Fri., March 29, 2024
Moon Phase:
Waning Gibbous
More Info
Inshore Charters
Offshore Charters
Party Boats
Saltwater
Tackle Shops &
Marinas
Saltwater
Boat Rentals
Freshwater
Guides
Freshwater
Tackle Shops
Brrr ...
It's Cold:
Upstate N.Y.
Ice Fishing
Upstate N.Y.
Winter Steelhead &
Trout Fishing
Long Island, N.Y.
Winter
Cod &
Wreck Fishing

New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 8-18-16


<b>Sewaren</b>

On Raritan Bay, fluke were still boated, but few better-sized were, because the water warmed, said Rich from <b>Dockside Bait & Tackle</b> Bigger were found at Ambrose Channel, deeper, cooler water. That’s typical this time of year, and many good reports about porgy catches rolled in from the ocean. Snapper blues schooled back waters somewhat more than before. They were reported from Keyport. No weakfish were mentioned, though weaks traditionally arrive by this time of season. Crabbing was great, many said. Dockside, located on Smith Creek, a tributary of the Arthur Kill, north of Outerbridge Crossing, is accessible from land and from the water at the fuel dock. Baits stocked include killies, sandworms, fresh clams, fresh bunker and all frozen.

<b>Keyport</b>

Great fluke fishing was shoveled from the ocean in past days with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, Capt. Mario said. High hooks landed seven or eight keepers apiece up to 7 pounds, keeping no more than a limit of five. Open-boat trips, including a marathon 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, are fishing for fluke daily, and charters are available. Open trips are also supposed to bottom-fish today and Friday for ling, cod and winter flounder on Down Deep’s other boat, one of two, both 40 feet. Open trips and charters are available for that angling, too. Join the <a href=" http://downdeepsportfishing.com/short-notice-list/" target="_blank">Short Notice List</a> on Down Deep’s website to be kept informed about special open trips. <b>***Update, Thursday, 8/18:***</b> A fluke heavier than 10 pounds, another jumbo from the ocean, was just heaved aboard, an email said from Down Deep at 10:30 this morning.

A trip aboard’s twenty-third keeper fluke was just socked when Capt. Frank gave this report at 1:30 p.m. today in a phone call on the <b>Vitamin Sea</b>, he said. The fishing, on the ocean in perfect conditions, gave up tremendous action with shorts and keepers so far, and Gulps out-fished bait. Charters are fishing, and the next open-trip with space available is Sunday, and the weekend’s weather looks good. “Get your dose of Vitamin Sea!”

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

A 10-pound 4-ounce fluke was smashed on Tuesday morning’s trip on the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, Capt. Tom said. A fair number of keepers and lots of throwbacks were caught on the outing, and that was some of the better fluking aboard recently. Conditions were ideal, and southwest wind blew up on the afternoon’s trip, making seas rolly. That prevented fishing where the morning trip fluked, so Chapel Hill Channel was fished in the afternoon. Some anglers landed two or three keepers apiece, and some hooked only shorts. Most places held shorts that trips fished, some better than others. Trips worked through shorts to grab keepers. Trips were fortunate to have different places to fish, when seas or weather became rough at other places. This morning’s trip fished deep water, picking away at lots of shorts, a few keepers, so far, Tom said at 10 o’clock on the outing, when he gave this report in a phone call. An awful lot of fluke hooked were 17-some inches, just under the 18-inch legal minimum size. Sometimes forecasts for heat seemed to keep some anglers from showing up to fish in past days. A couple of moments were hot, but often a breeze blew on the water instead. The Atlantic Star is fluke fishing 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily.

