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Northern New Jersey Fishing

September 24, 2020 New Jersey/Delaware Bay Fishing Report with Jim Hutchinson, Jr.

Staff from The Fisherman Magazine hasn’t manned a booth for a local boat or outdoor show since the Asbury Park plug show in March, so it’s safe to say we’re pretty excited to return to action this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 25-27 at First Energy Park (Blue Claws stadium) in Lakewood. Get your new or renewing subscription at the show and walk out with a Savage sand eel package, a great bait for the fall run. Of course, if you’re like us, you also picked up a plug or two in Asbury Park earlier this year which you’re hoping to soak in the fall surf; the latest NOAA Weather forecast has W/NW winds predicted most of the day Thursday which could help cool water temps and kick those peanuts and mullet in the tails in jumpstarting the fall action. Many folks are checking the NOAA offshore weather forecast on the hour to look for windows to sail towards the tuna grounds; not much to report in recent weeks due to turbulent seas, but there looks to be a shot or two in the upcoming forecast. Another red drum makes the South Jersey forecast this week, and many folks in Cape May County in particular are hopeful for another speck-tacular run of spotted trout this fall. Meanwhile there are a few stripers being reported by those fishing off the beach and in the back along the sedges and sod banks. Welcome to official start of fall!

 

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Northern New Jersey Fishing Reports

JB Kasper-Northern New Jersey

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

This past week a saw Mother Nature reach into her bag of dirty tricks and release some 25-plus knot winds on the northern coast to shut down the 2020 fluke fishing several days early. Despite the shortened last week of the season most boat captains and tackle shop owners I spoke with will tell you this past season saw some good catches especially on the ocean side. The problem now is; with sea bass shut down and tog having a one fish limit anglers will be limited with what they can fish for until the stripers show up in force. If you have a boat capable of fishing outside the bluefish, false albacore and bonito triad makes a good option. Likewise offshore shore tuna action has been excellent this season and should continue to be good into October, if the weather and seas cooperate. In Raritan Bay and surrounding waters porgies are another good choice for some good late season fishing. Local stripers, which have already started to show up in some areas, are another good bet, albeit trickier to find and catch. Also look for the fishing to heat up off the beaches once the baitfish start their annual migrations down the coast.

Staten Island

Report by Staten Island Fishing Club

August 24, 2020 - 11:21:35

The "dog days" of summer have resulted in fewer good reports on the fishing from Raritan Bay according to Al Rotunno of the Staten Island Fishing Club. Short fluke and occasional keepers are being cau... More

Bayonne

Report by True World Tackle

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Our first report of the week went to Akira over at True World Tackle who told us of a good week of fishing in New York Harbor. False albacore and bluefish moved in and out of the Harbor during the wee... More

Belleville

Report by Bullet Hole Annex

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

The word from Nick over at Bullet Hole Annex was despite a decrease in the number of anglers fishing, there has been plenty of action for those who are fishing. Porgy rigs are still in high demand and... More

Pine Brook

Report by Fairfield Fishing Tackle

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Joe over at Fairfield Fishing Tackle said the fluke fishing in Raritan Bay went out still being dominated by short fish, and porgy fishing remained very good. Inshore fishermen continued to enjoy good... More

Rochelle Park

Report by Tackle World

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Catches in the brine continued to be good as the first week of fall looms according to sources at Tackle World. Mark told me anglers still have a variety of fish to catch with yellowfin being caught o... More

Succasunna

Report by Ramsey Outdoor

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

The tuna action continued to be the most talked about fishing at Ramsey Outdoors. Sources there told us yellowfin catches were decent once again and boats also trolled some good numbers of bonito, alb... More

Sewaren

Report by Dockside Bait and Tackle

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

It was a decent week of fishing in the back bay waters, especially with the poor sea conditions in the ocean this past week, said sources over at Dockside Bait and Tackle. Anglers fishing the Perth Am... More

Laurence Harbor

Report by Raritan Marina

August 24, 2020 - 11:21:35

Boats sailing out of Raritan Marina have been into some good fishing. Dave said quite a few boats fished offshore this past week and were into yellowfin in the 60- to 90-pound class on jigs and baits.... More

Keyport

Report by Up Front Bait and Tackle

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

A call to Up Front Bait and Tackle got us a report to some bluefish and albies off Sandy Hook during the week. Steve said what fluke fishing there was during the last week of the season was in the bac... More

Report by Wagner's Marina

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

A wind driven tide over the weekend made for some high water at Wagner’s Marina. Tom told me very few boats fished out of the marina this past week because of the constant windy conditions and poor s... More

Report by Keyport Marine Basin

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Windy conditions on Saturday made from some tough season ending fluke fishing, said sources at the Keyport Marine Basin. What boats that did fish found a few keepers in backwater areas. The good news ... More

Keansburg

Report by Trade Winds Marina

September 14, 2020 - 09:53:30

Offshore fishing made for some good tuna and mahi fishing for boats sailing out of the Trade Winds Marina. Frank told me he and several anglers from the marina fished offshore at the Triple Wrecks and... More

Hazlet

Report by Tackle Box Fishing Co.

