South Jersey Fishing Report

[captadamnj]

We've been fishing 3 out of the last 4 days out of Little Egg Inlet and it would seem that November finally arrived about 11 am yesterday. After fishing in t-shirts over the weekend, we started that way yesterday, but by mid-morning an approaching front brought a 10 degree temperature drop along with a brisk NE breeze.

We're currently still chasing sea bass 15-20 miles offshore. With the great weather on Saturday, decided to go 20 and found some nice fish. Not the quantities of fish we've seen, but excellent quality, with the captain even chipping in to put one 5 1/2 pounds in the box. Water temp. was 60 degrees and we were hounded by bluefish all day long, bringing up at least 25-30 sea bass heads. We tried jigging and dropping down some chunk baits, but it seems they are really spoiled on those sea bass. Made a stop inshore to catch our 6 person limit of tog. Total catch for the day was over 75 keeper fish nearly filling two coolers.

Indian summer continued on Sunday with the best ratio of keepers to throwbacks of the year, maybe only a throwback to every keeper. We had even greater numbers of bluefish today. I rigged up a heavier pole with one sea bass hook and one wire leader blue fish rig for Chris who really wanted to put one of those blues in the boat. Drop it to the bottom, hook a sea bass, reel it up half way, and let the bluefish slam the wire leader and fish on! He caught a couple that way. A 6 person limit of tog on the way home topped off a 178 quart cooler with over 125 fish.

We headed back offshore Tuesday, but with the total lack of wind, it was tough staying put, leading to large numbers of dog fish. Chris did catch his bluefish, though, and once the weather changed mid-morning we were able to stay put and get a decent catch of nice sea bass, especially considering only two guys spent most of their day sea bass fishing as the other two focused on catching blues. The building NE wind held off long enough for us to make one more stop to catch our 4-person tog limit, including Chris' biggest, nearly 6 pounds. Another good day.

It was a good weekend for striper fishing in Little Egg Inlet again this weekend, with some big fish taken. Judging by the amount of bait I'm seeing headed offshore, I'm optimistic this shot of colder air will have the bass making up nicely off the beach within the next week.

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Capt. Adam
Karen Ann II

[WEAKFISH]

Capt.:

Thanks for the report. Haven't caught a tog since I was a kid. They really taste good. Glad to hear the blues are back. IMHO they are the toughest fish pound for pound in the ocean. Ran into that same problem you had with the bass several years ago, was bringing in some nice weakfish and several came up as just heads. Nasty fish those blues!!

[Capt LB]

I fished last Friday and Saturday. Best 2 days of striper fishing I have had in a long time. I ran charters from 1990-2001. Got bought out and just bought a boat to get back into it. Couldnt stay away more than 2 seasons. Anyway used to run charters and striper fish 5-6-7 fish up to 35". Last weekend Friday I had 12 fish. from 2 slots to a 52lb cow and 34 lb cow on Friday. sat same place boated 15fish to 45" 30lbs. This fishery is phenominal. I dont think it has gotten out yet but they talk about Chesapeke and NY harbor. They have good fishing but we have by far the largest bass population. I was at the marina today ( Cape May) and watched my neighbor unload 6 bass all 35"-45". For anyone who can get down or up here its on. The bite is on. Im leaving in a few hours for the boat and will be pulling out at 6am. Its not Tuna fishing but its almost as good.Later Capt LB

38' Ronin Sportfish

[WEAKFISH]

Capt LB:

I fished the rips a couple of years ago off Cape May Point. Used live eels with circle hooks, not a striper on the boat smaller than 20 lbs. Had one about 35lbs. But 52 lbs!!! WOW!!! I agree, the bass population is huge here.