Nothing worse than being on the ocean for fluke fishing with no wind, no current, no drift of the boat, a report said about today on the <b>Fishermen</b> on the party boat’s website. Those were the conditions in the morning, and most fluke caught then were hooked on jigs cast and worked back to the boat. The fish were good-sized, including several 6-pounders. The boat was moved to find current, and then the boat drifted too fast at 2.3 knots. The drift slowed to 1.5 at the end of the trip, and keepers and shorts were booted aboard. Many shorts were landed on the trip.  On Tuesday’s trip, good fluking was pounded, slugging away on some good-sized including the 7-pound pool-winner. Several anglers bagged three and four. On Monday’s trip, the catch included limits and big fluke. One of the flatfish just under 8 pounds won the pool. Bucktails fished well, picking up more than a limit for some anglers, who kept no more than their quotas. The jigs worked because the boat failed to drift until late afternoon. Bait didn’t catch well in no drift. Some sizable sea bass were swung in. The Fishermen is sailing for fluke 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, for striped bass 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and for porgies and whatever can be bagged 6:30 to 11 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. However, no trip will fish tonight, and the boat is chartered Friday morning, so no open-boat trip will fish then.

Raritan Bay served up fluke, lots of throwbacks, said Tom from <b>Fisherman’s Den North</b>. But sometimes keepers were managed, and the store’s rental boaters scooped fluke from the bay, just not always keepers. Some of the party boats fluked deeper water at Ambrose Channel for bigger ones. Some of the boats fished for porgies at night, scoring well on a couple of nights. Some of the anglers limited out. Snapper blues schooled the harbor, not tons, but some began to be seen. Peanut bunker schooled waters like that. Baits stocked include fresh peanuts, killies, all frozen like the different squids and spearing, and all offshore baits. The shop, new this year, the sister store to Fisherman’s Den in Belmar, is located at Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, down the dock from party boats, charter boats and private boats.

<b>***Update, Friday, 8/19:***</b> Fluke fishing was about the same as before, and some were caught here, some there, said Joe from <b>Julian’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Fifteen or eighteen were boated for every keeper. One customer plasters all big, though. Fluke were rounded up including at Reach Channel, Flynn’s Knoll and off Sandy Hook’s nude beach. Sometimes good fluking came from Shrewsbury River off Highlands. The angling slowed at Oceanic Bridge on Navesink River. Lots of crabs and snapper blues gave up good catches on the Navesink. Crabbing was good on the two rivers. Porgies were picked up at Sandy Hook Reef and somewhere off New York, probably the Tin Can Grounds. The porgies were mixed sizes, not all big. Porgies were found along the Ammo Pier. Fluke were rustled up there, too. Gulps on bucktails were fished for the fluke at the pier. That was popular for fluke at the other places, too. Surf fishing was terrible. Tuna were trolled, and the anglers began to buy baits like butterfish and sardines to chunk for them. All baits are stocked.  

<b>Highlands</b>

With <b>Lady M Charters</b>, fluke fishing was awesome on an open-boat trip Tuesday on the ocean, Lady M’s Facebook page said. The angling was a blast, and couldn’t have been better from the first drift of the boat to the last. A ton of throwbacks bit, but so did a ton of keepers, constant action. All anglers limited out, and sea bass were also caught.  All left with a big smile and a big bag of fish, it said. Fluking is on, and get out before the fish leave. Charters and open-boat trips are fishing, and room is available for open-boat fishing this weekend.

Making the trip from <b>Twin Lights Marina</b>, Frank Rella, Ray Pharao and Mike Modoski on the 2F’s boated fluke to 10 pounds at Sandy Hook Channel on Gulps and squid, Marion wrote in an email. John Cuozzo on the Elsea Nora bagged one fluke at Ambrose Channel on a killie. Twin Lights, located on Shrewsbury River near Raritan Bay and the ocean, with no bridges before them, includes a marina with boat slips, dry storage, a fuel dock, and a combined bait and tackle shop and ship’s store. The fuel dock is available 24 hours a day with a credit card. Baits stocked include all for offshore.

