Spring Run: Striped bass hit in the surf, black drum invade bays
The heat turned on and so did the striped bass in the surf and the black drum and kingfish in the bays.
It is just a few striped bass at the moment but now that the word is getting out, there will probably more surf fishermen trying. It's also safe to say that most if not all the fish in the surf right now are being caught with either clams of bloodworms.
Grumpy's Tackle in Seaside Park had a couple of reports of striped bass coming in from the beach starting Sunday with Ken Konopka and his daughter Laine from Tabernacle. The father and daughter duo reeled in a keeper fish that was in neighborhood of 7 or 8 pounds. The action continued Monday when air temps climbed into the 80s. two surf fishermen each brought a striped bass into the shop to be weighed. The fish were caught on clams.
Long Beach Island also saw its first surf-caught striped bass of the season. Surf City Bait & Tackle weighed in a 7.2-pound bass that was caught on bloodworms by Paul Donnelly.
The black drum are pretty thick and heavy in Barnegat Bay. Ray Kerico at Grumpy's Tackle said the fish are on the Barnegat Bay side of Seaside Parks. They're mixed in with the striped bass, A couple regulars released about 15 striped bass between 20 and 33 inches and landed a 36-inch drum, early Saturday evening.
The kingfish are popping up. Fisherman's Headquarters in Ship Bottom had a report from an angler who caught one in Manahawkin Bay. The fish was about a pound.
While the 80 degree air temps experienced Monday is not going to hold, the weather pattern for the next 10 days is pretty good. There will likely be some light rain in the middle of the week, but air temps will be right around 60 degrees.
More: Gale force winds threaten weekend striped bass fishing
The boat fishermen lost a couple days from the gale force winds that blew in. On Saturday the winds shifted to the west and cleaned things up a bit. Several boats sailed Sunday for blackfish and ling.
Capt. Bobby Quinn on the Ocean Explorer said the day started out nice and calm. The blackfish weren't in the mood to bite much but his fares saw a pretty decent action from the ling. Towards the end of the day the south winds kicked up and it got a little bumpy on the water.
When Jersey Shore native Dan Radel is not reporting the news, you can find him in a college classroom where he is a history professor. Reach him @danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ fishing: Warm sun brings out striped bass in surf, black drum in bays
