New Jersey Fishing Reports

The Delaware River ran as low as Bill from Brinkman’s Bait & Tackle in Philadelphia probably ever saw, he said. But the algae, not the water level, was the difficulty for anglers. The algae kept fouling hooks, and that made fishing in the fast waters challenging enough, but angling in the slack waters was nearly impossible. Still, lots of smallmouth bass were reeled in from the river. One angler picked up some around the islands at Yardley in a short trip. A few others landed the fish a bit farther upstream along the islands above the Route 95 Bridge. An angler who tried smallmouth fishing farther upriver at Washington’s Crossing said the angling was difficult between the swimmers and the algae. But another hooked 15 to 30 per trip at Stockton up the river farther. At the next stretch upstream, one angler at the walk bridge at Bull’s Island grabbed 20 smallies on one trip and 32, his best catch of the year so far, a couple of days later. At Point Pleasant, farther up the river, another angler put the brakes on 25 smallies on a trip. Minnows caught the smallmouths best up and down the river, but the anglers also scored with lures including watermelon-colored, rubber grubs, Zoom grubs, Rebel crawfish lures and tube lures. Good smallmouth fishing also came from the Schuylkill River as anglers waded, often fishing with minnows, crawfish, rubber grubs or top-water lures. Also on the Schuylkill, small striped bass, catfish and carp kept one customer plenty busy downstream from the art museum. Bill was surprised that all these smallmouth anglers on the Delaware rounded up no other fish. They only talked about fighting smallmouths, no catfish, striped bass, white perch or rock bass. But plenty of cats and perch were piled up along the lower river. Fishing for them was best in the mornings and late afternoons, and even the catfishing dropped off during mid-day heat. Baits like bloodworms, herring, chicken livers, shrimp, clams and bagels took the cats. Lots of small striped bass 10 to 15 inches were played in the lower river at Linden and Station avenues on bloodworms. Largemouth bass anglers on the lower river seemed to fish in the afternoons to beat the heat. But only one customer talked about fishing for the largemouths, and anglers were actually scarce on the river during the height of summer. Bill himself fished the river one day, didn’t mention where, but only saw one other angler, a boater, along the 5-mile stretch in the 7-hour trip. Bill beat a bunch of smallmouths, though. The heat put the kibosh on a lot of the largemouth bass fishing at the lakes. The bass fishing really slowed at Lake Luxembourg at Core Creek Park. Three anglers who fished there only managed two small bass on several trips. But others waxed plenty of bluegills and yellow perch at the dam on meal worms, earthworms, small minnows, shiners and small jigs. Lake Nockamixon became shallow and full of algae. Fishing there with anything from crank baits to jigs to minnows was difficult because of the algae. But top-water lures could be fished. Small largemouth bass, rock bass and bluegills were caught, but nothing to speak of. One angler who fished there pelted three largemouths 9 inches apiece on rubber worms and lizards, “out off the pads,” Bill said, after sunup, missing six bass before sunup in the pads. Another picked two largemouths 2 and 3 pounds, decent-sized, right in the pads on a weedless Spro frog. No customers talked about fishing any of the lakes or other freshwater in New Jersey.

NEW JERSEY

North Jersey

Six walleyes and six smallmouth bass were pounded at Monksville Reservoir on one trip, and eight largemouth bass and some other fish were belted at Lake Hopatcong on another, said Capt. Dave Vollenweider from Live to Fish Guide Service from Montvale. The trip for walleyes and smallmouths at Monksville fished in the middle of the night until morning during the middle of last week, and Dave usually fishes for walleyes in the darkest hours of night. That’s when the marble eyes move into the shallows near the shoreline, feeding on baitfish or herring that also come up from the deep then to forage on zooplankton. The big walleyes crash the bait and go wild. Six walleyes is a great catch, and one was a throwback, but the rest were 3 ½ to 5 ½ pounds, sizeable fish. They were mostly dusted on Rapala F18 lures, but one of the 5-pound walleyes walloped a Rapala Risto Rap, a lure that might be discontinued. The walleye fishing is a unique, exciting trip, haunting the waters on the graveyard shift. Anglers will hear the herring begin to slap the water surface then start hearing walleyes crashing the bait, then the game is on! Anglers fish top-water lures to drill them. When this trip was finished with the walleyes, fishing for smallmouth bass began. Most of the smallies weighed 2 to 2 ½ pounds, healthy sized, except one that weighed a pound and another that was 8 inches. Dave chose a Bomber Badonk-a-Donk lure, a top-water, to catch them. The lure is made for saltwater fishing, but Dave thought it would work for freshwater, and it did. Walleye trips usually depart the waters when the sun rises, but cloud cover moved in, keeping the bright sun off the waters, so the trip stayed out after sunup, continuing to fish for smallmouths with success in the morning. Capt. Joe Shastay Jr. from New York Harbor Sportfishing took the largemouth bass trip with Dave on Hopatcong on Sunday, launching at 10 a.m. Dave was concerned about summertime, pleasure-boating traffic, usually avoiding the busiest times for traffic on all the lakes. But this is when Shastay wanted to fish, and traffic indeed was horrendous. Probably 100 boats were anchored at Byram Bay, and other boats kicked up seas like 6-foot rollers on the lake. But the fish bit! Eight largemouth bass to 2 pounds were axed on Senko worms fished at the docks, and a good-sized rock bass and a crappy were also tied into. Though this trip met success, Dave noted that many of the recreational lakes, like Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake, can turn into a party atmosphere during daytime in summer, but become great fisheries in the middle of the night. The fish like walleyes really come out after night settles. Dave’s walleye fishing should last through the month, usually does. Waters were warming, and Monksville was around 83 degrees on the trip at mid week, and that was in the middle of the heat wave with highs around 100 degrees. But the walleyes usually continue to feed in the shallows in the middle of the night this month and maybe even into August. Once the walleye fishing tapers off, Dave’s trips will turn all attention on musky fishing, his favorite. In past years he was already turning most attention to muskies by this time of the season, but the walleye fishing’s been so good that he took advantage. Dave likes to work big lures for big muskies, and the predators will attack small lures, but Dave likes the “big lure, big fish” philosophy. Whatever does pounce on a big lure, the fish is going to be a whopper. Like in largemouth bass tournaments when many anglers might work a smaller lure, he enjoys fishing something like an 8-inch rubber worm. Any fish that tries to eat the worm is going to be large. Live to Fish Guide Service guides trips for trout, muskies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleyes, crappies, chain pickerel, panfish, yellow perch, white perch, carp and more. Lakes fished include Greenwood Lake, Lake Hopatcong, Monksville Reservoir, Echo Lake, Mountain Lake and Furnace Lake. Rivers fished include the Flatbrook, Pequest, Paulinskill and Ramapo.

