Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
It’s been a roller coaster ride with calm seas followed by large wind-driven swells, but the weekend proved to be beautiful and fishable on Lake Atlantic. Most larger vessels left in the wee hours of the morning in search of blue water and thoughts of yellowfin jumping in the boat. Well, the bite was on. Many canyon cruisers knocked the yellowfin out of the park on chunked butters and sardines during the night-time bite. Meanwhile, inshore anglers found good numbers of bonito and the occasional cobia. Bay action has been solid on keeper fluke, but only if you’re using live bait.
Unfortunately, the mid-week blow and rain pushed the pause button on fishing. This upcoming weekend looks to be a rebound, and it may be your last shot at fluke before the season closes next week.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported some chopper bluefish being caught off the beaches of Seaside Park along with some short fluke. Anglers casting bucktails tipped with Gulp have had the best shots at flatfish. By mid week, the weather took a turn for the worse and anglers have been stopping in to restock for their last chances at fluke in 2025.
Capt. Cole Kennedy of Salty Love Sportfishing in Forked River said fluke fishing in the ocean has been tough, but there quite a few triggerfish at the wrecks along with some inshore mahi. The skipper has been busy booking fall dates for striped bass and tuna, so give them a ring.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had some nice reports over the weekend of large triggerfish being caught at the reef sites along with a few keeper fluke. The inlet still has plenty of tog along the jetties and rocks. Boats drifting the main channels and inlet are still finding some keepers on live baits, like spot. Blowfishing has brought steady action, but there are a lot of small fish around, so bring plenty of bait to pick through them. Offshore anglers saw some hot yellowfin action between the Hudson Canyon and Atlantic Princess wreck.
View this post on Instagram
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown took the weekend off to knock out some required break-in hours on the new engine. The crew has trips booked for the end of the week into next week to get their last licks on fluke before the season closes.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light had the Southern Regional HS on an offshore tuna trip. The yellowfin bite was excellent on jigs during the day and even better on the chunk at night. Once the seas settle, the crew will be running some offshore trips along with sea bass.
-
Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City has some major deals on electric reels, which are perfect for offshore sea bass fishing in December. The reef sites had some keepers caught during the weekend prior to the mid-week blow. The bite has been slightly off, but there are good numbers of triggerfish, some mahi, and even a few cobia swimming around. Anglers running to the canyons found good numbers of yellowfin with the best bite coming on the chunk.
Sean Reilly at Waterfront Marine in Somers Point said folks are still picking away at flounder in the bay, and the reefs were giving up some really nice fish prior to the shoddy conditions this week. He fished in the bay on Monday and had weakfish and some keeper flounder coming up, so there are still a few table-worthy fish kicking around in the back. Other anglers are finding sheepshead, triggerfish, and tautog on the bridges. There are also some cobia hanging around; his friend caught a 53 pounder recently, which was weighed in at Tight Lines Bait and Tackle. Regarding the offshore scene, Sean said the yellowfin tuna seem to be concentrated up north, but marlin and mahi are chewing well at the southern canyons.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had some good reports from the weekend with nice flounder to 7 pounds caught from the deeper wrecks. The shop also had a 53-pound cobia weighed in, which was caught inshore. The bridges are still holding some sheepshead, along with plenty of tog.
Capt. Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City ran to some inshore spots and found good numbers of feeding false albacore before the mid-week Nor’easter. Once the weather pushes, the hunt will resume on inshore bonita/albies and bay striped bass. The skipper has some dates available, so give them a ring.
View this post on Instagram
Capt. Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City was on his way up to Montauk and will be fishing up there until the end of October. He is planning on being back down here for the striped bass run in November and December, so reach out if you want to secure some fall run dates.
The Cape May and Fortescue area had some decent flounder action at the deep water wrecks and reef sites with anglers using Gulp and fish bellies producing the best results. Beaches were producing a wide range of species including fluke and bluefish, but the mid-week blow surely has reset that bite. Croakers, short fluke, weakfish, and spot made up the bulk of the catch along parts of Cape May and Delaware Bay. The tidal creeks and rivers along the western edge of Delaware Bay are also holding some good numbers of white perch and schoolie striped bass.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
With the mid-week dose of heavy NE wind and rain, the weekend looks to be a rebound, but it may not be until Sunday that the ocean bite resumes. The inlets and surrounding beaches will be your best bet to bend a rod, with tog available for anglers fishing off the rocks and larger fluke staging around jetties and piers. It seems most areas are starting to show some chopper blues feeding on mullet as they exit the backwaters. Mid-September is also a great time to pick up some weakfish exceeding 15 inches as they will be keyed in on peanut bunker and finger mullet.
Another option is the night bite on the bridges, especially after this nor’easter, as striped bass have become more active. Casting small plastics, swim shads, and dark-colored swimming plugs are perfect ways to target them—just remember to work the shadow lines for the most consistent results. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!