LBI Fishing Report 10/30/24

Long Beach Island Fishing Report Update For Wednesday October 30, 2024.

The current conditions on the beaches of LBI this morning, dropping tide, light south winds with a 1-2-3' sloppy wave action. Expect breezy southerlies developing today. The weather has been really dry and mild... just perfect weather for getting outside and enjoying fall fishing.

There's a strong body of fish, lots of bait and consistent fishing activity in the northern Jersey waters. As we enter fall's prime time (Halloween - Thanksgiving) we expect these to slide down and offer good fishing. The surf side striped bass reports are ramping up here on LBI. While there haven't been any trophy-sized fish caught YET, now is that time. Each year we get some of the largest striped bass of the fall in the last week of October and the first week of November. The next 7-10 days are prime, especially with the November new noon on Friday November 1st.

Last weekend, some quality striped bass were caught off Island Beach State Park so there's positive movement closer. Store staffer Keith fished with his uncle and Fish Head's alumni Lee, trolling up some classy striped bass. The action has been near biblical in the Monmouth County waters with an abundance of large (some very large) bass, darn near jumping in the boat. There's lots of sand eels stretched along the Jersey coast and there are also schools of bunker. Some days it's Lunkers On Bunkers and others it's Jumbos On Jigs. Get lucky and score them both!

To match the hatch and score bites... when the fish are keyed in on sand eels, there is no better classic than a Diamond Jig. These simple and proven lures simply catch fish. A17, 27, 47 are the common sizes needed. If the fish are up top, the lighter sizes A17/27 fished with a quick retrieve produce. But when the striped bass are down deep and especially when there is wind / waves / current the heavier options A47 are best. Another one of my favorite sand eels jigs for both striped bass and sea bass is the Hogy Sand Eel Jig.

Other great catching lures for Striped Bass to match the hatch with sand eels:
Guides Secrete Needle Stick
Super Strike NeedleFish
RonZ Softbait
Tsunami Sand Eels
Joe Baggs Sand Eel
Red Gill Lures

On the surf side, all of these options are great choice as well as CHUNKING! This is the time of year that the doggies invade the waters but weeding through them results in classy striped bass each and every fall. Expect surf side bunker chunking to turn up!

The Barnegat Inlet is still producing good tog fishing for land based anglers. All of these catches are taken on live crabs (green crab, sand fleas) fished on jig or rig. On the inshore - midshore wrecks and reefs sea bass, porgy and tog are available. Store staffer Jared was out focusing on tog and caught some big ones. This fishing will only get better as the year goes on.

The inshore - midshore tuna fishing continues to be excellent with lots of fish just about daily.

Here at Fisherman's Headquarters, we have all of the necessary gear for fall fishing, including rods, reels, lures, clothing, boots and much more. Stop by for our broad selection of tackle as well as cold weather fishing gear; bibs, jackets, boots and gloves!

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