July 20, 2026 - 10:28:10
Andy of Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine stated the Absecon Inlet jetty is the spot to be to pluck a few keeper fluke on Gulp baits while out front Fishbites are finding some kingfish, croakers, spot and even a few errant black drum still milling about. Sharks and rays are on the night shift.
July 20, 2026 - 10:27:51
There are lots of short flounder being caught in the back bays of Brigantine according to Capt. Andy with Riptide Bait and Tackle. Keepers are more likely to be found in the inlet and even from the beachfront, with the exception of a 9- pounder caught under a local bridge by an angler using sandfleas for sheepshead. Wherever you fish, live minnows and Gulp Baits have been outfishing most everything else. If taking a trip to the AC Reef Site, there are more keepers to be found here but anglers report using much larger baits such as 6-inch Gulp Mullets or Grubs, or 8-inch strips of fresh fish such as sea robins or mackerel. Bluefin tuna were caught on the troll on RonZ lures, within “a short distance” of Brigantine is the intel we received.
July 13, 2026 - 10:39:51
Andy of Riptide Bait and Tackle in Brigantine said the south jetty continues to be a fluke hot spot as some large models are whacking at killie and Gulp combos. Another 7-pound plus flattie was taken from the inlet this week, making it one of nearly 10 fish of the caliber caught there this summer. Be on the lookout for kingfish, spot and croaker out front during the day and sharks at night.
July 13, 2026 - 10:39:32
Flounder action from the back bays to Absecon Inlet was fantastic this week according to Capt. Andy with Riptide Bait and Tackle. Plenty of fish on just about every trip with minnows and Gulp baits outfishing everything else combined. Short fish outnumber keepers by a wide margin, but there are more and bigger fish moving into the inlet every week. This week it was a 27-inch, 7-pounder that topped the scales caught at the inlet. Keeper ratios were higher on the wrecks and reefs as anglers drag long strip baits or larger Gulps on bucktails. Landbased anglers are also cashing in on the summer fishery with triggerfish and flounder along the jetties, and kingfish along the beaches.