<b>Neptune</b>

Not a lot of fluke were belted Tuesday on an individual-reservation trip for them on the ocean with <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>, “(but that was with) a great bunch of people, who enjoyed the ocean, until it got really nasty,” Capt. Ralph wrote in an email. All fluke were hooked on open bottom, and at first, the boat failed to drift. Then the vessel drifted too fast. The trips are fishing for fluke every Tuesday, and kids under 12 sail free on those outings, limited to one per adult host. An individual-reservation trip will wreck-fish offshore August 28. Two spaces are available for an individual-reservation trip for cod August 30, and very limited spaces remain for another September 14. The trips have been filling. Individual-reservation trips will fish for sea bass October 27 and blackfish November 16. Bag limits will be increased to 15 sea bass beginning October 22, from the current limit of two, and six blackfish beginning November 16, from the current limit of one.

<b>Belmar</b>

<b>***Update, Saturday, 8/20:***</b> A 13-pound 5-ounce fluke, the year’s biggest at <b>Fisherman’s Den</b>, was weighed-in yesterday, Bob from the shop wrote in an email. Ed Rumsby from Bradley Beach heaved the fish aboard a Belmar party boat at Sea Girt Reef. A 9-pound 8-ouncer was checked-in from the same boat, and fishing for big fluke was looking good on the head boats, Bob said.

Fluking’s been good on the party boat <b>Big Mohawk</b> on the ocean, and was great yesterday, Capt. Chris said. No fluke heavier than 10 pounds were decked the past couple of weeks on the boat, but three that topped 8 were beaten on yesterday’s trip. The fishing was good the day before, too, despite tough conditions. “Got a little lucky,” he said. Jigs with Gulps caught best on trips, and the Big Mohawk is fishing for fluke 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Blues, blues, blues, an email said from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. Bluefishing improved during the past few days aboard, after the fish were scarce a period. The blues currently were somewhat larger than previously, too. Customers jigged a bunch of 2- to 4-pounders yesterday morning aboard.  The fish schooled “north of our inlet,” it said, and on the previous day, Tuesday, customers picked away at blues on most drifts of the boat “with an occasional flurry,” it said. Wind began to pick up at mid-day, and the angling slowed. But bluefishing was improved on the boat the past few days at a couple of different areas where the fish foraged on bait along the water surface.  The Miss Belmar Princess is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.  Family fishing and sunset cruises are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily.

Anglers picked away at 1- to 4-pound blues today on the <b>Golden Eagle</b> on Runoff hammered jigs and teasers, a decent day of fishing, a report said on the party boat’s website. At first this week, bluefishing was slower. On Monday’s trip, blues bit a while, then the angling switched to fluke and sea bass, catching, also a decent day of fishing. Bluefishing then picked up: on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s trips, the angling was great, for 1- to 3-pounders the first day, 2- to 4-pounders the second. The Golden Eagle is fishing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Afternoon fishing and sunset cruise trips are sailing 4:30 to 8:30 daily, reservations required.

A trip during the weekend limited out on sea bass and landed a bunch of fluke, fewer keepers than on previous outings, on the <b>Katie H</b> on the ocean, Capt. Mike said. Spinner sharks were seen jumping, and the anglers asked to try for one. A frozen squid was fished, and a 100-pound 6-foot spinner was released. Spinners are a southern species seen more often in places like Florida, and southern fish were seen lately, including a cobia someone from the docks caught. The year’s first overnight trip for tuna is set for Tuesday to Wednesday on the boat. A few yellowfin tuna were reported caught from Toms to Lindenkohl canyons earlier this week, this writer said to Mike. Yes, he said, and he heard that Hudson Canyon, farther north, held dirty, green water. A friend was going to fish for tuna inshore today, and Mike would see how that went. Plenty of mahi mahi held inshore.

For <b>Parker Pete’s Fishing Charters</b>, ocean fluke fishing remained good, when conditions were decent, Capt. Pete said. Southeast wind that blew up made the angling tougher in afternoons recently, but some part of the day always fished well. Decent-sized fluke to 7 ½ and 8 pounds, many quality, were pasted aboard. Many throwbacks were mixed in, and sea bass were also in the mix. Don’t have enough anglers for a charter? Contact Parker Pete’s anyway about individual spaces available on charters. Sign up for the email blast on <a href=" http://www.parkerpetefishing.com/" target="_blank">Parker Pete’s website</a> to be kept informed about the spaces. The spaces and available dates for other trips are also posted on a calendar on the site.

