This past week saw some good fluking especially on the ocean fronts with a few reef sites being red hot on Summer Flounder. There was a good bite on Bluefin occurring offshore to inshore with some areas loaded with NFL sized Bluefin. But the bite has quieted down, not due to a lack of fish, but lack of participation with the recent ocean conditions. The good news is that this upcoming week’s weather looks picture perfect, so hopefully anglers will be able to find them and get back on the fish.
So here is this week’s rundown:
Gates Bait & Tackle of Point Pleasant Beach had good Fluke action on the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reef sites with anglers probing the 40 to 70 foot structured areas. A few boats have been toying with Brown and Hammerhead sharks in the same areas. There has been some Bluefish around the Manasqaun Inlet and anglers working the night shift have been able to land short Striped Bass on bucktails and swim shads. The surf zone has had some Fluke on squid during the day, and mixed species of sharks hitting chunked baits at night.
Fisherman’s Supply of Point Pleasant had great reports of red hot Fluke action on the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt with many boats able to box their limit. It seems that the 1 1/2 to 2 oz Glow Spro bucktails have been consistently putting 7 to 8 pound Fluke in the boats.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant has been busy running offshore wreck trips targeting a mixed bag of bottomfish. The boat does have some Open Boat trips available for Fluke and offshore bottomfish through July. It is best to give them a call or check the website.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant has been hit or miss depending on the winds, but the boat was able to put a couple of nice catches together this past week. Some of the local wrecks and snags have been producing Fluke up to 8 pounds. Anglers fishing bucktails with Gulp have done slightly better, but it all depends on the drift.
The Norma K out of Point Pleasant reported that Fluke fishing was sluggish over the past few days with the combination of Northeast and South winds slowing the bite down. But the boat is still catching some shorts along with some keepers but it was not like it was over the prior week. John Rhodes of Hightstown, NJ took one of the daily pools with a nice 7 pound Fluke. The night Bluefishing trips have been providing some decent action with fish between 2 and 4 pounds.
John from Betty and Nick’s of Seaside Park reports solid Sandshark action for surf anglers plying the sands from Seaside to Island Beach State Park. Fluke have been a pick in the surf, but better for boaters in the back. There has been some pods of cocktail Blues popping up from 6th to 16th streets, but you have to be at the right place at right time. Crabbing continues to be excellent, and should only get better with the approaching Full moon. Just a reminder that the Barnegat Inlet area is still closed to vehicular traffic due to nesting Piping Plovers, but it is game on for anglers willing to walk the mile and a half.
Dock Outfitters of Seaside Park reported Fluke fishing continuing to be the “Go-To” during the day by surf or boat, and Shark fishing at night on Island Beach State Park. There are some Kingfish and Blowfish with a occasional small bluefish in the backwaters. Crabbing in the bay is steady, and some small snapper blues are starting to show up with more frequency.
Capt. Hippos of Seaside Park reported good Fluke fishing from the BB buoy to Marker 42 on anything from Gulp to Spearing to Minnows. There are still some snapper Bluefish inhabiting the Toms River and crabbing is beyond excellent from Bayville to Toms River. The key has been to getting out there with the least amount of wind which enables a “better” feel with the handlines says shop-owner Lenny.
The Carolyn Ann III had a productive week with fishing being very good over the last few days producing some quality fish and a ton of action over all. There has been quite a few Fluke in the 4 to 6 pound range. Bucktails with Gulp or squid skirts with bait has been the ticket says Head Mate Gina. The fish are hungry and eating whatever is in front of them.
Over at Creekside Outfitters in Waretown, shop-owner Liza reported some good fishing over the past weekend, but it has slowed up quite a bit during the week due to the tides. It should regain this weekend and next week, but the Full moon may play a role. One notable catch was Rich Labor of Waretown, NJ catching a nice 6.5 pound Fluke on a strip of mackerel at the BI buoy.
Tony’s Bait and Tackle of Manahawkin reported some good Fluking off the reef sites over the past week with the Barnegat Light reef and the Axel Carlson reef showing the most productivity. Some customers had some decent Blowfish action slight north of the bridges leading into Long Beach Island. Crabbing remains fair, but should pick up this upcoming week with the Full Moon.
Riptide Bait & Tackle of Brigantine reported Kingfish off the surf along with sharks and rays. The Kings have been hitting Bloodworms with reckless abandon and the Sharks have been picking up chunked baits or Kingfish heads at night. On the backbay side of things, Fluking has been steadily improving along the Intercoastal Waterway (ICW).
Absecon Bay Sportsman reported backbay fishing starting to pick up and it seems to be turning into a 10 to 15 fish per keeper ratio. The reef sites have offered lower ratios and quality fish especially the Atlantic City and Little Egg. The night bite has been producing some Weakfish on soft plastics (Pink Gulp, Pink Finesse) and the shop recommends going with the lightest jighead possible. There has been some occasional school Striped Bass picked up under the area’s bridges at night.
One Stop Bait & Tackle of Atlantic City reported it’s Kingfish and Flounder fest from the area’s most productive jetty, but anglers are boxing them anywhere near the inlet and off most jetties. The coveted T-jetty remains the hottest location for Flounder and Kings, and shop-owner Nowell guarantees that your rod with bend. There are some snapper Bluefish around, but they seem to be much more sporadic.
Fin-Atics of Ocean City reported some good bay fishing for Flounder around the Route 52 Bridge and Rainbow channels. The shop recommends working the slack period of the tide with the lightest bucktail possible. The ocean reef sites along the coast continue to be productive with quality keepers from the Atlantic City, Great Egg, and Ocean City. The ridges continued to have some football Bluefin for anglers trolling Joe Shutes rigs “way back”.
The Wildwood to Cape May area has been mediocre for Flounder depending on your fishing location. It seems the reef sites across the board have been the better locations for keepers. Five Fathom bank and the Old Grounds had some keeper sized flatties. The inshore Shark bite has been phenomenal over the past few days with some big 300 to 420 pounders being landed within 15 miles from shore. It seems most of the Bluefin have been located about 40 miles South of Cape May in roughly 20 to 25 fathoms and fish can be either chunked or jigged. There has been some Flounder caught around the area’s jetties, and it seems bucktailing the edges has been boxing the most keepers to 5 pounds.
Southern New Jersey Fishing Forecast
As a charter captain I don’t get a chance to fish the surf that much, but based on some of the shop’s intel it seems Kingfish in the Brigantine to Atlantic City area are almost a sure thing and the best part about it is that you can make bait for some night-time sharking. Fluke fishing seems to be best at the local reef sites (Axel Carlson, Atlantic City, Wildwood), and look for a strong bite before the approaching Full Moon’s tidal influence. As of now, the marine forecast looks really good for the weekend (but that could all change). Good luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines.