There are a ton of other “S” words I can think of to describe the fishing this past week, but I will simply go with “SLOW”. The heavy northeast winds for the better part of the week put most headboats, charters, and recreational anglers to a dead stop. Some hardy anglers did fish the local bays to catch blowfish as fluke was rather challenging with 30 knot winds. The offshore reports are slim to none as most bluewater boats have been held dockside for almost a week. The weather should rebound for this weekend and allow anglers to get back on the deep edge for tuna and mahi. Jetty fisherman are still reporting good numbers of tog with the occasional keeper to 8-pounds off the rocks. The latest weather should usher in some more pelagics inshore and at the very least get the fluke moving out of the bays.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Capt. Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach had some reports of small bluefish and bonita in the Manasquan Inlet prior to this week’s northeast blow. Fluke have been caught along the rock walls and also are picking up bucktails at the Axel Carlson reef site.
Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach was tied up at the dock for most of the week but was able to get out this past Wednesday. The skipper found a good amount of short fluke with some nice keepers and a few big sea bass. The crew expects the rest of the week through the weekend to look good for fluking. The night bluefish trips have been catching 2 to 3-pound blues with regularity and they will be sailing this upcoming weekend.
The Gambler out of Point Pleasant Beach reported a slow week due to some cancellations with the rough sea and wind conditions. The boat has been getting a mix of short fluke and keepers to 5 pounds prior to this week’s blow. The crew will be sailing through the Labor Day weekend as the weather looks pretty good for fluking.
The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant reported good action on the ling and sea bass on the boat’s most recent trips. They were tied to the dock for a few days due to the rough sea conditions.
Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported slow action as the ocean has been churned up the past few days. Anglers did try to get out today at the Sea Girt reef site and reported some keepers and shorts. The shop is loaded with green crab for blackfish as the inlets have been pretty hot the past few weeks.
Charlie’s Bait & Tackle in Normandy Beach reported some anglers trying to brave the elements on the surf, but it has been very rough. There has been some small bluefish, bonita, and fluke around the surf zone. They should get back on the feed once the water calms down and clears up.
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Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park had a relatively quiet week with the Northeast blow this past week. The surf has been rough, but the winds turned around and it should start cleaning up for the weekend. There has been small bluefish and Atlantic bonita within casting range. Fluke have been picking up bucktails tipped with Gulp. Blowfish are still all over Barnegat Bay and the crabbing has been getting better.
Lacey Marine in Forked River reported some nice fluke caught just outside the inlet at the start of the Nor’easter to 10 pounds. The fish have been caught both in the inlet and outside with the inside fish hitting live peanut bunker. Blowfish are still running strong in the bay, but you have to chum and pick through sea bass and smaller puffers.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported slower conditions this past week with most anglers staying home due to the windy conditions. The bay still has a good amount of blowfish along with some sea bass and pinfish. Fluke fishing is better in the ocean, but the issue has been getting outside with the sloppy conditions.
Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light has been stuck at the dock the past week due to the winds and poor conditions. There are some open dates left in September before the fluke season closes.
Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom reported fluke, blowfish, and some weakfish coming from both ends of Long Beach Island. This past week made it hard for a lot of boats to get out, especially in the ocean. The bridges still have a lot of small sea bass and some tog to keep anglers interested and there has been some small striped bass at night. The store has a few sales going on, so stop in to check them out.
The Ocean City to Cape May areas reported good fishing from the reef sites prior to the Nor’easter that battered South Jersey for the last few days. Fluke to 7-pounds and some nice sea bass have been caught at the ocean sites. The inlets and bridges from Brigantine south to Cape May have tog, triggerfish, and some sheepshead around. Fiddler crabs are the “go-to” baits for these, especially if targeting sheepsheads. The backside of Wildwood and some of the rock jetties along the Delaware Bay had Weakfish. The past week had relatively little fishing or beach activities as the wind and waves made for poor conditions on both fronts.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this weekend will be to hit the ocean reef sites for fluke and sea bass as the marine forecast does look promising as of the time of this report. The bigger fluke should be staging inshore as the migratory push begins over the next several weeks. The key to fishing the reef sites is to pound areas of structure that are holding fish compared to just making long drifts. Short drifts are best to put a limit of keepers in the box. The bay still has lots of action from tog and triggerfish off the local jetties to blowfish and weakfish in the backwaters. Crabbing is another good option as some of the Jimmies are teaming with meat. Offshore should have good yellowfin, mahi, and bill-fishing, but the issue has been lack of effort due to the weather. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!
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