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

From <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, the crew looks forward to overnight fishing for tuna turning on at offshore canyons later this month through October, Capt. Alan wrote in an email.

Fluke fishing on the <b>Gambler</b> on the ocean scored some good trips since the last report, an email from the party boat said. Some good-sized were claimed, including Linda Carrier from Hoboken’s 9.2-pounder. She took the lead in the monthly pool with the fish, and a much better percentage of 4- to 7-pound fluke were tackled recently than before. When the boat drifted not too fast or slow, fluking was decent. Sea bass, small blues and mackerel were pitched aboard at times. Customers and their catches also included Mary Ellen and Ron DeMarco from Hopewell, who combined for six keepers to 5 pounds. Donna Taylor from Penns Grove was a first-timer aboard and landed two beautiful keepers, winning the pool with one of the fluke. Trips are fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily. Trips are fishing wrecks 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Thursday and are bluefishing during those hours every Friday and Saturday.

A variety of fish including porgies were cranked up on the party boat <b>Dauntless</b>, Capt. Butch said. The porgy fishing was fair to good, and blackfish, sea bass and fluke were sacked from the same depths. On a couple of days, trips pushed deeper, and more winter flounder than other catches were slapped aboard. That was good, he said, and a handful of ling and still occasional cod were plumbed from the deep. Trips mostly fished for porgies, in 30 to 50 feet of water. The trips that fished deeper worked 100 feet to 150. On nighttime trips that fish Fridays and Saturdays, rough seas canceled one of the trips last weekend. That was Saturday, he thought, and the other night was still rough, but 40 or 50 ling and six or eight blues came in. The Dauntless is bottom-fishing 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily and 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. every Friday and Saturday.

Beautiful weather today and yesterday, flat-calm ocean, a report said on the party boat <b>Norma-K III</b>’s website.  There was just enough wind to drift the vessel perfectly for fluking, and the angling remained decent aboard. Plenty of throwbacks and keepers were hit. Fishing Gulps was key, and Nuclear Chicken, pink, green and white all worked. Five- to 6-pound fluke won pools these two days, and weather looks great through the weekend. On last night’s bluefishing trip, the angling was a little better than before. Not great, but 1- to 2-pounders were picked. Plenty swam around, and a few sizable squid also schooled the water. They’re fun to catch, and a squid jig and a light rod is all that’s needed. The Norma-K III is fishing for fluke 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 6:30 p.m. daily and is bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

<b>Toms River</b>

In the surf, fluke fishing became better this week than before, said Virginia from <b>Murphy’s Hook House</b> in Toms River. Some good-sized were taken, and jigs like a Spro three-eighths of an ounce or lighter will hook them with squid, spearing or a Gulp. But some anglers fish a traditional fluke rig and catch them. More bluefish, small, showed up in the surf than before. For boaters, fluke fishing was good on the ocean. One of the party boats got into them at Sea Girt Reef, and previously found the fish at Axel Carlson Reef. That depended on wind direction. Porgy fishing was good on the ocean, and porgies were bigger now than before, and held a little farther from shore than previously, on trips on another party boat. The vessel fished off Elberon and Long Branch, and fluking at Manasquan Inlet was alright. Not a lot of blues swam the inlet. Bergals and croakers bit in the inlet, if small hooks were fished. Manasquan River’s fluking was good throughout usual stretches from downstream to upstream, but light Spros needed to be fished. Many anglers fished 3 or 4 ounces, too heavy. Go ultra-light. Striped bass were played on the river at night along structure. Farther south, fluke were tugged from Barnegat Bay toward the BB and BI markers and Barnegat Lighthouse. Blowfish could be chummed at the BB and BI. Crabbing was good. Murphy’s, located on Route 37, also owns <b>Go Fish Bait & Tackle</b> on Fischer Boulevard in Toms River. 

