New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Northern New Jersey Fishing Reports

We started off this week’s report with a call to Chris over at Bayonne Bait and Tackle who echoed the reports of peanut bunker moving into the back waters of Raritan Bay. He told us Bayonne, Perth Amboy and all the ports there saw plenty of peanut bunker and a good number of sea robins all moved into the area over the holiday weekend. More than likely this is the reason some schools of mixed size weakfish moved into the back bay as far up into the Hudson as the Statue of Liberty this past week. In addition he told us some stripers were caught in the deeper water after dark and croakers, mixed size blues, spot and some kingfish have also moved in. A few anglers took advantage of the nice weather early in the week to catch some of the mahi that have been reported around the Farms and the lobster pots. Chris told me the shop is all stocked up for the fall fishing. Lastly he was told the fluke fishing, while still being dominated with shorts also gave up some nice fish and you could find the pods of bigger fish.

The word from Joe over at Fairfield Fishing Tackle echoed some of our other reports when he said fluke fishing has started to get a lot more hit or miss. One of the concerns about the fall fishing he mentioned was with the gas prices climbing into the $4 plus range on land and $5 or more at marinas. How much is it going to affect the people fishing? Joe wasn’t the only one that mentioned that to me. He said there seems to be a good variety of fish in northern waters not to mention baitfish. However this past week saw very few reports coming into the shop on the fishing, with Joe saying most were people complaining about the side of the fluke and other fish.

Over at Dockside Bait and Tackle Ken told us peanut bunker moved in early in the week and some anglers used them to go outside and get some mahi in the area of the Farms. He said all types of baitfish are moving in and out of the backwater areas and this has kept a variety of fish happy with anglers catching croakers, spot, mixed size blues and other fish. When it comes to the fluke fishing it has been hit or miss with shorts still dominating the catch. Lastly he said at least the weather was a lot better this past week and a decent amount of fishermen were able to get out as compared to the last couple of weeks.

“While fluke fishing is winding down, tuna fishing picked up this past week,” cited Dave Rani over at Raritan Marina. He told us since the holiday fluke catches have been good to the experienced fisherman who were willing to work for their fish. Several boats that sail out of the marina got into the yellowfin and mahi bite that is serving up the action about 40 miles out of the marina and around the wind turbines. He said with some fair weather predicted for this week hopefully the Charlies will continue to be on the chunk.

We checked in at Up Front Bait and Tackle and Steve told us he had a busy week this past week. While you could tell it was the week after Labor Day because of the drop in numbers of people and boats fishing, the ones that did get out found some decent fishing. One of the biggest pluses was the schools of weakfish that moved into the back water areas which are still loaded with all kinds of baitfish. There is no question that the fluke are on their way out; however anglers caught some nice keepers this past week. Backwater areas are still filled with a variety of baitfish and croakers, weakies, spot occasional porgies, snappers and mixed size bluefish are giving anglers some very good light tackle fishing. Outside mixed size blues and bonito are running along the beaches and some bluefish have been feeding on the small blues and bonito. There were even some yellowfin and mahi caught this past week and anglers have reported excellent bottom fishing around the newly installed wind turbines

Boats sailing out of Wagner’s Marina this past week got into some good fishing. Paul told me the marina held a fluke contest on Saturday with 30 boats at the marina competing. The winner was “Tommy Fishtails” 9-pound fluke. Paul said all the boats that competed had fish.

It was a decent week of weather and fishing this past week, said Phil over at the Tackle Box. The first thing he mentioned was a good late week bite to bluefish and bonito, along with some bluefin dining on the blues just out of the range of beach fishermen from Sandy Hook south. He was another person that told us of a good amount of weakfish mixing in with the croakers and small blues in the back bay. On the fluke front he said there still are plenty of shorts around along with some keepers being caught as the fluke move back into the ocean. Here too the word on the yellowfin bite was about 40 miles out and around the wind turbines. Crabbing remained good. Phil said the best fishing of the season is at hand and now is the time to get in on the Ber months (September, October and November) fishing.

“Well at least the weather was a lot better this past week,” said Lou Fligor over at the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor. He told us with the doom and gloom predictions for the weather on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, a lot of boat fishermen decided to take a shot at the fishing on Saturday and parking lots were full by 10 a.m. on Saturday morning. As to the fishing anglers had a nice variety of fish to fish for but most of what came back to the docks and cleaning station were keeper fluke and an occasional bluefish, Lou said.

The half day boat Ebbtide Too did not fish this past week. Capt. Bob Henn told me he did some yearly maintenance on the boat to get it ready for the fall sea bass fishing. He said he will be sailing once again this coming week and is looking forward to the bag limit going up on the sea bass.

“The bay and the inshore waters are loaded with baitfish and we had some decent weather this past week, so you know there were some fish caught,” said Jay over at Julian’s Bait & Tackle. The flip side of that coin was a lot less fishermen fishing most of the week. The fluke are on the moved and some nice fish are in the mix. We had an influx of weakfish into the back bay waters this past week and there are plenty of mixed size bluefish and bonito prowling the inshore waters. Reports of striped bass being caught after dark also made the list at the shop as well. “If anything is going to explode the fishing along northern waters it’s the full moon that is coming up in about 10 days,” Jay said.

