Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
“It’s getting to be re-goddamn-diculous” was quoted by John Wayne, but I don’t think he was talking about the recent south winds, even though most South Jersey anglers feel that way. Fluke fishing has been very tough in most of the bays with dirtier water, but anglers working the incoming tides are finding the right mix of temperature and clarity. It’s not all negative as the ocean side is showing some definite positive signs of life with fluke beginning to bite at the reef sites. The wrecks are still loaded with keeper sea bass and ling, and most shops said to bring clams with you if you’re targeting ocean fluke. Bluefin have been biting as close as 5 miles out around mid-island LBI and as far out as the Resor. Madd Mantis poppers have been the ticket according to most local tackle shops. The surf was very good this past week for kingfish, croakers and even some nice spot. Thankfully, it looks like we will be getting some better winds in the forecast, so that should only help the bite in shallow.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported slow fluke fishing in the bay, but better outside the Manasquan and Barnegat Light inlets. With the colder temperatures, there are some active resident striped bass around. Crabbing has been very good from Berkeley to Island Heights. The shop is loaded with crab baits and traps, so stop in.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said the bay fluke fishing has been ultra slow this past week with very dirty water and chilly incoming tides. Anglers are having to work long hours to find a keeper or two. Gulp and minnows are sill the best combinations to catch larger fluke. The reef sites are providing slightly better action on the keeper front, but you have to work the baits slow. The hot bite of the week was the bluefin tuna just past the Garden State North reef site on Madd Mantis poppers.
View this post on Instagram
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked hard this past week with double trips each day. Most charters have been averaging 20 to 30 short fluke with 1 to 2 keepers in the bay. The skipper will be working some ocean trips by the end of the week and the crew is hoping for better action of the keeper fluke front.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey!
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light hit the tilefish grounds for an open boat trip and the crew had a nice mix of golden and blueline tiles up to 18 pounds. The boat has a few bottom and bluefish trips this week, but will be running another open boat tilefish trip on July 28th. The trips book fast, so give them a call.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said the surf of Long Beach Island has been alive with kingfish and croakers on Fishbites and pieces of squid on two-hook rigs. Anglers working the jetty rocks are finding a good mix of snapper bluefish. Fluke fishing has been very slow in the bay and the usual spots are producing some action. The reef sites have been better with a mix of fluke, ling, and sea bass. Gulp baits and large bucktails have been working well outside. The shop just got a full shipment of ocean bucktails, so stop in to pick some up.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported decent yellowfin and mahi bite going on at the Spencer and Lindy canyons. Some of the yellowfin have been in the 100 pound class along with some nice bull mahi. Flounder fishing has been a grind at the reef sites with Gulp and strip baits working the best. Anglers working the bays found a fair number of shorts and few keepers. The surf has been alive with kingfish, croakers, spot, and small bluefish. Night time surf casters are finding catch-n-release brown shark action.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported good tilefish action along the sides of the canyons and yellowfin action on Wolfpack lures. Flounder fishing remains solid in the bay with fish to 20 inches and better out front. Mackerel strips and Gulp have been the prime baits out front. Anglers working the surf suds are finding a good mix of croakers, spot, kingfish, and some small fluke on Fishbites. Crabbing has been excellent for both boats and bank crabbers, but don’t forget the bug spray.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City has been exclusively targeting fluke in the backwaters with his charters this week, both on the fly and with light spinning tackle. A few bluefish have been caught alongside summer flounder, but the area waters have grown too warm for striped bass. The skipper expects a few weakfish to show during the lowlight hours and will continue his flounder-focused charters until further notice.
Cape May to Fortescue areas continue to be good for flounder along the deeper cuts and sloughs in Delaware Bay. There have been quite a few ribbonfish caught which are actually very good table-fare. Anglers working the beaches of Cape May to Wildwood are finding excellent action on croakers and kingfish. Fishbites and small cut pieces of bloodworms are the baits of choice and anglers can easily fill a bucket in a given tide. Bluewater anglers running to the canyons are finding a nice mix of yellowfin tuna and mahi, along with some deep dropping on tilefish. A few swordfish have been brought into the docks over the past week.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this upcoming weekend will be to fish the beaches as the kingfish, croaker and spot action has been intense. This covers the entire south jersey beaches and with better wind conditions, the fishing should explode. Small cut Fishbites, bloodworm or squid on a two-hook combination is the rig of choice for surf casters. Anglers looking to hit the deep have excellent shots at yellowfin, mahi, and tilefish, and check some of the head boats as they are running open-boat tiles. If deep drops aren’t your thing, then work the jetties with small metals for bluefish on the start of the incoming tides. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!