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

Those who fished from the dock hooked small fluke and small sea bass, said Ray from <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>. Snapper blues, too? he was asked. Definitely, he said. Fluke, mostly small, were boated from inlets. But some were keepers 18 to 20 inches. Bigger fluke were boated from the ocean, like at wrecks. On Barnegat Bay, cocktail blues and throwbacks striped bass were fought behind Island Beach State Park. The stripers bit in evenings behind Area 23 on lures like small Fin-S Fish. Nothing was heard from the surf. Crabbing was pretty good, and a ton were trapped from the dock, but many were throwbacks. The store’s rental boaters landed bigger. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock for fishing and crabbing, boat rentals and jet-ski rentals. Baits stocked include killies, fresh clams and all frozen.

<b>Forked River</b>

A 7-1/2-pound fluke was heaved from Double Creek Channel on Barnegat Bay, said Brian from <b>Grizz’s Forked River Bait & Tackle</b>. The store owner’s neighbor boated the fish, and Brian knew about a keeper reeled from the bay at the research buoy.  Most fluke bagged were heard about from the Tires in the ocean. A few customers talked about catching them there on white Spros. One bagged four of the fluke and two sea bass there Monday. Another totaled three keeper fluke at the Tires. Plus, boaters on the radio spoke about fluking at the Tires. Blowfishing was slow on the bay. Trips boated a dozen if lucky at the BI marker. A few weakfish were known landed on the bay, on livelined peanut bunker. Some were lifted from the bay from deeper water, maybe 10 or 11 feet, off the mouth of Oyster Creek. Brian heard nothing about offshore fishing for big game, but one customer had just bought sardines for the angling, and another had just bought butterfish and ballyhoos. One said white marlin fishing was good. Fresh, local spearing were stocked today, and more were expected tomorrow. Killies, all frozen bait, including local and Canadian spearing and clam chum for blowfishing is stocked.

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

Conditions improved, so fluke fishing did Sunday and Monday on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Keepers and throwbacks bit, and sea bass and chub mackerel were also caught. Today was another good day of fishing aboard. Keeper and short fluke and lots of the mackerel were tossed a’ship. The Miss Barnegat Light is fishing at 8 a.m. daily. Get down before school, the report said.

Fluke fishing, good angling, was found from <b>Bobbie’s Boat Rentals</b>, Vince Sr. said. That was mostly from Barnegat Bay, but boaters lit into the fish on the ocean, too. A 6-1/2-pounder was docked from the bay this morning. Some ocean boaters brought in sea bass they targeted. Also on the bay, clamming was great, and crabbing was good. Many crabs were pregnant females for a stretch. But catches were good currently. Bobbie’s features a complete bait and tackle shop, a fuel dock and boat and kayak rentals. The boats are used for fishing, crabbing, clamming and pleasure. The store is known for bait supply, including live bait in season. Baits stocked currently include minnows and all frozen like spearing, smelts, mullet and the different types of squid. Live grass shrimp can be ordered, and live spots will be carried in fall.

<b>***Update, Friday, 8/19:***</b> Many throwback fluke, fewer keepers than earlier this season, were beaned from Barnegat Bay, said Rob from <b>Van’s Boat Rentals</b>. A trip might total 30 throwbacks, and many keepers seemed to migrate to the ocean. Errant bluefish and maybe sometimes a resident striper were landed. Crabbing was good, sometimes giving up a dozen to 20 keepers a trip.  Van’s rents boats from 9 h.p. to 50 h.p. for fishing, crabbing and pleasure. Kayaks are rented, and facilities include a bait and tackle shop and a marina with slips, gas and full boat servicing. Baits stocked include minnows, fresh clams and all frozen like spearing, salted clams and bunker.

