nj fishing reports march - april 2018

[storminsteve]

Hey hope you guys are all ok. Didn't see a reports thread yet so I started this one. The storm is over it's time to fish ladies and gents!:dribble:

[ledhead36]

Been hitting a few since opening day. Nothing of size though. They are eating tapeworms, dug a bunch of fat ones before the snow. Have a few left in my refrigerator. Will report back when we find some bigger keeper size. Tight lines

[surferman]

Great news fellas. Buddy of mine has been fishing atlantic county back bays at night with bloods. Getting some stripers. They are there. Hope to get out this weekend.

[cowherder]

Thank you for the reports. I am so sick of the snow! BeGone mother nature!

[ledhead36]

any of the guys who fish rb in the back, some of the public lots at cliffwood are now fenced in and closed after 7pm. Access up to then is ok but we rarely fish in the day. Stupid kids and partying, and the H problem had a lot to do with it. Shame.

[bababooey]

Yeah the heroin problem is everywhere. Toms River and Seaside in the winter seem to be the heroin corridor. What a shame. Hope they can do more to stop these deaths.

[bababooey]

Good for you guys. I'm not venturing out till mid April. Brrrrrrrrr!:scared::plastered:

[fishinmission78]

^^Arent you the guy who ventures out to collect panties of college teeny boppers? Yeah sure you can delay fishing to hide from the cold but its not too cold to hunt land tuna in the winter. Ridiculous.:rolleyes:

[fishinmission78]

Back to the fishing reports. Got out last night after sundown, back in OC, towards the end of the outgoing. Water was cold but bearable. Picked up a few shorts. Black mag darter. Bait guys were doing OK as well with stripers and perch, better catch rate than me. Still, it was nice to pull a few and get some action. Brought my light rod. Catch them up fellas.

[lostatsea]

nice going

[bababooey]

:HappyWave:Cmon JF dude different strokes for different folks. Land tuna or tuna from the sea, it all smells fishy eventually!

[bababooey]

Hah! I'm a poet and didn't even know it. Tight lines guys and gals.

[fishinmission78]

I think you two should just get a room together. Back to fishing. Was out last night, picked up a few more short stripers. All on the mag darter. Slow retrieve.

[cowherder]

^^^^^ haha agreed!

[cowherder]

I knew it was cold and probably a waste but haven't been out in such a long time. Took myself to moco and hit some rocky areas to test out new pluggage and shake the doldrums. Saw some birds working way out, not that many though. Casted a bucktail, rubber, and SPs. Nada, fished from 3-5pm on the incoming tide. Still felt great to be out there. I think the water should warm up in the next 2 weeks and I will hit it soon. Next time will start in the back first. fnm thanks for the reports you got me motivated!

[surferman]

Nice going. There are shad in the Big D already for anyone who is interested. I haven't been fishing for them, but guys are getting them. We have a decent warming trend this week. Will try to get out there. Thank you for keeping it real.

[buckethead]

I went fishing twice this week. Late afternoon in moco out front. nothing happening for me yet, the water is too cold and I don't feel like traipsing through the mud flats in the back. The ocean water was clean and promising, just a tad too cold. Tossing my early season bucktail with small white grub. I expect to be catching within the next week, at least a few small fish with stripes. No matter, it was still some nice trips and exercise.

[storminsteve]

I think you two should just get a room together.

Snap! My thoughts as well. Can't we all just get along?:kiss:

[storminsteve]

Will be out there this weekend poking the mud and grassy banks in the back. Thanks for the updates, Tight lines everyone.

[plugcrazy]

Fished high tide in ocean county last nite. Water seemed pretty high with the full moon coming up. Caught the skunk. Good chance to get out there and make a few casts tho.

[ledhead36]

Action in the back starting to get better. Yesterday's sun heated up the mud. The fog rolled in though last nite, it was eerie. Me and my crew had the water to ourselves. Picked up a bakers dozen between the 3 of us, all small. Clams and bloods. Might start digging some tapeworms with these extreme low tides.

[seamonkey]

Water temperatures on the upswing and the shad and small stripers have started to come into the Big D! Happy easter everyone!

