Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Another solid week of weather and warm ocean temperatures has kept the bite going on the fluke and offshore fronts. Offshore anglers reported some yellowfin, mahi, and large numbers of billfish being released, including both white and blue marlin. Deep dropping for tiles continued to be red hot and there are several party boats making the canyon run for them. Bluefin action was solid at the nearshore lumps and wrecks, and there have been several cobia reported in the mix. Great fluke fishing continues, as well; we are on pace for one of the best years (inside and outside) in recent memory, with catch-to-keeper ratios averaging 10 to 1 in most spots. Most of our ocean surf produced fluke, kingfish, and spots during the day while the night action has been good on released sharks.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had anglers grabbing spot, which has been the ticket for bigger bay fluke. The channels around the inlet produced keepers to 7 pounds. The Island Beach surf is also producing flounder, kingfish, and some cocktail-sized blues. Crabbing from the west side of Barnegat Bay brought good numbers of keeper jimmies for traps and hand-lines.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported decent fluke fishing in the bay with short-to-keeper ratios running about 15 to 1. Spot, kingfish, and a few blowfish are around, but you have to chum hard. The reef sites and wrecks have some keeper fluke, but sea bass have been marauding most baits which is making it difficult to box fluke. Bluefin are at the Bacardi and Little Italy, while the yellowfin and tilefish bite was excellent at the canyons.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown reported another solid week of charters with the skipper running 2 trips a day. Trips are averaging 45 to 60 fluke per 4 hours and 3 to 8 keepers per trip. A recent morning trip produced 7 keepers ranging from 20 to 23 inches. The crew will begin targeting the ocean more in the coming weeks.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been busy running bottom fishing trips as well as offshore yellowfin trips to the canyons. The crew put a hurting on the tilefish and has posted another open boat for August 23 (leaving on the 22nd). Based on the last tile trip, spots will fill up fast so give them a call or email (superchic2fish@comcast.net) to secure your spot.
Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported good fishing at both ends of Long Beach Island for bay anglers targeting fluke. The surf has also been solid for fluke, kingfish and spot. Night fishing for sharks was good from the southern end of the island as well as off the surf. Ocean fishing continues to improve with fluke action on the reef sites in addition to sea bass and triggerfish. Offshore reports are excellent for yellowfin, mahi, and tilefish on the deep drop. Crabbing remains good on the western side of Barnegat Bay and along some of the marshy areas, and bunker is the key.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City said fishing in the Great Bay, Brigantine, and Atlantic City areas has been on-fire over the past several weeks. Live minnows on rigs or tipped on bucktails, along with Gulp baits and live spot, have been working well. There have been several fish ranging from 7 to 10 pounds weighed in by bay anglers. Offshore action has been excellent for billfish, and good for yellowfin when you can find them at the canyons on the chunk bite. Bluefin are being picked up closer to home on the troll with rigged ballyhoo doing the best.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had some solid weigh-ins this past week with a few young anglers bringing in fluke from 3- to 5-pounds. The shop said the bay bite has been excellent for anglers working bucktails tipped with live minnow or Gulp baits. The ocean has also been producing fluke at the reef sites, along with loads of sea bass. The bridge areas are producing throwback tautog and good numbers of sheepshead.
Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the fluke bite has been very good both in the bay and out front in the ocean. Anglers are jigging up fish to 5 pounds with regularity, as well as some nice sea bass. Bay charters are seeing good fluke action along with some nice sheepshead.
Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City has been mixing it up between inshore shark and fluke charters by both bay and ocean over the past week. The shark trips produced releases of some spinner sharks, even a few on the fly rod. Bay and ocean fluke trips are producing some nice fish up to 6 pounds. The skipper has some openings, so give him a ring.
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The Cape May and Fortescue area had another great week of flounder fishing with the reef sites from Wildwood to Delaware Bay producing excellent quantities of keepers to 7 pounds. Delaware Bay has been good for croakers and spot off the beaches west to Fortescue. There are cocktail blues around as well as some weakfish being caught off the jetties and bridges. Offshore, the canyons are producing some tuna, lots of white and blue marlin, and mahi for capable boats making the run.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend is wide open with the fishing scene right now. Surf fishing for spot, kingfish, croakers and fluke is almost a sure bet for a bent rod, depending on your beach of choice. Simple two-hook rigs tipped with bloodworm, squid or Fishbites will do the trick. Jetties are producing good numbers of fluke, which can be easily targeted by working jigs tipped with Gulp along the base of the jetty; and consider using the same technique along some of our South Jersey bridges, as large fluke love bridge structure.
As of now, the sea conditions look excellent to make a run to the deep if you’re looking to box some tuna. Rigged ballyhoo trolled way back have been the ticket for bluefin, but finding feeding fish is the challenge. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!