Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
It seems someone has flipped the switch, whether it was due to the winds, moon phase, or temperature, but fluke have begun to bite at the reef sites in 50 to 70 feet of water throughout most of the area. Meanwhile, the bay bite is incredibly variable, with the delineation line at Somers Point serving as the dividing point. South of Somers Point, anglers are seeing excellent bay fluke action on both keepers and shorts. North of Somers Point, however, the fishing has become increasingly difficult, especially in the Barnegat Bay area, where there simply aren’t many fish around. This has been echoed by countless anglers, charter captains, and tackle shops for most of the season so far. Let’s hope it gets better.
The striped bass bite has been there to pick up the slack, with keepers being caught on live spot, white bucktails, and plugs off the inlets. Offshore action has also begun to heat up for tuna, with some solid yellowfin catches reported at local docks, along with deep-drop tilefish.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had reports of striped bass caught off the IBSP beaches, along with some bluefish and fluke. Anglers working the southern end near Barnegat Inlet fared better for striped bass. A few triggerfish were also caught off the rocks, which is a good sign for summer. Crabbing in the back bays is on fire, with a lot of keeper crabs around for the taking, and the shop is fully stocked with crab gear and bunker baits.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said fluking has been ultra-slow in Barnegat Bay, with anglers barely catching shorts. The positive sign has been a few keepers caught at the local reef sites and along the Long Beach Island beaches. The shop is telling anglers to skip the bay and head straight for the ocean. The inlet is also giving up some striped bass, sheepshead, and triggerfish.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has been working the back bay for fluke, with most trips requiring anglers to grind through the wind for sporadic keepers. The skipper said most trips are averaging between 20 and 35 shorts, with keepers ranging from one to three, depending on the day. With word of the improving ocean bite, the crew may begin heading offshore to jig up some flatties.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported a pick of sea bass, ling, and some fluke for anglers on private boat charters. There have been quite a few shorts, and the bite has changed throughout each trip, with some drops producing on clams while others have favored jigs. The boat has opened up its tilefish schedule and will be running tilefish trips in the near future.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township remarked that the Great Bay fluke bite has been very challenging, with lower numbers of fish compared to last season. The good news has been a slight influx of keepers this past week, and the ocean bite at the reef sites has started to improve.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had reports of fluke up to about 8 pounds being caught in the bays and backwaters. Snapper bluefish have been showing up around the bridges and inlets on the incoming tide, and there are still a few stripers around to bend the rod. The ocean fluke bite has come alive at the reef sites in 40 to 60 feet of water, with Gulp, strip baits, and jigs working best. Offshore action has officially begun, with a few boats bringing yellowfin back to the docks after successful trolling trips.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported a few beautiful sheepshead weighing more than 10 pounds caught on sand fleas along the marshes and bridges. Striped bass are still in play on soft plastics, poppers, and plugs, but the bite has been limited to early mornings and late evenings on the flats. The shop also heard the fluke bite was on fire at the reef sites, with Gulp and salmon bellies producing for anglers. Yellowfin fishing has started in the southern canyons, with a few nice fish caught on the troll.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters out of Ocean City has been picking away at striped bass on charters, with fish holding along the shallows and feeding on baitfish. Flies, soft plastics, and plugs have all been producing, but the feeding windows remain short. The fluke bite has also improved with the arrival of cleaner water over the past few weeks.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service out of Sea Isle City said the cleaner ocean water continues to improve the bay fluke bite, with lots of shorts mixed in with keepers. Bluefish have also been moving in on the tides, although the skipper has been seeing fewer of them. There are still a few striped bass in the backwaters hitting plugs and soft plastics.
The Cape May and Fortescue areas have been excellent for wreck and reef fluke fishing over the past week, with solid catches coming in alongside quality sea bass. Sea bass fishing has also been excellent in depths exceeding 120 feet, with anglers dropping jigs and clams boating coolers full of fish. The bay and ocean beaches have produced a few bluefish and weakfish, which are hitting soft plastics on light jigheads. Sheepshead and triggerfish are also beginning to show up along the inlet rocks, where they have been caught on fiddler crabs and sand fleas.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet this weekend will be to fish the ocean side of the southern coast from Ocean City to Cape May. The Cape May reefs and wrecks have been the hot spot for fluke action, with plenty of keeper fish coming over the rails. Gulp, bucktails, and strip baits are producing consistently. Bayside fishing has begun to improve slightly in Great Bay, making it a viable option, but compared to prior years, it’s still slower than normal. The upper and lower portions of Barnegat Bay are showing almost no signs of improvement in the bay fluke fishery, but the ocean bite appears to have turned on, which is an encouraging sign. Sheepshead have also come alive, making it a great weekend to fish the bridges with sand fleas in search of a few hard-fighting fish.
Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!