“We only got in a pair of trips this past week,” cited Capt. Mike Scardingo of the charter boat MiJo. He told both trips caw the same menu they have been catching for the last several week; a good amount of shorts, a few keeper fluke and sea bass. Mike said he too is looking forward to the bag limit going up on sea bass in October.

Over at Bahrs Landing Marina Tim told us the first week after Labor Day was a slow week of fishing. Fluke catches remained heavy with shorts and it was status quo with most other fisheries. There were plenty of light tackle fish like croakers, cocktail blues, snappers, etc. but the biggest surprise this past week was the appearance of decent numbers of mixed size weakfish into the back water areas. Anglers worming and jigging the weakies enjoyed some fun fishing we were told. Here too we were told the fishing outside saw some good bluefish, bonito and Spanish mackerel fishing and a few boats got bluefin that were feeding on the smaller bluefish. In addition he mentioned some good bottom fishing at the wind mills this past week.

It was another week of bluefish and fluke fishing for anglers fishing aboard the charter boat Hyper Striper. Capt. Pete Wagner told me he will be adding sea bass trips to his menu as soon as the bag limit goes up on October 1 and has a few dates left in October. He also said his fall striper trips have only a few dates left. “So call now to get on the fall schedule,” he added.

Boats sailing out of Twin Lights Marina also got into some decent fishing this past week. Sources at the marina told us the number boats that fishes was down as per usual for the first week after Labor Day, but those that fish got into fluke, bluefish and bonito, and croakers, spot and some weakfish. Things should start picking up with some fall weather in the next couple of weeks, we were told.

“Other obligations limited us to one trip this past week,” said Capt. Fletcher Chayes of Two Rivers Charters. Fletcher told me the fishing was a nice smorgasbord of croakers, sea bass, and porgies, and said he has a full week of charters this week and he’s hoping the weather and seas are favorable.

“This past week saw a pair of 8-pound fluke take pool, a good amount of keepers and some nice sea bass,” said Greg Hutch of the Big Mohawk III. Greg said the fishing got better as the week progressed.

It was a decent week of fishing in Shark River inlet and the river said sources over at the Fisherman’s Den. In the river and inlet rental boats are still seeing shorts dominated the fishing but the last week saw some better numbers of keepers caught as the fluke are starting to move out into the ocean. Bluefish and bonito popped in an out of the inlet several times during the week and were also making runs at the beaches to the north of the inlet. Anglers fishing the jetties are into blackfish on green crabs and occasional bluefish and bonito, along with a few triggers and kingfish. Crowds on the party boats have lightened up since the holiday, but fishing for blues and bonito and fluke and sea bass has been decent when the conditions are favorable, we were told.

Another boat captain that told us it was a very good week of fishing was Capt. Rich Falcone of the Golden Eagle. He said that while the bluefish action was good one day and slow the next, when it was hot it was a real mad dog bite. In addition to the mixed size blues bonito, albies to 4 pounds and Spanish macs also came over the rails on most days. He also mentioned some decent fluke and sea bass fishing that put some variety on the decks. Rich said his mahi trip was successful and the boat will be fishing overnight offshore this week.

It was a hit or miss week with the bluefish according to Capt. Al Shinn of the Miss Belmar and Miss Belmar Princess. He told us several days saw some decent numbers of blues, bonito, albies and Spanish mackerel, while other days it was hard to even find the fish. Big bluefin seem to be pushing the blues and their companions around along the inshore waters, he said. As to the fluke fishing the smaller boat saw a mix of sea bass, tog, fluke, croakers and ling on her trips.

“We got in a pair of bottom fishing trips this past week,” stated Capt. Nick Caruso of the Ol’ Salty II. Nick the fishing was a solid mix of sea bass, ling, croakers and some nice triggerfish. As to the fluke fishing the biggest flattie on the boat this past week was a 6-pound fish. Nick said the boats next tuna trip will be on September 22-23 and the boat has some open spots. So give him a call if you want to tackle some tuna.

It was a light week of fishing aboard the charter boat Skylarker this past week. Capt. Steve Spinelli told me his first trip of the week was with members of the Renaissance Fishing Club who enjoyed a good catch of fluke and their limit of sea bass. Another good pull of sea bass and fluke was had by the Dillion Family on a Tuesday trip. The Tim Mooney charter opted for some mahi fishing and found a fair bite of mahi. The crew finished up the week by putting members of the Leary Fishing Club into a good bite of fluke and a limit of knuckleheads.

“Looks like the fluke are on the move,” said Nick over at Bullet Hole Annex. He told us reports coming into his place have been a lot fewer since the holiday and some of the anglers are switching over to other fish. “We are seeing a lot more anglers picking up bluefish tackle for the blues, bonito and Spanish mackerel that are being caught along inshore and mid-range waters,” he said. He too told us about the weakfish which also bent some rods and said bottom fishing was filling coolers with ling, some triggers, croakers and porgy.

Over at the dock of the Misty Morn Capt. Phil Bouchard told us his boat is fishing a limited schedule and the days he got out saw a steady bite of short fluke and a far pick of keepers. Phil said crowds have been light since the holiday and anglers have had plenty of room on the boat. So if you are looking to get in a last fluke trip now is the time to do it. He said his current schedule is posted on his website.