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

“A wind swept week killed what was left of the fluke season this past week,” cited Phil over at the Tackle Box. On the up side anglers getting out of the wind have been into mixed size stripers and ... More

Report by Tackle Box

August 10, 2020 - 18:51:27

“The week started off with some good fluke fishing and had it not been for the storm it would have been another good week for the flatties,” said Phil over at the Tackle Box. Phil told me the fishin... More

Leonardo

Report by Sour Kraut Sportfishing

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

The week started off with a nice mix of keeper and short fluke with some porgies mixed in for anglers fishing with Sour Kraut Sportfishing. Capt. Joe Baumle said by mid-week the winds started blowing ... More

Atlantic Highlands

Report by Julian's Bait and Tackle

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Another person that told us of a week of winds and rough seas was Steve at Julian’s Bait & Tackle who said even though the boats sailed on Saturday fishing was tough. Likewise no one got offshore thi... More

Report by Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

“While fishing was up and down during the week, the weekend winds which made the high tide higher than normal, pretty much shut things down on Saturday,” said Lou over at Atlantic Highlands Municipa... More

Report by Sea Hunter

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Another boat that saw the last week of fluke fishing blown out was the Sea Hunter. Capt. Rob Semkewyc said he only managed a pair of trips with Wednesday seeing poor drifting conditions which limited ... More

Report by Little Hawk Sport Fishing

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

“This past weekend made two weekends in a row that we were a no go.” said Capt. Joe Occhipinti of the Little Hawk. Joe said all his trips were slated for late in the week and over the weekend and th... More

Highlands

Report by Twin Lights Marina

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

For the second straight week no one sailed from the Twin Lights Marina because to the weather and poor seas. Mare said most boaters, if they came down at all, just came to the marina to check on their... More

Report by Two Rivers Charters

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

It was a nice mix of fish for anglers fishing with Two Rivers Charters. Capt. Fletcher Chayes said an early week trip got into some 70-pound plus yellowfin. A pair of inshore trips enjoyed mahi to 7 p... More

Report by Hyper Striper Sportfishing

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

“We got in a couple early week trips for stripers and bottom fishing,” cited Capt. Pete Wagner of the Hyper Striper. Pete said one trip produced several keeper bass and shorts while the second trip ... More

Report by Hyper Striper

September 08, 2020 - 09:47:09

Capt. Pete Wagner of the Hyper Striper said fishermen fishing board his boat enjoyed another good week of bottom fishing. Big scup and triggerfish made up the bulk of the catch with some tog and catch... More

Report by Fin Chaser Charters

August 10, 2020 - 18:51:27

“We got in a tuna trip on Friday and boated a 65-pound yellowfin and several mahi,” said Capt. Frank Wagenhoffer of Fin Chaser Charters. Frank told me he was headed offshore in the evening, this tim... More

Belmar

Report by Big Mohawk III

September 21, 2020 - 09:27:36

Another boat that saw its last week of fluke season cut shot by the winds was the Big Mohawk III. Chris Hueth said the few trips we were able to get out on this past week saw a poor conditions limit o... More

Report by Skylarker

September 21, 2020 - 09:27:36

“Windy conditions and rough seas limited our sailing this past week to four trips,” said Capt. Steve Spinelli of the Skylarker. Steve said he started off the week by putting the Kuinn Martino party ... More

Report by Ol’ Salty II

September 21, 2020 - 09:27:36

“We got in our last fluke trips early in the week,” stated Capt. Nick Carusso of the Ol’ Salty. Nick said both trips fished to the south of the inlet where anglers enjoyed a good bite of shorts and... More

Report by Side Job Charters

September 21, 2020 - 09:27:36

“We managed to get in a Wednesday-Thursday canyon trip before Mother Nature turned on the wind machine,” said Capt. Jim Richardella of Side Job Charters. Jim said his charter enjoyed a nice double f... More

Report by Parker Pete's

September 21, 2020 - 09:27:36

“We ended our 2020 fluke season with a good Bucktail Extravaganza on Wednesday,” reported Capt. Pete Sykes of the Parker Pete and Parker Pete Express. “The boat fished some wrecks to the south and ... More

Report by Fisherman’s Den

September 21, 2020 - 09:26:28

Fishing in Shark River and Inlet was a mixed bag this past week according to Tom over at the Fisherman’s Den. Snappers were plentiful while fluke fishing was a mix of a lot of shorts and some keepers... More

Report by Fisherman's Den

August 10, 2020 - 18:51:57

“While the storm put us on hold for a couple of days things bounced back nicely and fishing was once again in full swing over the weekend,” said Tom Palmisano at the Fisherman’s Den. While the stor... More

Neptune

Report by Last Lady Fishing Charters

September 21, 2020 - 09:27:36

It was a very limited week of fishing for the crew of Last Lady Fishing Charters. Capt. Ralph Leyrer said he only managed to get in a pair of trips this past week. An early week fluke trip saw a very ... More