Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The tuna bite has moved to the canyons with solid numbers of yellowfin and some serious billfish action coming from the cobalt blue water 80+ miles out. The inshore bluefin bite, which was in the 10-12 mile range, has spread out with anglers reporting bites in the shipping lanes, at Manasquan Ridge, and Barnegat Ridge. Mahi pot hopping has been best in the 30 to 50-mile range if you can find the time to make it out there.
The inshore reef sites have been red-hot for keeper fluke in most locations, but keepers have been tight to structure. Bay anglers are catching a wide variety of throwback fluke, croakers, small blues, and even a few weakfish to 20 inches. Barnegat Bay has been very good for crabs, clams, and now an influx of solid-sized puffers. The beaches have a variety of fish during the day being caught on bait, Fishbites, and Gulp, while the night bite for sharks is going strong. Shark anglers may have to don the ocean yak and paddles, as some towns are beginning to ban “bait” dropping drone technologies due to big, toothy critters being caught and posted on social media. Nearshore pelagics are also starting to show north of Long Beach Island with Spanish macks, bonito, and some albies in the mix.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said the Seaside park and IBSP surf had some good numbers of short fluke with a few keepers in the wash this past week. Again, 1/2- to 1-ounce bucktails tipped with Gulp have been working on these fish during the morning tides. Bayside, there are crabs in the marshes and short fluke in the channels closest to the inlet.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said bluefin are definitely spread out from the 10 to 20-mile range and are being caught on the troll. Anglers working chunk baits are finding solid numbers of yellowfins at the canyons. Fluke fishing has been best at the reef sites from Barnegat Light Reef to Little Egg, as the deeper wrecks have been producing more shorts. Cobia, a few mahi, and triggerfish are picking up baits off the wrecks, especially those with pots on them. Bayside action has been extremely busy for short fluke, but keepers are increasingly hard to find. The inlet has some fish though, and stripped out croakers are working best for fluke over 18 inches. A large whale washed up towards the northern end of LBI this past week, and NJ Fish & Wildlife were on the scene fast.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has been reporting much better keeper action in the ocean with typical 5-hour ocean charters catching 7 to 9 keepers to 6 pounds, along with clients’ allotted sea bass. Bay action has been even more busy on short fluke, with numbers into the 70s per 4-hour trip, but keepers remain at 1 to 2 per trip. The skipper has some openings coming up in September for bayside puffers and oceanside fluke, so give them a ring.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been plying the inshore waters for fluke and a few keeper sea bass for clients. Their weekend trips were excellent for deep drop golden tilefish from the edges of the canyons. The captain said they have posted some open spots for fluke on Facebook, so check them out if you want to get a spot on board.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported solid yellowfin and billfish action along the canyons, where trolling is producing the best action. Mid-shore mahi fishing has been excellent from 20 to 40 miles out. The bays are loaded with short fluke, but better keepers have come from the deep holes.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had another solid week of flounder weigh-ins with some of the heaviest fish tipping the scales over 9 pounds. The shop said there are plenty of sheepshead and tog to keep anglers busy off the bridges. The offshore bite has been red hot on yellowfin and mahi along the canyons, so get out there and give it a shot.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported decent-sized fluke on the reef sites off of Ocean City with plenty of throwbacks mixed in. Bay action has been loaded on shorts as they are gorging on peanut bunker. The bridges and bay marshes are producing solid numbers of sheepshead to 8 pounds as well as keeper tog to 18 inches on sand fleas and fiddlers.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the bait is in place, but the skipper hasn’t seen any Spanish macks as of late. The crew is picking up keeper flounder in the bay and ocean, but better numbers are coming oceanside.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City said flounder fishing has been excellent and keeper numbers are better at the ocean reef sites compared to the bay. A variety of species, including cownose rays, are being caught in the bay as anglers search for flounder. Shark fishing continues to be excellent with several species hitting the fly this week.
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The Cape May and Fortescue areas reported a solid week for anglers working the wrecks and reef sites for summer flounder. The number of keepers has been excellent with some nice fish to 8 pounds. Beach fishing has been busy with plenty of croakers, spot, and flounder biting on Fishbites and cut squid. The crabbing over the past week has been very good for keepers. The offshore bite at the canyons has been red hot for yellowfin and some nice blue marlin have been raised.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend is to get out before the heavy rains, as the weather does not look so cooperative on Saturday or Sunday. Some of the local flounder tournaments will most likely be cancelled due to rain and sea conditions. Offshore will be a “no-go” for most boats, but the beginning of next week looks very doable for anglers targeting yellowfin and billfish. I was supposed to be offshore with a few clients and Uncle Raffie, but the weather had other plans; hopefully next weekend is a different story. Anglers still looking to bend a rod will have their best shots along the inlets and jetties for fluke, tog, and triggerfish, but don’t count out wetting a hand-line for blue claws.
Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!