Southern New Jersey Fishing Report - June 24, 2021

This past week had good action at the nearshore ridges and some of the offshore wrecks have been holding good numbers of sandeels along with bluefin, albacore, and bonita. Clark spoons, cedar plugs and small feathers have been working on the troll. Ocean fluke action has started with the reef sites beginning to produce from the Axel to Reef Site #11. Gulp, squid, or fluke ribbons tipped on bucktails have been the best choices for keeper flatties. Bay action continues to be solid, but better reports have been coming from the Brigantine to Ocean City areas for flounder. Weakfish, striped bass and small bluefish have been reported but the action has been sporadic. I would recommend getting out early for your best shots at these fish. Crabbing seems to be excellent just about anywhere you drop a trap or hand-line and both sides of the tide have been producing.

Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey

Lacey Marine in Forked River had nice reports of blowfish from the BI to BB buoy on clam and squid. Anglers working the same area are also finding keeper fluke to 5 pounds and some of other channels were also producing. The shop had the first quality reports from the ocean this past week as the BL reef site was producing. Offshore action was good with sandeels keeping bluefin, albacore, and some nice bonita at the Resor and the Barnegat Ridge.
 
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown in Waretown had lots to report this past week with bluefin, bonita and albacore at the Resor wreck along with big sea bass. Fluke fishing has started in the ocean with some quality fluke reported from the Barnegat Light reef site. Bay fishing has been fair from the bay channels. Crabbing was excellent with the full moon approaching and there has been alot of big males from the back channels. Blowfish madness has officially started for Barnegat Bay with some filled coolers being report, but the shop recommends only keeping enough to eat.

Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light was busy this week as the skipper resumed the normal 2-charter per day schedule until September. The 4hr bay charters have been working through 20 to 45 fluke while clients are boxing 4 to 7 keepers per trip. All of the fish have been landed on the S&S Bigeye tipped with natural bait.

The The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been prepping for some tuna trips as positive reports have been coming from the nearshore lumps to canyons. The skipper will be starting tuna trips and fluke/ling ocean trips for next month.

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported good fluke reports from the reef site off Island Beach State Park along with throwback sea bass. Weakfish have been sporadic in the bay, but anglers are finding them during the evening tides from the local bridges. Both ends of Long Beach Island have been seeing some small blues caught along the beaches and inlets on small metals. Crabbing along the west side of the bay has been very good, especially around the mid-island marshes.

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One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City had anglers stop by the shop to report good action on fluke off the jetties and there have been a few weakfish caught. Anglers soaking bunker during the night and early morning hours are still finding a few cooperative bass around. The shop is loaded to the max with gear and had some nice daily giveaways, so check them out.

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported some good flounder fishing from the back bays as minnows and spot have been doing most of the catching for the bigger fish. Flounder to 7 pounds were reported this past week along with some bluefish, weakfish, and even striped bass. The best bet for bass and weakfish has been the night tides along some of the bridges from Atlantic City to Avalon.

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported some big flounder being landed along the ICW and some of the deeper holes with large minnows and Gulp doing the trick. Sheepsheads have been showing up along the bridges and these can be jigged with crab on the slack tides. The shop is loaded with live and frozen baits for bay, surf, and offshore action.

Sterling Harbor in Wildwood had excellent flounder fishing over the past several days as the bay and ocean bites have been solid. Cape May reef, reef site #10, and reef site #11 produced limits of flatties with some fish to 7 pounds being caught. Weakfish are being landed around the bay jetties on soft plastics and sea bass remained excellent through the close of the season. Nice kingfish action was also reported Wildwood to Cape May on Fishbites, bloodworms or clam from the beaches. Offshore action produced yellowfin tuna along the Poor Mans canyon and bonita / bluefin from some of the nearshore lumps.

Cape May Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported snapper blues, flounder and kingfish being landed further up the Delaware Bay. Anglers working some of the sloughs and ledges are producing on live minnow and bucktail. The Delaware Bay has been pretty solid on weakfish from the jetties. Offshore action has yellowfin action in the canyons and bonita from the mid-shore lumps. Crabbing continues to be excellent along the back marshes from Cape May to Wildwood.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The weekend forecast looks decent, although it may be better for the bay. Full moon tides will have stronger than normal tidal currents and fish will be on the feed differently. Generally, smaller feeding windows will occur and anglers should target the slower currents during the tide cycles. Flounder fishing has been solid just about every location in the back, but areas south of Brigantine seem to be producing better on the larger sized doormats. If the seas are do-able, a run to the Atlantic Princess, Resor, and nearshore ridges would be good for a shot at bluefin and bonita early in the morning. Shark fishing has also been solid in the nearshore locations as some nice makos have been reported. Surf fishing is another solid option for this weekend with kingfish, flounder, bluefish, and even some weakfish being landed. Anglers interested in playing catch and release will have good shots at shark off the surf as some South Jersey spots have started to report. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!