Bluefin tuna and striped bass are hitting well at Jersey shore points

This hefty 53-inch bluefin tuna was caught off the Point Pleasant ocean area. Contributed photo

Since local freshwater fishing is essentially over for now, but if you don’t mind bundling-up and heading to the New Jersey shore you can get into some big, good eating, bluefin tuna and striped bass fishing. 

According to our fishing reporters from On the Water Magazine, striped bass fishing remains red hot. Fish of all sizes are hitting shads, flutter spoons and topwater baits from Sandy Hook down to Island Beach State Park. 

The bluefin bite is also excellent with giants and regulation-size fish reportedly caught within just a few miles from shore. 

Rick Hebert, at Tackle World in Rochelle Park, said the bluefin bite has been on fire. The hot spots are down south. Hebert goes on to say stripers are all over the place, north and south, with boats getting the best action. 

Danny Stolba, at Fish Tail Bait and Tackle in Carteret, said anglers are still catching stripers in the Arthur Kill and have switched to frozen bunker as fresh has been hard to come by. But, he adds, the bass don’t seem too picky with the best bite occurring when the tide switches to incoming. 

My ole buddy Phil Sciortino, at the Tackle Box in Hazlet, said they’re seeing some of the best striper action of the year right now. Fishing with his son last week he witnessed miles and piles of stripers about a half mile off Sandy Hook. Bass of all sizes, with the biggest up to 25 pounds, were hitting flutter spoons, shads and topwater lures. The fish were stacked from the surface down to 60 feet with spoons getting hit long before they reached the bottom. 

Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch, reported it’s been a pick of bass on the beaches using Avas and teasers. The night bite too has been improving. He was out chasing bluefin and said striper readings under the boat were remarkable. 

Ted Imfeld, at The Reel Seat in Brielle, said bluefin are two to six miles offshore and are all over Barnegat Ridge, the Shark River Reef and in the shipping lanes. Stripers too are all over the place with boaters getting the most action. There were also bass on the beach to the south of the Manasquan Inlet that are falling for Ava  teasers and topwater lures. 

Scott Thomas, at Grump’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park, reported plenty of stripers in the surf that are hitting sand eel imitations from Tsunami, Joe Biggs and Bill Hurley Avas. with teasers and needlefish are also working. Fish are of mix sizes up to 20 pounds. He also had excellent bluefin tuna reports with the Shark River Reef a current hot spot. 

Capt. Pete Sykes of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing out of Belmar, said striper fishing keeps getting better. High hook last Wednesday was 27 stripers with everyone getting their limit. He added that bluefin have been blowing-up alongside the bass as well. He’s fishing north and south of the Shark River Inlet. 

So if you have some venison in the freezer and could use some bass or tuna in there as well, the fishing will be cold temperature wise, but the fishing should be hot. 

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