September has had a terrific start and it seems the Northeast to East winds we had in the later part of August have helped usher in more pelagics closer to our coastline. There have been reports of some small tuna and mahi taking metals off some of our inlet jetties. Spanish mackerel, skipjack tuna, mahi, and even some small sailfish have been reported from some of the reef sites. Sea bass season has officially closed and will reopen in October, while fluke is running full throttle with fish to 10 pounds being taken from 0 to 12 miles offshore. Wrecks, snags, and reefs are producing most of the fish. Let’s just hope Florence stays well away from New Jersey.
Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey
Fisherman’s Supply in Point Pleasant reported a good bite on pelagics from some of the reef sites (Axel & Sea Girt) and slightly further out to some of the offshore range buoys. Minnows, peanut bunker, and spearing have been the ticket to box multiple mahi. Boats trolling feathers around the pots are also picking up small skipjack tuna and Spanish mackerel. The northern Barnegat Ridge and Manasquan Ridge have been the places to be for bonito. fluke has been very good for anglers fishing structure in the 50- to 75-foot depths with fish to 8 pounds making it over the rails. striped bass and small bluefish are still very plentiful from the Manasquan River and Point Pleasant canal on soft plastics and plugs. Tog have also been hitting off the Manasquan and Barnegat Inlet rocks.
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported good fluke fishing from the Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reef sites when the drift conditions are good. Slow drifts have made for casting and retrieving bucktails to entice better bites. The surf has been good for fluke and small bluefish to 14 inches. The Barnegat Bay has had good reports of blowfish and kingfish around the inlets.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported that the fish have been biting with on bucktails tipped with 6-inch Gulp baits and large squid strip baits. The days with little drift it’s good to cast around the structure and work the lures back to the boat. Most of the pool winners have been in the 6- to 8-pound range. The boat is sailing on Friday and Saturday nights for the evening bluefish bite.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant has been catching good sized fluke on some of their inshore charters, and the offshore yellowfin bite has been great in the canyons. The skipper has been busy booking striped bass trips for the Fall.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported a good bite off the surf and at the Axel, Shark River, and Sea Girt reef sites for fluke. Some of the fluke have been up to 12 pounds caught on bucktails tipped with 6-inch Gulp grub tails. The Manasquan River has been choked with baitfish and small Stripers hitting plugs and soft plastics around the bridges at night.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported a very good bite on fluke off the surf with anglers catching keepers to 3.5 pounds on bucktails tipped with Gulp. There are still some Brown sharks hitting baits at night, but it has slowed down.
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported a good number of mahi around the pots and hi-fliers 6 to 15 miles off the beach. Fluke fishing has been very good off most of the reef sites (Barnegat Light, Garden State North, and Garden State South). Triggerfish, Blackfish, and some Sheepshead have been caught around the Barnegat Inlet rocks on clam or green crab.
Super Chic in Barnegat Light has been busy running fluke trips at some of the inshore spots, and overnight tuna trips offshore at the canyons.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown has been getting good reports from anglers targeting blowfish in the bay from the BI to the 42 buoy. Anglers chumming heavy with clam logs and baiting rigs with squid, clam, or FishBites are doing the best. Fluke are all over the outside reefs, wrecks, and mussel beds. Bucktails tipped with 6-inch Gulp baits jigged closely on the wrecks are catching fluke to 6 pounds. There have been mahi on the North Ridge and king mackerel closer to shore. The bay is loaded with lots of snapper bluefish for the kids.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported good fishing at the north and south inlets for fluke with anglers drifting live peanut bunker. Anglers working bucktails off the rocks and the surf have done well on keeper fluke. There have been some nice keepers caught from the Barnegat Light and Little Egg reef sites. Triggerfish have started to move into the area with anglers catching 3 to 10 triggers on the outgoing in Barnegat Inlet and off the accompanying rocks. Crabbing has been very good from the islands around the Route 72 bridge.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom had reports of Tog, Sheepshead, Triggerfish, and Black Drum around the inshore rocks and jetties. Most of the anglers targeting these species have been using green crabs rigged on a single or double hook. Plain jigheads tipped with half crabs have been working. fluke fishing has been very hot from some of the wrecks and reefs with fisherman and charters boxing up to 11 keepers per trip.
Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported fluke, Kingfish, and some small bluefish to 15 inches picking up baits and jigs off the surf. Anglers fishing the rocks with live crab have been picking at Blackfish and some Sheepshead. The shop did get some reports of the Little Egg reef being on-fire this past week for keeper fluke. Most of the successful boaters have been using bucktails tipped with 6-inch Gulp Grub baits.
Fin-Atics in Ocean City had quality reports of kingfish and spot being active in the surf and biting on bloodworms and Fish Bites. Brown sharks are still around at night and have been hitting on mackerel and bunker heads rigged off the surf. In the back bays, flounder have been hitting baits with good numbers, but poor on keepers. The shop said it’s been a lot of action on shorts which are great for the kids. Snapper blues and small sea bass around the jetties and bloodworms seem to be the best all-around bait. Crabbing continues to be great in bay area, so grab bunker and hand-lines.
Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May reported a variety of species being caught from the surf with almost too many to be listed (fluke, kingfish, pompano, weakfish, bluefish, sharks, etc). Anglers fishing Cape May and Wildwood reef sites have been doing well on quality flounder to 6 pounds.
Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported 12- to 14-inch bluefish hitting baits and small metals off the surf. Kingfish, small flounder, and some Pompano to 14 inches hitting a variety of baits (bloodworm, squid strips, shrimp). Brown sharks have been hitting baits off the surf intended for bluefish. The reef sites have been loaded with fluke up to 8 pounds and the Cape May harbor and areas behind Wildwood have fluke to 6 pounds.
Southern New Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend is to fish somewhere off the coast of New Jersey because the Euro and US models for Hurricane Florence are not looking too good for the East Coast next week. We know it’s way too early to tell, but let’s hope they are dead wrong! Fishing has been great, especially for fluke, so be sure to hit the reef sites when the winds are good for drifting. Another place to look for doormat quality fluke is our bays and inlets by drifting live Mullet or peanut bunker. Offshore anglers have been getting lots of different species from the inshore areas to the canyons. Trolling, chunking, and jigging has been the way to go for tuna, Billfish, and mahi. Most of the canyons have had action, but it is still best to check with one of the local tackle shops for the most up to date intel.