We are in the primetime of the Jersey fluke season, and the ocean bite has been excellent when the winds and weather cooperate. Most areas are reporting the best action for keepers has been on bucktails tipped with the Berkley Gulp grub tails. Color does not seem to matter, but Pink Shine and Nuclear Chicken are slightly outproducing. Offshore has been a little tough to get out as of late due to the variety of fronts and strong winds that have passed through are area, but prior had decent action on Yellowfin and Bluefin. Based on the reports, it seems Mahi have been close to shore and around a lot of the pots and range buoys. The surf has a variety of fish with lots of Kingfish and Croakers hitting bloodworms, Bluefish and Fluke on bucktails, and sharks hitting baits at night.
Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported excellent Fluking for anglers fishing snags in 40 to 70 feet of water with the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reefs producing quality keepers. Most of the keepers have ranged from 20 inches to 7 pounds, and are being caught on bucktails tipped with Gulp Pink Shine or Nuclear Chicken grub tails. There have been quite a few mahi caught off some of the nearby pots and floating debris, so any floating object is worth a try. Striped bass are still plentiful in the Manasquan River, especially around any of the bridges. Jigheads tipped with thin profile soft plastics such as the Fin-S are doing well on these fish. It is important to work the shadow lines as the bass patrol them in the current.
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported hot Fluke fishing from the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reef sites. There are plenty of 4- to 5-pound Fluke being caught on bucktails tipped with Gulp grub tails or squid strip baits. There has been some action off the Manasquan Inlet on Bluefish and Fluke, with word of Cobia caught off the rocks.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported good Fluke fishing when the conditions are right. When the conditions were right. The boat has been picking at keeper Fluke and a few Sea Bass at most of the snags. Anglers bouncing Gulps tipped on bucktails seemed to do a little better and most of the pool winners have been 4 to 6 pounds. Some days the morning trip is better and some days the afternoon trip has been better as it depends on the wind speed and direction. The Friday and Saturday night trips had lots of action with mackerel coming over the rails along with some small Bluefish.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant had some nice trips this past week with the bigger Fluke and Sea Bass cooperating. The skipper worked some of his choice snags to produce quite a few Fluke over the 5-pound mark along with 16 to 20-inch sea bass.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick had a good number of anglers stopping by the shop to pick up fresh peanut bunker and killies as most of the Fluke near the inlets have been hitting these baits. There have been Bluefish from 8 to 14 inches hitting Gulp and small metals worked around the bird action. Anglers fishing the Seaside to Island Beach State Park surf have been rewarded with keeper Fluke to 21 inches.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported quite a few short Fluke off the beaches, but a few anglers are faring better using the 6-inch Berkley Gulp grub tails. Boats fishing the Axel and Sea Girt reefs are producing quality Fluke on the same baits, mostly in Pink Shine and Nuclear Chicken. There are some cocktail-sized Bluefish hitting baits in the surf and around the Manasquan Inlet.
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported a good bite on Fluke at the Barnegat Light reef and in the red inlet close to both side of the jetty rocks. Gulp and fresh Peanut Bunker or live minnows have been doing the trick on most of these fish. There is a pretty good bite on Blowfish from the BB to the 42 markers, and the shop has heard areas along Long Beach Island are reporting good blowfish activity. Crabbing is still fair, but much better back towards any of the marshy areas.
Super Chic in Barnegat Light has been busy hitting some of the local wrecks and reefs for Fluke and Sea Bass. The skipper has had the opportunity to catch some mackerel and small cocktail Bluefish at the same locations.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had anglers stopping by the shop to pick up local spearing and 6-inch Gulp baits to target quality Fluke to 8 pounds at the Barnegat Light Reef. Boats working the corners of the reef site have been producing on quality fish. The inlet is full of a mix of keeper Fluke and small Bluefish. The bay has been rather slow with a few charters doing well on Fluke to 6 pounds. The Barnegat Ridge has been consistent for Mahi, Bonita, and Spanish Mackerel.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported a good number of small sea bass and bluefish hitting baits around the Long Beach Island bridges. There has been a good number of striped bass caught around some of the islands during the late-night shifts both north and south of the Causeway bridge. The area reef sites have been a slow pick, except for the Barnegat Light reef which has produced this past week. Anglers have reported some mahi around the range buoy and some of the adjacent pots.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported good striped bass fishing from the bridges and around some of the tidal creeks during the night tides. There has been a fair number of keeper Fluke caught from the inlets, but the number of shorts far outnumber the keepers. Anglers have been hitting the inshore pots with small bucktails and jigs to target Mahi to 20 pounds. The shop did receive word of a few Cobia being seen around some of the inshore reef sites.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine had good reports of kingfish and snapper blues in the ocean during the day and sharks from sunset to sunrise. The Brigantine sharking has been absolutely on-fire this year with many Browns and Sand Tigers being caught and safely released. Flounder are still active in the bay and towards the inlet, but you must contend with a good number of throwbacks.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported bigger Fluke showing up during the incoming tides in deeper water and some of the channel holes. There are still a large number of small Sea Bass picking up baits intended for Fluke. Stripers are showing at night around the brides and piers, but it is strictly a late-night bite. The surf is still spotty, but Kingfish are showing form Ocean City to Strathmere. Fluke are making a comeback near the Great Egg Harbor and Atlantic City reefs and we’ve had a couple reports on Mahi near the far end of the AC reef on pots.
Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May reported a decent offshore bite on Yellowfin, Mahi, and Wahoo at the canyons. The Wilmington and Baltimore canyons have had some life, but the issue the past few days have been the heavy wind and rough sea conditions. The inlet and reef areas have been pretty good for Flounder with most anglers getting them on bucktails tipped with Gulp and strip baits.
Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May has live green crab and shedder crab for anglers targeting Blackfish, Sheepshead, and Weakfish around the jetties and bridges. The Cape May surf zone has had some small fluke, bluefish, croaker, and kingfish hitting a variety of baits. The inshore wrecks and reef sites have flounder and sea bass and offshore has been good for tuna and mahi.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend will be to hit the inshore reef and wrecks or work the jetties for quality fluke. Bucktails tipped with Gulp or long strip baits are doing the trick in most locations, and boaters should bring a few light setups and live minnows for potential mahi encountered. If you plan on working the jetty rocks, bring some green crabs or clam baits for blackfish, sheepshead, and triggerfish. The weather forecast looks very favorable for offshore anglers this weekend, but it’s anyone’s game as most boats have been tied up this week. Lastly, surf anglers should take advantage of the calm seas and work the cuts, bars, and drop-offs along the beach for fluke. Good Luck Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
I would like info on fluke n especially stripers thankyou