New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Northern New Jersey Fishing Reports

We started our report off with a call to Chris over at Bayonne Bait and Tackle who told us there was a nice mix of fish in the back waters of Bayonne, Perth Amboy, South Amboy and other backwater areas. One problem they had this past week with the fishing was the storms that roiled the back waters a couple times. Thursday was a good example with clean water for the morning tide and off-color water of the evening tide because of an afternoon storm. Chris said there are all kinds of baitfish in the back bays waters and fluke fishing, while still heavy with shorts is giving up some nice keepers in the deeper waters. Mixed size blues ranging from snappers and cocktails to 4-pound choppers with a few weakfish mixed in are also providing some good fishing. Light tackle fishermen are into snappers, cocktails, croakers, spot and mixed size tog. He also mentioned that angler participation has dropped off in the last couple of weeks.

Another place we got good reports on the fishing in northern waters this past week was over at Fairfield Fishing Tackle. Joe told us the weather put a lot of boats on the water early in the week. He said the store got reports of some bluefish and bonito along with albacore and Spanish mackerel making runs at the beaches and inlets a couple of times and boat fishermen saw some fast action with the slammers and their friends when they found them. On the fluke fishing front the fishing was up and down depending on the conditions especially later in the week. While the catch was dominated by short fish, some anglers got into small pockets of keepers and were able to get their limits on jigs. Variety was the word from bottom fishermen with triggerfish, a few porgies, ling and one fish limits of sea bass and tog supplying the action, he said.

Over at Dockside Bait and Tackle Ken told us fluke fishing was mostly shorts this past week with a few big fish taken from the back waters. He said porgy fishing opens up this Monday and the fishermen he spoke with told him most anglers said they expect the bulk of the scup to be taken along the north side of the bay. Croakers were also fewer this past week, but there were cocktails, snappers and some spot for light tackle fishermen. Lastly he said there were still plenty of rays and doggies in the back bay water to steal baits.

I checked with Capt. Victor Hartley of the Keyport Princess who said anglers fishing aboard his boat enjoyed a decent week of fluke and sea bass fishing. He told us it was a mix of fluke, blues, a few weakfish and sea bass most of the week.

A call to Steve over at Up Front Bait and Tackle got us several reports. At the top of the list was the fluke fishing which he said was heave with shorts however if you keep moving around you have a better chance for a keeper since the bigger fish tend to be more aggressive in the deeper water. Croakers and spot rebounded in the back bay waters this past week along with decent numbers to snappers and cocktail blues. He also mentioned a few weakfish being caught as well. Lastly he told us there are plenty of bluefish and bonito with a few albacore and Spanish mackerel mixed being caught along the inshore waters with and occasional run at the beaches being seen.

Boats sailing out of Wagner’s Marina, in between a couple of bad weather days enjoyed some good weather and decent fishing this past week. Paul told us that most of the boats fishing for fluke fished outside where keepers were in better supply. George Rudd and Fred Voza both enjoyed limit catches of fluke and most boats that fished on Saturday came back with some keepers. This past Saturday was one of the best of the season so far at the marina. “Now all we need is a few less nasty storms,” Paul said.

“It was a good week if fishing in between the storms that blew through the shore this past week,” said Phil over at the Tackle Box. Fluke fishing continued to be plenty of shorts and some nice keepers for anglers who picked through the smaller fish. He said some of the best fishing was for the slammers, bonito and Spanish macs that were moving along the inshore waters. The shop also got reports of some blues and their friend’s also blitzing the beaches in a few places as well and Sandy Hook saw some stripers caught this past week. Bottom fishing has been very good especially around the wind mills where one fish limits of sea bass and tog were common along with triggerfish, ling and other ground fish. Some mahi are still being caught at the lobster pods with some bull mahi being caught between 50 and 60 miles out. He also mentioned tons of small blues with some weakies mixed in, in the bay. Lastly Phil said the crabbing remains good and there are all types of baitfish in northern waters.

Boats taking advantage of the nice weather sailing out of the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor caught some fish this past week. Lou Fligor told us that a good amount of boats slid down the ramp on Saturday. He said weather reports and occasional storms cut into the people fishing most of the week. On the fish front fluke catches were a lot of shorts and a fair amount of keepers. Outside bluefish and bonito supplied some good action and bottom fishing was a mix of sea bass, tog, triggerfish, croakers and some ling.

It was another decent week of and on good weather and fishing along the northern coast, said Jay over at Julian’s Bait & Tackle. He told us anglers stopping in at the shop told him of some good catches of croakers and small blues are still coming from the back waters of the bay and some bigger blues, with bonito, albies and Spanish macs mixed in are being taken outside by party boats.

Fishing this past week aboard the charter boat MiJo was a pick of keepers and plenty of short fluke and one fish limits of sea bass. Capt. Mike Scardingo told me he got in most of his trips despite the weather and said this is some of the craziest weather we have ever seen. Hopefully things will settle down this week, he said.

