Posted on June 17, 2021
Bluefish solid in ocean off north Jersey Shore
While other party boats have been ignoring them, the Queen Mary from Point Pleasant has been jigging mostly small blues consistently. Today was very good, and there were more 5-7-pounders among them; After everyone is limited, Capt. Dave Riback switches to sea bass which have also been abundant.
More good news today is that surfcasters at Bay Head also got a brief shot at blues. Jim Gates said choppers were blasting peanut bunkers beyond the outer bar at low tide and never came in, but he and another angler each caught one in the 8-pound class by casting metal not far from the beach. Another one was hooked on a salted clam. Yesterday morning an angler who had been fishing clam regularly without success was rewarded with a 30-inch striper.
The sea bass fishery has been holding up despite all the pressure on it. Tank Matraxia fished aboard Tagged Fish out of Highlands yesterday and reported the boat was limited in 2 1/2 hours. There wasn’t much variety, but Tank had a small blue as part of a doubleheader — and was able to put ALS tags in a couple of small fluke and a blackfish.
The Golden Eagle from Belmar reported sea bass limits again today, but noted they are sold out Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Friday’s forecast is for southwest winds at 5-10 knots before going south at 15-20 in the afternoon.