Springtime when the dogwoods bloom and birds start singing is usually when people feel that first rush wave of a newly sprung year out of winter, but the month March brings out that same fervor for anglers. A few happenings spark ambition and anticipation to hit the salt. First off, the reopening of the backwaters to striped bass fishing is the main driver as resident stripers have been hanging in the back all winter, but now anglers can once again target them with a 1 fish limit between 28 and 31 inches. Winter flounder season also opens again with a 2 fish bag at 12-inch minimum size. Unfortunately, blackfish season is closed for the month of March but does reopen again for a month In April. All of that said, there’s more than enough opportunity to hit the salt during this month, in fact, you can have super successful days in the bay, inshore and offshore. Here’s where to get started.
RARITAN BAY
An early start to the striper season is usually foretold by how fishing comes together in Raritan during March. Some years, fish are reported on day one, other times it takes the whole month to get some reports flowing. Out of the gates, stripers are usually hanging way back inside the bays at the river inflows such as at the Raritan inflow off of Perth Amboy and South Amboy and up near the Hudson outflow by the Verrazano Bridge. Hot spots have bass gravitating to the Morgan Creek are flats, the Keyport flats, Great Kills Harbor and underneath the Parkway Bridge and upriver from there. Most bass hounds will toss bloodworm balls off the shores of those locales but boaters will try to dial in linesiders using paddletails shads and slowly drawn plugs. Though early morning sessions are the general standard for bass, this time of year the stripers like for the sun to come up and warm up the surrounding flatwaters to become active so the 8 to 11 AM timeframe is usually a bit better for a bite. Don’t overlook the opportunity to target winter flounder inside the bay off of Keyport and Morgan Creek as the flatfish old haunts are there and they will eagerly nibble on bloodworms or sandworms so long as you get a well-established clam chum slick to get them interested.
NORTHERN COAST
Everyone is hoping for a better striper run than what happened up here last year as the Navesink and Shrewsbury Rivers were devoid of any bunker or bass for most of the springtime. If bunker push back into the baywaters and river systems, expect stripers to be there to hit white spooks, mag darters and shads. Out front was a bit better story last year as stripers were hanging off the coastline. Old school methods of trolling bunker spoons and shad bar rigs found the first stripers off of Asbury Park and Shark River. A few pods of bunker were around to allow for snag and switch tactics on some stripers. There could always be the first rumblings of bluefish late in the month if the waters are warm enough to get them sparked up. Often overlooked, winter flounder is a main attraction behind Shark River as the channels and flats on the west side of the bridges hold flatties in the 5’ to 8’ depths as they warm up on the mudflats. You can either set anchor and chum them up via boat or cast off the L Street Pier and Tennis courts with bloods or sandworms to find some flatbacks. High tide into the outgoing waters generally find the most action as the warmer baywaters spill out. The Mud Hole area wrecks should be holding plenty of bottomfishing action on ling as well as a few cod and pollock. Bring plenty of Gulp! grub baits and fresh clams to target all the bottom beasties.
CENTRAL COAST
Backwater anglers left stripers biting on December 31st and those stripers will have hopefully stuck around to provide action starting on March 1st. Bay areas such as the Barnegat feeder creeks and the Manasquan River system hold early season stripers that are eager to hit white type plugs, stickbaits and shads. Most fish are short in stature in the 18” to 25” range, but there are always surprises with some fish in the 30” to 35” class that give you a charge. One certain species is red hot during March and that is the white perch. The Toms River is a solid spot to toss bloodworm pieces on pill float rigs where you can corral up a dozen or more whiteys on a tide out, and usually they are large chunky fish this time of year pushing the 1 to 2-pound mark. Winter flounder historically hang in the Barnegat and upper Silver Bay backwaters including the Manasquan River system. Pretty famous areas include the 40 marker and 42 buoy in Barnegat Bay, the Mantoloking Bridge, the old Hospital along the Manasquan River and around Toms River bridge. You can set up with a clam chum slick to kick up the bottom and see if any flatties are around. Generally speaking, when water temps are above 50 degrees, that’s when the flundies start snapping.
OFFSHORE
Crazy enough, bluefin tuna were sticking around the inshore and nearshore waters during the winter, though nary a boat was equipped or around to chase after them. So long as February isn’t a complete deep freeze, you can expect those BFT will be ready to rumble in March if you dedicated some time and expect days of no fish mixed with one here and there. Usually at this time of year, long sleder rubber baits like RonZ lures or NLBN baits trolled way, way, way back in the spread will get hit. Other options offshore include wreck fishing for bottom beasties. Many anglers overlook the opportunity on the offshore structures where cod, pollock, red hake, purple hake and white hake will colonize and gobble up fresh clam or squid baits. Cod and pollock will also be apt to hit hammered diamond jigs bounced on the bottom. Late in the month, golden tilefish should start to bite along the canyon flats in the 400 to 600 foot depths, and will really get going once April swings around.
March means its time to get back into saltwater action on a daily basis. Starting with stripers, you’ll begin to get that engine running again to get you outside and keep you going all year long. Enjoy your time and spring is just around the corner!