Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
Summer is unofficially winding down as we head into September at the Jersey Shore, with the beaches beginning to open up for surf fishermen and shore towns returning to the locals. Bonito, Spanish mackerel, and bluefish are hitting epoxy jigs from the beaches to the inshore reef sites out to 10 miles. The best way to get them is by blind casting or casting to breaking fish and making a rapid but steady retrieve—just be ready for the hits as these fish will pull some drag.
Anglers working bays and reefs are finding lots of short and keeper fluke, with a larger number of keepers being landed in the ocean. Some of the inlets have decent action on tautog, as well as sheepshead and triggerfish. I was able to sneak out crabbing with my younger 6-year-oldson after charters, and the action was excellent. We had 18 to 22 crabs in just under 2 hours on handlines, so get out there before the school year starts and summer ends!
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported that bayside fluke fishing is producing tons of action from the main channels to the inlets on jigs tipped with minnows, peanut bunker, or Gulp. The Seaside and IBSP beaches have fluke mixed in with a few keepers being landed on light bucktails tipped with Gulp. The inlet area, where a lot of the camper trucks hang out, has seen a good bluefish bite during the incoming and is giving up a few short tautog on sand fleas. Crabbing remains excellent for hand-liners and cages along the western part of the bay.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said the better ocean fluking has been at the reef sites, but mainly Barnegat Light Reef has been producing good numbers of keepers. Other wrecks seem to be getting picked over and are providing fewer keepers. There have been some bonito and cocktail blues off the beaches to 5 miles out, and they are being caught on Deadly Dicks and epoxy jigs. Offshore fishing has been in full swing with tuna biting at the canyons, mainly Toms and Hudson. But the shop said the bite has been spread out and there are a few football bluefin at the ridges. Bay fishing has been very challenging with an enormous amount of 12- to 14-inch fluke, so your best bet for keepers is to fish around the inlet.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has been working the ocean for most of their charters and clients are boxing 5 to 9 keepers per 4-hour trip. Some of the fish have been over 6 pounds, but still, there are a ton of short fluke. The sea bass are biting but have been slightly off the structure at times. With school starting next week, we will go back to our afternoon schedule with start times at 2:30 p.m. in addition to weekend availability through the end of December.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light did very well in the canyons with tilefish and a couple of mahi, but recently the boat has been running fluke charters on the inshore grounds. The skipper said action has been good on the breezy days, which leads to better drifts. The boat is looking to do some September canyon runs for tuna, so contact Capt. Ted for details.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported excellent action on bayside fluke for anglers working minnows and Gulp. The action is steady, but keepers are a little tough to come by. Anglers fishing live spot or peanut bunker are finding better success in the deeper channels close to the inlets. Offshore fishing has been good for yellowfin on the troll, pot-hopping mahi, and deep dropping for tilefish. The shop has a full lineup of offshore baits, gear, and rigs—so stop in or order online.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had some nice ocean-caught fluke weighed in over the past week as well as two beautiful cobia that were shot by spear fishermen. Bay fluking is yielding good numbers of short fluke, but keepers are being caught closer to the inlets and in the deeper channels. Peanut bunker and mullet are the hot baits during the slack tides. Offshore action is steady on yellowfin at the canyons and 2- to 5-pound mahi are pretty much everywhere from 80 to 100 miles out. Crabbing has been excellent along the back-bay marshes.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported solid fluke action at the reef sites along with lots of other marine life. Bonito, mahi, jacks, and cobia have been frequenting the inshore grounds. Sean said to keep a light-tackle setup ready to cast small metal or epoxy jigs for the bonito and mahi, and a heavier setup rigged for the cobia.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City has been working both the bay and ocean for some nice fluke and light-tackle action on recent charters. He will continue fishing for fluke, blues, weakfish, and bonito until cooler weather arrives and striped bass fishing resumes. I know his schedule is filling up for the fall, so give him a call to get a charter date on the books.
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Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City has enjoyed excellent reef fishing this week, with a lot of fluke and bonito action. The skipper has been traveling a few miles further to find better-sized fluke and some nice mahi as well. The bay has tons of shorts, but not too many keepers for individuals that prefer calmer waters.
The Cape May and Fortescue areas have good fluke on the reef sites with most areas producing solid numbers of 20- to 23-inch fish. It seems that Ocean City to Cape May has been the hot zone for keeper fluke for most of the season compared to areas off IBSP and LBI. Bucktails in the 3- to 6-ounce range tipped with Gulp or some type of fish belly have been working the best.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend is to hit one of the many state reef sites for keeper fluke, with the Atlantic City to Cape May sites producing a better average of over 18-inch fish. If you’re heading out for fluke, it would not be a bad idea to also grab a few light-tackle spinning setups rigged with epoxy jigs for mahi, bonito, or Spanish mackerel. Anglers walking the suds or the jetty rocks may also have shots at bonito and Spanish mackerel.
Offshore boaters can head east 80+ miles for yellowfin, tilefish, and mahi—but don’t count out a deep-dropped night-bite for swords. Regardless of your quarry, get out there on the brine and enjoy it. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!