Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - September 10, 2015

Hopefully everyone enjoyed their Labor Day weekend.  School’s back in session, and that typically means the start of the fall run.  The mullet are staging and starting to slowly make their way along the beaches, with bluefish and schoolie stripers harassing them.  Fluke or Flounder, depending on your South Jersey location, are primarily being caught oceanside this time of year and it should continue through the closure of the season.  Big baits are best when targeting doormats, so cast net those mullet or peanut bunker.  Offshore fishing seems to be going strong with the never-ending bigeye bite and we are finally seeing some bonito and false albacore in the near to inshore waters.  Let’s hope the rest of the month continues on this pace.

Greg from Brielle Bait & Tackle reported lots of Bonita, Albacore, and Mahi from the Axel Carlson to the Manasquan Ridge on trolled feathers.  The Mahi have been on the lobster pots so try working them early and quietly.  Fluke fishing is about the same with lots of shorts and some keepers, and it continues at that 10 shorts to 1 keeper ratio.  Oddly enough, Minnows have been the bait of choice for keeper ocean fluke.

Fisherman’s Supply reiterated that the Albies are hitting off the beaches of Mantaloking to Brick Beach.  Further offshore Bigeye, Yellowfin, and Swordfish have been caught on night-time chunk baits.  There have been plenty of fluke around, but average on the amount of keepers.  Most anglers are seeing ratios of 15 to 1.

The Gambler had some good fluke trips prior to the Labor Day weather, but the bite quickly rebounded after the system passed.  The skipper noted that bigger fish are making it over the rails and in the coolers of happy customers.  Recently, Nico Matina of Brick landed a nice 9- pound doormat, and anglers who are bucktailing have been able to catch their limits of flatties.  On the flip side, the night bluefishing has been a little slow with fish in the 2 to 5 pound range.

The Norma K III had a tough time during the Labor weekend with the challenging sea conditions, but the fluke started to bite after it passed on Sunday.  The boat has been catching keepers in the 3 to 4 pound range.  The bluefish trips have seen 2 to 5- pound bluefish along with mackerel to keep anglers busy, but the boat really has to work to find them.

Jersey Hooker Outfitters said that crabbing remains excellent in the Metedeconk, Beaver Dam Creek, and Barnegat Bay.  There has been an influx of schoolie Striped Bass activity along the Point Pleasant canal and Rt. 35 Bridge, with bass hitting mostly soft plastics.  Fluke off the surf has been around a 20 short to 1 keeper ratio, but the size of the fish are increasing.  The bay is absolutely loaded with blowfish and kingfish, among the endless snappers.

Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle mentioned that there has been alot of sharks caught in the early evening up to 100 pounds off the sands of Island Beach State Park.  The mullet are running pretty good as are the 3 to 5- pound bluefish.  The fluke off the surf continues to be at the 20 shorts to 1 keeper ratio, but there has been a good improvement on the numbers.

Phil from Dock Outfitters reported that the fluke along the surf have started to increase in numbers and in size.  Bluefish in the 3 to 5- pound variety have been harassing schools of mullet and the shop received solid reports of schoolie Striped Bass close to the rocks in Barnegat Inlet.  Most were caught on artificials.

Lenny from Capt. n Hippos mentioned small blowfish, kingfish, and snappers being a sure bet in Barnegat Bay, mainly working areas south of the BI marker.  Crabs are still excellent and are pouncing on bunker-laced handlines.  Stay away from the chicken necks or backs.  There has been smaller numbers of keeper fluke caught in the back as they are making their way, so start working those outside lumps and humps.  Lenny did also mention Weakfish probing the bay, but this is mostly an early or late-late night mission.

The Barnegat Light boats have been picking at the bottom fish over the past week, but had to battle tough conditions this past Labor Day weekend.  Thankfully the swell calmed down and the fish are chewing again.  Capt. Ted from the Super Chic has been dragging various snags for keeper fluke and has been putting some respectable doormats on the deck with 6 and 7- pound fish in the mix.  The boat will be sailing for bluefish after the fluke season closes, and then will focus on Sea Bass, Striped Bass, and eventually Blackfish.

Gina from the Carolyn Ann III reported tough conditions during the weekend, but the fish are back on the feed with their most recent reports.  The boat had some nice drifts with quite a few keepers making it over the rail.  Gina recommends bucktailing big baits for those pool winning fish.

Over to the west side of Barnegat Bay with Steve from Creekside Outfitters reporting Blowfishing picking up, but you still have to work through alot of small ones.  Fluking is still alright inside, but it’s definitely becoming more of an ocean bite with the Seaside Pipe and Bathing Beach as hot areas to drift.  Kingfish in the bay are being waxed on chummed clam and there was good reports of Croakers at the Tires.  Near the inlet, boats and jetty jockeys were picking up 1 to 5- pound Bluefish with consistency.  Although I had to pry it out of him, Steve did mention that there has been some good Weakfish action around the vicinity of Oyster Creek Channel—be the first boat out there and you might hook up.

