Southern New Jersey Fishing Report- September 26, 2024

Southern New Jersey Fishing Report

Our lady warmed up and sung her song to end the 2024 summer flounder season with a proverbial thud.  Basically, for the last week and a half, the ocean fluke fishing has been off limits due to the steady northeast wind. Even the bay fishing was a pick for the few anglers that attempted the winds.  We are stuck with the same regulations for 2025, but hopefully a split season will be in our future.  It’s not all bad news as the NE winds kicked the bay striped bass fishing into gear with fish being caught from the inlets back to the marshes.  Tog fishing continues to be a solid bet for most looking to wet a line.  Unfortunately, the strong northeasterlies have kept our tuna fleets tied to the dock.  But let’s end with a positive—the sea bass season is just around the corner, so ready the sinkers and double-hook rigs.  

Here is this week’s rundown:

Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River summed it up as an ultra-slow week for fluke fishing in the area with a few anglers trying off the front and backside of Island Beach State Park.  There has been more excitement with anglers working the bridges and some of the Berkeley and Bayville marshes with small poppers for striped bass. 

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown has been restocking shelves for the upcoming sea bass and tautog seasons.  Rigs and tautog jigs have been flying off the shelves with the tog bite along Barnegat Inlet.  There are tons of shorts to keep any level of angler busy at the rocks.  Fluke fishing over the past week was almost a zero with only a few anglers attempting near the inlet.  Weakfish and bluefish are in play with some bird activity close to the north and south jetties during the evening tides. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Creekside Outfitters (@creekside_outfitters)

Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown stayed tied to the dock over the past week due to 4 cancellations with the NE winds.  The ocean vessel has been gutted for fluke gear, and re-rigged with sea bass, tautog, and striped bass gear for the fall season.  The skipper will be running the flats boat this upcoming weekend for marsh and night trips.  

• Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey! 

The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light was tied to the dock to end the fluke season as well as having their canyon tuna trips cancelled.  The skipper is looking to get back out to the sea bass wrecks and canyons once the seas and weather calms down.  There are openings in the schedule to target both bottom species and tunas, so give them a ring. 

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin said the only action has been on weakfish and bluefish at the inlets.  A few anglers reported a few keeper fluke on live peanut bunker around the inlet, but no ocean occurred with the sea conditions.  The bridges have weakfish, blues, and striped bass on both sides of the night tides.  Fishing has been slow with the winds and weather, crabbing on the incoming tide has been good. 

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City had similar reports with lack of angler effort on the boat and beach front due to the weather.  Bay fishing was a slow pick for fluke with the best action on peanut bunker and live spot.  Togging off the rocks and bridges has been producing a few keepers along with some beautiful sheepshead.  Stripers have been very active along parts of the Mullica River and surrounding tidal creeks as some poppers and plugs worked off points and banks have been producing fish to 26 inches. 

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said it was a slower go off the suds and back-bay anglers picked at a slow fluke bite.  Most of the fish pushed out to the ocean where sea conditions had it unfishable.  Tog and striped bass anglers had the best action of the week off the bridges and surrounding sod banks. 

Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported some action on striped bass with the northeast winds and bait migration igniting the striper torch.  Fly fishing has been nearly impossible due to the winds, but the skipper is looking to really start targeting striped bass, weaks, and bluefish with light tackle and fly in the coming weeks.  Capt. Brian said he has a few dates available, but things are booking up fast.

The Cape May to Fortescue areas has been very slow with a few anglers working the beaches of southern Cape May, the ferry terminal, and Delaware Bay.  Sand sharks, croakers, and a few kingfish have been caught on bloodworms or cut-up clam bellies.  Anglers working soft plastics around the marshes behind Wildwood are finding small striped bass and a few nice weakfish to 5 pounds.  Fluke fishing ended with very few anglers out targeting them due to the poor winds.  A few shops reported coastal flooding occurring and wanted to remind anglers with slipped vessels to check their boats, especially ones without floating docks.  Offshore fishing has been flat-lined with pretty much zero participation, but once the winds slow there should be fish out there as October can be a fantastic month.  

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

Another week of poor winds and weather has some anglers scrambling on deciding the best way to bend the rod.  Tog fishing still remains the best bet as you don’t need a boat, just a bucket full of sand fleas or green crabs and tog gear.  Most, if not all of our coastal jetties will have tog and even some sheepshead still around.  Fluke season is officially closed til next year, so take the time to regroup for the fall species.  Striped bass are another solid option and rods to 7 foot with 3000 series reels are great light-tackle setups to be used.  Soft plastics (pink, white, chartreuse) in the 4- to 5-inch range will usually work when casted upcurrent around bridges, pilings or nighttime lighted structure.  The last option for fishermen looking to bend a rod over the weekend would be to hook up the metals and work jetties for roving bluefish.  Just be careful of the waves and tides.  Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!