Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The first week of August is upon us and the summer fishing continues to be in full swing. Surf anglers have been catching a variety of species when the bathers aren’t present including fluke, cocktail blues, kingfish, and croakers during the day. We are entering the prime window for surf fishermen and jetty anglers to catch doormat fluke at the inlets. Although caught on a boat near the Barnegat rocks, a solid 12-pound fish was landed this past week.
The night bite continued to be excellent for sandbar sharks from the beach, and there was even a hammerhead mixed in. The yellowfin bite continues to be exceptional if you have a window to make it out to the canyons, and anglers are finding some sizable bluefin closer to home.
Fluke fishing had a good week in the ocean with better numbers of keepers, while the bay continues to have plenty of action on shorts. Tog opened up this past week and a few keepers have been reported, but it’s mostly non-stop short action for anglers.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Stelios From Stack Tackle reports “This past week my friend talon ray, simon daher, and I snuck out for cobia and found them on the stack tackle screwy head jig paired with a 5″ white tail clapper. The 44″ Cobia had no qualms about smoking the jig!”
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River had reports of some spike weakfish at night from some of the bay piers on soft plastics. The IBSP and Seaside surf has been giving up some fluke to 19 inches. There are plenty of sharks around to keep anglers’ rods bent during the night tides with mackerel and bunker as the popular baits. Crabbing continues to be solid, but you have to weed through more small ones.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown said there are a few bluefin around inshore from Seaside to LBI, but bites have been sporadic on poppers and jigs. Jigging has been the best option as the fish are on squid baits. Fluke fishing remains fairly good in the ocean with a mix of shorts and keepers. Bay fluke fishing has lots of action, but very high numbers of short fluke as compared to keepers.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown has been dodging the weather with bay trips, but the crew has made it out in the ocean a few times. The bay charters are averaging 50 to 60 short fluke while boxing 2 to 4 keepers. Ocean numbers are better with fewer shorts and more quality keepers to 7 pounds. There are some blowfish in the bay and the skipper will be opening up a few 3-hour trips to puffers, which are perfect for kids.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light had a few canyon tilefish trips and the skipper put their anglers on the meat, filling coolers with tasty tiles. The boat will be heading out again next weekend, so give them a call to reserve your spot. Besides the offshore trips, the weekday inshore trips have been boxing some keeper fluke and are seeing a good amount of short life.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported the flounder bite has been pretty good in parts of the bay closest to the inlets. Gulp and spearing combinations have been working for keepers up to 5 pounds. There are a few weakfish from spike size to 16 inches being caught near the bridges during the evening hours. The reef sites have been excellent for flounder with plenty of shorts and keepers to 6 pounds. Offshore action has been red-hot for yellowfin and mahi from Spencer to Toms canyons.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had several nice weigh-ins this week with fluke from 5 to over 8 pounds being caught both bay and ocean side. Gulp and squid have been the top baits for these fish. The bridges are still loaded with plenty of sheepshead and tog to keep anglers busy during the day. Most of the tautog are shorts, but anglers can keep 1 fish now at 15 inches. Night bites have had a few weakfish and schoolie stripers in the mix.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point reported some decent-sized fluke on the reef sites with tons of throwbacks. The current has been an issue and back-trolling against it has helped put more keepers in the box. Bayside fishing is action-packed with lots of shorts as the fish slowly move towards the inlet.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City said the ocean bite is very good when the winds and seas cooperate, but bayside fluking has been producing good action with some keepers up to 26 inches. There have been lots of peanut bunker around which should begin to push towards the inlet once they get a tad bigger.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City said flounder numbers have been very good with plenty of action on shorts, but there have been a few keepers mixed in. The better ratio has been the ocean when the seas cooperate. Shark fishing remains excellent with sandbars, spinners, and a few hammerheads in the mix.
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The Cape May and Fortescue areas had red-hot bites at the reef sites from Wildwood to Cape May with fish to 8 pounds. The number of keepers has been much better at the reef sites as compared to the bayside bite. The Fortescue area had some nice fish caught in the bay this past week to 5 pounds, and minnows tipped on small jigheads have been the hot bait. The beaches have croakers, kingfish, and some small weakfish to keep anglers busy. Offshore canyon wagons have reported excellent yellowfin action as well as some good mahi fishing. Deep dropping has produced good tilefish on the canyon walls as well as a few swordfish.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to hit jetties and inlets for keeper fluke as you don your Korkers or beach attire. After last week’s full moon, fish are beginning to move towards the inlets and there are some large ones staying close to structure as they head out. In addition, grab a bucket of fiddlers or green crabs to work for triggerfish, sheepshead, and a one-fish limit of tautog. Boaters should be hitting the reef sites and working structure for large-sized fluke—it seems most places are producing good numbers. The Ocean City area has been very consistent at the reefs, so it may be worth the run to box a limit of flatties. Offshore anglers may have a window Sunday into Monday to get on the fantastic yellowfin bite. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!