<b>Mystic Island</b>

Summer flounder fishing definitely turned on in the ocean, said Chris from <b>Scott’s Bait & Tackle</b>. Almost all customers who fished for them at reefs gave positive reports. Garden State Reef, Little Egg Reef and Atlantic City Reef fished well. Sea bass were pumped in during the trips. A couple of anglers today reported catching sizable porgies from the reefs. Blackfish, triggerfish and sheepshead could also be boated from the reefs. Bring bait for the different catches, and the waters held enough fish to keep anglers busy. In the bay, small fish schooled, including croakers and baby sea bass. Lagoons offered good snapper bluefishing. Small weakfish and small striped bass could be found at some lagoons. Crabbing was super. Baits stocked include minnows and fresh, shucked clams.  

<b>Absecon</b>

At ocean reefs, summer flounder fishing’s been awesome for Tanner from <b>Absecon Bay Sportsman Center</b>, he said. Drop-dead awesome, he said, and he boated for the fish three times. The first trip, with two anglers, limited out. The next, also with two, bagged eight, two short of a limit. The final, with three anglers, bagged 14, one short of a limit. He caught well on jigs with Gulps, and many throwbacks bit, but keepers were hung. Flounder also swam inlets and the back bay. Deep water, like at inlets, gave them up, pretty good catches. Mostly throwbacks hit, but anglers got keepers. Tanner heard nothing about weakfish from the bay, but a good mix of weaks could be hooked on the ocean, if anglers could fish through bluefish there. The weaks weren’t especially large but keepers. Bunker schooled the ocean pretty far from the coast, by the way. Back in the bay, good fishing was reported from along bridges for sheepshead and triggerfish during daytime and striped bass at night. Lots of eels were bought for bait for the stripers. Crabbing was good, and crabs were shedding currently. Shedder crabs for bait and soft-shell crabs for eating are stocked for now, and the store raises them. Like <a href=" https://www.facebook.com/SoftshellCrabs" target="_blank">the store’s soft-shell crabs Facebook page</a> to keep up on the supply. Baits stocked also include minnows and green crabs. Asian crabs were on hand currently but would sell out soon. Live peanut bunker were stocked once in a while. A few mullet swam local waters, not abundantly. So catching them for live bait would take some time.

<b>Atlantic City</b>

Blackfish, kingfish, spots, triggerfish, blues, summer flounder and weakfish were winged from Absecon Inlet, said Noel from <b>One Stop Bait & Tackle</b>. Customers fish the jetty-lined inlet on foot, and not a lot of any of the fish were hooked, but lots of fish were. Bloodworms, minnows, clams and green crabs were fished, and those and all baits, a large supply, are stocked. A 7.1-pound summer flounder won the month-long flounder tournament from One Stop and Ducktown Tavern that ended Monday. ***Big Heads Up:*** Noel began a petition for anglers to <b>protest the government’s planned closing of fishing the jetties along the inlet</b>. The government’s been rebuilding the boardwalk there, and the new boardwalk is the reason it says the access will be closed permanently. The inlet is historically a hugely important location for recreational fishing in New Jersey. The previous world-record striped bass, 78.8 pounds, was even caught a short walk from the inlet, at the Vermont Avenue jetty in 1982. The inlet is one of the best striper fisheries for recreational anglers in the Northeast, and therefore the world. But the government apparently doesn’t know about fishing like that, and it’s up to anglers to stop the closure. The petition is currently available to sign at eight tackle shops including One Stop, Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine and Absecon Bay Sportsman Center in Absecon, all stores that have provided fishing reports to this website for years. The inlet fishing matters to each of the shops, let alone anglers. Stop in and sign the petition, and contact government officials to protest. Noel is expected to provide more information as this unfolds.

<b>Brigantine</b>

Cownosed rays shoved into the surf again, said Capt. Andy from <b>Riptide Bait & Tackle</b>. Sharks, snapper blues and a million small sea bass ran the surf. Kingfish floated the surf, not a lot, but some. Green flies had become nasty in southerly wind. But wind direction was forecast to change. The surf had been a little weedy. The annual Riptide Fall Striped Bass Derby will get underway after Labor Day. Details will be announced once the town approves.

