore action as the canyon bites have cooled dramatically.  

Badfish Charters in Ocean City was out this past week finding some striped bass action along the marshes and tog action around some of the structured areas.  The skipper also took a solo ride north to get in on the striped bass and tuna action.  The skipper posted on social media that there are some openings this upcoming week.

 

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The Cape May and Fortescue area reported sea bass action at the wrecks in the 100 to 120 foot areas.  Clams and deep dropped jigs have been working with good results.  Tog fishing continues to be the same in consistency with lots of action and a pick on keepers, but some of the deeper wrecks are producing some nicer fish.  Striped bass action has been slower off the beach, although much better in the backwaters for anglers casting small poppers, plugs, and soft plastics.  There were a few yellowfin caught at the extreme southern canyons, but you have better shots out of Maryland and the Carolinas at this point of the season.  

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for this weekend looks similar to last week’s, except for the added bonus of cooler weather and more bass moving into the area.  Live spot is the best bet for daytime action on short to keeper fish, while drifting the ICW with eels during the graveyard shift will surely put you in connection with stripers.  The night time bite seems to be providing some better sized specimens.  Anglers looking to get action off the beaches should focus on the Island Beach State Park and Long Beach Island areas with bunker chunks, but if your up to a car ride head north on the parkway to find better bass action on trophy class fish.  Tog fishing is almost guaranteed off of any of our jetties from Long Beach Island to Cape May.  Green crabs, sand fleas, and asian shore crabs are the ultra hot baits, but with the bite the way that it is – anything will work.  A quick reminder for any anglers in boats 26 feet or less, PFD’s are required to be worn from November 1st to May 1st.  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!