The salt...

[46er]

Stripers are really turned on early this year, looking like a good sand eel year with great weather a bonus.

[coaltrout]

so far ive been out once, last sunday. no action and tried out front. the surf was nice at least.

[Johnw]

In my opinion, the striper season has got off to a slow start. Reports of the large, migrating fish are just starting where some years they arrive in early to mid September. Water still a warm 63 degrees here in Monmouth County

[Rusty Spinner]

In my opinion, the striper season has got off to a slow start. Reports of the large, migrating fish are just starting where some years they arrive in early to mid September. Water still a warm 63 degrees here in Monmouth County

Agreed, late start and not an early start. When I was a young man, we were banging stripers by late September when the mullet runs began. I was out Sunday drifting eels in a buddy's boat and landed a personal best 47" bass. She was released to make more bass....but fishing was very slow that day for all boats. My buddy on the Cape is catching big numbers, so they remain well north of us still. Makes sense given all this warm weather we've gotten.

[46er]

Us southern folks are having a blast off the beach; Nov/Dec into Jan the last few years for the momma fish. Right now Ava's with a tail is all you need. A few giant bluefin have been seen really close in out of casting. That would be something

[Rusty Spinner]

Lots of sand eels and bunker now off NJ beaches. Blitzing bass are starting to show along with birds diving into the melee.

[Johnw]

In my part of the salt world it is big fish offshore (boat neeed) and some smaller fish in the surf. Whether offshore or in the surf it is sand eels that are doing the catching

[Rusty Spinner]

In my part of the salt world it is big fish offshore (boat neeed) and some smaller fish in the surf. Whether offshore or in the surf it is sand eels that are doing the catching

I love sand eels because they are easily imitated by flies.

[46er]

Tons of bunker around lately with whales putting on a daily show darn close to the beach, picture by my Son.

[46er]

With the ice gone, White Perch are readily available in just about any creek/river running into a bay. Fun catching, good eating; took home 5 yesterday afternoon thanks to some short lived nice weather.

[robtf]

In my opinion, the striper season has got off to a slow start. Reports of the large, migrating fish are just starting where some years they arrive in early to mid September. Water still a warm 63 degrees here in Monmouth County

John,

How did the season go this year? Weird fall with the weather, our backbay fishing was basically horrible this year (where I have a boat with my brother in law) due to winds and muddy water.

[46er]

Still catching in the Toms. But it is definitely cold out. White perch should be around by now.

[46er]

Toms is now frozen over except near Huddy Park. Warmth is on the way.

[robtf]

I’ve heard guys in my club talking about finding the salt line for white perch, but I haven’t fished much for WP, very inexperienced. Does that matter for your fishing throughout the year, I assume the Toms is all salt in the lower reaches, not sure where the salt/fresh line meanders or how far up.

Btw, I’m talking about south jersey, Mullica river system and nearby creeks. Just asking about your fishing up in the Toms area.

[martalus]

I asked chatgpt where to find white perch in the winter in the Toms river-here is the response that tracks with what your club said about the salt/fresh water transition:

White perch (Morone americana) are relatively hardy fish that can tolerate colder water, so in winter they tend to move to areas of Toms River where conditions are more stable and food is available. Based on general patterns for estuarine rivers in New Jersey:

Deeper channels: White perch often congregate in the deeper main river channels where the water is slightly warmer and more stable than shallow flats. Look near the navigational channels of Toms River.

Slow-moving or backwater areas: They can also be found in slower-moving coves, backwaters, and near structures like submerged logs, bridge pilings, or docks.

Mouth of tributaries and tidal pools: Areas where smaller streams enter the river may concentrate baitfish, attracting white perch.

Near salinity transitions: Toms River is tidal, so white perch often hold where freshwater and brackish water mix, especially near the lower sections closer to Barnegat Bay.

In winter, water temperatures drop, and white perch become less active, usually staying near the bottom in deeper or sheltered spots rather than feeding aggressively in open water. Fishing tends to be better with bait that is presented near the river bottom, like minnows, worms, or small jigs.

[46er]

I found the most reliable spots are where creeks and rivers enter the bay. For the Toms, north or south shore, that would be the Huddy Park area and any stream that enters the Toms downstream of there, quite a few places to select from. Best bait is grass shrimp if you can find it; I use UL with spinners, spoons and small flatfish, all no barb single hook.

[robtf]

I found the most reliable spots are where creeks and rivers enter the bay. For the Toms, north or south shore, that would be the Huddy Park area and any stream that enters the Toms downstream of there, quite a few places to select from. Best bait is grass shrimp if you can find it; I use UL with spinners, spoons and small flatfish, all no barb single hook.

Nice, might have mentioned a friend loves to fish a local creek for them using “anything shiny”… he goes using a small john boat and casts the shoreline which is relatively deep (4’+) in most sections of this creek. The top of the creek is a spillway from the Batsto river so there is a fresh/salt line based on rain/flows, and tide stages.

I never fished the Toms salt areas, just the TCA and surrounding stocked area

[robtf]

I asked chatgpt where to find white perch in the winter in the Toms river-here is the response that tracks with what your club said about the salt/fresh water transition:

White perch (Morone americana) are relatively hardy fish that can tolerate colder water, so in winter they tend to move to areas of Toms River where conditions are more stable and food is available. Based on general patterns for estuarine rivers in New Jersey:

Deeper channels: White perch often congregate in the deeper main river channels where the water is slightly warmer and more stable than shallow flats. Look near the navigational channels of Toms River.

Slow-moving or backwater areas: They can also be found in slower-moving coves, backwaters, and near structures like submerged logs, bridge pilings, or docks.

Mouth of tributaries and tidal pools: Areas where smaller streams enter the river may concentrate baitfish, attracting white perch.

Near salinity transitions: Toms River is tidal, so white perch often hold where freshwater and brackish water mix, especially near the lower sections closer to Barnegat Bay.

In winter, water temperatures drop, and white perch become less active, usually staying near the bottom in deeper or sheltered spots rather than feeding aggressively in open water. Fishing tends to be better with bait that is presented near the river bottom, like minnows, worms, or small jigs.

Yes over winter guys have just mentioned looking for them in their “wintering holes”. Some of the guys know these creeks like the back of their hand. The old “Collin’s cove” used to be a go to spot for shore bound ice fishing, back when such winters happened.

[46er]

Yes over winter guys have just mentioned looking for them in their “wintering holes”. Some of the guys know these creeks like the back of their hand. The old “Collin’s cove” used to be a go to spot for shore bound ice fishing, back when such winters happened.

Honachefsky did a show on the Mullica and Collins Cove with many more on UTube. There are virtually thousands of places along the banks of the marshlands to choose from, in the Tuckerton area 7 bridges road is just one. You can probably find them in coastal Monmouth and Middlesex counties as well.

https://youtu.be/xVeujIOEtCQ?si=IhPu5mBw-y6y39Xx

[robtf]

I know and have tried a few, but not located any in numbers. During the winter, collecting bait (grass shrimp and or small minnow) then fishing for perch, is a great way to pass a day

Btw I never knew anyone fishing for white perch in MoCo, though I’d think they’d be in there somewhere.