Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The summer flounder migration is in full swing with a bunch of our past week’s keepers having egg sacs loaded with roe. Fluke are exiting our inlets and heading out to the deep to spawn next year’s progeny. Anglers can target exiting fluke along the channels in or leading up to the inlets, the reef sites, and deeper wrecks. Offshore action had a few windows this past week, with some very large “Allison” and cow yellowfin coming from the southern canyons, which have been the hot spot for these. There was word of a few approaching 180 pounds. Mahi and tilefish are loaded at most of the canyons with tiles better in the Hudson area. Bayside has been a mix of species from rays to croakers to kingfish in the backwaters, and crabbing remains solid in the marshy areas. This is always a tough week for those who were affected by September 11th, so enjoy our waters as we should never forget what it means to live in the United States.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported blues, a few bonito, and fluke coming from the beaches of Lavallette to IBSP. The inlet area has bird and bluefish action during the incoming tides, and there have been several tautog caught off the rocks with green crabs. The bayside has been loaded with some nice blue-claws full of meat, and bunker on a simple handline is the way to go.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported some nicer fluke caught along the inlets on live mullet and peanut bunker with specimens up to 26 inches. The reef sites have been very good, especially Barnegat Light Reef, where a lot of solid keepers were landed this past week. Offshore action continues to be the same with good yellowfin south and solid tiles and mahi east. Mid-shore areas have a mix of bonito and false albacore that are being caught on epoxy jigs and trolled Clark spoons. Bay anglers are catching a lot of croakers, small fluke, cocktail blues, and a few blowfish.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown continued to fish almost every day in the afternoon only, since school is back in session. This past week they had a combo fluke and blowfish trip that yielded 25 short fluke along with a 22-inch keeper fluke, and 36 keeper blowfish during the 2nd half of the trip. Ocean fluke trips have been boxing 6 to 8 keepers up to 24 inches in four hours as the skipper has been working a few of his choice wrecks. There are weekday afternoons available for the fall, so check the website to get on the schedule.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued to work weekday trips for fluke, and the skipper has been hitting the reef sites and some larger individual wrecks for anglers. Yellowfin tuna and tilefish may be in play as the skipper is looking to book a few offshore tuna dates, stay tuned as the boat’s Facebook page will be updated.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported excellent offshore fishing at the canyons over the past few weeks with the Baltimore, Toms, and Wilmington producing, but it’s definitely a run out of some ports. Mahi are on the pots in the canyons and smaller chickens can be found at any of the pots on our wrecks. Ocean fluke fishing continues to be the best game in town, while the bay has been good to bend a rod on shorts. Crabbing remains good along the marshes with bunker hand-lines and cages.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said it’s “Game On” for anglers working the area with good summer flounder action coming from the bays along with the ocean sites. The sheepshead bite has been on fire for most of the season and a solid near-11-pounder was landed this week on the shop’s sand fleas. 1/4- to 1/2-ounce jigs tipped with fiddler crabs (Sheep’s candy) have also been working. Offshore vessels have been slamming yellowfin at the Baltimore and just shy of the Toms.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point had good reports from the wrecks and reef sites for summer flounder along with a few mahi if you can find wrecks with pots on them. Capt. Sean recommends checking the pots first for mahi prior to dropping for fluke as they can spook easily. The nearshore lumps have some small bluefin tuna, false albacore, and bonita which can be trolled up on small clark spoons.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported another solid week of fluke fishing with some decent-sized ones coming into the boat. Capt. Brian said the fish are fat and healthy with fish to 26 inches being caught. There is a mix of species around, some near-shore pelagics within a few miles of the beach. The skipper is excited and has trips rolling out for late September through November for striped bass, and has it dialed in for bass in the backwaters!
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City reported good fluke fishing from 60 to 90 feet with decent keeper action coming from the reef sites. Sporadic schools of bonito and some mahi have been around the pots. Bay action continues to be solid on short fluke with a few keepers, but the better fishing is 6 to 15 miles out.
The Cape May and Fortescue areas were solid for flounder at the reef sites with some anglers reporting 3-fish limits on fish to 7 pounds. Most of the area shops have reported that the fish are pretty tight to structure, and anglers have been doing better with Gulp and long strips of squid. The beaches have a fair number of kingfish, croakers, and small cocktail blues being caught on cut pieces of bloodworms.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bet for the weekend will be to target fluke at the ocean sites, whether it be reefs, open bottom, or wrecks. The fish are migrating east and some boaters may notice commercial draggers are starting to work deeper bottoms. Mahi are in play and can be targeted inshore for the early birds who hit the pots. Now that the beaches are less crowded, working the sand for early morning bluefish with epoxy or metal jigs can be worth it. But don’t rule out a few bonito, false albacore, or even a lone Spanish mackerel. Late morning can produce fluke along the wash and deeper holes by fan-casting light bucktails to completely cover the area. Pink, white, and chartreuse Gulp baits work the best as bucktail trailers. There is something to be said for the tranquility of shore fishing during the month of September. Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!