Tuna time at the canyons has begun. Cape May boats reported banner yellowfin action on trolled spreads at the Baltimore and Washington canyons, but keep a few cedars in the wash for hungry bluefin. Inshore action has been very good at the deeper wrecks for sea bass, and there was a lone cobia caught offshore, just south of Cape May. Fluke fishing has been going very strong in most places. Ocean and Atlantic counties have a good bay bite, but Cape May County has had a hot ocean bite at the reef sites. Jigging gulps with squid or salmon bellies has been the hot ticket for bigger fluke. Most supermarkets or fish shops carry salmon skins, so check around.
With the number of fluke tournaments around and the ocean bite slow, invest the money into live spot to box “doormat” fluke. Striped bass fishing has slowed a tad off the beaches, but fluke and night-time sharking stepped up this week. Best way to play catch and release with big sharks is by kayaking the baits out deep. Reports up and down the coast have crabbing at its peak with plenty being caught in traps, handlines, and hotels.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said crabbing has been kicking butt along the east side of the Barnegat Bay. Bunker and traps have been the hot ticket to tasty blue claws. South of Tices has some sporadic action on schoolie striped bass and blues up to 6 pounds on light tackle. Bay fishing has been tough for some with lots of slime and weed, but if you can find cleaner areas, nice fluke are being caught.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said bluefin are inshore as well as a few bonito from the local ridges. Bluefish and fluke are picking up Gulp baits from the BI to BB with some up to 6 pounds being weighed in recently. Striped bass and rays are under birds if you see them by both Oyster and Double creek channels. Ocean fluke fishing has been slow, but much better in the inlet and bay area.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown worked hard through the heavy winds to find some solid action on fluke up to 24 inches. The 4-hour charters have been averaging 35 to 50 shorts with 6 to 7 keepers. The skippers expects the fishing to get better after the recent moon phase. June and July are fully booked out, and there are only 3 openings remaining in August, so give them a call.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light said sea bass has been good, but you have to work hard through a lot of shorts to box keepers. The boat said Gulp has been producing better number of keeper sea bass and there have been a few fluke caught on the recent trips. The boat will start running for offshore yellowfin in the coming weeks, as well as inshore fluke.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported fluke being caught along the surf off Long Beach Island, but most of the action has been from the inlet to 12th street in Barnegat Light. Bay fishing was pretty solid at both ends of the island, but there have been some bigger fish caught south of the “old fish factory.” Bluefish are all around from the BI to BB, and some schoolie stripers are mixed in.
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Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City said the fluke fishing has been excellent along parts of the ICW, behind Atlantic City and Ocean City. They had anglers working 3/4-ounce jigs tipped with 5-inch swimming mullets producing the best bites. But the story of the week has been the fantastic sheepshead bite along the bridges Ocean City, Sea Isle, and Avalon. Offshore reports of tuna, mainly yellowfin were caught in the Baltimore and Wilmington canyons. The shop has a full lineup of offshore tuna and marlin gear, so check them out.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point also received excellent reports of yellowfin at the southern canyons being landed on trolled setups. Inshore action was solid on sea bass at the deeper wrecks and fluke fishing was running about a 10 to 1 ratio for shorts to keepers. The bridges are loaded with tautog (not in season) and sheepshead, and the shop recommends light jigs tipped with crabs or sand fleas.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City has been plying the backwaters and reported decent action on striped bass to 29 inches via soft plastics, plugs, and flies. A few nice fluke and blues have also been caught on some of the charters. The skipper said sheepshead fishing has been on fire, and they have released some beauties, so give them a ring to get on board.
The Cape May and Fortescue area’s report of the past week has been the yellowfin tuna action at the Baltimore, Wilmington and Washington canyons. Fish should start to pushing up to the Spencer in the next week or two. The sea bass bite at the local reefs and wreck sites has been tough as anglers had to sort through a ton of short fish and a few boats reported makos showing up and snacking on some of the releases. Bayside action has been good for fluke at the Wildwood and Cape May reef sites, but slower in the Delaware bay. Weakfish are being caught late at night from some of the local bridges and jetties on pink soft plastics.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend depends on the area you’re leaving from as most of the state has some exceptional fisheries right now. If you plan on hitting the beach for fluke, then Island Beach State park, LBI, and Atlantic City would be the spots to go as some keepers to 26 inches have been caught. Bayside action is also solid for Barnegat and Great Bays, but sheepshead would be a solid bet for the weekend. Fiddlers, sand fleas, and even shedder crabs tipped on light tog or sweeper jigs are the best to use. When fishing for sheeps, it is vital to stay in contact with your jig as the pickups are subtle to say the least. If you can make the 100-mile run, yellowfin are a sure bet at the southern canyons.
Good luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!