FRESH/SALT WATER FISHING REPORTS – By Ray Merckx
Fishing Reports
by Ray Merckx – Sports Writer (Fishing) for The Sentinel of Gloucester County Weekly Newspaper – Published in Print Edition Week of 5/23/2019
Largemouth bass fishing is pretty much in the post spawning period and many bass are starting to take to their summer time spots. Some bass however are still seen on the beds and can be caught if they’re hungry enough. Parvin, Malaga and Rainbow lakes gave up some decent sized largemouth with some in the 3 pound range. Plastic worms, jigs and top water frogs seemed to be the baits they preferred this past weekend.
Smallmouth bass fishing has been okay in the few spots they can be caught in South Jersey. Anglers fishing Union lake seemed to be having the best luck with them on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and swimbaits with some pushing the 4 to 5 pound range. Very little reports of any being caught out of Lake Audrey and South Vineland Park Pond however DOD Ponds have been seeing fairly decent sized smallmouth ranging between 1 to 2 pounds.
Perch, crappie, pickerel, catfish, and carp are biting all over South Jersey. Bass anglers report more catches of crappie almost reaching the 2 pound range on lakes like Sunset, Rainbow and Iona Lakes. Pickerel reaching 5 pounds and channel catfish reaching close to 10 pounds have also been reported by anglers on Union lake using swimbaits and spinnerbaits to catch bass.
On the saltwater scene, it seems that striped bass fishing is still pretty active and some party boats are still heading out for them. Bluefish and weakfish are showing up in their usual spots in great numbers and size. Many saltwater anglers are looking forward to the opening of flounder season which takes place this Friday, May 24th at midnight. Up until September 21st, anglers can enjoy flounder fishing all summer long on party boats, private charters, the surf or within the back bays along the New Jersey coast and Delaware Bay region.
*Photograph submitted by Larry Wollack (left) who had a great day of fishing for Striped Bass out of Forked River with his friends Danny, Mike, James and Vince. Larry’s striped bass was the largest of the three caught all over 50 lbs- It was 52″ long and weighed 56 lbs.