Fishing Report

Latest fishing news around Beach Haven, in the bay, surf and off-shore.
If you have a fishing report, please send to us by FB or Instagram messaging or send an email to jinglesbait@comcast.net.

WE WILL BE OPENING FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH FOR THE SEASON!! CAN’T WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO SEE ALL OF OUR NEW PRODUCTS! (3/12/2024) by Jingles

Jingles Around the World Contest! (1/22/2024) by Jingles

Send us a picture of you in your Jingles Gear and you will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 gift card!

Send the picture to jinglesbait@comcast.net, or by Facebook or Instagram messaging. Include the contestants name and the location where the picture was taken. In addition, the location that is the furthest from Beach Haven will receive a $25 gift card. For the furthest location there must be an iconic landmark or clear indication of the location!

LBI Classic Wrap-up (12/16/2023) by Jingles

By Jim Hutchinson Sr.

The 69th annual Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic is now history. The event can be considered a success with fish catches showing an uptick over the 2022 results despite a drop in anglers from last year.

But don’t put your gear away just yet. In normal years, the striped bass action falls off in December. Not so this year. In fact, the action on the LBI beaches may be peaking right now.

A variety of offerings are catching fish right now such as soft plastics when bunker are around and metals with a teaser when sand eels are present. Anglers should be aware there is no closed season for striped bass from the beach or in ocean waters. It is only in the back bays and inlets that state rules prohibit bass fishing in the months of January and February.

The recently completed edition of the LBI Classic had 429 anglers participating compared to 477 in 2022. This decline might be attributed to the emergency striped bass restrictions which lowered the legal striped bass size to 28-31 inches.

Despite the sharp rules reduction for keeper striped bass, there were still sixty-five bass weighed in this year. In years gone by, the striped bass action seemed to wane dramatically when the tournament reached its final weeks. This was not true this year.

As matter of fact, there were eighteen striped bass hitting the scales the final three days this year with eight of these on Sunday, the final day. The current action in the Long Beach Island surf is now mostly smaller bass, with keepers mixed in.

Asked to assess the recently concluded contest, Classic Chairperson Jim Hutchinson Jr acknowledged the new striped bass restrictions “…were a challenge. What we did see were enough fishermen out fishing despite the new rules to make it exciting. We had to retool things to keep the interest up. The tautog fishing in Barnegat Light was outstanding this year. The Surf Master Prize was a success, and we want to build on this.”

“Next year is our 70th anniversary, and we have already started looking at next year to make it bigger and even more exciting for people fishing. I recommend anglers register early to get their free hat and fish right to the end of the tournament. We expect good fishing for all nine weeks.”

Gordon Kirk took honors this year in the striped bass division with his fish that hit the scales at 12.14-pounds. Jay Shayne finished with the second-place honors and Chris Masino took third.

Jeffrey Crabtree won the bluefish award with a 6.38-pound fish followed by Benjamin Blair Jr. And Partick Gallen. There were nine bluefish entered this year compared with one last year.

The tautog category was a hotbed with seventy checked in this year compared to 47 in 2022. All were caught in Barnegat Light. Randall Krieg had the largest entry with his 5.10-pound fish followed by Matthew Merlin and Quentin Rutan.

In 2022 only one kingfish made it to the scales while 2023 saw twenty-nine weighed in. William Roth’s 1.23-pound fish won while Dave Minnich took second and John Sullivan Jr. third.

No redfish were entered this year.

In the ladies’ competition, Andie Knuerzer took honors for striped bass while Linda Donnelly was second. Crystal Muckelston reeled in the largest bluefish while Susan Drummond took honors for kingfish and Allison Ryan second.

In the youth division, Patrick Shapiro took honors in both the bass and kingfish categories. Charlotte Shapiro took second place and Lachlan Pirrello third for their kingfish.

The seniors’ honors also went to Kirk, Crabtree, and Roth.