As we move south towards LBI, Tony’s Bait & Tackle reported good fluke fishing in Barnegat Inlet and it has been very consistent at the reef sites, mainly the Barnegat Light Reef in those 50 to 60 foot stretches.  In the back from Harvey Cedars to Beach Haven on the eastern side of the ICW, anglers have been tackling small blowfish, bluefish, black drum, weakfish, and sheepshead.  Crabbing has really turned on as of late with the September moons and above-average temperatures.  Andy thinks this should continue for the rest of the month barring any major weather events.

Riptide Bait & Tackle said they have good reports of flatties towards the inlets with a few anglers cashing in on doormat-sized flounders.  Eleven year old Hanna boxed a nice 25-inch, 6 pounder in Absecon Inlet.  Kingfish and bluefish remain in the backwaters, while surf anglers have caught both bluefish and small, schoolie striped bass feeding on mullet.  The shop will be running its annual surf fishing derby from Sept. 9th to Dec. 23, Cash prizes on a variety of species.

Dave from Absecon Bay Sportsman gave a solid report of lots of different fish being around the area, and he is very optimistic with so much bait in the area.  Flounder have been hot n cold at the local reef sites, but be sure to try those 20 to 40 foot depths inshore.  There is a pic of keeper fluke, croakers, and weakfish in those areas.  The weakfish have turned on and the Main Marsh and mouth of the Mullica River have some fish around.  It’s a real early bite, but there are some nice-sized weakfish around and in good numbers.  Dave hopes that the September moons and weather change should turn on the fall fishery.  Crabbing is still excellent with plenty of keeper crabs for dinner.

As we move down to the jetties of Atlantic City, One Stop Bait & Tackle reports lots of snappers around and the fluke are feeding on them.  Nowell hasn’t had anything big in the shop lately, but there are alot of keepers, especially on those bigger baits.  Kingfish and croakers from the suds, and Blackfish from the jetties.  Bring alot of greenies because you have to work through all the short blackfish to get a keeper.  As Nowell says, “If your not catching down here, then you mine as well hang up your rod.”

The Tackle Direct team advised offshore anglers to head deep and look for those color breaks as there has been Mahi, Tuna, and lots of White Marlin stacked along the breaks.  Moving inshore, the mullet are starting to run along the beaches with fluke, blues, and small striped bass cashing in.  Weakfish are definitely around, but you have to put in your time.  Try working those bridges, and shadow-lines during the night shift with pink soft plastics.  The shop also heard of reports of Kingfish and Croakers along the Atlantic City beaches down through Ocean City.

Fin-Atics reported schools of kingfish and croakers hitting the beaches in Ocean City, mostly on bloodworms and Fishbites.  There has been an increased activity of schoolie stripers, but this is mainly at night.  The flounder fishing along the reef sites remains hot and cold, but the deeper depths in the 100 foot range seem to be holding more keepers.

Mike from Sea Isle Bait & Tackle said the “shark fishing has exploded AGAIN”.  He added that it is almost as good as it was during the EPIC July bite.  Flounder fishing remains solid, the 100-foot ranges with structured bottom remain the most productive areas to target.  And don’t be surprised in hooking into some chick dolphin or skipjacks while your out fluking those depths.  There has been some weakfish caught in the back up to 20-inches with some regularity, and the school Striped Bass continue to pounce on poppers worked at night, especially in the vicinity of lights.

Matt from Jim’s Bait & Tackle provided Cape May and Delaware Bay’s report with an uptick on the flounder fishing regarding bigger fluke.  Fluke in the 7 pound to 9 pound class have been jigged up from the Cape May reef, Wildwood reef, and the Old Grounds.  There are still loads of shorts, so you have to pick through them.  There is a lot of life relatively close inshore with croakers, kingfish, banded ruddefish, small sea bass, porgies, fluke, weakfish, and small brown sharks with most action in the 40- foot depths.  The beaches of Wildwood Crest are seeing some redfish around on fresh mullet or jigheads tipped with Gulp.  Delaware Bay continues to give up some weakfish around the ferry terminals and croakers along the beaches.  The offshore action has been very good with football Yellowfin and Mahi at the Washington canyon, and some billfish at the Lindenkohl.  The water was so good there, Blue marlin, White marlin, and Sailfish were in the mix.  And the bigeye tuna continue to be very active in the Wilmington.

Best Bet for the Weekend

Based on the reports, if you want surf sharks head down to the Sea Isle area as it has exploded again.  The Barnegat Bay seems the best for kids with a variety of species easily targeted.  Obviously, you know where I’ll send you for fluke—hit up those ocean wrecks, lumps, or humps.  And if you’re into the offshore game, it seems those southern canyons are producing good numbers of pelagics.  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.