[lostatsea]

Got out in the rb after easter dinner. Beautiful, a lil windy. got one short striped bass on clam. Seen a few others caught on worms. All shorts.

[surferman]

Nice going dudes have to keep hope alive after this snow. Should set things back at least a few days.

[jigfreak]

Perfect conditions right now.

[baitstealer]

Thanks guys may have some time to fish on thurs or fri. The tackle shops are reporting lots of small stripers gotten on clams and worms.

[ledhead36]

Bunch of fish caught yesterday in the early morning. We fished at night and only caught 2. Water temps dropped like a stone. You should time your trips for warmer water. That mud warmed water is key.

[bababooey]

You guys should leave the striper diaper fish alone. I see guys stand all along the nuke plant waters every day. In another 2 weeks the bigger fish will be here. Not looking to cause an argument, just busting balls.:HappyWave:

[voyager35]

One of the key things is the air temperatures are warmer than the water, except for a few days recently. The warmup continues. Larger stripers should be right on schedule toward the end of april.

[ledhead36]

Lots of shorts this weekend. Still mostly small but they are getting bigger. A few keepers caught. Worms and tapeworms for us. DFW enforcement showed up too, wrote a few tickets.

[baitstealer]

Good deal, its about time!

[storminsteve]

Thanks for keeping it honest. I was so jealous when LH started catching numbers. I was out the next night with mag darter and sp, only one tiny striper. Then I saw you got skunked as well. You guys sure fish a heck of a lot. Gotta be in it to win it!

[jigfreak]

Good batch of stripers came thru yesterday out back. Pitched swimmers and small shad. Fish to 18 lbs chowing on bunker. At the end it was a madhouse with the crowd, left them biting. Going out again if a few minutes, good luck fellas.

[jigfreak]

Another spot last night, the first one was real crowded. managed some more, 14 lbs the largest. Swimmers.

[cowherder]

Thanks JF and congrats. I must of just missed it. Got out yesterday from 8to10pm in the bay. Got two, my first keeper of the year a 30 incher and one smaller a 18 incher. Released the keeper because it was my first. Always release the first one and most of the others. Caught on yellow sp. Good luck this weekend guys.

[jigfreak]

Thanks JF and congrats. I must of just missed it. Got out yesterday from 8to10pm in the bay. Got two, my first keeper of the year a 30 incher and one smaller a 18 incher. Released the keeper because it was my first. Always release the first one and most of the others. Caught on yellow sp. Good luck this weekend guys.


Yellow is a good color, one of my faves. Keep at it, you will get more. Good bunch of fish around right now.

[buckethead]

I have worked the ocean surf in moco most mornings. Been catching on and off. Today was better and got some stripers with sea lice to hit my white curly grub and 3/4 oz head. Lots of herring and gannets in the area. Seeing a few whales also. Glad to hear you guys in the back are doing ok. Too many crowds for me. I will keep up my morning walks in the surf.

[lostatsea]

buckethead I always enjoy your reports. No matter what happens in the world it seems like you are out there on the beach getting your exercise in away from the crowds. Best of health to you Sir!

[lostatsea]

Going to try for this weekend. prob will be crazy with the crowds, will try anyway and hope to have a report for you all.

[ledhead36]

We switched from clams n worms to bunker heads last night. Did ok, some nice keepers on the outgoing tide.

[baitstealer]

Nice going! thanks for the heads up about bunker.

[cowherder]

Gave it a try mon evening in the back from 6-7. Missed one hit, otherwise nada. Very windy!

[storminsteve]

Fished a bay area last night. Water was ice cold, zilch for me.

[cowherder]

rb waaaay in the back. Pretty nice night out, casted some plugs and rubber. Managed one short a 26 incher, and missed a few, on a yellow sp. Water seemed a bit dirty. The guy next to me said it was a lot dirtier yesterday.

[ledhead36]

Solid week of fishing in the bay. Mostly around high tide. We caught some nice stripers to 31pounds when the bunker came in. Released most of the big girls, kept a few smaller ones for the table. Bunker heads, gotta be fresh and bloody.

