New Jersey & Delaware Bay - New Jersey & Delaware Bay Surf Fishing Reports

Bobby at the Fisherman’s Den in Belmar noted that false albies were cruising up and down the coast outside of the Shark River Inlet. The cool nights are starting to spark some bass activity in the local surf. Be ready to cast old school plugs like Bombers or anything that mimics mullet.

At the Tackle Box in Hazlet, Phil said the false albies hit the Rip and North Beach and were stroking slim metals like Hogy Epoxy jigs. Fluke remained to notch off the north end as floated killies still claimed a ton of fish. Chopper blues were in and out as well at Sandy Hook in these final days of September, and along the backside of the Hook. The Keansburg and Belford piers are still giving up bluefish, fluke and even some kingfish.

John from Betty and Nicks in Seaside Park said the one-two-punch of fluke and blues was anchoring the local surf catches with some quality fluke up to 4 pounds or so being hooked heading into the final days of the season. Shark fishing at night was still happening with the warmer waters too. It was the final week of September in 2021 when John weighed in a 3-pound pompano so be on the lookout for the pomps again this year while waters are still on the warm side.

At Charlie’s Bait and Tackle in Normandy Beach, the word is of bonito and albies making passes in and out in the Brick and Lavallette area surf. I managed to chase down some of the bonito schools and was rewarded with some 1-pounders that hit Williamson Gomoku .7-ounce slim metals. Small 1- to 3-pound bluefish were also hitting mullet baits and sea robins are hitting clams and Fishbites.

Greg at Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom said albies have been blitzing on bait schools spraying them around for most of the week before the swells from Fiona. Good news too is that mullet schools have been pushing out of the back and that bass were blitzing on them as well out front as pluggers found some linesiders. The Barnegat Jetty has been a hotbed of activity with a mess of blackfish and triggerfish, plus you can find a few sheepshead still lingering around.

Kyle from Fishermen’s Supply in Point Pleasant said bonito stormed the Manasquan and Sea Girt area beaches as Jim Louro cast some Band of Anglers lures to put a hurting on the bones. Early morning hours are also the time to score with stripers that are beginning to hang tight around the jetties north of the Manasquan Inlet. The Point pocket has also seen some little tunny and bonito on the outgoing tides.

Frank of Gabriel Tackle in Brick stated that bluefish have been attacking mullet baits on fireball rigs. With colder night temps some stripers have sparked up in the early morning and though most are schoolies, you can connect to them with light bucktails tipped with Gulp Grubs. Blackfishing in the canal remains hot and heavy. Believe it or not, fluke were still being caught off the Mantoloking Bridge pier heading into the final days of the season, while striped bass are also hanging around the river bridges if you can find a dock or wade in to cast from the banks.

Scott at Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park said as fluke season winded down, the fish were not told about it and were on an aggressive bite. Small chopper blues continue to be picked form the surf and there’s been quite a few early morning stripers being taken now on plugs as well as bait. Look for the bass bite to really get going as water and air temps dip down.

At the Hook House in Toms River, Mario said it had been status quo with fluke and blues the main game out front and blowfish and a few kingfish off the bayside docks. Blackfishing off the inlet jetties was solid as well in September as well as in the canal. All eyes are on the hunt for false albacore and the first arriving migratory stripers heading into the first week of October.

Over the final weekend of September Jingles Bait and Tackle in Beach Haven reported that cocktail bluefish to 2 pounds were dominating the local catches on mullet and metals. If you switch up to Fishbites or clam baits you can find kingfish and spot.

At Fin-Atics in Ocean City, kingfish and spot on bloodworms are still the main play out front to end the month. Back bridges and sod banks are seeing more stripers in the early morning and night hours. The Longport Pier is a hot spot to find tog and even an occasional sheepshead still.

Down in Cape May, Jeff from Hand’s Too Bait and Tackle said bluefish have been following the schools of mullet, spearing and peanut bunker and as a surprise there have been unicorn tiderunner weakfish caught in between the blues. Schoolie bass are starting to chew in the sunrise hours and are hitting small poppers. Bloodworms are effective baits for spot, kingfish and quality croakers. Blackfishing has been ripe with action along the bridges and rocky outcroppings. Jeff says his fingers are crossed to see some redfish and speckled trout move into the area this month as this time of year there are always a few reports, though he did hear of a red and speck caught just over the bay in Delaware during the final days of September.

Andy of Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine had the first real fall bass checked in at 11 pounds and 32 inches by Paul L. If there’s one quality bass around, there’s bound to be more. Small bluefish are harassing mullet baits while some truly bragging class fluke up to 24 inches were checked in to the shop this week.