Northern New Jersey Fishing Report - June 25, 2015

The first week of summer saw some great fishing off Northern New Jersey. Stripers, blues, fluke and sea bass were all on the menu, and things are looking good for more great fishing this weekend.

Nighttime is the righttime for New York Harbor bass according to a report from True World. During the day, bluefish are feeding throughout the bay and harbor, but after dark, stripers are moving in. Bunker and bucktail jigs are working for the bass. The sea bass fishing is excellent around Shrewsbury Rocks, but fluke fishing is still a little picky, but improving, reported the crew from True World.

The sea bass fishing is great reported Pete of Parker Pete’s Charters. Fluke fishing is improving, and bucktails are accounting for good numbers of keepers averaging 3 to 5 pounds. Pete’s clients landed fluke to 8 pounds this week.  Striper fishing has dropped off, Pete said. There are still some fish being taken at first light and late in the evening. Big numbers of thresher sharks have moved into the bunker schools, Pete said, which may have put a damper on the bass action.

Fluke fishing in Raritan Bay and around Sandy Hook has improved greatly in the past few days reported Brayden at Efinger’s Sporting Goods. The catch has been a 50/50 mix of keepers to shorts, and Brayden heard of seven fish over 8 pounds this week. Bait has been best, especially spearing or sea robin strips. In the evenings, 4- to 8-pound bluefish have been moving into Sandy Hook. Jigs have been the best bet for hooking up. In the ocean, fishermen chunking have been finding some striper action, with many of the fish weighing more than 30 pounds. Black sea bass fishing continues to be great, Brayden said, and ling continue to mix in with the sea bass. Shark fishing is good as well, Brayden reported. He knew of a 250-pound thresher shark caught on Wednesday. The hot spot for sharks has been from the Mud Hole to 30 miles out.

Fluke fishing is good in the bay reported the crew at Keyport Marine. You don’t have to go far, reported Joe. Keepers have been taken right off Keansburg.

The striper fishing has been great reported the guys at Tackle US. Several stripers over 40 pounds were taken by boats live-lining bunker this week, with the largest weighing 54 pounds.

Another 50 pounder was weighed in at Giglio’s this week. The fish was caught from a boat, but the angler wouldn’t divulge what on, or the general area where it was taken. In the surf, stripers are here and there, Tom said, but the action hasn’t been red hot. Fluke on the other hand have been biting very well in the surf. In the Navesink River, Tom said, the crabbing is improving greatly.

Best Bets for the Weekend

The limit on black sea bass drops from 15 fish to two fish on July 1, so if you were looking to load up on sea bass, the time is now. The sea bass fishing has been excellent on the wrecks and reefs in 40 to 60 feet of water. The fluke fishing is picking up in the ocean, but the Raritan Bay is still your best bet for getting a limit and maybe hooking a doormat. For stripers, be on the water at first light for your best shot at hooking up, or consider making a ride over to Long Island where big stripers are hanging around bunker schools off the South Shore.