Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - June 17, 2021

It was a solid week of fishing for most of our area with a variety of species being prime targets for bay, beach, and inshore fisherman.  Sea bass fishing is set to close, but they are still excellent and this year has to be one of the most consistent with large numbers of cooperative sea biscuits.  Fluke or flounder fishing is good, but definitely requires work as slime has been a major issue in parts of our bays.  The slime chokes the water and fouls the lures making catching, let alone keeping, difficult.  Black drum off the beaches of Island Beach State Park and an exceptional bite in Cape May has anglers weighing in some quality specimens.  Ocean fluking should start as we near the end of the month.  On a side note, there was alot of hoopla in the news about a couple of white sharks caught or seen off our waters.  It’s great to see them around as being an apex predator are necessary to keep our oceans healthy as juvenile whites will feed on skates, rays, and fish while adults will feed primarily on marine mammals.  It’s nature’s way of keeping everything in check.

South Jersey Fishing Report

Lacey Marine in Forked River had the word of the week being black drum on clams off of Seaside Park to Island Beach State Park.  There were some nice ones caught along with striped bass, bluefish, and some keeper fluke in the suds.  Bay fishing has been tough with anglers complaining about the brown slime and the BB to BI buoys has been better.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown received reports of increased amounts of algal slime in Barnegat Bay, especially around the Oyster and Double Creek channels.  Anglers fishing north of the BB and around the bridges of LBI reported better fluke fishing.  Sea Bass fishing is set to close, but anglers fishing the 15 to 30-mile wrecks and snags are finding quality keepers.  Striped bass fishing has been sporadic off the beaches and there has been some nice black drum caught along Island Beach State Park.

Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown / Barnegat Light was out everyday this past week working the tides to put 2 to 7 keepers per trip as the slime is the biggest factor to success.  There were a few bigger fish 24 to 25 inches caught this past week and the fishing should only get better.  School’s out, so charters are 7 days a week.

The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued their sea bass fishing over the past week and the skipper said the deeper wrecks have been more productive on the keeper front.  Along with sea bass and an occasional fluke, porgies and ling have been in the mix.  The skipper is booking some of their summer offshore trips, so give them a call.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported some decent fluke fishing from the northern end, but better water and fish south of the LBI bridges.  Areas from Beach Haven to Brigantine have had good numbers of keeper fluke along with short action.  Crabbing in the bay has heated up with hand-liners reporting good numbers of 5 to 6 inch male blue crabs.

One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City received some quality sea bass reports from boats fishing out of the AC ports as the deep wrecks have been loaded with bass.  Inlet and jetty jockeys are finding some keeper fluke, small striped bass, and nice weakfish during the incoming tides.  The shop is loaded with the Magictail Kill-shot jig heads and they are perfect for soft plastics.

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported some good fluking this past week, especially along the intercoastal.  Gulp tipped on 1oz jigheads has been producing in the 10 to 20 foot depths.  There has also been some striped bass caught off the beaches in the 26 to 32 inch range during the night tides.  Anglers fishing the Atlantic City to Ocean City areas with eels are catching bass in the deeper channels, but this has strictly been a night fishery.

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had nice fluke being caught in the ICW from depths ranging from 8 to 25 feet and some have been in the 7 pound range.  The shop is stacked with baits and the sheepsheads have moved in, so try those bridges during the slack tides with crab.  Anglers dragging live spot are doing the best on big flounder in the back.  Sea bass are still being reported from wrecks in the 20 mile range.

Sterling Harbor in Wildwood reported that the sea bass and drum fishing has been outstanding and some of the drum have been in the 70 pound range.  Sea bassing has been excellent at the deepwater wrecks for keepers and local reef sites have also been producing.  Flounder fishing has been fair with more fish coming from the sides of the ICW and some of parts of the Delaware Bay towards Fortescue.

Cape May Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported superb drum fishing from the Delaware Bay this past week with keepers in the 50 to 80-pound range.  Fresh clam, frozen clam or blue crabs have been working with the evening tides producing.  Flounder fishing has been challenging, but slightly better west towards Fortescue and Gulp/Minnow has been the hot combination.  Weakfish are around on 4 to 5 inch pink soft plastics or jigheads tipped with shedder crab and the shop recommends hitting the jetties during the night shifts.

South Jersey Forecast

 The weekend looks a little gnarly in the wind category which makes for tough fishing just about everywhere, except off the back part of the inlet jetties.  This may be a viable option for Saturday and a 1 to 2oz jig or bucktail tipped with minnow or Gulp cast along the jetty rocks may produce a few flounder.  Sunday looks much better, especially as the day goes by and they bay would be the best bet to target flounder along the ICW or drum in the Delaware Bay.  The ocean may be a little sporty, but if there are calm seas then sea bass fishing should be the target before the season shuts down.  The wrecks in the 90 to 150 foot range are producing the the best amount of keepers.  The local reef sites may be worth a shot for fluke, especially ones that are relatively close to shore.  Crabbing has been exceptional at most locations and this is a perfect action for getting the kids out of the house.  Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!