You might want to switch your work schedule and use the weekends for the office and weekdays for the fish.  The pattern we are in is unreal as the last 4 weekends have offered terrible fishing and boating conditions.  The only positive is that the weather systems have moved some bigger striped bass in our area along with moving around sea bass replenish some of the wrecks.  The big bass bite exploded from Sea Bright down to Barnegat Inlet with 40+ inch fish being released on live bunker and swim shads.  Tautog fishing remained excellent at the jetties and bridges for the majority of southern New Jersey. 

Here is this week’s rundown: 
 
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had nice reports of big bass off the beaches and being caught from the boats from Sea Bright to Island Beach State Park.  Striped bass to 44 inches were punishing live bunker and plugs.  Anglers soaking bunker chunks have also been landing some quality stripers off the sands.  Bayside fishing has been much slower, but the bridges and some of the sod banks have been producing on bass. 

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported a tougher weekend with almost zero angler activity due to the weather.  The weekdays have been the time to go and anglers have been catching a mix of fish at the local wrecks.  Sea bass, small bluefish, bonita, and some triggerfish have been the catches.  Anglers have been fishing wrecks from the Barnegat Light reef to the Atlantic Princess and reporting high short ratios.  The striped bass bite was hot way up the beaches past Lavallette as the shop received word early in the week.  Anglers working the bayside are still finding a few blowfish around the research buoy and marker “42”. 

 

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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was able to run a few sea bass trips and the skipper hit some of his favorite snags.  All of the charters boxed full boat limits of sea bass up to 20 inches with a mix of porgies, triggerfish, and bonita.  The backwater schoolie striper bite has started, so 3 hour night trips are available during the week. 

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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been wreck fishing during the weekdays, but the crew has had a tough time getting out for yellowfin during the weekends.  Weekday yellowfin tuna trips have produced good numbers of yellows and mahi.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had decent reports of short striped bass at the local marshes and bridges during this past week.  Most bass are being caught on small soft plastics and swim shads.  The canyon bite has been a mix of yellowfin, mahi, and deep dropped tiles for boats hitting the Carteret, Toms, and Wilmington.  Back home, the inlet is still loaded with tons of short tautog and a few keepers which are being caught on green crabs.

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City received solid report at the canyons on yellowfin tuna, mahi, and tilefish.  The night time chunk bite has been pretty good on sardines and butterfish, while daytime deep dropping are producing good numbers of yellow and blue line tiles.  Inshore sea bass has slowed a tad with large short to keeper ratios occurring over the past week.  The reef sites are still producing sea bass along with some nice tog to 10 pounds.  Backwater fishing remained consistent for schoolie and keeper striped bass during the week.  Poppers, soft plastics and live baits are producing good action along some of the back channels of Brigantine and Somers Point. 

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point received good word on the tautog bite off the jetties and bridges.  There are tons of short tog around with a keeper or two in the mix, but you have to bring lots of crabs.  Jigs and rigs are producing with comparative results at most jetty-lined locations.  The Mullica and Tuckahoe rivers have been outstanding for striped bass in the 20- to 31-inch ranges. 

Badfish Charters in Ocean City was on the water this past week and showing client shallow water striper fishing.  The charters worked flies, poppers, and plastics to release striped bass up to 28 inches.  The crew has dates left in October, so give them a call.  

 

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The Cape May and Fortescue area reported good numbers of sea bass and porgies at the deep-water wrecks.  The reef sites have also been good for both species along with a few trigger fish.  The beaches had some action on small bluefish to 20 inches, weakfish, and striped bass on the Delaware bay side.  The back channels of Wildwood and North Wildwood also had some schoolie striped bass action on soft plastics and poppers.  Offshore action was slow over the weekend with lack of participation due to the weather, but mid-week anglers were able to make the canyon runs.  Yellowfin tuna and mahi have been the main catches at the Wilmington. 

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for this weekend is to change plans and fish during the week as we have another set of low pressure systems developing off our coast.  It looks like the rain and winds should arrive by Friday and depart on Sunday, just in time to start the work week.  If you do have the urge to get out, stop at some of the local tackle shops to pick up gear for the fall run that has started.  Angling wise the beaches may be doable during the early part of Saturday and striped bass should be on the feed off of Island Beach State Park south to Brigantine.  Large plugs, swim shads, and metal lipped swimmers might be worth throwing in the turbulent seas.  The inlet jetties are always great places to look around the top of the tide.  Blackfish on green crabs are another playable option off the jetties and sometimes dropping into the rock crevices will produce just as well.  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!