[bababooey]

^^^ Nice going you are on a winning streak!

[bababooey]

Why do you guys in the raritan always get those monsters before anyone else?:burn:
https://www.app.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/hook-line-and-sinker/2018/04/13/hook-line-sinker-nj-fishing-reports/510123002/

[ledhead36]

^^^ Nice going you are on a winning streak!

Thank you. not that easy dude. Last night we were fishing hard, and only got one small striper on a chunk. Have to put the time in. we are out just about every night except if its raining or snowing.

[lostatsea]

Great job, love the good reports mixed in withe the skunks. I tryed somoco on monday. Water was ok, saw some birds picking. Maybe they were eating those small sand crabs. Used storm shads, bucktail, and a few lures including a sp. One hit that didn't come tight. Thanks for the reports guys the hits and misses give me hope.

[porgy75]

Seems like I lost out on the great fishing. fb has exploded with pics of big stripers. Guessing that i should have been there yesterday lol.

[porgy75]

I did fish yesterday, and the skunk followed me home!

[storminsteve]

I fished yesterday, the skunk stuck to me as well. Wind was killer. :fishing:

[basshunter]

Seems like I lost out on the great fishing. fb has exploded with pics of big stripers. Guessing that i should have been there yesterday lol.

Sometimes yesterday is 2 or 3 days ago. Thats why they call it fishing and not catching. Thanks for the report. I gave it a try last night too. That NW wind was brutal. Only lasted 45 minutes. Shads and Sps, zippo.

[fishinmission78]

A crapload of small fat schoolies right before sunset. OC, island beach area. They hit small yellow mambo minnow and teaser. Appeared to be rainfish in the surf also. Dolphins out beyond

[buckethead]

fnm I saw the same thing for me the last 2 mornings. Have not been doing that well and all of a sudden the small fish started showing up. Sunrise, sunset, and change of tides have been good for me. Getting them on a 1/2 oz lead head with white curly grub tail. An early season favorite.

[storminsteve]

It seems like things are finally getting a little better. I got some last night. All little guys, still fun to catch. Blurple SP was the ticked for me in mon co. I found a very slow retrieve was the key to success for me.

[jigfreak]

^^ Similar experience. A few to 10#. Excruciatingly slow retrieve. MC in the back.

[wish4fish]

u guys cud use bunker too they are really hot for the bunker rite now. we bin doin good, bunker heads.

[baitstealer]

You are keeping me inspired fellas. Fished this morning so moco. Flat beach, not much life. One 16 incher on white shad. Nice morning.

[plugcrazy]

Back bay lbi area last night. lots of bait, spearing everywhere. Only 1 under limit striper for me on a yellow bomber. The bait amounts were awesome. May try again tonight or early this week.

[surferman]

Nice! Fishing the big D. Stopped this week because of the rains and high water. The striped bass bite has to turn back on though. Lots of shad being caught.

[fishinmission78]

Got into a couple shorts last night in the front. Close to ibsp. Fished 2 hours before sunset. Downsized it bc of the small bait and fish. I was fishing a 7' rod, light to medium action. Tossing 1oz ava jigs with red tube teaser. Quite a few landed, quick release. One double header as well. The small schoolies are there fellas and moving in and out of the surf.

[buckethead]

Same for me yesterday. I decided to try the afternoons for awhile. Was on the water from 6-7:30pm. About an hour before sun went down there was a fairly good flurry of activity. All smaller fish. Mine usually hit a white curly tail grub on a 1/2 oz jig. Yesterday I was throwing 1 oz because of the wind.

[buckethead]

Apparently lightning rarely strikes twice for my walks on the beach. Went out yesterday afternoon from 7-8pm after the rain. Only one hit and short landed. May try again today.

[seamonkey]

FW report, been fishing the delaware for shad above the CBB from shore. Using shad darts. Its been hit and miss. The last few times I did ok. Got a bunch earlier today even thought the water was a little dirty. The boat guys are slaying them, lined up across the river for the weekend shad tourney. If you want to catch shad now is the time. Also a few short stripers, not many though. All about the shad for the next few weeks. Good luck guys.

