Fishing Report for Southern New Jersey
We’re finally getting some east winds, but unfortunately that’s related to Tropical Depression Debby moving up the east coast. Flounder fishing has been subpar for most, but if anglers can find warmer spots in the ocean, some fish can be caught. Bass fishing continues to be excellent, with water temperatures hovering just above 15 degrees along much of the reefs and wreck sites. The spawning fishing started last week, and most shops are reporting excellent catches off the rocks, jetties, and some bridges in south Jersey. Although it hasn’t been easy recently due to stronger winds and swells, the canyons are teeming with yellowfin tuna, dolphinfish, and even some marlin. I’ve heard some local charters are catching blue and white marlin. The surf and back bays are holding plenty of umbrin, kingfish, and some pufferfish.
Here is this week’s summary:
Hook House Bait & Fishing Accessories In Tom’s River reported short flounder and some catches on the beaches of Seaside and Island Beach State Park. There are kingfish and pufferfish along parts of the ICW, mainly from “BI” to “BB.” Anglers working the north jetty of Barnegat Inlet are having great success with smallmouth. From Berkley to Toms River, there continues to be good crabbing on the west and east sides of the bay.
Creekside Outfitters In Waretown reported slow progress on the flounder fishing in the bay, with some short fish caught and only a handful of fish held. Offshore fishing was a little better when anglers could get out, but overall it was a quiet week. The best action was inshore, at the Pipe, and at the Axel Carlson Reef Site. Tog fishing off the rocks in the bay was phenomenal for anglers carrying their rod and crabs down the rocks. Tog jigs are better with fish that hold. Canyon action was excellent when boats could get out: yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, marlin, and mahi were landed with some regularity.
Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown Been working both the bay and offshore this past week with offshore fishing being slow on the catch side. The crew has been catching some prime structure with sea bass up to 20″ and ling to get some meat in the box. The bay trips have been a little better with an average of 30 fish and up to 3 catches.
The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light reported a tough flounder catch during the week with plenty of fish over long drifts. The skipper did a few wrecks to get some sea bass over the rail. Weekend trips focused on tuna inshore and offshore with some big numbers of pelagics coming over the rail.
Tony’s Bait & Fishing Accessories In Manahawkin There have been reports of some bluefish and some bleak being caught along the local bridges. Anglers working the rocks with shore crabbing are having success with togs up to 19 inches long. Due to strong southerly winds, flounder fishing in the ocean and bay has been slow this past week. Tuna fishing nearshore has continued to be very good, as have some nice cobia. Atlantic Princess, Little Italy and the Bacardi are just a few places anglers should aim their bows at.
Tackle Direct In Egg Harbor City said flounder fishing inland from Atlantic City to Ocean City has been a lot of setbacks with only a handful of catches. A local charter operator reported 57°F water temperatures on some of the western spots, which is significantly affecting the bite. Canyon fishing for yellowfin tuna and mahi remained the hottest catch, but winds have affected fishing periods. The shop has sold a lot of tog jigs and rigs, as the bite along the rocks, especially in Atlantic City, has been exceptionally good since opening in August.
Fixed lines, bait and fishing accessories In Somers Point have been getting shipments of ballyhoo and bushels of fiddlers as both the canyon and rock/bridge bites have been good. The bridges are showing excellent numbers of tautog as well as some nice sheepshead to 10 pounds. Anglers working the blue water have been coming home with solid numbers of deep sea fish: mahi, yellowfin tuna and even a few wahoo.
Badfish Charters In Ocean City has been battling through the south wind to bring anglers striped bass as the cooler water temperatures have the local striped bass biting hard. The crew has mixed in flounder, bluefish and some sheepshead.
The Cape May to Fortescue areas have had a great deal of flounder caught this season and the fish continue to bite. Several boats and charters reported good flounder catches in the bay this past week, especially around Banana Peel and Tussey’s Slough and on the reefs. Brown sharks and some sandbars have been caught and released off the beaches on the night tides. Umber, kingfish, some small flounder and cocktail bluefish have been caught on the beaches during the day. Surf anglers should bring a variety of tackle when fishing the flounder. Deep sea fishing in canyons is in full swing and there is excellent life along the Gulf Stream eddies, but hopefully Debby doesn’t mess up the fish.
Fishing forecast for South Jersey
The best bet for the coming weekend will be to visit some of our local fishing shops for sinkers, tog jigs or rigs and green crabs. The bite was fiery with a lot of shorts and steady rod bend. As of now, Saturday and Sunday seem to be good fishing days, with Sunday being the better day for boaters wanting to get out to sea.. Flounder fishing will be the big question when Debby passes and the wind turns back to 40 mph from the south on Friday. Hopefully she‘S enough to kickstart a better sea and bay bite. Unfortunately from The The season has been like a vinyl record that’s always gotten stuck on the same line. With Debbie, maybe the needle will finally jump to a new line. Let‘s hope for better flounder fishing in August and beyond. Good luck, take care and stay fit!
