Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Another hot week on the water, with temperatures in the 90s, and the fishing has been at the same level in terms of action, with some typical August species arriving. Spanish mackerel and bonito have invaded some of the inshore spots as well as the surf. One of the prominent shops on Long Beach Island even weighed in a king mackerel at 8.92 pounds.
Fluke fishing continued to get better at the inshore sites, but anglers definitely have to work for them to put a nice catch together. Always bring a heavier-duty setup, as there are some nice cobia around at the inshore reefs. Gulp on bucktails or jigheads are doing the best for fluke. Offshore action continued to be red-hot, with excellent numbers of yellowfin and mahi being caught at the canyons.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported solid fluke fishing in the Island Beach State Park surf with 1/2- to 1-ounce jigs tipped with Gulp. Some of the fish have been just beyond the surf wash. There have been a good number of spearing schools in the surf, with bluefish and bonito attacking them. Bayside action has been good on short fluke closer to Barnegat Inlet, and crabbing should rebound after the new moon that recently passed.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown had reports of bluefin off Seaside, but it seems the action has spread out and moved to the ridges. Fluke action has been excellent at the reef sites for short fluke, but you have to work for the keepers. The bay has been alive with fluke, and anglers reported a good number of croakers and blowfish as well.
View this post on Instagram
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was busy on the water over the past week, running two to three charters a day. Ocean action was solid, with a good number of keeper fluke in the 5- to 6-pound range. Bay charters have been catching keepers to 7 pounds, but the ratio is about 25 shorts to 1 keeper.
- Want to get in on the bite? Find an OTW-approved Charter Fishing Captain in New Jersey
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light said the open-boat tilefish trips to the canyons were very productive, with some nice goldens coming over the rail. In between running to the canyons, the vessel has been doing some inshore fluking and reported a good number of shorts, with keepers in the mix. The boat will be sailing for tiles August 15-16, but the skipper said the boat is full and to check their Facebook page for future dates.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported decent fluke action at the reef sites, with a few chicken mahi and solid cobia. The bays have a good number of short fluke, which are hitting Gulp or minnows tipped on small jigs. Offshore action has been red-hot for yellowfin tuna and mahi on the pots. It seems the action is spread out, with several of the offshore canyons producing: Spencer, Lindy, and Toms.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had some serious-sized flounder weighed in this past week, with a few in the 8- to 9-pound range. The shop said the reefs and wrecks have been the best spots for better keeper ratios. The bay is alive with short flounder, and bridges are loaded with sheepshead and tog. The shop just received a large shipment of fiddlers and sand fleas, so stop in and pick them up.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported decent-sized flounder on the reef sites, with plenty of throwbacks mixed in. The new-moon current has been pretty strong, so back-trolling has been necessary. Bay action on flounder has been good, with lots of shorts and a few keepers in the mix.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City had a solid week of chasing flounder in the bay, with some nice tides and solid fish to 26 inches. The skipper will be working the bay and ocean for flounder and has some dates available this upcoming week. Capt. Brian said a good number of peanut bunker and spearing are in the bay, which should bode well for the early fall when they get back on the stripers.
View this post on Instagram
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City had decent flounder action at the reef sites, with better keeper ratios than the bay, but the sharking has been off the hook, with sandbar sharks, spinners, and some hammerheads in the mix.
View this post on Instagram
The Cape May and Fortescue areas reported excellent summer flounder fishing at the Cape May and Delaware Bay reef sites. Large Gulp tipped on bucktails or jigheads have been doing the best. There have been some triggerfish landed at the wrecks and a few chicken mahi reported. Offshore boats have been running 60 to 80 miles to cash in on the yellowfin bite. The Cape May and Wildwood surf are producing a variety of fish: kingfish, croakers, fluke, and some cocktail blues.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to fish any of our southern New Jersey reef sites, as they continue to give up the best numbers of keeper fluke. Anglers jigging bucktails tipped with Gulp have had the best success. The winds look a tad iffy for the boating fishermen this weekend, so it may be better to play off the local beaches or jetties. Kingfish and croakers are plentiful, hitting rigs tipped with Fishbites or small pieces of bloodworms. Blues and fluke are picking up bucktails or small metals. If you plan to fish the jetties, pick up plenty of crustacean baits, as there are sheepshead, tautog, and triggers willing to participate. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!