What a good start to July as we have good numbers of bluefin, fluke, and sharks being landed over the past week. There was a variety of reports of Bluefin from 40 to 100 pounds being landed on trolled lures and ballyhoo from 40 to 60 miles out. The fluke bite was very good at a number of reef sites from Point Pleasant down to Cape May, and yes, we have entered in another straight week of sharks. Reminder, sea bass is open at 2 per person per day.
So here is this week’s rundown:
Gates Bait & Tackle of Point Pleasant Beach had good sharking on the beach with Sand Tiger and Brown sharks to 7 feet and most were hitting Bluefish, Bunker, or Mackerel fillets. The Manasquan Inlet had a solid Fluke bite with a lot of shorts, and a few keepers making it over the rail. There has been some small makos and larger threshers harassing bait at the Axel Carlson over the past few days. Anglers working the surf line at night at picking at small Stripers on plugs.
Fisherman’s Supply of Point Pleasant said it was lights out fishing for Fluke on the sticky areas from the Shrewsbury Rocks to the Axel Carlson. There was good word of Bluefin from 46 to 56 inches hitting baits around the Chicken canyon. The key was to be out early and find the masses of sand eels. The Manasquan Inlet has a lot of Fluke, but the issue of late has been the copious amounts of seaweed.
MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant continues to hammer Ling, Winter Flounder, and Cod at Capt. Ken’s offshore wrecks. He said the fishing has been very good with all patrons going home with bags of meat. He has some Open Boat trips remaining, but it is advised to call or check the website.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant reported good Fluke fishing all week with some nice size keepers coming over the rails up to 7 pounds. John Winterberger caught the new monthly pool fish for July weighing in at 7.3 pounds. We have all been catching some beautiful sea bass up to 3 pounds and even some red hake are still around. Night time wreck fishing has been good with a high hook of almost 20 big Ling. The night Bluefishing has been okay with smaller fish up to 2 pounds, but they are perfect for eating.
The Norma K III had Fluke are coming over the rails the past couple of trips with plenty of action on shorts and keepers along with a few nice Sea Bass. Carl Hart of Whiting, NJ started off the month with an 8-pound Fluke and is in the lead for the boat’s monthly pool for July. The boat has been fishing over rougher bottoms, so be sure to bring plenty of tackle.
Betty and Nicks Bait & Tackle of Seaside Park had reports of cocktail Blues and Fluke right off the docks in Seaside. Crabbing and blowfish continue to be plentiful and there are some Stripers around the Barnegat Inlet on the 2nd half of the incoming tide.
Dock Outfitters of Seaside Park reported that it was a busy 4th of July weekend and then Barnegat Inlet remains the best location to box a few Fluke. Surf fishing remained a little slow with a pick of small Bluefish and Fluke. Crabbing in the back has been really good just about anywhere you try.
Capt’n Hippo of Toms River said there has been some Fluke caught in Barnegat Bay in Myer’s Hole, Double Creek, Oyster Creek, and the inlet. “They haven’t been biting on any particular tide”, says Lenny. The crab bite has been amazing on the west side of the bay from Toms River to the Barnegat docks.
The Carolyn Ann III has been on the meat, but it has been tough with the drifting conditions. The fish are there, but there has been little to no drift, which makes fishing very difficult. The boat has moved around from spot to spot to produce some beautiful Seabass and a few keeper Fluke. When the wind picks up, so does the bite. The boat is sailing two 4 hour trips per day, so call for details.
Capt. Ted of the Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported that it was a little tough on his last offshore trip due to unpredicted heavy sea conditions. They had to scrap the tilefish and shark, and move inshore to box a ton of Ling and Sea Bass. The boat is filling quite a few dates for Tuna, Sea Bass, and Fluke, so give them a shout.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had good numbers of Fluke at the Axel Carlson and Barnegat Light Reef sites. The areas from the BI to the 42 have been producing occasional Fluke amongst the ever-biting shorts. There has been some Blowfish around the BB and BI buoys and crabbing in Oyster Creek and Forked River has been solid with big jimmies making it into the steamer.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle of Manahawkin reported better Fluke fishing in Barnegat bay. Keeper Fluke have been consistently harvested in the Double Creek channel area, both the east and west sides. A lot of boats have had successful trips drifting the east side of the ICW between buoys 40 and 42. Live minnows and Gulp swim mullet or shrimp have been the best reported baits. The reef sites off LBI seem to be coming alive with more positive reports of Fluke and Sea Bass.
Riptide Bait & Tackle of Brigantine had very good fishing over the past few days on Sharks, Rays, and Kingfish. The shark bite has been very good and there are some huge rays making their way on angler’s lines. The Kingfish bite has picked up for anglers throwing bloodworms in the surf.
Absecon Bay Sportsman reported that it has been very Flukey from 10 to 20 feet using the 5-inch Gulp Swimming mullet. The 2nd half of the incoming has been producing a majority of the keepers. There have been some numbers of Weakfish around at night and even during the day. They have been hitting soft plastics, shedder crab, and Gulp, so try around the ICW cans. Crabbing is still slow in the creeks, but it starting to pick up in the deeper areas in the back bay.
One Stop Bait & Tackle of Atlantic City had some nice Flounder off the T-jetty and Atlantic Ave. Jetty, but there are a ton of throwbacks to keep people busy. There have also been some nice size Kingfish hitting bloodworms. But the best news has been the good Weakfish bite occurring at Harrah’s during the night on Peanut Bunker or soft plastics. Shop owner Nowell has a special deal on Bloodworms 2 dozen for 20 bucks.
Fin-Atics of Ocean City reported good Flounder action in the bay near the Route 52 Causeway, Rainbow channel, Ship’s channel, and Kennedy Park. Sea Isle City has also been pretty good on Fluke on the deeper holes on the backside. There has been small Blues, Fluke, Striped Bass at Corson’s Inlet. The ocean front has been very good on Fluke for the Ocean City, Great Egg, and Atlantic City reef sites. There has been some small Bluefin around the Atlantic City Ridge and most of the inshore lumps.
The Cape May reef sites and Reef Site #11 have been producing some nice Sea Bass and Fluke on deep-jigged bucktails. There has been some Weakfish around the Cape May Ferry terminal with anglers floating bloodworms and throwing soft plastics. The offshore fishing has been okay, but it seems that the Bluefin bite is the best game right now. Some anglers who pushed to the canyons struck out, yet hit better action on Bluefin in the 40 to 60-mile range.
Fishing Forecast for Southern New Jersey
Since the reports have been very good on sand eels frequenting the inshore lumps, then Bluefin may be the best shot for offshore shore anglers. Troll those feathers, Zukers, or Ballyhoo to box some “Charlie” tuna. Even though there are a lot of fish in the bay, the reef sites seem to be firing on all cylinders in terms of Fluke. So work those pieces of structure to box a limit of doormats. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!