New Jersey Fishing Reports

Captain Larry Conley Capt. Larry Conley has been fishing since he was as young as he can remember. As a kid, he fished the Barnegat Bay area near Toms River, often with his grandpop. As he grew older, he competed in numerous largemouth bass tournaments with his dad. He eventually bought a boat and began fishing all the time, and he started concentrating on saltwater fishing from the Manasquan River to the nearby ocean in the late 80s. About that time, he also began fishing the Delaware River’s striper run. Larry became a captain in the late 90s and began chartering in the Manasquan River area and on the Delaware.

Reel-Ality
Sportfishing Charters

The best way to learn this fishing—and the best chance to hook up!—is to book a charter with Reel-Ality Sportfishing during this short season. There’s nothing like hands-on experience, and the season is so brief that anglers who book a charter can spend the time catching instead of making mistakes. And don’t wait, because the fish soon depart, and dates for trips are at a premium during the weeks-long migration. When the river’s striper run ends, Reel-Ality heads back to Brielle and starts fishing from northern Barnegat Bay to the Manasquan River to the ocean. Fishing for stripers in the ocean will be first on the menu from Brielle. Bluefish will also be targeted in the ocean, and eventually so will fluke, sea bass and tog. Reel-Ality also specializes in fishing the Manasquan River estuary for its famous fishing for weakfish, fluke, stripers, tog and winter flounder. In summer and fall the boat also sails for tuna and mahi mahi at near-shore spots such as the Mudhole. Charters are on tap for all these species.

Cell/boat: 215-932-8411.
Work: 215-547-1775.

Editor’s note: The run of striped bass up the Delaware River, or the “Big D,” is one of the first harbingers of spring fishing. Big, mature breeders school upstream to spawn, one of the first migrations of fish to Jersey waters during the new season, and a brief period that offers bicep-building fishing. The fishing is generally catch-and-release, because these magnificent creatures, one of the hardier game fish that can withstand being released better than many species, become legal to keep in the river on June 1, about the time the migration is finished.

Although Capt. Larry Conley of Reel-Ality Sportfishing usually sails from Brielle along the New Jersey coast, he targets this inland fishery every year, and his customers have a blast. Capt. Larry was asked to give the scoop about fishing the Big D’s striper run, and here’s what he said:

First things first: In mid-March I start preparing: re-spooling reels, checking tackle and ordering the gear that I’ll need to catch the stripers. I’ll talk more about specific tackle in a moment, but don't forget to check the regulations. Only circle hooks can be used, and red, non-offset circle hooks work best, and Sabiki rigs that you’ll use to catch herring for bait can only include three hooks. Get prepared before the migration starts, so you’re ready to fish during the short season.

Time of year, and not water temperature, seems to be the factor that starts the run, and the end of April usually brings the bait fish and stripers for several weeks, before they return downstream to Delaware Bay and the ocean after the spawn.

Shad and then herring will migrate up the river first. The power plant at Trenton produces warm water pouring out, and that is where the first shad and herring will be caught.

When you look for the herring to catch for bait, use sonar to find them. Drift and cast with Sabiki rigs, one person on each side of the boat, jigging straight down at various depths until hooking the bait fish. When you start catching them, anchor, and, if you can, fill the livewell with 20 to 40 herring before starting to fish for stripers.

Herring must never be frozen, even when you’ll be chunking or chumming. When chunking the herring, cut them into three pieces: head, center and tail. Tails go right into the water. Heads are hooked in the bottom jaw first and out between the center of the eyes. Center chunks are hooked in the back at the dorsal fin. When fishing with live herring, they get hooked above the eyes. The baits are hooked just until the barb comes out.

A charter on the Reel-Ality lands a big striper during the spring run on the Delaware River .

To catch the bass, I use line-counter reels, because the line counter helps a lot with knowing how much line to pay out to find the fish. I’ll fill the reel with 20-pound test, tie the end to a swivel, and then tie on 3 feet of 20-pound fluorocarbon leader attached to a red, 7/0 circle hook. I’ve caught the fish with anywhere from 8 to 200 feet of line off the spool.

Keep the reel in free-spool with the clicker on. It’s best if each angler holds the rod instead of placing it in a rod holder, so they can follow the herring baits around the boat while drifting.

Drifting is best done when winds and tides are going in the same direction. Look for a part of the river that holds these conditions.

Otherwise anchor the boat. We anchor when the wind is not too heavy and the tide is outgoing, and we fish two live herring off each cockpit corner and one chunk off the center rod holder with a slip sinker, usually about 1 ounce, or a fish-finder rig. I then use two rods with chunks on the port and starboard rod holders. All reels are in free spool with clickers on, ready to rock.

Everything is set and ready for the stripers. Someone’s herring will get nervous, and then the line flies off. Point the rod straight at the line, lock up the bail, and wait for that striper to pull your arms forward. Then slowly, very slowly, pull the rod up and crank the handle if you can. NEVER SET THE HOOK. Fish on!

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