Southern New Jersey Fishing Report
The weather has been a bit unsettled over the past week, with thunderstorms at various times throughout the day. The increased freshwater has dirtied up some of the bay areas, which has made bay fishing a little challenging, but if you can find clean water, the fish will be biting.
The ocean has definitely been the place to be for keeper fluke as we enter the first week of September, with most fish in the process of exiting our bays as the need to spawn is around the corner. The wrecks and reef sites are the best spots to hit for fish, but don’t rule out some open-bottom mussel beds if you can find them. Sea bass have been around, but watch the moons, as the stronger currents may have sea bass slightly off the structure.
September is a prime month for pelagics at the canyons, with bigeyes and yellowfin picking up chunked baits, as well as continued mahi action for the pot hoppers. Deep-dropping for tilefish has been pretty solid for most of the summer and should continue through the month, barring any tropical entities.
Here is this week’s rundown:
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River reported fluke being caught off Seaside Park and IBSP on bucktails and Gulp baits. During the early morning and late afternoon, there have been some bonito and Spanish mackerel caught on small metals and epoxy jigs. Crabbing has been very good from the piers and docks on the west side of Barnegat Bay from Berkeley Island Park northward. The shop has been loading up on plugs for the fall striped bass.
Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported some decent fluking for anglers willing to make long runs out of Barnegat Inlet, as the Axel Reef site has been hot. Locally, it’s been a pick, with a few keepers here and there on the reefs. There is a lot of short life around for anglers to bend rods, as well as a few keeper sea bass and triggerfish. The jetties have been good for short tautog, but spearfishermen are getting more of the keepers. Offshore action has been a pick for yellowfin at the canyons, with some of the southern ones producing much better tuna action. Bay action has been a pick on blowfish, with some days producing and others producing mostly croakers.
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Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown had a busy week prior to the skipper’s start of the school year. Double charters each day had clients putting ocean fluke up to 6.5 pounds in the box, along with some quality sea bass. A few of the afternoon bay trips had families with younger children, as young as 4 years old, bending rods on fluke, sea robins, and small sea bass. The crew is back to work at school, so weekday afternoon trips and weekend mornings are available, as well as some mornings when school is not in session. The best way to check is through the website or by texting the crew.
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The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued to work the reef sites for fluke and sea bass, with some days producing solid keeper action. Large Gulp and strip baits have been the key to finding better-sized fish. The skipper is currently booking September canyon trips and October sea bass trips, so give them a ring.
Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor Township reported good numbers of flounder in the bays, but most of the fish have been shorter than 18 inches. Anglers working the ocean wrecks from 60 to 90 feet are finding better keeper action. The bay has a few weakfish around the deeper channels, along with croakers.
Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had a few anglers christen September with some nice 20-inch fluke in the bay and keepers out front on pink-shine Gulp. Sheepshead and tautog are being caught with fiddlers and sand fleas off the bridges. Offshore, the southern canyons have been good for yellowfin and mahi.
Waterfront Marine in Somers Point said the Ocean City, Wildwood, and Townsend reef sites are the spots to be for good fluke action up to 7 pounds. Large bucktails tipped with Gulp baits are producing the best results. The bridges are alive during the day with sheepshead and tautog, while the lighted ones are producing some schoolie striped bass and an occasional weakfish after dark.
Captain Brian Williams of Badfish Charters in Ocean City mentioned that the ocean is producing some nicer-sized fish, with the skipper boxing a few fluke to 6 pounds. Capt. Brian said they have been finding a mixed bag of species and, once temperatures begin to drop, he will begin targeting striped bass in the backwaters on light tackle and fly.
Captain Joe Hughes of Jersey Cape Guide Service in Sea Isle City reported another solid week of reef fishing, though the current was a little strong due to the recent full moon at the end of August. The mahi bite also continued to be excellent at the pots outside 20 miles. The inlets are better for keepers, with the bay producing plenty of shorts.
The Cape May and Fortescue areas have been alive with mixed species off the beaches, with flounder, croakers, kingfish, and small snapper bluefish in the mix. Anglers opting for a fiberglass floor as compared to the sand are finding quality summer flounder to 8 pounds at the reef sites and wrecks in 60 to 120 feet. Offshore action has been full-loaded with yellowfin, mahi, and quite a few billfish at the southern canyons. Creekside crabbing remained excellent throughout the week, with many of the Delaware Bay (Jersey side) creeks fully loaded with large jimmies.
South Jersey Fishing Forecast
The best bite for the weekend will be working the ocean reef sites for keeper fluke if you can get out there, as well as the inlet areas and beaches next to the inlets. Summer flounder are really starting to move after the past full-moon cycle, and the bait is right on par, with lots of peanuts, spearing, and mullet being active. Some of the best baits for keeper flounder are live-lined mullet, if you can cast-net them, and drift or work these offerings right along the inlets and adjacent beach lips.
The wind and sea forecast looks pretty variable for the weekend, so I’m not sure if the offshore grounds will be in play. But if Mother Nature provides a window, anglers can head in an ESE direction in hopes of finding some quality yellowfin action or hit the pots from 20 to 50 miles for mahi tacos.
Good luck, be safe, and tight lines!