Northern New Jersey Fishing Report
The air had a distinct fall flavor this Labor Day Weekend. The unofficial end of summer was marked by fewer, but bigger fluke and an increase in bluefish and false albacore catches.
The yellowfin bite was hot near the Bacardi and in the Hudson Canyon, and there were bigeye out there as well. Anglers also found plenty of mahi-mahi on the pots.
Fluking in the surf slowed down as a persistent easterly wind roughed up the water, but there were still some shorts in the wash. A few keeper fluke were also caught in the Shark and Manasquan rivers and Barnegat Bay. There were also plenty of snappers, spot, croakers and blue claw crabs around.
Rick Hebert at Tackle World in Rochelle Park said the boats were finding bigger fluke in deeper water, maybe a sign that the fish were starting to move off. The last day of fluke season is Sept. 25. He also received good reports on night bluefishing from party boats targeting them. Hebert said freshwater fishing at the lakes and reservoirs has been good for largemouth and walleye, but the rivers and streams are way down due to a lack of rain.
Capt. Phil Sciortino at the Tackle Box in Hazlet said he had solid reports of fluke in the ocean, and folks fishing the Keansburg Pier were catching spot, croakers, and even a few weakfish. The Tackle Box is holding a special one-day buy-one-get-one-free sale this Saturday on 13 Rods. There will also be deals on Bluff Lures and selected reels and tackle. Full details are on the shop’s Facebook page.
Steve Garelli at Julian’s Bait and Tackle in Atlantic Highlands said it was decent fishing on the fluke grounds over the weekend. There were some nice sea bass caught as well and he also heard of a few keeper tog taken on the rock piles. Mahi fishing has been very good, he said, while there were plenty of snappers and crabs around the bay to keep folks happy.
Mike Pinto at Giglio’s Bait and Tackle in Sea Bright said it was pretty slow there over the weekend, with fluke fishing off the beach disrupted by the heavy surf. He did hear of false albacore popping up off the beach in Deal. Pinto said the shop is fully stocked with OutCast Lures ahead of the fall run.
Mike Gleason at Tak Waterman in Long Branch said the chunk bite for yellowfin has been very good offshore. Pot hopping for mahi-mahi has also been excellent. The albie bite has also been good but it’s mainly for the boaters as they haven’t come in close to the shore. Beach fluking has slowed down due to the high surf. Gleason did say he still has a few Scabelly Lures in stock.
There were still a number of short fluke in the Ocean Grove surf over the weekend, but nothing close to a keeper.
Brian Liddick at Fisherman’s Den in Belmar said the fluke fishing is bouncing back after Hurricane Erin. The party boats out of the marina are reporting decent, if not spectacular, catches. He also reported striped bass were being caught in the Shark and Manasquan rivers, mostly at night. Offshore tuna fishing has been good, and he’s been selling more sand and bloodworms now that porgy season is open.
Capt. Rich Falcone on the Golden Eagle out of Belmar had been doing well bluefishing, finding fish between 2 and 12 pounds this week. Wednesday’s trip saw excellent action with limit catches of bluefish with bonito, and Spanish mackerel mixed in.
Capt. Steve Spinelli on the Skylarker out of Belmar said the fishing is good with a nice mix of blues, bonito and false albacore.
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Capt. Jay Richardella of Side Job Charters out of Belmar said the tuna fishing in the Hudson Canyon bounced back quickly with good catches of bigeye, longfin and yellowfin. He added that there were a lot of white marlin being caught out there as well. He’s got some open dates and can be contacted through his website.
Stanley S. at the Reel Seat in Brielle said the chunk bite is on for yellowfin in the Hudson Canyon. Mahi-mahi, he added, are everywhere. He believes the fluke are starting to push off as the boats are finding keepers in deeper water, about 70 to 80 feet. Stanley also reported loads of false albacore randomly popping up about a mile off the beach south of the Manasquan Inlet within the last week.
Brian Flanagan at Captain Bill’s Landing in Point Pleasant Beach said fluking made a nice comeback at the Sea Girt Reef over the weekend. He fished there and had two keepers of 22 and 23 inches while his friend got a 24½ incher. Flanagan also heard of a 5-pound fluke caught on the Bay Head side of the Point Pleasant Canal. Blackfishing is also good in the canal, but it’s mostly shorts. The chunk bite got hot for yellowfin just past the Bacardi, he said, and there are loads of mahi offshore. Bigeye and longfin are in the Hudson Canyon, and he also mentioned all the white marlin.
Kyle Tangen at Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant Beach said fluking out front is good, with quality taking precedence over quantity. Boats heading north found more short action, but those fishing closer to the Manasquan Inlet caught more keepers. He also had good reports of false albacore to the south of the inlet and the mahi fishing is good inshore, mid-shore and offshore. The chunk bite for yellowfin got hot in a hurry. Tangen said the Voyager out of Point Pleasant Beach was on their way back early on Wednesday after getting a boat limit of tuna. The Manasquan River, he said, is full of stripers, and they’re hitting soft plastics and live spot at night.
Capt. Tom Wolfe on the Norma K III out of Point Pleasant Beach said they’ve been catching bigger fluke in deeper water over the past week. He’s been fishing around 75 feet and landing fish between 3½ and 5 pounds. There aren’t as many shorts lately, he said. His night bluefish trips are also producing with fish from 3 to 8 pounds. There have also been some bonito and false albacore in the mix. The Norma K III will now be sailing three-quarter-day trips every day from now until the end of fluke season.
Frank Giacalone at Gabriel Tackle in Brick reported that the local wrecks and reefs are still producing some nice fluke. He also said there are plenty of stripers and blues in the Manasquan River, Point Pleasant Canal and Barnegat Bay.
Pete Kupper at Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach said a couple of keeper fluke were caught in the surf over the weekend. There are stripers and blackfish in the Point Pleasant Canal with the bass hitting live eels and spot.
Frankie Z at Grumpy’s Bait and Tackle in Seaside Park said fluke continue to bite in the surf along with the occasional bluefish. The fluking has been good on the Sea Girt Reef lately. He and Scotty Pullen from Lex Lures did well there last week. There was also a 16-inch sea bass landed. Blowfish are biting well in Barnegat Bay near the BB Buoy, he said. Just chum heavily. Grumpy’s will be holding a Celebration of Tom “Grumpy” Hansen on Sunday, Sept. 21, between 2 and 6 p.m. at the Seaside Tri-Boro Hall.
Best Bets for the Weekend
Fluking has made a comeback after Hurricane Erin’s visit, but the season is winding down. Bigger fish are now in deeper water, 70 to 80 feet.
Bluefishing is also good right now with albies, Spanish macks and bonito in the mix.
There is also a hot chunk bite for yellowfin. The Hudson Canyon and the area around the Bacardi have been very productive. Mahi-mahi are also all over the place.