By Nick Honachefsky
The striper movement has started in South Jersey. Droves of bass have begun to infiltrate Delaware Bay, and the upper bay areas have been lit up with bass activity.
This early-April push of linesiders is fantastic, and though most fish are in the 20- to 27-inch range, there are keepers up to 20 pounds in the mix to boot.
It hasn't only been the bay that is graced with linesider presence, as feeder rivers like the Mullica and Tuckahoe also are becoming stacked with short bass as they move in to spawn out.
"There's been a load of short bass, and I mean a lot of them, that have moved into the Mullica River and the Tuckahoe River," said Dave Showell of the Absecon Bay Sportsman, Absecon. "Guys are throwing out pompano-style two-hook rigs on the bottom, baiting up with clams or herring chunks. The high tide hours are giving up sometimes double-digit catches of bass in the 20- to 26-inch size."
Showell reports that some bass are hitting the 28- to 32-inch mark and he suspects the larger model bass are being caught during the night hours. Herring have also begun to run up into the rivers and reports had herring all the way up to Batsto this week.
Back bay bass and white perch have headlined the activity down in Ocean City, according to Ed Bronstein of Fin-Atics, Ocean City.
"The Tuckahoe River has had a lot of action on both white perch and short stripers, especially up by McNamara and Mosquito Landing," said Bronstein. "It's mainly been a bite on bloodworms, though perch and small bass are also eating up live killies."
Other spots getting some attention from striper hounds are Corson's Inlet, Beesily's Point and 51st Street by the old train bridge.
Water temperatures are still a chilly 45 degrees, so it's a blessing that bass are around and are actively feeding.
Interestingly, Bronstein has also had reports that tog fishing has been quite exemplary in the inshore backwaters, especially around piers, docks and off the sodbanks. Normally, tautog won't move in until mid to late spring, but this is certainly promising news for back bay toggers, as anglers can fish for them until April 30.
Solid striper reports came from along the Delaware Bayshore, said Matt Willis of Shag's Bait and Tackle in Salem.
"Bass are literally everywhere. Most are in the 20- to 27-inch range, but there is definitely a good share of keepers all around. Elsinboro Point and Penn's Grove have been two really hot spots," Willis said.
The shop's striper tourney proved larger linesiders are around as Zach Schafer of Salem nailed a 20-pound bass for first place; second was claimed by Chuck Wilson of Elmer and his 8-pound, 12-ounce bass; and third was won by Wade Simpkins of Elsinboro and his 8-pound, 10-ouncer.
Willis said the Fortescue area has been a hotbed of activity for both shorties and keepers for the boat guys and that bloodworms, fresh bunker and herring chunks are all tempting bass to feed. Inside Delaware Bay, Capt. Fred Ascoli of the Miss Chris fleet, Cape May, also is cleaning up on stripers as his trips into the bay have been putting on deck 30 to 60 bass a trip, ranging from shorts to 34 inches.
Offshore, wreck pounders will be happy to know that the black sea bassing is still running at full steam. Capt. Jim Cichhitti of the Starlight Fleet, Wildwood Crest, has been putting near-limit and limit catches together for his fares. Jin Kim of Queens, N.Y., scored his limit to a 7-pound pool winner, Pete Martine of Vineland had 20 humpies to 5 pounds, Al Cooley of Philadelphia decked 23 and Larry Baxter, also of Philadelphia, landed 22.
Other fares tallied up between 12 and 20 fish with a few tilefish in the mix to boot, including Umberto Riviera's 15-pounder and Steve Keenan's two 12-pounders. The Starlight started up its sea bass/tilefish combo trips on April 1. Call (609) 729-7776 for more details.
Some points to note -- The summer flounder season and regulations are now official. The season runs from May 23 to Sept. 4 with a minimum size of 18 inches and a bag limit of 6 fish. That season allows for fluke fishing on Memorial Day weekend, but only the Friday of Labor Day weekend if you want to make your plans now. ... The black sea bass minimum size is slated to raise from 12 inches to 12 1/2 inches fairly soon. Keep checking the Division of F&G website for the latest info. www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/njregs.htm#fishing
Spring has sprung. It's time to get fishin'!
