Hopefully all the Dads out there got to do some fishing with their sons or daughters over the weekend. The recent Full moon put a slight damper on fluke fishing both outside and inside over the past few days. The stronger than normal tidal current probably is the main culprit as it narrows the biting window, but some anglers were still able to score some nice quality doormats to 8 pounds. The news of the past week has been the tremendous Weakfish bite that is occurring from Ocean City points southward with the Avalon area having a high number of 8 to 10-pounders being weighed in. These are quality fish and current regulations allow 1 fish per person, but be considerate as these are spawning females that can help replenish our recovering stock.
So here is this week’s rundown:
The owners of Gate’s Bait & Tackle in Point Pleasant Beach say the action is heating up with cocktail blues being almost guaranteed in the Manasquan Inlet on metal and bucktails. The shop has also seen some nice Fluke make it over the wall each and every day. Live killies or Gulp Swimming mullets tipped on a bucktail worked along have been producing the most strikes.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported that Mako Mania occurred last weekend due to the prior week’s postponement (weather). The top prize went to Team Lockout who weighed in a 301-pound Mako. Fluke have been cooperative for anglers fishing closer to the beach in 30 to 40 foot of water in areas from Long Branch to Deal. Depending on the current, fishing 2 to 4 oz bucktails tipped with the Gulp 6-inch Grub tail will do the trick on the flatties. There has been some fish brought in weighing close to 7 pounds. The Striped Bass action remains mostly an early morning or late evening event for Snag-n-Drop anglers as the schools have been moving north rather quickly.
The Mimi VI out of Point Pleasant has been busy with charters and some open boat trips over the past week. The captain reported good bottom fishing although the recent full moon tides have slowed it down a little. The vessel will be running some Open-Boat trips this upcoming week for Winter Flounder, Ling, and Cod (6/24, 6/27, 6/28, and 6/30) and Captain Ken recommends calling for reservations as there are limited spots available.
The Gambler docked in Point Pleasant reported some quality fluke on the last few trips, but the fishing has slowed due to the Full moon current. Anglers jigging bucktails tipped with Gulp and using Squid and Spearing rigs have had their shots at some nice Fluke up to 6 pounds.
The Norma K III out of Point Pleasant had some picky Fluke fishing over the past few days. They are seeing some shorts with a keeper in the mix. The recent west wind will hopefully get them back on the chew. On the nightside, the boat finally saw some smaller Blues show up and lots of Mackerel were landed. The boat will be sailing two trips for Fluke everyday and Blues every night 7:30pm to 1am.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported some keeper Striped Bass to 20 pounds with the recent dip in the ocean temperatures, but this may be the tail end of the run. Jim Paton of Bayville, NJ weighed in a 17.5-pound Striper caught on clams on Island Beach State Park. Bayside has been pretty good on Fluke leading up to the Full moon and the shop is hearing of lots of peanut bunker in the Bay. Crabbing was slower than normal this past week.
Dock Outfitters in Seaside Park said the surf bite remained relatively quiet over the past week with a few anglers getting into 15- to 20-pound fish, but it was definitely a pick. Smaller “summertime” Bluefish inhabit the areas around Barnegat Inlet and Fluking has been solid along back channels. Crabbing in the bay can be fair to excellent depending where you are and Good Luck Point has been the hot area of the week.
Lenny from Capt. Hippos in Toms River received good reports of cocktail Bluefish in the Toms River and some schoolie Striped Bass hitting soft plastics behind Trilco. There have been some short Fluke caught around the BI and BB buoys, but not much word on keepers. Crabbing has been very good in the Island Heights, Beachwood, and Pine Beach areas, but slower further south in Barnegat Bay.
Super Chic out of Barnegat Light ended the spring Sea Bass season with a few average trips with almost all of the anglers going home with some meat according to Capt. Ted. The boat is currently booking Fluke, Bluefish, and offshore canyon trips, so call or check out the website.
Carolyn Ann III of Barnegat Light has been targeting Fluke with the recent Sea Bass closure, but Gina said her patrons had to really work for them over the past week. Fishing was a little slow picking a few here and there. They did have a quality doormat landed on one of the morning trips by Jake Speer of Shamong, NJ with beautiful 8.5 pounder. The boat will continue to sail one 6 hour Fluke trip per day until July 1st when it changes to two 4 hour trips.