A new category in 2023 was the LBI Surf Master Competition where top honors go to the largest fish caught and released safely. Judging is done by means of a photograph showing the fish next to a tape measure. John Ipri won this with a 48-inch fish followed by Gary Grippadi’s 47.5-bass and Ethan Kazmierski’s 47-incher.

A total of sixteen teams entered this year with Team Top Notch taking team honors followed by American Anglers.

The next striped bass competition on Long Beach Island will be the 21st annual LBI Spring Derby which runs April through June. Information and registration will be available at Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven, Surf City Bait and Tackle, and Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom as spring nears.

Complete information on the recently completed Classic can be found at https://www.lbisfc.com/lbi-fall-classic-surf-fishing-tournament

Daily Report (12/10/2023) by Jingles

It’s the last day of the 69th Annual LBI Classic Surf Fishing tournament! It’s also an overcast day with sprinkles on and off and heavy storms on the way later today. Currently winds are coming from the S at about 13mph. Currently, the surf is calm with 1-2 foot waves . You will need 4-5oz to hold. The LBI 5th Street Beach Haven sea temperature is 46°. The air temp is currently 54° and heading to 57°.

The bay is calm and 44°.

Low tide is at 11:54AM and 11:51PM. High tide is at 5:25AM and 5:42PM.

The striper are here and blitzing! There have been 10 tournament striper weigh-ins between yesterday afternoon and this morning – from Loveladies to Brant Beach! Most on the incoming high tide and one on clam, one on bunker and the rest on ava jigs and artificials. Here at Jingles we had two weigh-ins. Our very own Tony Cucinotta finally got his keeper – 9.44# and 29″ on artificial in Brant Beach. And Missy Fillman caught a nice one – 10.56# and 30 7/8″ on bunker. Hers was non-tournament. The tournament ends today so you can weigh fish in up to 6pm to count. To see live results and get more information go to www.lbisfc.com.

**Please remember the Dos & Don’ts for how to handle a striped bass for catch and release. There is a great article you can read on our home page as well as a laminated card here at the shop.**

Today we have EELS! PLEASE BRING A BUCKET!! If you do not have one, we have Jingles Bait Buckets for just $3! Catching fish?? Send us your reports to jinglesbait@comcast.net!

Daily Report (12/9/2023) by Jingles

It’s a beautiful sunny, mild December morning here in Beach Haven! Currently winds are mild coming from the SSW at about 7mph. Currently, the surf is calm with 2-3 foot waves . You will need 4-5oz to hold. The LBI 5th Street Beach Haven sea temperature is 48°. The air temp is currently 50° and heading to 54°.

The bay is calm and 43°.

Low tide is at 11:07AM and 11:08PM. High tide is at 4:41AM and 4:54PM.

It’s the last weekend for the LBI Classic! How fast the time went… and its a gorgeous day and the stripers are slowly making their was south. Yesterday there were 1 tog and 3 striper weigh-ins yesterday – from Barnegat Light down to Surf City. All three striper were caught with artificial/lures. Two days left of prizes to win – you can still register so get out there today! To see live results and get more information go to www.lbisfc.com.

**Please remember the Dos & Don’ts for how to handle a striped bass for catch and release. There is a great article you can read on our home page as well as a laminated card here at the shop.**

Today we have EELS! PLEASE BRING A BUCKET!! If you do not have one, we have Jingles Bait Buckets for just $3! Catching fish?? Send us your reports to jinglesbait@comcast.net!

Daily Report (12/5/2023) by Jingles

It’s a partly sunny, cool morning here in Beach Haven! Currently winds are coming from the NW at about 9mph. The surf is calm with 0-1 foot waves . You will need 4-5oz to hold. The LBI 5th Street Beach Haven sea temperature is 49°. The air temp is currently 38° and heading to 42°.

The bay is calm and 44°.

Low tide is at 7:25AM and 8:12PM. High tide is at 1:30AM and 1:28PM.

