The second week of August had a minor hiccup as the fishing had to rebound from the storm that went through most of South Jersey. The Fluke fishing has been excellent and is probably one of the best seasons in many years. The number of keeper Fluke coming from our back bays, inlets, and reef sites is outstanding. Bucktails tipped with Gulp or live baits has been the ticket for bigger Fluke, and don’t be afraid to fish those bigger baits in the bays and inlets. I’ve been getting a ton of reports of small snapper Bluefish around which can be easily caught with small metals or Sabiki rigs. Live-lining these in the deeper holes and inlets can put double-digit Fluke on your hook. The Yellowfin Tuna bite slowed a tad, but still remains consistent around 40 to 65 miles out of most South Jersey ports.
Here is this week’s rundown:
The Golden Eagle out of Belmar had another good week at Sea Bass, Blues, Ling, and Bonito along with some Fluke. The skipper said it was good fishing all around and pretty much every fish was on bait with the exception of the Bluefish.
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported very good Fluke action at the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt Reef sites. Most anglers have been working the 45- to 60-foot depths and there are fish holding on the outsides of the reef site. Bucktails tipped with 6-inch Gulp Grubs have been the way to go as far as bigger fish. The recent JCAA Fluke tournament saw fish to 8.5 pounds being weighed in at the scales. Fish should start moving to the deeper wrecks in 80 to 100 feet over the next several weeks barring any tropical systems. Yellowfin tuna 40 to 70 pounds have been trolled up at the Hudson Canyon. The Manasquan River and Inlet is still holding some Fluke which are being caught up to 5 pounds. There are plenty of snapper blues schooled up in the river to keep the kids happy.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported good Fluke fishing continuing through the weekend and into this week. Bucktails tipped with Gulp and Spearing have been producing fish from 5 to 7 pounds. The night time Bluefish bite has turned on with steady 1- to 3-pound Bluefish and Mackerel making it to the cooler. The boat is now sailing, Thursday through Sunday nights for Bluefish.
MIMI IV in Point Pleasant Beach has been fishing hard, sticky bottoms for Ling, Sea Bass, Flounder and Fluke. The boat has some Open Boat dates this Friday and Saturday. If interested, call 732-370-8019 to reserve your spot.
The Gambler in Point Pleasant has been starting to catch some nicer size Fluke with a better percentage of keepers coming over the rail. The fish have been ranging from 3 to 7 pounds. There has still been Sea Bass and some Bluefish in the mix. Trigger fish have starting to shows up on some of the snags.
Betty and Nick’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported a ton of snapper Bluefish, keeper Fluke and larger Bluefish coming from Gilllikins to the short road along the Miracle mile. Anglers also working the rocks along Barnegat Inlet have been able to box some keeper fish. There are some big Rays and Brown Sharks around to keep anglers adrenaline going. Beach buggy access to Barnegat Inlet is open on Island Beach State Park which was previously shut down due to the presence of migratory birds.
Carolyn Ann III in Barnegat Light reported bigger Fluke coming over the rails to 8 pounds. The fishing had been some of the best all year prior to the weekend storm. As of late, it has slowed but is starting to get better as the bottom calms down. Gina expects great fishing through the end of the season and advised that anglers working the bucktail have been doing better on quality fish.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported Yellowfin and some Bluefin Tuna 50 to 65 miles offshore on the troll and chunking butterfish and sardines. While closer inshore, Fluke are being boxed with some consistently from most of the Reef sites (Barnegat Light Reef, Garden State North, Garden State South, etc). The Barnegat Bay and inlet are still holding some fish, but you have to pick through the large amounts of short Fluke. Crabbing slowed a tad with the approaching Full Moon, but should regain towards the end of this week.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported good crabbing from Barnegat south through Tuckerton from both the boat and banks of the marshes. After the full moon subsides, it should really get good in terms of Blueclaws. The Fluke bite has been so-so from the bay, but really good off the Tires and Barnegat Light Reef site, which has boasted the hottest action. Anglers working the NE and SW edges have seen better catches. There are still some small Striped Bass around the area’s bridges being released at night.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported Kingfish and snapper Blues along the Brigantine surf and there are still some Sharks hanging around, especially at night. The back bays are teeming with Fluke, but you have to fish through the smaller ones. Ratios have been as high as 25 to 1, so be sure to bring plenty of Gulp and bait. The Little Egg and Great Egg reef sites are holding some keeper Fluke, but be sure to fish some of the smaller wrecks outside of the reefs.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported a steady bite of Kingfish off the beaches for surfcasters throwing two-hook rigs tipped with Bloodworms or Fishbites. There are small Bluefish off the surf and in the inlet being caught on mackerel, squid, and small metals. The beaches in the evening are still giving up some big Brown sharks and Sand Tigers, but remember these are protected species and have to be immediately released. The backbays are giving up lots of short Fluke, but work closer to the inlet and the deeper holes to box keepers. The Great Egg, Townsends Reef, and Ocean City Reef site have good quantities of keeper Fluke on the snags.
The Sea Isle City and Avalon area had good reports of small Fluke being caught in the bay with bigger Fluke caught along the Townsends Inlet. The Townsends Inlet Bridge has Bluefish and small Sea Bass around the rocks being caught on clam or crabs. The surf has good numbers of snapper Bluefish and Kingfish with anglers catching on Bloodworms and small Metals.
The Wildwood, Cape May area had excellent Fluke fishing during this past week with the Cape May Reef, Delaware Reef Site #11, and the Old Grounds giving up some serious flatties up to 7 pounds. Roy Trainer of Gibbstown roughed it out Saturday in the wind to win the JCAA Fluke tournament with a 6.99 pounder from the Old Grounds. The best reports on the Tuna bite came from Lemke’s Canyon this week. Some of the Yellowfin were trolled and chunked up and most were in the 40 to 60 pound class. There were also a few Mahi caught on the troll. Massey’s Canyon is still giving up some fish along with the 19 Fathom Lump. There are small Blues stacked up on South Shoal with some Spanish Mackerel and a few Bonita mixed in. Small Clark spoons and small feathers have been working well on these fish. The Cape May inlet is giving up plenty of Blackfish, Sheepshead, and a few Triggerfish and most have been caught on Fiddler Crabs, but Asian or Shedder Crabs are working too. Croakers are showing up on the Delaware Bay side beaches, especially at Higbee’s Beach and in the Canal. Kingfish are still in the surf along with some keeper Fluke and Cape May Point has had the best action.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend is to get out there and fish! If you have the opportunity, jump on a charter, head, or recreational boat and fish the wrecks and adjacent reef sites to boat quality Fluke. The key is to being very close to the structure, so be sure to do short drifts. Bucktails ranging from 2 to 6 ounces tipped with 6-inch Gulp Grub tails will put the most keepers in the boat. Bring plenty of extra Grubs as most of the sites have had small Sea Bass and Sea Robins in the neighborhood. Tuna fisherman should be concentrating on areas east of the Fingers southward to Lemke’s Canyon by either trolling or chunking sardines and butterfish. And if your land-locked or don’t like a rocking boat, most inlets from Manasquan to Cape May are providing a variety of action with Bluefish, Fluke, Blackfish, Sheepshead, and Triggerfish.
Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!