Despite some days with extraordinary winds as weather fronts moved through the Beach Haven area, warmer temperatures resembling summer have finally arrived for the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association.
This weather trend has brought summer type species of fish to add to the menu of spring offerings that are still hanging around. Striped bass action continues to tighten lines up with schoolie sized bass in the bay waters and inlets, while fish over 40-inches are being caught in the ocean and even from the beaches of Long Beach Island.
The bluefish and black drumfish action has not been as good as was anticipated, but it is still strong enough to make trying for them worthwhile. The action on the inshore reefs and other structure is dominated with the black sea bass action along with some ling and occasional codfish.
Captain Gary Dugan had a party out doing some reef fishing on the “Irish Jig” despite some unfavorable weather conditions. He said the group made a great showing and put a respectable number of keeper sea bass in the fish box.
Other fish showing up to make things interesting are blowfish, kingfish, some shark action, and even a few weakfish.
Captain Brett Taylor of Reel Reaction Sportfishing has been fishing practically every day and scoring on fluke in the bay, striped bass around the inlet waters, and good catches of black sea bass in the ocean. The Critelli family had a bay charter and first picked up a decent number of stripers including three using bonus tags. They then jigged up some 25 fluke, keeping four for the table.
Another trip Denise Theiler along with her daughter Madison and friend Shawn caught over 30 fluke on a half-day trip. They went home with four keepers to 20-inches. Captain Brett said much of the catching was in just 2-feet of water.
Captain Brett stresses good social distancing on all trips and requires facemasks on all charters but allow them to be temporarily removed for pictures.