The LBI Classic has less than a week to go! There have been a couple weigh-ins so far for December – but that is because we are hearing that the majority of the striped bass are still north! Two weigh-ins from the 1st and 2nd were from Barnegat Light and both on a lure. Yesterday John Perich brought in a 6.8#, 29 1/8″ bass caught using frozen bunker caught here in Beach Haven! Danny and Andrew Federico were also catching a couple bass over the past couple days here in Beach Haven – the biggest being almost 28″. Those mainly caught on ava jigs.

You can still register for the Classic – right up to the last day – because there are daily prizes – You can still win $$$!! To see live results and get more information go to www.lbisfc.com.

**Please remember the Dos & Don’ts for how to handle a striped bass for catch and release. There is a great article you can read on our home page as well as a laminated card here at the shop.**

Today we have EELS! PLEASE BRING A BUCKET!! If you do not have one, we have Jingles Bait Buckets for just $3! Catching fish?? Send us your reports to jinglesbait@comcast.net!

LBI Classic Update – 11/30/23 (12/1/2023) by Jingles

by Jim Hutchinson Sr.

The 69th edition of the Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic is coming around the final turn and heading for its finish line on Sunday, December 10. At this point the fishing action shows no signs of lessening.


We have had a few days of colder temperatures making it feel like true striped bass weather. Judging by the number of striped bass weighed in the past two weeks, the chances of winning one of the cash prizes in the Classic are improving. The key is to put a line in the water.
Although there have been no reports of all-out bass blitzes on the beach, there have been several accounts of steady action with fish opting for a variety of offerings.


Just to the north of LBI, most recently from the beaches of Island Beach State Park, there have been numerous stories of blitzes as bass gorge themselves on both bunker and sand eels. Surf casters in the Classic have their fingers crossed that these bait pods stick close to the beach as they move southward in our direction.
A quick look at the striped bass weighed in the past two weeks for the Classic shows an increasing number of fish caught on artificial offerings. Notable is the number being beached on Avas and diamond jigs. This is not to say that bait is out as fish have also been chewing on bunker and clam baits. It appears that sand eels are showing up, and offerings that match the appearance and movement of the bait are catching fish.


What has been especially notable recently is how the striped bass action is now much more widespread on Long Beach Island than it had been. Previously, most catches were on the north end, especially around Barnegat Light.
In the past two weeks only five of the 16 linesiders checked in were caught in Barnegat Light. The remaining 11 fish were caught from beaches in Surf City and south to Holgate. Ship Bottom and Beach Haven gave up three fish each. This would seem to indicate the bait is spread out on the island, and the chances of locating fish are evening out regardless of what beach you fish.


As mentioned, there have been 16 bass weighed in during the past week along with 8 tautog. All the tautog were caught in Barnegat Light on green crab. This blackfish action has been hot for quite some time now. Fish are being caught from the South Jetty right on around to the public bulkhead south of Andy’s Restaurant.
No bluefish, kingfish, or redfish have shown up in the past two weeks. Since the water has dropped in temperature, it appears that William Roth has the top kingfish prize in the Classic sewn up at this point. No redfish were weighed in so far this year, and it appears that prize will go unclaimed.

The lack of bluefish around is a bit of a mystery. In years gone by, some big bluefish would show up in late November to keep things interesting. Jeffrey Crabtree still holds the top spot in the bluefish division with the 6.38-pound fish he reeled in back on October 24.


In the LBI Surf Master competition, John Ipri continues to hold the lead with his 48-inch bass. Chris Masino is tops in the three-fish total with 102.5-inches. This specific competition is a catch and release category. Anglers must submit a photograph of the fish showing its length via a tape measure next to the fish along with the angler’s registration badge.

Registration can be accomplished at one of the three official weigh-in stations. They are Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom, Surf City Bait and Tackle, and Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven.
Complete information and live results on the Classic can be found at https://www.lbisfc.com

Fishing Report Archive