A few, not many, large striped bass and channel catfish began to be hauled from the Delaware River, probably because rains, not much, slightly raised and muddied the waters a moment, said Bill from Bill’s Bait & Tackle in Phillipsburg. Joseph Samson, Holland Township, whaled a 29-pound 4-ounce 44-inch striper from the river. Tyrone Smull, Easton, dragged in a 12-pound channel cat, the biggest Bill saw so far this season, from the waters, earning a New Jersey Skillful Angler Award. Jason Nolan, Phillipsburg, pulled from the river a 5-pound channel cat and a 5-pound 8-ounce flathead catfish, an invasive species the state encourages anglers to kill, so the flatheads don’t take over the river from native fish. The stripers and channel cats usually bite when rough weather raises the river, churning up the waters. The river’s been so low in this dry summer, and the rains that fell this past week didn’t last long, but they were more than usually fell this season. The river cleared up quickly, though. The stripers are usually caught best in the rough weather at night on eels, and the channel cats are usually a by-catch. Small stripers chomped in the river during the daytime like usual during the warm season until Labor Day. Chicken livers are the best bait, but other baits like nightcrawlers and minnows can work. Smallmouth bass, small ones, milled about the river in a healthy population, jumping on leeches, medium shiners, tube lures, rubber curly tails and such. Not much was heard about catches at Merrill Creek Reservoir, and many anglers avoided fishing the waters in the heat. Only catches of small fish, including chain pickerel, smallmouth bass and trout, were heard about from Merrill. Crappies probably kept biting at Spruce Run Reservoir, though no customers talked about the fishing lately. Trout fishing went well on the streams like the Musconetcong and Paulinskill rivers. Some anglers think trout should be left alone during the heat of summer that is difficult for the fish to survive in. But other anglers fish for them. Some anglers only have the chance to fish for them during summer vacations. Others specifically target trout after the crowds from spring and fall stockings departed. Other anglers could have other reasons to fish. Anglers concerned about trout surviving in the warmth have a point, but some anglers have other opinions. Last but not least, Sam Dockerty, Phillipsburg, checked in a 3-poundd 12-ounce chain pickerel from White Lake.

Boat traffic made waters constantly bouncy at Lake Hopatcong on a trip Sunday, said Kevin from Ramsey Outdoor in Ledgewood. But he and a friend hooked largemouth bass and rock bass, one or the other or both, at every spots fished on the outing. Kevin nabbed two largemouths, and his friend totaled five, and Kevin mostly fished with 4-inch Keitech Swing Impact paddle tails, and his buddy worked black-and-purple jig-and-pigs. Deep waters off docks and deep waters at weeds were the productive spots on the 4 to 7 p.m. trip. Hopatcong’s anglers rustled up walleyes in the dead of night like 12 p.m. or 2 a.m., along the points near deep waters, and livelined herring were key. A few hybrid striped bass, sporadic catches, but a few, were angled at Spruce Run Reservoir.

The lake’s fishing was on the slower side in the heat, but some catches were socked, said Laurie from Dow’s Boat Rentals in Lake Hopatcong. Smallmouth bass and crappies punched small jigs. Tommy Fernandez rapped a 7-pound 1-ounce hybrid striped bass and smaller ones off the yacht club at Bertrand Island. Roman Pera knuckled in walleyes to a 7-pound 12-ouncer and a 3-pound 10-ounce largemouth bass on herring and top-water lures in the evening. For walleyes, fish waters off points like Chestnut Point and Elba Point. Chain pickerel prowled in 20 to 25 feet off Pine Tree Point.

Central Jersey

Smallmouth bass offered up alright fishing on the South Branch of the Raritan River, said Nick from Efinger Sporting Goods in Bound Brook. He rustled them up, and big, colorful sunnies, on a Mepp’s spinner. Okay smallmouth fishing was also honked at Spruce Run Reservoir and Round Valley Reservoir. Anglers said largemouth bass cooperated at the farm ponds. Many tossed Senko worms or spinner baits. Not much was heard about trout fishing in the heat, but if anglers trout fished on the streams, early mornings and dusk were times to go. Some trouters believe the fish should be left alone when warm waters stress trout during this season. If anglers do catch them, they should take care to exhaust the fish as little as possible, should make effort to revive the fish once landed, and should avoid removing the trout from the waters that would really do them in.

Manasquan Reservoir’s hybrid striped bass fishing was heating up, and deep-diving lures fished 6 feet down beat up the catches first thing in the mornings and before the reservoir closes at the end of the day, said Dennis from Murphy’s Hook House in Toms River. Largemouth bass were sometimes rubber-wormed in the deep waters along the rough bottom of the impoundment. A couple of customers scared up a few largemouths at Lake Riviera from the dirt road, all on shiners. The fishing was slow, but a bucketmouth could be coaxed to bite here and there. Small chain pickerel 12 to 14 inches actively smacked killies at Lakehurst’s Horicon Lake, a shallow lake but one that stays relatively cool. Pickerel fishing was similar at Trilco Lake, all near the Parkway. The Toms River cools Trilco, and Trilco really is part of the Toms. Trilco won’t be found on the map, but it’s the stretch of the river between the Parkway and Route 166 in South Toms River. Locals call the waters Trilco after the old Trilco Building Supply that used to be there. Carp could be wrestled from Trilco on dough balls, cornmeal mix or bread, and chumming with corn could help. A few white perch showed up from someplace, began to nibble, at Forge Pond underneath the Route 70 Bridge on drifted killies.

On the Delaware River catfish to 8 pounds, okay catches, could be drummed up, said Sean from Harry’s Army and Navy in Robbinsville. Fish with tackle like a rig made with a three-way swivel with the line attached to one leg, a weight tied to another and a leader with a hook on the other. Sink the rig on the bottom with a bait like a chunk of oily baitfish like herring, chicken livers or worms. Catch Ross Marine Center in Trenton’s <a href="http://www.rossmarineservice.com/" target="_blank">Delaware River Roundup Catfish Tournament</a> on Saturday. The captain’s meeting will be held at Harry’s on Friday. Smallmouth bass were slugged on the river from Frenchtown to upstream. Customers scored well on largemouth bass at Lake Assunpink on Senko worms.

South Jersey

Largemouth bass anglers did a job on the fish on the Delaware River, and none of the bass was huge, but the anglers often limited out, said Rick from Big Timber Bait & Tackle in Brooklawn. They mostly chucked out spinner baits, buzz baits or plastics like Brush Hogs. Rick will hold an open Buddy Bass Tournament on Sunday from Gloucester City Marina on the river. Anglers can call the shop for info or stop by to fill out an application. They can also register at the tournament that morning until about 7:30 a.m. The contest begins at 6 a.m., and Rick holds largemouth tournaments once a month at the marina during the season, and, again, anglers can call the shop for info. Smallmouth bass began to be caught from the river. Malaga Lake doled out notable catches of crappies and largemouths. Rick saw a photo of four big crappies from Wilson Lake. In saltwater summer flounder fishing apparently improved and went well on Delaware Bay at places like near the E.P. Tower and along Flounder Alley, Miah Maull and the 19 buoy. Croakers were yet to move into the bay, as far as Rick heard. The ocean off Delaware at the Old Grounds and Reef 11 produced fair numbers of keeper flounder. Kingfish were beached from the surf at Cape May. A few bluefin tuna were clobbered at 19-Fathom Lump, and a few yellowfin tuna came from 30 fathoms. Hudson Canyon was the source of all the reports about catches of yellowfins at the canyons farther from shore. Big Timber carries tackle and baits for fishing on all waters from freshwater to the bays to offshore.

Several catches of largemouth bass from 1 ½ pounds to 3 ½ pounds were heard about from Puppyland Pond on shiners, said Ed from Creek Keepers Bait & Tackle in Blackwood. Blackwood Lake was another spot for largemouths on the same bait. Puppyland Pond and the spillway across the road from Blackwood Lake are always places to bring kids to angle for panfish like sunnies. A meal worm under a bobber is an excellent choice for bait. If anglers are looking for chain pickerel, New Brooklyn Lake is usually a top producer. No customers talked about the lake recently, but anglers were scarce in the heat, and Saturday’s storms kept many from stopping by on the way to trips.

Chain pickerel and largemouth bass could be tugged in from the local lakes, said Lou from Sportsman’s Outpost in Williamstown. Minnows will make the fish take a swipe, and some anglers use artificials. Senko worms were the popular choice, but other soft baits like rubber lizards or crawfish were used. In saltwater, Delaware Bay boaters reeled in summer flounder, maybe seven, eight or ten per trip, mostly shorts and an occasional keeper. The shop carries freshwater tackle and baits but also saltwater tackle and frozen baits like squid and mackerel for flounder.