Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - July 23, 2015

We are hitting the summer doldrums in stride with hotter, humid weather, nasty storms, and some parents counting the days down to the start of the school year.  The recent rain blast put a serious damper on the bay and inlet fishing over the past week, while the shark surf fishing has slowed a smudge with the recent influx of colder water.  But it is still in the epic bite category with most anglers able to find them.  Speaking of cold water, I was reading 59F on the incoming from Barnegat Inlet which made me do a double-take, but sure enough both sonars confirmed it.  This may account for the hot and cold fluke fishing that most are reporting from tackle shops to recreational anglers to headboats.  Regarding the pelagic species, most of the shops I spoke to reported a solid offshore bite from deep canyon bigeyes to yellowfin and some bluefin at the mid-nearshore areas.

Starting this week’s reports, Greg from Brielle Bait & Tackle said the fluking has been ok, with most pool winners in the 6 to 7 pound range.  The Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reefs sites have been the place to go.  Bluefish have been taken on recent bluefish trips which are in the 2-3 pound range.  The deep water wrecks around the mudhole are holding ling with a few cod mixed in.  There was some bluefin tuna action reported from the Atlantic Princess wreck.

Fisherman’s Supply reports some bluefin, possibly Little Italy and Chicken Canyon, but no specific location had been mentioned.  Bigeye tuna are still hitting trolled Yozuri’s from the Hudson to the Toms canyons.  While the fluking inshore has been solid, particularly at the Axel Carlson with most successful anglers working the outside edges.

Capt. Ken from the MIMI VI had a nice report of a recent trip with Golden Tilefish to 40 pounds on the deep drop, and when they moved from spot to spot they would troll up Mahi and had some jacks at floating debris.  The inshore wreck trips have had some nice winter flounder to 22 inches, marked by big seabass, 20 to 25 ling, and the occasional cod up to 27 pounds.  The boat is currently booking for open-boat offshore trips and the skipper said they had some open dates.

Meanwhile, the Gambler has had some fluke trips being on and off mainly due to the influx of cooler water, but they are still getting some nice sized keepers to 7 pounds, and nice sea bass.  The skipper feels the bite should dramatically changed with the predicted winds this upcoming weekend.  When it blows hard south, the upwelling effect tends to put them off the feed.

The Norma K III has been experiencing similar results with hot and cold days.  They are seeing a good amount of shorts with keeper fluke mixed in.  Most pool winners have been in the 5 to 7 pound range.  The fluke have been falling for the squid and spearing combinations, while Gulp has been getting its fair share of keepers.  It seems that more keepers have been on the bait compared to Gulp.

Ray from Jersey Hooker Outfitters reports of “confirmed” Bluefin tuna activity at the Little Italy and Chicken Canyons which are falling for trolled small green machines and small joe shutes.  Regarding the flatfish fishing, the Axel and Sea Girt reef sites are the place to be.  The Manasquan River has lots more shorts than keepers and the crabbing continues to be good in the Metedeconk and Beaver Dam Park areas.

On the Island Beach State Park scene, Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle report few fluke, blues, and sharks are plying the sand.  It has been an extremely slow July, but they think it should get better as we get into August.  Bluefish action has been closer to the jetty, while crabbing is still on-fire with 4.5 to 5 inches, down from the 6- and 7-inch blueclaws last week.

Dock Outfitters reports more of the same off the beaches with shorts, some bluefish, and lots of sharks leading the way.  Sharks, big cow-nosed rays, and an occasional keeper bass  on clam have been hitting the suds with the recent chilly 60 degree water.  Bayside, crabbing has been steady with an influx of snapper blues and small blowfish which are present off the docks.

Lenny from Capt. n Hippos said it was a busy week with crabbers leading the way.  The shop is also starting to see snappers and some blowfish caught from the area docks.  The bluefish have been feasting on the 1-2 inch spearing that has been present.  A few anglers ventured out to the Barnegat Ridge and scored on fluke up to 7.5 pounds.  Otherwise, the recent heat kept a lot of anglers tied to the dock.

The Barnegat Light boats have been taking advantage of the weather and Gina from the Carolyn Ann III reported hot and cold fishing caused by an offshore storm that brought 5 to 8ft swells, and did a number on the bottom clarity.  Early in the week they struggled with fluke, but it slowly turned around an angler had some decent sized fish up to 7.2  pounds and also some nice sea bass are flying over the rails.

Capt. Ted from the Super Chic couldn’t be reached from shore which probably means the boat is offshore out of cell phone range.  They are still booking offshore tuna trips and have some availability for inshore trips.

