Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The best phrase to describe the past week for fishermen targeting fluke in the bays or ocean is “slow grind”. Ocean temperatures are down-right freezing due to the south wind’s upwelling effect. Anglers are finding lots of ling on the wrecks, usually a tell-tale for cooler bottom temperatures. In addition to the ling, some nice sea bass were also being landed from the reef sites and wrecks. We did get a brief break in the winds, and boaters found hungry fish at the local reef sites. Beach fishing has been ramping up with some kingfish and sand tiger sharks around. A good sign this past week was the large amount of tuna being landed within 40 miles of most ports. Canyon fishing really started to ignite as yellowfin and several mahi were caught before the wind and fog.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported some kingfish, bluefish, and fluke being caught off Island Beach State Park. The inlet area has also been producing some resident striped bass on the cooler incoming tides. Anglers fishing the backside of IBSP are also finding bluefish on poppers. The crabbing has been excellent around the marshes on the west side of Barnegat Bay.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had slower reports on bayside fluke with anglers catching more short fish than keepers. Minnow and Gulp combinations have been the best for keeper fluke. The bluefin tuna bite is alive and anglers have been getting some on poppers with standup spinning gear. The shop said there are lots of kingfish around both bayside and off the beaches of Long Beach Island. Ocean fluke fishing has been slow with the colder temperatures as a few anglers reported 58 degrees at the Barnegat Light Reef.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked the bay hard these past few days, but it’s still a grind for keeper fish. The skipper said 4-hour charters are seeing 45 to 60 fish being landed, but only 1 to 3 keepers being caught. With the second week of July in the books, the skipper will begin running the bigger boat for ocean fluke once the water warms up.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued to grind through bottom fishing as the skipper reports good numbers of ling, some sea bass, and keeper fluke. Fluke fishing has been slower, but ling have made up for it. The boat will be headed offshore over the weekend to troll and work the deep for yellowfin.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin had slower reports on keeper fluke from bayside and oceanside anglers. Jigging bucktails with Gulp and minnows, or floating jigheads tipped with a minnow, have been the best bet. There have been some solid reports of blowfish and kingfish in the bays as well as a few being caught off the beaches of LBI. With a break in the winds, several anglers reported bluefin tuna within 25 miles of Barnegat Inlet and the canyons have been giving up decent numbers of yellowfin. Crabbing has been very good along the western areas of Barnegat Bay.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported a kingfish and croaker invasion along the backbays of Brigantine and Atlantic City. The surf has been very good for both species along with some decent fluke being caught close to the jetty rocks along Atlantic City. There has been a good striped bass bite during the incoming tides and anglers are connecting with soft plastics and small swim shads. The southern canyons are producing better numbers of yellowfin, while the inshore grounds have some nice bluefin around. Crabbing has been red hot from Ocean City to Sea Isle with lots of 5-inch blue claws being caught.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported good numbers of kingfish and some croakers being landed off the surf and in the back. Double-hook surf rigs tipped with squid, bloodworm, or Fish Bites have been doing the trick. Ocean fishing has been a tad slower for keeper flounder, but there are some good-sized sea bass being caught from the area wrecks.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported that the stripers have all but moved on from his neck of the woods, so his charters have been heavily focused on flounder. The skipper said that even if the bass were around, he would recommend we all leave them be, as warm water temperatures contribute to a higher rate of release mortality. The winds have been hampering the flounder fishing to some degree, but that should change this upcoming week.
Anglers working the Cape May to Fortescue areas reported some nice bluefish along the beaches of Cape May and Delaware Bay. Finger mullet and squid have been working for these fish. Bloodworms are working for spot, croakers, and kingfish on the incoming tide and the first hour of outgoing. Kingfish heads have been working well for catch-and-release brown sharks. The jetties on the backside of Cape May, and around to the ferry terminal, are producing some weakfish. Flounder fishing has been getting better along the DE Bay, but is slower in the ocean. The word on the water has been a decent yellowfin bite from the Spencer to the Lindy. Anglers chunking at night are also landing a few swordfish.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this upcoming weekend will be to grab the surf gear, bloodworms, and some kingfish rigs to work the beaches. Kingfish and some nice croakers are being caught, and with lighter winds predicted on Saturday, it’s time to give it a shot. Brown sharks and sand tigers have been around on the night tides, and kingfish heads work great for these toothy critters. If you have the means, the bluefin bite has been on at the usual summertime spots within 40 to 50 miles of the inlets. Most of the inshore ridges have bluefish and mackerel, but you never know if some tuna will push in closer.
Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!