Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
I’m not sure what’s hotter—the fishing or the temperature. Regardless, it’s time to get out and bend a rod. What a great week, as the fluke fishing has come alive in the ocean, although it continues to be better from Atlantic City to Cape May. The tuna action also came alive at the mid-range grounds with bluefin, while yellowfin are being caught slightly farther offshore on the troll. A good number of boats departing from Somers Point hit the offshore grounds to box some beautiful yellowfin.
Beach fishermen are finding a few fluke in the surf during the day and different species of sharks during the evening tides. Several bull sharks were caught and released over the past few days along parts of Long Beach Island. Bay action is hot for crabs, a tad slower for fluke, and there are also a few sheepshead around the rocks and bridges. With the Fourth of July holiday upon us, be responsible out there and enjoy the water.
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported some fluke up to 23 inches being caught along the beaches of Seaside Park and Island Beach State Park. There have been some schoolie-sized striped bass along the bayside of IBSP, and they have been hitting soft plastics and poppers in the early morning. Bay crabbing is red hot, especially prior to the recent full moon.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had good reports of fluke action from the Barnegat Light Reef, with lots of shorts and some keeper fluke in the mix. The other reef sites also seem to have good numbers of fluke and cooperative sea bass. Bayside fishing has become a little more consistent, but keepers are still a challenge. The areas around the “BI” and “42” have produced some better fish. Bluefin are being caught on the jig from 30 to 40 miles southeast of Barnegat Inlet. Crabbing with hand lines and traps has been very good off the Barnegat municipal docks.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has been running charters nearly every day now that school is “officially” out. The skipper has been averaging 35 to 50 shorts per 4-hour charter, with keepers running from two to five per trip. The crew will begin hitting the ocean for fluke as the bite has turned on and should offer some better-quality fish. There have been quite a few sharks feeding on rays in the backwaters.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light worked the wrecks and reef sites for a mix of fluke, ling, and sea bass, as the skipper said the ocean bite has gotten much better. The boat will be sailing for tilefish in the coming weeks.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported a good offshore bite on bluefin, and a few cobia have been caught in the warmer water. The same temperature increase due to the northeast winds has ignited the fluke bite like a firework on the Fourth of July. Gulp baits tipped on jigheads, as well as fish bellies, are producing excellent results. Bayside fishing also remains solid for most anglers, with minnows, Gulp, and fish bellies working well.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point reported a red-hot reef bite, with keeper fluke to 26 inches along with some solid sea bass. Three- to 4-ounce jigheads or bucktails tipped with Gulp or fish bellies are producing consistently for most anglers. Tuna have been red hot from past the inshore lumps to the canyons, as the shop said it’s one of the best offshore bites they have seen in years. A few nice redfish have also been caught inshore over the past week.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported that the canyons are loaded with yellowfin, which are being caught on both the troll and the jig. Anglers working the inshore reefs are finding excellent fluke action on Gulp and strip baits. Bayside fishing has been excellent, with good numbers of fluke in 8- to 15-foot depths and sheepshead along the bridges.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters out of Ocean City has been taking advantage of the solid fluke bite, as the skipper has been putting clients on good numbers of flatties. There are a few striped bass around during the early morning and evening hours, but the fluke have been very cooperative for the skipper and crew.
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Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service out of Sea Isle City was busy moving his boat this past week from St. Augustine, Florida, to Myrtle Beach. The captain did say that fluke fishing has been excellent from Ocean City to Sea Isle over the past week.
The Cape May and Fortescue areas had another solid week of summer flounder fishing, with a good number of fish being caught. The short-to-keeper ratio has been excellent for most anglers fishing from Wildwood to Cape May. Fluke fishing on most days saw really good action, with keepers up to around 6 pounds. Fish are being caught both on the reefs and in the bays, but the ocean bite is where it’s at. On the Delaware Bay side of things, croakers, spot, and some snapper blues are being caught along with plenty of fluke. There are even some juvenile cobia being caught. Surf anglers can easily tangle with a variety of sharks on the evening tides.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to hit the ocean for fluke if you have the means, as the bite has ignited in most areas. Somers Point to Cape May are still seeing much higher numbers of keeper fluke and lower throwback ratios. Another solid option will be to hit the beaches and work the surf prior to the Fourth of July crowds for summer flounder. A simple 3/4-ounce jighead or white bucktail tipped with Gulp or a fresh strip bait should do the trick. Night-owl anglers can chunk bunker or kingfish heads to tangle with some of the coastal sharks. Offshore anglers pursuing pelagics should be hitting the canyons over the weekend to box solid numbers of yellowfin. It seems most ports from Barnegat Light to Cape May are sharing similar results on tuna, so set the compass on a bearing of around 100 degrees until you hit the cobalt water. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!