Moving across Barnegat Bay, Liza from Creekside Outfitters reported that the bathing beach off Island Beach State Park has been holding some fluke, while the bay fluke fishing has slowed up.  Blowfishing has been an ultra slow pick.  The Garden State South and Barnegat Light reef sides had some fluke.  Crabbing is still good in the bay.  The shop did hear reports of Bluefin tuna at the AC Princess and Chicken Canyon.

With our Long Beach Island report, Tony’s Bait and Tackle, reported good fluking at the Little Egg and Garden State South reef sites, while the shark fishing has slowed down.  The bay fluking has been very quiet and Andy recommends probing closer to the inlets.  Crabbing is still slow with the creeks and lagoons producing the most crabs.  The offshore bite had been a little slow besides the great Bigeye tuna bite.

Moving to the sand beaches of Brigantine, Andy from Riptide Bait & Tackle reported brown sharks off the beach using chunk meat with a 36-inch wire leader.  Kingfish are around, but mostly past the second sandbar which means they are probably avoiding the sharks.  The backwaters are hit or miss, with few keepers to none at all.  The reef sites have been a little slow for this time of year, but the Great Egg and Atlantic City sites have been producing a bit better.

Dave from Absecon Bay Sportsman reported the recent influx of freshwater from the big storms last week slowed the fishing down to a crawl.  The fluke bite has regained momentum at the inlets, and some weakfish have made their presence known a Beesley’s point and the mouth of the Mullica.  Brown sharks and sand tiger sharks have been landed from the beaches to a few miles out, while Cobia, Mahi, and Triggerfish have made it to the inshore reef sites.  Fluke have been at the Little Egg reef site, Great Egg, and Atlantic City reef sites.

Nowell reports good fishing for the AC area from One Stop Bait & Tackle.  He is noticed lots of peanut bunker, finger mullet, spearing, and even minnows in the waters.  They have been getting some nice fluke 3 to 5 pounds on the floating jig head aka “fluke candy”.  Triggerfish, Kingfish, and Bluefish have been taken from the seawall.

Tackle Direct reported good fluke fishing at the inshore reef sites, mainly the Atlantic City and Wildwood reef sites.  While offshore anglers have been hitting the 19-fathom lump for lots of Yellowfin.  There are some weakfish around which are being landed by the night crews using pink and white Fin-S.

Fin-Atics of Ocean City gave a solid water of keeper fluke holding at the Great Egg and Ocean City reef sites.  Fluking in the back has slowed considerably with most keepers being in caught in the deeper holes ranging from 20 to 30 feet.  Shark fishing is still hot with an occasional hammerhead, but punctuated mostly by brown sharks.  It still makes for a great day fishing.

Moving down the coastline, Sea Isle Bait & Tackle, reported of fishing been pretty good and consistent.  Mike said the latest had been the solid Yellowfin bite around at the 19-fathom lump which is only a quick 40-mile run from Sea Isle.  Most fish have been caught in the way of chunking rather than trolling.  Regarding fluke fishing, the Townsends Inlet, Ocean City, and Wildwood reef sites have been putting keepers on the deck.  Most fish have been caught on the 2- to 3-ounce white bucktails tipped with New Penny or Pink Shine gulp baits.  There are still tons of sharks from the beach to about 6 miles offshore.  A few weakies have been caught at night around lighted structure, but it is still a hush-hush thing.

And to round out this week’s south jersey reports is Jim’s Bait & Tackle, where Matt reported some yellowfin tuna caught inshore this week on the lumps inside the tip of the Elephant trunk. There were also a few picked up out by the Misty Blue wreck on the 20 fathom Fingers.  Jason Baker a local guy caught a nice Mahi going 17 pounds. at reef site #11.  Fluke Fishing is about the same a lot of shorts and a few keepers on all of the usual spots. There has been some nice Triggerfish being caught on the inshore wrecks close to the beach.  Regarding the offshore bite, the Wilmington Canyon had several white Marlin were caught there this week and the Bigeye bite has been good on the troll in the evening and after dark.  The shop had a nice Mahi weighed in at 62 pounds, close to a state record caught by angler Brian Sullivan.

Best Bet for this Weekend

If your vessel is big enough, trying offshore 40 to 65 miles looks to provide a solid opportunity for Atlanitc Bluefin tuna, and the weather looks good for it.  Make sure you have a NMFS Atlantic tunas and highly migratory gamefish permit as you are required have it.  If you plan staying closer to home, the inlets to inshore reef sites look like the places to go for doormats.  Good luck, be safe, and tight lines.