Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Summer has hit its stride with Independence Day on our doorstep, the parkway is busy with cars, and the waterways are alive with boats and wave runners. The fishing and crabbing front has begun to get much better in some areas. First, crabbing has been excellent from Bayville to Cape May, but the key has been working the marshes in 3 to 4 feet of water. Public docks and piers are good if you are willing to put in the time to secure a dozen or two for the steamer. Fluke fishing continues to be red hot for keepers south of Brigantine and north of Island Beach State Park for fishermen using Gulp and minnows. Anglers working the Barnegat Bay and Great Bay areas are having a more challenging time on the keeper front, but the change in winds has been welcomed. The beach temperatures were still pretty chilly, as well as most of the reef sites having much slower bites with sea bass and ling coming over the rail with ice cubes on their fins. A positive note on the offshore front shows a large swath of the Gulf Stream eddy breaking off and moving westward with much warmer temperatures and clean water. I would expect some tuna on the edges with bluefin, yellowfin, and bigeye in the mix.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said it’s been a bunker bite for blue claws off of Good Luck Point, Seaside piers, and parts of northern Barnegat Bay. Most of the crabs have been taping out from 5 to 6 inches with a few larger specimens. The beach has been a little slow with a few fluke caught off of IBSP and the park. Small pink bucktails tipped with Gulp or squid were the top choices among surfcasters. Bluefish and some striped bass have been hanging around Barnegat Inlet.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had sporadic reports from the Barnegat Light Reef with very few keepers up to 8 pounds being landed. One of the prominent headboats had 70 anglers and only 2 keepers for their daily trip, but that should get better with the wind change. Bay action has been good on short fluke, but tougher on keepers. Most anglers said the best action has been between the “BI” and “BB” tripods for keeper fluke, meanwhile there are a ton of blowfish south of the “42” marker. Tuna anglers were in this week gearing up as some very “favorable” water is headed our way, and the shop said ballyhoo was flying out the door.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown continued to work the bay for fluke as the crew has not switched to ocean fluke yet with the cooler local ocean temperatures. Three- to four-hour bay charters have been producing 50 short fluke with 3 to 4 keepers boxed on the trips. Some of the keepers have been very nice size from 22- to 23.5-inches and weighing 4- to 5-pounds. The best of the week had over 112 fish being released in under 4 hours with 4 keepers to 5-pounds. A few dates popped up for August, so give the crew a ring.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light worked the bottom wrecks for a slow pick of keeper fluke, a good number of ling and 1-fish limits of sea bass for anglers over the past week. The skipper said temperatures have been hovering from 54 to 56 degrees, but hopefully they start getting warmer to increase the inshore bite. The crew is eyeing a few decent temperature eddies, so call for yellowfin dates.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said Barnegat Bay crabbing has been excellent for most working the western parts of the bay. Some of the marshes from Barnegat to Tuckerton have been on fire for big blue crabs. Bay fluking seems to be throw-back central, with very few keeper fish. The area reef sites (BL, GSN, GSS, LE) are producing better numbers of keepers, but the water has been cold. Anglers working the night tides are finding a few striped bass and weakfish near the area bridges as well as large sand bar sharks in Little Egg Harbor and the Great Bay.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported a good week for flounder fishing from Great Bay to Somers Point with a good number of keepers coming in. There have been some nice fish from 4 to 7 pounds being landed inside on live spot and large minnows drifting in the deeper channels. Anglers working soft plastics are finding some weakfish at night and sheepshead are being landed during the day on crabs, sand fleas, and fiddlers. The shop has a few in-store and online deals for anglers looking for a 4th of July shopping spree.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point just reloaded a bunch of new rods from Magic Tail and the shop has some July 4th deals for anglers. Fluke fishing continues to be solid for most working the jetties and deeper channels with bucktails and Gulp. Live spot is working for bigger fish with some in the 7 to 8 pound range. The surf has been alive with a few rays, kingfish, and small bluefish. Anglers looking to find sheepshead should concentrate on the bridges from Ocean City to Sea Isle—sand fleas and fiddlers are working.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City worked shallows and deeper cuts for flounder and striped bass. The striper bite has been best in the morning and when it slows, the skipper has been switching over to flounder and weakfish. The crew has dates available in the coming weeks, so give them a ring.
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Anglers working the Cape May to Fortescue areas have been hit with some massive storms over the past week, but fishing remains pretty solid for most. The back creeks around Fortescue are producing some white perch and striped bass to 31 inches. Flounder are being landed in the deeper cuts and sloughs on the Delaware Bay side, but anglers have to pick through a good number of short fish. Flounder remain the “go-getter” for anglers working the ocean and DE bay, while some of the bridges along Wildwood and Cape May are producing some beautiful sheepshead on live crabs.
Offshore has been a tad slow at the Wilmington and Baltimore, but the Poor Man’s and Lindy are producing some yellowfin tuna. Bluefin tuna have been closer inshore, but the bite has been sporadic with the heavy winds over the past week.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for this upcoming weekend will be to get out early as the weather looks great for once, but the 4th of July holiday will have most inlets busy with boats in transit. Anglers looking to run 40 to 50 miles should have decent shots at bluefin and possible yellowfin, but check the Rutgers sea surface temperatures prior to headed out. Fishermen thinking of staying closer to home have shots at nice threshers and potential bluefin within 25 miles, and the inshore reefs should slowly get better with the favorable winds and water temperatures. Non-boating fishermen have lots of options for this week with piers and bayside docks giving up plenty of blue crabs on frozen bunker. Surfcasters should work the early morning tides for striped bass prior to sun-up, before switching over to fluke for the first couple of hours prior to swimmers arriving. Regardless of your preference, enjoy the time on the water with friends and family! Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!