New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Central New Jersey Fishing Reports

The Big Jamaica enjoyed some excellent bluefish action last week. "We reached our boat limit before we were halfway through the trip," the crew reported from last Thursday's trip, adding "Once the limit was met, we switched over to bottom fishing and finished the day catching some sea bass and plenty of ling." Luke Valeriano of Colonia took that particular pool with a 3-pound black sea bass. "The fishing has been great every day and we have been reading plenty of bluefish on the scope," was what we heard from the crew. The Big Jamaica is sailing daily for bluefish, sea bass, and ling.

Capt. Joe reported a productive week aboard the Jamaica II, with steady fluke action despite ever-changing conditions. Monday's trip produced bites at nearly every stop, and while the action wasn't red-hot, anglers steadily picked away at keeper fluke. The high hook landed four to five keepers, only retaining their limit. Tuesday started with another consistent pick, as each drift produced a fair amount of bites along with several quality keepers. A couple of anglers managed to box out with limits before a stiff afternoon breeze slowed the bite. Wednesday brought plenty of life on the bottom, with fish showing at nearly every location, although keeper-sized fluke were a bit harder to come by during the morning hours. Thursday featured another solid day of fishing, with favorable conditions through the morning and into part of the afternoon before weather dictated the game plan. Several anglers reached their limits. Friday continued the trend with plenty of action early, producing lots of bites, though not quite as many keeper fish as Thursday. The afternoon bite slowed, but a couple more limits still made it to the dock. The week's final trip also offered steady action until strengthening winds eventually put a damper on the bite, with the day's high hook once boating five keeper-size fluke.

Matt at the Reel Seat reported an uptick in fluke action, with anglers finding improved numbers of fish. Sea bass fishing remains strong, while bluefish continue to flood the area and provide plenty of fast-paced action. Recently, mackerel have also moved in, adding another exciting option for anglers.

Adam of Canyon Runner Sportfishing reported that tournament season is in full swing, with several major events including the Montauk Canyon Challenge, Oak Bluffs, Tri-State, and Jimmy Johnson tournaments, all overlapping. However, the biggest story has been the incredible bluefin action close to shore. Bluefin tuna have been showing within 15- to 20-miles of land from Maryland through Delaware, New Jersey, and Long Island, with anglers finding success running and gunning in roughly 20 fathoms. Hundreds of Canyon Runner members have been getting in on the action, with the strongest reports coming from Maryland, Delaware, and South Jersey.

Christian at Fishermen’s Supply reported excellent fluke fishing, with Gulp and mackerel strips producing quality bites. Sand fleas have been abundant, with large numbers crawling out of the water and providing plenty of bait activity. Striped bass continue to roam the surf, while bluefish are aggressively hitting metals and Hydro Minnows, adding excitement for shore anglers.

Capt. Bob reported that the Gambler has been enjoying a hot bite, with recent trips producing quality fluke up to 6 pounds coming over the rails. Dante currently leads the July Monthly Pool with an impressive 6.47-pound fluke. Night trips have also kept rods bent, as a steady mix of ling and feisty cocktail bluefish has provided anglers with plenty of nonstop action.

Capt. Alan of Mushin Sportfishing reported an exciting stretch of canyon action, with three impressive trips producing a mix of yellowfin tuna and wahoo. Captains Ray and Dan, along with Mate Jon, made a quick canyon day trip and found solid action on yellowfin tuna up to 60 pounds, returning home by dinner. The troll bite was the key, with Sterling Tackle Wide Trackers producing quality fish. Another canyon trip with Thiebault, Seb, Ed, and friends turned into a memorable 16th birthday celebration for Seb, with the crew putting together a strong morning bite of 15 yellowfin tuna, including several hefty fish up to 65-pounds. They kept only what they could use while enjoying a productive day offshore. A separate trip produced a beautiful New Jersey wahoo, which fell for a Shimano Ledge Runner 200 plug in the New Moon color. These hard-bodied plugs continue to impress, producing both wahoo and tuna behind the Mushin.

Capt. Tom reported another productive week aboard the Norma K III, with steady fluke action and plenty of bent rods. Monday produced a consistent pick, while young anglers continued making unforgettable "first fish" memories. Tuesday featured nonstop action, with the keeper bite improving when the drift cooperated, and David O'Donnell claimed the pool with a 7.10-pound fluke. Heavy current made Wednesday morning challenging, but the afternoon turned red-hot with nonstop action and several limits. Thursday delivered another strong fluke bite, while Friday saw a decent morning pick before shorts dominated the afternoon. Friday night's trip added a fun mixed bag of 3-pound bluefish, ling, and sea bass, with larger bluefish following the boat. Saturday wrapped up the week with nonstop bites and a couple of fluke limits.

Capt. John Zema at Yankee Rose Fishing reported an action-filled afternoon half-day trip. Just two hours into the outing, anglers enjoyed a hot bite on bluefish while jigging before the crew spot-locked over a favorite piece of bottom, where they put together a great catch of ling, hefty sea bass, and a bonus 5-pound fluke to top off an impressive cooler.

