Northern New Jersey Fishing Report - August 12, 2021

(Photo Credit: TAK Waterman) 

Summer fun surf fishing is in full swing in Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Blues and fluke are the top targets, with stripers, kingfish, and Spanish macks also making an appearance.

Mike at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle mentioned the improved fluking around Sandy Hook. He’d taken three keepers to 19 inches on a recent trip. Blues are scattered about in the northernmost stretch of Jersey surf, and some slot-size bass have been taken recently, including a 31- and a 34-incher. Spanish mackerel have thinned out, but there’s no clear reason why – the water is still warm and clean, and baitfish are still around. Perhaps they’ll be back.

Mike from TAK Waterman said the fluke fishing is improving with more keepers in surf. There’s cocktail bluefish pushing spearing onto the beach, making for some fun fishing with small metal lures and lighter tackle. The tuna fishing is still really good, said Mike. FIshermen are still jigging bluefin tuna and are catching big yellowfin on jigs and poppers. There are plenty of blackfish hanging around shallow rocky structure, and fishermen can keep one per day right now. In the river systems, there are lots of snapper blues to make for fun fishing with ultralight rods and reels.

Captain Pete of Parker Pete’s Sportfishing is all in on the fluke fishing, which he says is excellent right now. Anglers are enjoying limit catches, with fish into the 8-pound range.

The word from Fishermen’s Den is that the fluke and tuna fishing is good, cocktail blues are biting well in the river, and kingfish are being reported from the surf. The party boats are doing well with fluke, and fishermen going out after dark in the river and Canal are catching some stripers.

Fluke fishing is good from beach and boat, according to the report from the Reel Seat crew. Rockpiles close to the beach are holding triggerfish, and farther offshore, the tuna bite is off and on. There were Spanish mackerel and some smaller bonito, but they have gotten scarce in recent days.

According to the report from Fishermen’s Supply Co, the reefs and wrecks are full of fluke, and 2- to 4-pound bluefish are thick in the inlet. The tuna fishing has gotten a bit spotty as the fish have moved around, but if you find the fish, the action can be excellent.

Pete at Charlies Bait and Tackle recommended using high-low rigs with mullet or bucktails with Gulp for fluke in the surf. Bluefish have been moving in and out of the surf, but when they are in range, Pete said they are taking metals aggressively. In Manasquan Inlet, blues are biting well, and there are some short fluke to play with. At night, stripers are being caught in the Canal. Snapper blues and spike weakfish are biting well in Barnegat Bay.  Fish after dark, and especially around dock lights for the weakfish said Pete. Use small jigs in pink. Crabbing is very good, Pete said, and the crabs have been good and meaty.

The surfside fluke fishing continues to be excellent reported Ray at Grumpy’s Tackle. Ray heard of surf-caught fluke to 4.5 pounds. There are also small to mid-size blues on the beach, which are taking small metal lures. Ray’s also heard some rumors of kingfish cruising the surf. Ray warns anglers to watch their rods if leaving them in sand spikes. There have been big numbers of cownose rays winging around the surf, and Ray has heard of a few unattended rods claimed by the cownose in recent days. In the bay, Ray is hearing of lots of snapper bluefish and some blowfish – two species that are perfect for getting some young anglers excited about the sport.

Fishing Forecast for Northern New Jersey

Sounds like it’s been a banner season for fluke from the surf, so if you haven’t yet, I recommend getting some small bucktails, tipping them with gulp or squid and bouncing them just behind the wash. From the reports, it seems like there’s steady action from IBSP up to Sandy Neck. Having some metals on hand to toss at blues, or Spanish macks, should they reappear, is a good idea as well.  And there are some good sized stripers swimming around the beaches up by Sandy Neck, so there’s no need to wait for the fall run to see some stripes again.

The ultralight opportunities in the bays sound like a blast as well.  Snapper blues, blowfish, and spike weakfish are all fun species to catch, and the former two are also great eating.

It’s prime time for summer fun fishing, and with more heat in the forecast, wet-wading in the surf sounds like the best way to stay cool.