Southern New Jersey Fishing Report – August 19, 2021

Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey

The fishing rebounded the past week as the ocean flounder bite hit it’s stride as the current slowed with us coming off the recent New moon. Most of the reef sites have been full of life with some nicer fish to 8 pounds being landed. Anglers looking to hit tuna are finding bluefin pretty close to the federal 3 mile line and yellowfin are still between 30 to 50 miles out. The Atlantic Princess area has been hot most of the season similar to the triple wrecks last season. Surf anglers have been doing well on a host of species from kingfish to fluke and lots in between.

South Jersey Fishing Report

Lacey Marine in Forked River had good reports of fluke being caught from areas off of Seaside and the Axel reef site. 4 to 6oz bucktails tipped with Gulp or large strip baits have been the way to go for anglers looking for keepers. The reef site outside of the Barnegat inlet has been full of shorts with a few keepers. The blowfish bite is in full swing with anglers catching between 50 to 200 in a few hours. The shop recommends heavy chumming with clam and moving if you don’t get them quick.
 
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown in Waretown reported excellent numbers of blowfish from the bay areas of Forked River, Waretown, and Barnegat. It’s pretty much “game on” for the puffers and anglers are easily filling the coolers. Yellowfin action was red hot again this week at Little Italy and the Atlantic Princess area and Mahi caught from the lobster pots.

Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown and Barnegat Light was busy again this week with ocean charters getting limits of fluke to 7 pounds. A few trips hit the bay due to seasick anglers, and still found lots of life with the number of keepers ranging between 3 to 5 and up to 6 pounds. The skipper will begin doing their 3hr night striped bass trips during the month of September and October, so give them a ring to get booked.

The The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continues to run both inshore and offshore trips over the past week. The skipper has been busy keeping anglers tight to yellowfin on the offshore trips and has worked a variety of wrecks for fluke and sea bass on the inshore charters. Capt. Ted did say they are planning on targeting offshore tuna during the month of September.

Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin has been busy in the shop and reported good tog fishing off the Barnegat inlet jetties on green crab. There has been plenty of shorts to keep anglers busy with a few keepers in the mix. Flounder fishing was better this week with good reports coming from the southern reef sites (Little Egg, AC reef, etc). The inlets were alive with snapper bluefish and a few schoolie striped bass.

One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City had excellent reports from the T-jetty for tog on green crabs, kingfish on bloodworms, and fluke on Gulp. Anglers have been busy with tog as there are more shorts than keepers, but plenty of action to keep fisherman busy. Kingfish and small bluefish have also been pretty good off the beaches, and night-time anglers heaving kingfish heads have shots at C&R action on sharks.

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported good reef fishing over the past week from the Ocean City, Townsends, and wrecks outside of Sea Isle for fluke to 7 pounds. Bridges have been alive for tog, triggerfish, and sheepshead on fiddler, green crab, and mud crabs. The beaches of Brigantine to Ocean City continue to provide excellent action for kingfish, croakers, small fluke, and snapper bluefish. The incoming tides have been better for anglers on the beach and bay.

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported good fishing for fluke, tuna, and sheepshead over the past week. The bridges and inlet areas have been good for keeper fluke and sheepshead to 7 pounds. There has also been some nice tautog caught along the bridge structures. Yellowfin to 53 pounds have been weighed over the past week as these have been taken at the midshore grounds on chunked sardines, butterfish, and whole squid.

Sterling Harbor in Wildwood reported good fluke fishing around the inlets and bridges for anglers drifting live bait such as minnows, peanut bunker, or live spot. Live spot and peanuts have been doing much better on the keeper flounder. Sheepshead and tog are very active along the bridges and inlet rock walls. The shop weighed in a nice sheepshead close to 7 pounds over the past week. Flounder fishing remains good at reef site 11, the CM reef and McCrie Shoal. There are plenty of kingfish along the beachfront and weakfish continue to be caught out front and in the backbays. Offshore action has been hot on blue and white marlin along with scattered tuna. Mahi-mahi are starting to show at the canyons and around the lobster pots.

Cape May Bait & Tackle in Cape May had excellent reports of sheepshead and tog off the jetty and beach wrecks on fresh shedder crab. Flounder fishing has been hot on reef site #11, CM reef, and Wildwood reef for anglers dropping big bucktails tipped with Gulp. Crabbing continues to be excellent in the backbay and the beaches are full of kingfish and croakers which can be targeted with small pieces of bloodworms.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for the weekend will be to hit the ocean as it’s prime time for flounder on the reef sites, wrecks, and snags. There has been some patches of open-bottom fish, but better life on the reefs. Anglers should bring large bucktails and tip with Gulp baits or natural strips of salmon, fluke, bluefish, etc. Most of the bigger fish have been pretty tight to the structure, so don’t be afraid to lose a couple of jigs. Bay action is still good, but most of the action is being concentrated around the inlets. I would recommend drifting live spot, snapper bluefish, or peanut bunker to catch keepers. Anglers looking to hit the tuna grounds should be leaving the dock at 2am to hit the false dawn bite as yellowfin action has been on fire. If you venture further out, it’s not a bad idea to begin pot-hopping to locate steady mahi action. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!