I checked with Tim over at Bahrs Landing Marina and he echoed a lot of our previous reports. When it comes to the fluke anglers have to have patience and pick through the shorts for their keepers. Cocktails, snappers, spot and porgies are providing some good light tackle sport in the back bay. If you are going to be fishing outside take some heavier gear as the mixed size blues, Bonito, Spanish macs and albies, along with a few cobia are in good supply. Lastly he said some of the best bottom fishing in the waters around the wind farms. He also got reports of some mahi being caught at the lobster pots with some bigger mahi being caught farther out.

It was decent fishing for fluke and blues this past week aboard the charter boat Hyper Striper. Capt. Pete Wagner said he even got blitzed by some albies on one trip which served up some excellent fishing. Pete told me he has some fall dates open in September and in October for stripers. So give him a call at the number in his ad for info and available dates.

Over at the Twin Lights Marina sources said boats fishing out of the marina caught some nice fluke and a ton of shorts fishing the lower Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers on the top of the tide on Saturday. Boats fishing during the week caught mostly shorts in the lower bay, we were told.

“We had a mix of fish this past week on all our trips,” said Capt. Fletcher Chayes of Two Rivers Charters. He said fluke, bluefish, bonito and some mahi were on the menu this past week. Fletcher said he is booking striper trips for the fall, so if you are looking to take on some linesiders give him a call.

Fishing aboard the Big Mohawk III this past week saw some good catches of fluke and sea bass. Greg Hueth told me he lost a couple days to the weather this past week however the days he got pool fish were in the 6- to 7-pound class a with the top fish being a 13-pound flukeasaurus. While there was still a ton of shorts, the number of keepers this past week were a lot better even on Saturday when the rough morning seas made for some tough fishing. “Hopefully the fishing will be even better this week,” he said.

In checked with Marty over at the Fisherman’s Den and he told rental boats caught a lot of fluke this past week, but once again keepers were few and far in between. He said a mix of small blues; occasional bonito and Spanish mackerel have been moving in and out of the inlet with the tides. Anglers fishing the jetties have been picking up some mixed size tog and triggerfish, as well. The best fluke fishing of the week was early in the week aboard the party boats, however, the fishing slowed down late in the week, we were told.

The chopper action this past week aboard the Golden Eagle bent a lot of rods with not only bluefish, but bonito and occasional Spanish mackerel. Capt. Rich Falcone said fluke and sea bass fishing was also good despite a few weather problems. Rich told me the boat will be starting its evening bluefishing this coming week leaving the dock at 7 p.m. He also said his mahi trip is full up and the boat will also start its weekly tuna trips in two weeks.

“We had some good days and some off days mainly because of the winds and seas,” said Capt. Al Shinn of the Miss Belmar Princess and Miss Belmar. Al said the bluefishing was decent with some bonito mixed in with mixed size slammers. The fluke and sea bass action had a couple of good days because of the rough seas. The boat also spent one day in port because of the weather. Al said hopefully things will settle down this week; however this week looks like it could be a wet one.

“We got in five trips this past week in between the storms and found some good bottom fishing,” said Capt. Nick Caruso of the Ol’ Salty II and Big Kid. He said one-fish limits of sea bass gave anglers plenty of action along with plenty of short fluke and a few keepers. The biggest fluke this past week was a 6-1/2-pound fish caught by Anthony Verrelli. Nick told me the boat will be doing a 40-hour overnight trip on Labor Day weekend for tuna and still has some spots open. The boat will also be doing overnight tuna trips every other week in the fall.

It was another busy week for the crew of the charter boat Skylarker. Capt. Steve Spinelli said he started off the week by putting the crew from the Johnson Brothers Boat Yard into an excellent bite of fluke and sea bass with Doug taking the pool with a 4-pound fluke. Next up was the Leon and Jeff charter who decked a good catch of fluke to 6-1/2 pounds and a limit of sea bass. The Capt. Hank Kouch group hammered blues and sea bass. The Happy Hour charter enjoyed a good pick of blues and sea bass, while the Dan Arnold party had a good catch of fluke and sea bass. The crew finished up the week on Saturday with another good catch of fluke to 8 pounds and a limit of sea bass for the Montana Construction party.

The word from Nick over at Bullet Hole Annex was that most anglers reported tons of short fluke along with some nice keepers if you pick through the shorts. In the ocean the fluke seemed to have moved back in deeper water in northern waters he said. Some of the best fishing has been the schools of mixed size bluefish with bonito, albacore and Spanish mackerel mixed in. He also mentioned that porgy season is finally open and bottom fishermen are reporting a few porgies being caught along with triggerfish, ling, croakers, sea bass and tog. Lastly Nick said he got good reports on the crabbing just about everywhere.

The word from Capt. Phil Bouchard over at the dock of the Misty Morn was Monday and Wednesday’s open boat trips saw very good short fluke action and a fair amount of keepers on both trips. Our magic hour trips this past week saw a decent amount of shorts and a few keepers. When it comes to charters the Pierson party enjoyed a late bite and ended up with shorts and a double figure catch of keepers. The Siessel charter did well with shorts but only had a few keepers, while the Bartel’s Landscaping group found the same type of fishing with a decent number of shorts and only a few keepers. Lastly the Bill Munz trip also had a good amount of shorts along with a fair amount of keepers.