Creekside Outfitters of Waretown had some anglers weigh in a few nice Fluke to 8 pounds which were caught in Oyster Creek channel and around Barnegat Inlet. There hasn’t been too many reports on Striped Bass as a majority of the schools have moved way North. Sharking has been good from just off the beach for Threshers and excellent on Makos from 35 to 60 miles offshore. Blowfish are still biting on the westside of Barnegat Bay.
Andy from Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported good action on Bunker-busting Threshers from both Barnegat and Little Egg Inlet. Fluke are biting mid-island in the deeper holes in the channels. There has been some 2 to 5 pound Bluefish around both inlets and Crabbing has definitely picked up in Manahawkin Bay and the lagoons in Beach Haven West.
Riptide Bait & Tackle had good reports of Drum and short Striped Bass from the Brigantine surf zone. There are a few nice Striped Bass and the residential Stripers will be here all summer long. Brown sharks have started to move into the surf as the water warms barring any heavy South winds. Remember, you are prohibited from targeting Brown sharks so make sure so target those “Big Brown Bluefish”, but release them quickly and safely back into the waters. Fluke have been hitting in the back and the shop has some great floating jigs to target them.
Absecon Bay Sportsman reported good Flounder action in the back around some of the Thorofares with water depths of 6 to 10 foot. Flounder to 8.5 pounds have been boxed on bucktail tipped with Gulp. There are some weakfish around ranging from 2 to 10 pounds depending on where and the time your fishing. The night bite has been better on soft plastics or jig head tipped with shedder crab. The store has a few specials on shedders, so call if you some. The Striped Bass front has been mostly residential fish with a few migrating fish being caught. The majority of the migratory fish have moved North on their way to the New England area.
The Atlantic City area continues to provide good shots at a variety of fish for anglers according to Nowell from One Stop Bait & Tackle. Atlantic, Pacific, and Massachusetts Avenue jetties have been solid for Kingfish on bloodworms and Fluke on minnows. Anglers working the nightshift and fishing around structure and lights are being rewarded with some nice monster Fluke.
The Ocean City to Wildwood area is providing some good weakfish action and Flounder are hitting in the Somers Point area according to Fin-Atics of Ocean City. The 9th Street Bridge, Corson’s, and Townsend’s offer good shots at schoolie Striped Bass and Weakfish at night. Jigging 3/8 to 1 oz bucktails tipped with minnow or Gulp baits continue to offer better shots at keeper Flounder and some have weighed in close to 7 pounds.
The Wildwood/Cape May area is winding down on Striped Bass action according to Jim’s Bait and Tackle. There are still some Drum around in deeper water near the Pintop and edges of the channel around the #16 Bouy. The Fluke fishing is picking up at the Cape May Reef and DE Reef site #10 are giving up lots of quality keepers. The Miah-Maul Light has also given good shots at keeper Fluke. The best Weakfish bite has been around Higbee’s Beach and along the jetties at the Cape May Ferry terminal. The best bait continues to be floated Bloodworm or floated Clam and there has also been some Croakers caught as by-catch. Offshore fishing still has the best Tuna bite in the Norfolk Canyon, but there has been some smaller Yellowfin coming from our Canyons. The spotter planes are reporting Thresher sharks on some of the schools of Bunker close to shore and the best way to target these is using live Bunker. Mako sharks have been hanging between the twenty and thirty fathom lines, but will have to pick through the blue dogs.
Fishing Forecast for Southern New Jersey
With a nice forecast for this weekend, the Summer Flounder or Fluke will take center stage as most Stripers have moved on. The best way to target these fish is to work small jigs tipped with artificial or live-bait in shallow depths from 5 to 10 feet if fishing the backwaters. There should be some Fluke along the surf line as the water temperatures should rebound with the forecasted NE winds. Now, is prime sharking time especially for Threshers so have the rods rigged and ready to go and early morning is your best shot. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.
Can you report on the fishing in Sea Isle City area. You seem to skip right over that area. Thank U