August 31, 2026 - 10:58:22
We got word of some good fishing in some of the bigger reservoirs when we spoke with Nick over at Bullet Hole Annex. He told us anglers stopping in the shop told him of good smallmouth fishing in Monksville, Greenwood and Split Rock Reservoir this past week. Pompton Lake was also fishing well on topwater baits fished around and in the vegetation. In addition he said the Raritan River and other big streams wee also giving up smallies, rock bass and largemouth on small jig combos.
August 31, 2026 - 10:57:48
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.
August 24, 2026 - 10:24:06
Nick over at Bullet Hole Annex also said September is looking good thanks to the wet month we had in August. September is traditionally one of the best months for topwater baits as the vegetation starts getting holes in it and thinning out which opens up a lot of pockets of water for bass and pickerel to look for forage. Nick said this happens in Greenwood, Hopatcong, Swartswood and other big waters as well as in all the small ponds and lakes.
August 24, 2026 - 10:23:45
Over at Bullet Hole Annex Nick echoed the good fishing reports of mid-August. He told us he has had improving reports heading into the final week of August, and he believes as long as the weatherman cooperates September should turn out to be one of the better months to fish this season. Reports on the fluke fishing were mixed in August as a lot of anglers were complaining about the overwhelming numbers of shorts; others were telling of limit catches of nice keepers if you were willing to work for them. Nick also said bottom fishing reports have also been up and down, however he would often hear of four days to a week where the sinker bouncing was red hot with one fish limits of sea bass and tog, triggerfish, croakers and ling were filling coolers. September is traditionally the month when some of the biggest fluke, sea bass and bluefish are caught in the NY Bight region.
