While we’re still in hunting seasons, and freshwater fishing is virtually tough because of low water conditions, and ice fishing is still not available locally, the only viable fishing action is occurring at the Jersey shore.

As reported by On the Water Magazine, striper fishing at the shore remains red hot despite the freezing temperatures. Boats are having no trouble getting limits and bonus fish while surfcasters continue to pick bass all along the coast. Same goes for bluefin tuna. Blackfishing has improved at the inlets and on the wrecks, reefs and rock piles. More keepers and limits have been reported including a 17-pound tog caught last week on the Sea Owl charter.

Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet, said stripers are still the story with an epic bite going on right now in the ocean with Diamond jigs being the hot lures. He also checked in very big bluefish. Anglers are picking fish off the beaches of Sandy Hook with big hickory shad in the mix. Sciortino added that big bluefin tuna are around as well with NLBN straight tails accounting for some fish. Blackfishing is on the upswing with good reports coming from the Rattlesnake and 17 Fathom.

Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait & Tackle in Sea Bright, reported that bass are on the beach in Long Branch and there’s loads of bass in the area. Peanut and adult bunker are keeping them around.

Mike Gleason at TAK Waterman in Long Branch, reported striper fishing is still going strong with bass being caught off the beach there. If fishing from a boat, you can’t miss them. They’re hitting sand eels and peanut bunker plus adult bunker, all along the coast. There’s also plenty of bluefin tuna as he and friends boated a 70-incher last week and had another pull a hook. Stripers are a bit out of casting range in Ocean Grove, but they were taking sand eels. Blind casting is hooking fish on Avas and on sand eels.

Tim Rizzuto at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar, said some anglers are picking off some winter flounder in Shark River. As for stripers on the beach, it’s a matter of being at the right place at the right time. Boats, however, are having no trouble finding bass offshore.

Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park, said there are plenty of stripers around and blackfishing is getting better. He fished aboard the Hyper Striper out of the Highlands last week and the crew got their limit of bass, plus they landed more than 25 keeper tog.

ICE FISHING

With below freezing temperatures last week, this week’s warm-up won’t help ice fishing conditions. The only reports posted are from some small lakes and ponds in the Poconos, but better conditions are being reported in New York state, if you don’t mind the drive.

Locally, the prime ice fishing spot has traditionally been Ontelaunee Reservoir in upper Berks County. But because of the drought we experienced, much of the lake is void of water. Anglers have posted photos of Ontelaunee showing large tracts of rocky lake bottom.

As for Leaser Lake, it seems to take a long time for it to produce safe ice for ice fishing. It will take extended weeks of subfreezing temperatures to freeze Leaser. We’ll keep you posted.