We ended August with a bang as the remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the middle of New Jersey hard with a few nasty tornados and buckets of rain. The fishing prior to the storm was outstanding from most of the reef sites for fluke as they fed heavily before the front. Flounder to 8 pounds were being reported from quite a few of the reef locations. Offshore action continued at it’s epic pace with tuna and mahi coming over to rails and hitting the docks. A good chunk of action has been occurring at the canyons, but some of the inshore pots have been showing good numbers of mahi. It was “sharknado” this past week as most of our beaches had lots of spinner sharks feeding on bait.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Lacey Marine in Forked River had good reports of fluke being caught from the Seaside pipe down to the Garden State South reef site. Two- to four-ounce bucktails tipped with Gulp and natural baits has been working the best at the sites. Anglers reported the best bites have been very close or on the structures. Schools of weakfish, false albacores, and some Spanish macks were caught around the Barnegat Inlet. The bay is full of small sea bass, sea robins, and short fluke which are being caught from the main channels.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported good numbers of fluke around the lighthouse and inlet which are still being landed on Gulp, spearing, or peanut bunker. The ocean has been much better for keepers and the reef sites are the best locations to target. The bay is alive with blowfish, sea bass, robins, and weakfish. Offshore action has been hot from the Spencer and Toms canyon on yellowfin, mahi, and billfish.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown / Barnegat Light was busy for the last week of August running double trips for ocean fluke and bay action. Ocean fluking has been averaging 6 to 10 keepers along with limits of sea bass (ended 8/31). The skipper will begin targeting tog during some of the upcoming fluke trips.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light had some nice trips prior to Hurricane Ida with the skipper’s charters catching near limits of fluke. The boat will be sailing for tuna until October as long as the weather cooperates.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said good numbers of spike weakfish being caught along the beaches and inlet area. Fluke have been very active at the inlets, especially during the incoming tides. There have been lots of shorts, but anglers working the areas repeatedly are finding some keepers in the mix. The reef sites, especially the Atlantic City reef has been on fire and anglers making the run are finding quick limits of fish. The shark scene has been excellent off Island Beach, Long Beach Island, and Brigantine over the past week.
One Stop Bait & Tackle in Atlantic City saw enormous schools of black tip and/or spinner sharks blitzing off AC. The T-jetty has been excellent for fluke, small weakfish, and lots of tog on green crabs. Anglers working metals off the rocks are also finding bluefish to 22 inches. The beaches have been excellent for kingfish, small bluefish, and some fluke, and save those kingfish heads for night-time sharking.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported good fluke numbers coming from the Atlantic City and Ocean City reef sites. Big bucktails tipped with Gulp or rigs dressed with long squid strips have been the best baits.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had good action reported from anglers fishing rockpiles and bridges for tog and triggerfish. There has been some small striped bass and weakfish around the bridges during the late night shifts. Soft plastics on 1/4- to 3/8-ounce jigheads worked along the shadow lines. Offshore action continued pre-storm with yellowfin and mahi hitting the decks.
Sterling Harbor in Wildwood reported excellent numbers of flounder to 8 pounds coming from the reef sites. Reef site #11 has been very hot on fluke as anglers deep-jigging are finding the best success. Triggerfish and sea bass were also coming from some of the wrecks. Kingfish, small weakfish, and some croakers are being landed off the beaches. Crabbing has been excellent along the backbays of CM, Wildwood, and Fortescue.
Cape May Bait & Tackle in Cape May had good reports of small bluefish, false albacore, and some weakfish being landed outside the beaches. Boaters have seen them pop up on live bait and birds will show the way. Flounder action has been hot at Reef site #11 with some keepers weighing close to 7 pounds. Anglers are still landed tog, sheepshead, and triggerfish from some of the inshore rockpiles and bridges.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will probably be to either hit the inshore wrecks for fluke or target smaller species in the bay as everything will depend on the post-Ida water clarity. Anglers looking to hit the bay should be able to box good numbers of blowfish from parts of Barnegat and Great Bay. Weakfish and some small striped bass are also in play if anglers wish to fish the late night shifts and I would check the bridges with lights. Bay action on the fluke would be best targeted around the high tides with the cleaner ocean water coming in. Cast netting peanut bunker or seined spearing would provide the best baits as they are the most prevalent right now. Anglers looking to hit sharks can target C&R up to 1-mile out as there has been a load of sharks frequenting the area over the past week. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!
