The bait is beginning to stage as peanut bunker and mullet swim up and down my lagoon at dawn and dusk. I guess they’re anxiously awaiting the Fall like students waiting for the 1st day of school. We have two weeks left in August and the fishing has improved on the big fluke front with most shops reporting fluke being caught in the 6 to 10-pound range. The ocean bite should get into full swing through the remainder of the season as these fish start to pull out of bays and estuaries. The pelagic bite has continued to be “hot” offshore with yellowfin, mahi and billfish out deep while Spanish mackerel, bluefin, cobia, and bonita are hitting lures in the 10 to 30-mile range. This past week had a 90+ pound cobia caught off of Cape May from an angler targeting fluke and it may be a pending state record. There are plenty of tog off the jetties for anglers to have a great time catching but remember you can only take 1 fish home at or greater than 15 inches. If you like the backwaters, the last few weeks of August are great for small striped bass on poppers or the fly, but these can only be targeted dusk to dawn.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported a decent amount of keeper fluke being caught from the Rattlesnake down to the Axel Carlson reef site. The shop is prepared with the JCAA’s 2nd fluke tournament this season and is offering discounts on bait, tackle, and fuel. The offshore action has been pretty good with anglers hooking up on bluefin from 30 to 60 miles out and there are quite of few mahi off the pots and hi-fliers.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported an uptick in the size of the keepers this past week with more fish in the 6 to 9-pound range being caught. Most of the action on the larger fish has been on the bucktail while squid/spearing combinations have also been working. The boat has been fishing some rough bottom and there have been some sea bass in the mix. The Friday and Saturday night bluefish trips have been giving up 1 to 3-pound bluefish. The Sunday night Ling fishing has been “off the charts” with lots of anglers ending with coolers full of fish.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach reported “up and down” fluke trips this past week/Some trips have had decent keeper action to 8-pounds, while others have had slower bites. Sea bass have been in the mix on the bottom while the boat has been seeing lots of topwater action with mahi, Spanish mackerel, and small bluefish. The night trips continue to box quite a few ling, sea bass, and small bluefish. Most anglers have been going home with plenty of fillets.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant continues to bottom-fish for sea bass, ling, and winter flounder. There has also been some summer flounder caught around some of the structure. Capt. Ken has some dates available for Open Boat and he recommends calling for reservation as they do not overcrowd the boat as spots are limited.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported some good days this past week at the Sea Girt and Axel reef sites with fluke to over 10 pounds. It seems the bite is hit or miss, as some days have been very tough with the current and slow bites. The beaches have been good for fluke, small bluefish, and kingfish.
Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported good numbers of tog being caught along the Manasquan Inlet and small blues on metals in the inlet. There have been some fluke off the beaches, but most action has been from the boats in the ocean with the Sea Girt and Shark River reef sties producing keepers.
Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported typical summer fishing with fluke and kingfish in the suds. There have been quite a few bonito and Spanish mackerel popping up along the beach which can be targeted with small metals or epoxy jigs. Small bluefish have been all over on bait along the surf and can easily be targeted with small metal jigs. Rays have been seen all over the beaches and they have been picking up bunker chunks in the evening. The jetties have been producing some keeper tog and triggerfish.
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for New Jersey
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported good blowfishing in Barnegat bay, but the bite has been a little tougher and anglers are recommended to chum very heavy. There has been small sea bass, bluefish, and some kingfish in the slicks. Fluke fishing has been a steady pick on keepers in the Ocean with the Barnegat Light Reef area getting lots of action. The bay has been a little slower, but they are there mostly in deeper water this time of year. Offshore fishing has been good with anglers getting bluefin around the Atlantic Princess and yellowfin producing at the canyons. The shop has a full lineup of gear for offshore pelagics.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported good mid-shore action on bluefin along with some Spanish mackerel and bonita. The Barnegat Ridge has had some good days with bonita, Spanish mackerel, and mahi being caught on the troll. The ocean fluke fishing seems to be “hit or miss” with some real good days offering up limits of fluke while other days have been hard to find a bite. The bay still has a fair amount of fish, but keeper ratios have been as high as twenty to one. Blowfish are still picking up clam baits at the usual spots.
Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light reported a decent week with most of the charters picking 3 to 6 keeper fluke along with some quality tog. The skipper has been working both Ocean or Bay depending on the client’s preference and has been picking fish. With August booked, there are some weekends available in September for quality fluke and most of the trips will be Ocean Fluke trips.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported fluke action along the surf with more keepers being caught from the north part of the island. Boaters have been boxing keeper flatties at the the reef sites, but some days have been an ultra-slow pick. The Barnegat inlet rocks have had a decent amount of keeper tog with a few nice ones to 6 and 8 pounds being weighed in. Most of this action has been directly off the rocks, so remember your metal-spikes or “korkers”. Bay action has fluke, small bluefish, and some weakfish being caught from the Myers Hole area.
The Ocean City to Cape May areas reported a good mix of fish being caught from the bay to the ocean. The bay has slowed up on keeper fluke, but there are quite a few tog and sheepshead hanging around the bridges, pilings, jetties, and rock-piles. As far as fluke fishing goes, the reef sites are the places to target from the Great Egg Reef south to the Delaware Bay. There are fish there, but you have to work the structure very hard with bucktails and Gulp. The inshore grounds have had decent amounts of cobia, mahi, and some king mackerel being caught from the Sea Isle Lumps, 5 Fathom bank, and the Avalon Shoal. There are lots of mahi at the pots offshore. The canyons are producing decent numbers of yellowfin and some billfish on the troll.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend will be to jump on a head boat, personal boat, or charter as the Ocean fluke action should rebound especially with some of the Northeast winds. I would look for structure and clean water, and don’t rule out mahi around anything that’s floating. If you bring some crab with you, quality tog and triggerfish await. Offshore anglers should continue to run to the canyons as they are producing good numbers of yellowfin and mahi. The inshore ridges are the place to be right now for Spanish mackerel and bonita. These can be easily trolled up on daisy chains, feathers, or Clark spoons trolled at 6 to 7 knots. If you don’t have a vessel, then working the surf in the deeper holes and along groins/jetties should produce keeper fluke. A light bucktail 1 to 2oz tipped with Gulp and slowly worked along the bottom is the best way to produce strikes. One of my favorites for the summer is to grab a bucket of green crabs and catch tog off the rocks as there are always some big boys lurking and you never know may hook into a sheepshead or triggerfish. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain for New Jersey
What’s happening in AC and OC ???