Welcome to August – one of the best months for ocean fishing in South Jersey. The water clarity and color has been outstanding over the past several weeks and there are lots of southern species making it to our waters. Triggerfish, cobia, pompano, and even a dozen or so tarpon (Yes – I said “tarpon”) have been caught or speared off the inlet jetties. Fishing is good for fluke, but the bite is a little different each day, especially around the moons. Some of the deeper water wrecks have been producing better number of keepers. The surf scene has been producing consistent action on kingfish, fluke, and small bluefish. The offshore scene has been producing good numbers of yellowfin, mahi, and anglers fishing the deep mud banks have caught excellent numbers of tilefish.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Lacey Marine in Forked River received word of cobia being landed in the Barnegat Inlet up to 39 inches around the southern jetty along with some pompano. Fluke fishing has been good off the bathing beach early in the week, but the draggers got onto them a few days later. The Garden State North and South reef sites have been very slow. Anglers making daily runs to the Seaside and Lavallette pipes are doing well as are the Axel. Yellowfin and some bluefin have been landed in the Atlantic Princess area with some consistency.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had fair reports of fluke fishing for the area with anglers picking up lots of shorts in the bay and better number of keepers north of the inlet. There was a 10 pound weighed in which was caught between the BI and BB. Blowfishing has been excellent with most anglers able to catch 30-50 an hour with heavy chumming.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown / Barnegat Light was out running 2 to 3 trips a day. Lately, most of the fishing has been in the ocean with 5 to 7 keepers coming per trip, and limits of sea bass and some nice triggerfish. There have been quite a few fluke in the 6- to 7-pound range. Bay fishing has been tougher with keeper numbers 2 to 5 per trip, but there has been plenty of action with short numbers averaging around 55. Dates are open for sea bass in October and Tog in November/December, so book now before they are gone.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued to work some of the midshore tuna grounds for yellowfin over the past week. The boat has been doing well on tuna, and also finding good numbers of fluke and sea bass when the charters are inshore. The skipper said they have limited trips left for October sea bass, so call to get in.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin received good reports from anglers making the run north to Seaside and beyond with fluke up to 7 pounds being landed. Unfortunately. our reefs have been a grind to find a few keeper fish. The bay has been been good on action with short/keeper ratios running about 15 to 1. The inlets have been alive with a variety of exotics (cobia, triggerfish, pompano, and tarpon). Anglers working the rocks with spear or rigs are finding some decent tog life on the north side of the island. Crabbing has been excellent on the west side of the bay from Mud City to Barnegat.
One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City reported that tautog fever has started and the shop is loaded with lively green crabs. Anglers working the AC jetties found excellent tog and triggerfish life over the past week. Fluke and small bluefish have been around and if you can live-line any of the snappers then you’ll be in the running for a jetty doormat. Kingfish, croakers, and flounder have been landed off the beaches.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported an excellent week for anglers working the Ocean City, Atlantic City, and Wildwood reef sites for quality flounder. Gulp and large bucktails have been the ticket to keeper fish. Bay fishing has been tough on keepers, but working spot or snapper bluefish around some of the deeper channels and bridges are producing.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported a solid week of fishing with yellowfin tuna over 90 pounds coming from the canyons and fluke to 6 pounds coming from the inlets. Tog fishing has begun and anglers are doing well with green crab off the jetties along with some sheepshead on sand fleas. Night fishing has had some small bluefish and weakfish life around the bridges with lights.
Sterling Harbor in Wildwood reported the beaches have good action on bloodworms for kingfish, spot, and croakers. Flounder have been caught in the surf on small bucktails tipped with white or pink Gulp. Anglers working the reef sites of Wildwood and Ocean city are finding good numbers of keepers. Offshore fishing has been solid at the Baltimore, Toms, and Wilmington canyons as yellowfin, mahi, and some wahoo have been landed.
Cape May Bait & Tackle in Cape May received word that the Point still has a good number of small to keeper weakfish. The surf has been alive with lots of small kingfish, croakers, and weakfish. The rock-walls and inlets are the place to be for tog and sheepshead which will pick up green crab or shedder crab.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
This past week we had a coastal low that made for some un-settled weather heading into the weekend, but as Saturday arrives that should push off. Ocean fishing may not be do-able until Sunday depending on the size of your vessel. But bay fishing has a ton to offer for the weekend with crabbing or several varieties of fishing as your best bet. Green crabs tipped on a light jigheads or rigs should have anglers bailing tog and some triggerfish off most of our inlet jetties. Anglers looking to target sheepshead should be using fiddlers or sand fleas, but don’t be surprised if you also pull up tog and triggerfish. Anglers looking to drift for fluke should be hitting the deeper channels and inlets as fluke are beginning to move out. Big bucktails tipped with Gulp or peanut bunker should do the trick. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