Frank at Gabriel Tackle said fluke action remains strong throughout Barnegat Bay and the Manasquan area, with killies, spearing, and Gulp leading the way. Triggerfish have been showing in the inlet, where shrimp and sand fleas have been the top baits. The Point Pleasant Canal is producing a mixed bag of fluke, striped bass, and bluefish. Anglers fishing the Axel and Sea Girt reefs are finding keeper fluke, although sorting through shorts is part of the game. Offshore, the tuna bite continues to impress, with bluefin and yellowfin reported at the Hudson, the Lumps, AP, and Resor. Bluefin have even been spotted breaking the surface at the Klondike while anglers targeted fluke, with both live-lining and jigging producing success. Along the beaches, fluke are being caught in the wash, while crabbing remains productive around local docks and bridges. Clamming along the banks has also been excellent.

Amanda at Jersey Hooker Outfitters reported good fluke action in the river, with anglers enjoying steady bites and finding some quality fish. The Axel area has also been producing keeper fluke, while bluefish remain active in the river. Snapper activity is beginning to ramp up, adding another exciting option for anglers this season.

Philly Billy at Charlie’s Bait & Tackle said the water temperatures in the surf have warmed up, but action has been slow lately. Kieran from Maryland landed some nice stripers and a dogfish off the surf using clams from the shop.

The crew at The Dock Outfitters in Seaside Heights said anglers are getting snappers, croakers, and spot. Worms are working well.

Scott at Grumpys Bait & Tackle reported a steady stream of fluke being weighed in throughout the week, with anglers pulling quality keeper fluke from the surf. Crabbing is also in full swing, providing plenty of action for those targeting blue claws.

Scott at Yakitty Yaks Kayaks reported improving fluke action, with larger fish falling to live spot. Nighttime striped bass fishing has been excellent, while nearshore wrecks continue to produce quality sea bass. Sharks and rays are also abundant, adding plenty of excitement for anglers exploring the area.

Beck at Hook House Bait & Tackle reported improved fluke action in both the bay and ocean. Spot and croakers are showing in the bay, while beach anglers are finding a mix of fluke and sharks along the surf.

Capt. Ray Lopez of Miss Liane Charters reported strong yellowfin tuna action, with the boat putting together successful trips offshore. The Ritman family enjoyed a productive outing last week targeting yellowfin. Looking ahead, the crew has inshore bluefin trips, yellowfin and bigeye canyon trips, along with fluke charters on the schedule, offering anglers plenty of opportunities for summer action.

Capt. Joe Rizzo of Barnegat Bay Fishing Charters said he is cutting up some squid and prepping spearing for upcoming trips this week. The end of last week had some poor weather which kept him at the dock. He is hoping with upcoming charters that he catches some keeper fluke. There are a lot of spot and croakers in the water that are nipping the tails off the Gulp, so the squid and spearing may be the more cost-effective route. Anglers are still picking away at sharks in the bay. Overall, he heard fluke fishing picked up this past week. Crabbing is poor.

Liza at Creekside Outfitters reported continued fluke action, with Karl and his family enjoying a great day on the water using fluke rigs from Creekside. Reports of weakfish are also increasing, with more anglers finding them in local waters. Howard Rothweiler made headlines with an impressive ocean-caught doormat fluke weighing in at 10.03-pounds.

Capt. Sam Rescigno of the Mary M IV reported excellent ling action, with anglers averaging 15 to 20 fish per person and high hooks reaching up to 40 ling. Fluke action is also beginning to improve, with more flatties starting to show in the mix.

Capt. Lenny of Miss Barnegat Light reported a strong week of fluke fishing, with the bite improving each day. Tuesday saw a major turnaround after a move, producing steady action and a respectable showing of keeper fluke. Wednesday started strong with nonstop bites throughout the trip, though more keepers would have been welcome. Friday capped off the week with outstanding action, a solid keeper ratio, several limits, and anglers who jigged with Gulp enjoying the most success.

The crew at Fisherman’s Headquarters reported an exciting mix of summer action, with weakfish beginning to show in local waters. Anglers can target them with light tackle, a small jig head, and a Gulp Shrimp. The fluke bite remains on fire, with quality fish hitting both boat and surf anglers. Nicky Bizzarro put a beautiful 23-inch fluke on the beach from the mid-island surf, along with a dozen smaller fish and another impressive 18.5-inch keeper, proving now is the time to get out and fish. Offshore, some quality bigeye tuna have also moved into the local canyons, adding even more excitement to the season.

Steve at Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven said surf anglers are finding a mix of fluke and kingfish along the beach, with plenty of dogfish and sharks adding to the excitement. While most of the fluke remain on the smaller side, anglers are still enjoying steady action and picking away at fish. The bay bite has been similar, with plenty of short fluke keeping rods bent and a few quality keepers mixed in. Adam found success earlier this week, landing a nice keeper fluke to add to the action.

Wow, what a storm Long Beach Island went through Thursday night! Conditions like those are why the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association carefully check weather forecast and radar readings as well as communicating with each other before every fishing trip. While water conditions on Friday might have been a little dirty after the winds and rains, the water quality should be back to normal by Saturday morning. Meanwhile fishing reports from the BHCFA captains indicate the fluke bite is getting stronger day by day while those boats traveling offshore in pursuit of big game fish are returning with fish dinners in the coolers.

Fred at Surf City Bait & Tackle reported a solid inshore bite, with bluefish feeding aggressively around Barnegat, including a 16-inch fish caught on a pink Stack Tackle jig. A pair of slot-sized striped bass also hit the scales this week, while a steady stream of quality fluke continued to be weighed in at the shop.