Page 5 - Phil Sciortino News Today

Tautog season is closed until April, but striped bass are already biting well in the back bays and rivers, and freshwater fishing has also been hot.

Keeper tautog bite in deep water and white perch feed in the back bays, while largemouth bass and crappie entertain anglers in the ponds.

A few anglers are picking away at bass in the surf and tautog on the wrecks, but freshwater fishing is the hottest action available right now.

A few surfcasters are quietly finding bass in the south Jersey surf, tog fishing is decent, and freshwater anglers enjoy trout and bass action.

The blackfish bite is decent but unreliable through wind and arctic temperatures, and a few striped bass linger in the bays before the season ends.

Surfcasters wait for the beach bite to rebound, tog fishing is consistent through shoddy conditions, and a few bluefin tuna show up offshore.

The striped bass bite slowed slightly on the beaches, meanwhile, limits of bigger tautog were caught around local reefs and wrecks.

The striped bass bonanza carries on in New Jersey's surf, while the inlets and canals provide decent tog fishing for those who resist the urge to chase blitzes.

The surf is littered with striped bass of all sizes on peanut bunker, and tautog fishing is strong around inlets and reefs.

Tautog fishing is tough but bountiful on opening day of the 5-fish limit, and spectacular striper fishing continues to drop the jaws of seasoned anglers.