[captnemo]

Heads up a lot of larger stripers have left the bay and swimming up the hudson already. Hope you don't mind a boat report. Was out twice in the last 2 weeks on a friend's boat. Mine not in the water yet. We found a lot of life under the bunker schools early in the morning. Often the good action was done by 7am when other boats started showing up. Fish to 27lbs, on shads and swimming plugs. Kept a few, loaded with sea lice. The trollers are still getting them. That's a tactic used when the fish are not that concentrated. Good luck out there guys.

[clamchucker]

I drove to the ocean this morning to see how bad things were with this weather system. The winds are at least 20mph out of the SE, pretty strong. The water didn't look that bad. Give it a tide or 2 and it should be very fishable.

[hookset]

Sorry for the late reports. Been trekking to moco out back. The popular spots that everyone is hooting about. Newsflash you cant just go there and catch fish the tides and winds are important too. Got a few to 22lbs, released 95% of them. 2 weeks ago it was great. Last week it has been tough, more spotty, caught a few skunks as well. Most on big swimmers, metal lips and darters.

[jigfreak]

Nice!

[ledhead36]

Fished 4 hrs last nite incoming tide. Fresh bunker. Only one keeper bass 29 incher. Good/ bad news is blues are here. Got some 28 - 34 inchers on our bait rigs.

[cowherder]

alright great to hear it!!!!!!!:fishing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-hFbBhJyX8

[storminsteve]

alright great to hear it!!!!!!!:fishing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-hFbBhJyX8

Love this clip!

[storminsteve]

Fished moco last night, seemed a little slow to me. 7 to 9. outgoing tide, waded out, the whole shebang, only one short on a bone SP. A few other bumps. Not much going on where I was, the other guys the same. Too lazy to move around. Will try more places next time. So glad to hear about the blues, thanks for the intel. Good times ahead.

[buckethead]

Went against my better judgement and decided to fish the sunrise at the beach today. Not the best choice. no one home. May try this or tomorrow at end of day when I have been doing better. Noticed some little bait around past the breakers, possibly rainfish.

[ledhead36]

Good looking out for the rainfish bh. Starting to see birds in the channels in the bay diving on small bait. I know it's small because you can't see what it is when they come out of the water. Definitely not herring or anything bigger. Think bucket was right, Prob rainfish.

[ledhead36]

Sat night not so great for us. Sun night much better, the blues disappeared for a night and it was pure stripers. Got them on bunker heads and also chunks. Stripers to 19lbs. All fresh with sea lice. Only kept limit released the rest.

[baitstealer]

Wow 19 pounds nice! Great dedication!

[baitstealer]

I fished 2 times this weekend in the back of mon county. Got short stripers each time. The first time it was windy and only got one 19 incher before I gave in to the wind. The 2nd time on sunday night it was a little better. Got 3, longest was 26 inches. Like you guys said I saw sea lice on them. Missed a couple of hits too. Thank you for the tips and info.

[hookset]

Mixed results this weekend as well. Sat in the rain started out good, casting big wood. One nice striper 40". releasedThen it died. Went back Sunday and did better, lots of smaller fish but nothing as big as saturday. Big wood and gliders.

[ledhead36]

Wow 19 pounds nice! Great dedication!

Thanks dude. It's not all fun and games. We are getting ready to go out now. Fishing in the rain. Sometimes it's tough. Gotta go when the fish are there. Good luck and try to fish the end of day if you can manage it.

[fishgutz]

Good going gents save some for us!

[fishrich]

Fished OC out front 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Three of us caught about 20 stripers, micro size to 27". The wind turned hard north and killed the bite for the last hour we fished. All fish caught on plugs.

[fishinmission78]

Nice work guys. I fished the general area of ibsp yesterday before work. Only had an hour. Got some micros as well. Was casting an ava with a teaser.

[seamonkey]

Great to hear the schoolies are filling in! I fished the big D this weekend with bloods. Got some stripers and cats. My biggest was a 29 incher. There was a guy early morning walking off with a 20 pounder when I got there. He said he got it before sunrise on bloods as well.