<b>Egg Harbor Township</b>

Catches of summer flounder were reported from along 9th Street Bridge on the Somers Point side yesterday, said Austin from <b>24-7 Bait & Tackle</b>. That was some of the only news, and nothing was heard about ocean flounder fishing, fishing for tuna or other big game and surf fishing. Crabbing was good on Patcong Creek. The store’s rental boats are available for crabbing and fishing on Patcong and other waters, including the bay and Great Egg Harbor River. Patcong, running past the shop, is one of the best places for crabbing. Minnows are half-price throughout the fishing season: $3 for a half-pint, $6 for a pint and $12 for a quart. Baits stocked also include green crabs and offshore baits. <b>The company also owns 24-7 Bait & Tackle in Marmora</b>.

<b>Margate</b>

Waters cooled, and that helped back-bay summer-flounder fishing a lot on the party boat <b>Keeper</b>, Capt. John said. Throwbacks and a few keepers bit, and morning trips fished best recently, because high tides were then. Low tides in afternoons fished slow, but gave up a few flounder. Tides will change, though, and lots of small sea bass, sea robins and sharks hit. All anglers caught plenty of fish. The bay in the back had been as warm as 88.9 degrees. That’s hot, and when the water was that warm, the fish bit a little when tides were incoming, pulling in cooler ocean water. But the water was cooler now, and minnows, provided aboard, hooked the flounder. Mackerel are also provided, but the sea bass favored mackerel and also bit off tails on Gulps that anglers brought. Minnows were “where it’s at,” and John sometimes castnetted peanut bunker to keep live aboard for bait. But minnows caught well. The Keeper is fishing for summer flounder 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1 to 5 p.m. daily. The trips are only $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for kids, because fishing is near port, and the pontoon boat is economical on fuel. Rental rods are free.

<b>Longport</b>

A bunch of tuna were moving in, and the <b>Stray Cat</b> was getting geared up to sail for them, Capt. Mike said. Small yellowfin tuna schooled, and wahoos were also in. The boat might be sailed to Massey’s Canyon for the tuna, and a little of a bite was heard about from there. But the boat will probably be headed to the Lobster Claw and the Elephant Trunk. Good summer flounder fishing turned on at Cape May Reef. But trips will concentrate on tuna for the moment. Catches could also include wahoos and mahi mahi. Mike would like to get a couple of wahoos, good-eating fish.

<b>Ocean City</b>

Summer flounder seemed to be migrating to the ocean from the back bay, said Jake from <b>Fin-Atics</b>. Occasional flounder were plucked from the bay, and the ocean gave up better catches of them, including at Ocean City Reef. Kingfish were slid from the surf. A few brown sharks, not many, were fought from the surf. Browns must be released by law, and fluctuating water temperature was probably a reason more weren’t seen from the surf. The water was 80 degrees last week, in the 70s this week and 71 yesterday. Resident striped bass, small, not a lot, were angled at bridges at night on soft-plastic lures like from Z-Man. Popper lures also clocked them. Customers who tuna fished mostly sailed to offshore canyons instead of inshore, where they fished previously. The inshore angling, namely at Massey’s Canyon, seemed slower now. A couple of customers who stopped in this morning were going to fish offshore canyons. How they were likely to fare was unknown. Crabbing was picking up in the bay, or more people crabbed than earlier in the season. These were best months for crabbing, Jake said.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Kingfish, pretty good catches, were yanked from the surf, said Cameron from <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. Fish bloodworms or Fishbites artificial worms for them. Sharks, mostly browns that are required to be released, were fought from the surf toward night. Mackerel could be dunked for them, and on the ocean, summer flounder fishing began to turn on, was okay. Many were bagged from Ocean City, Townsend’s Inlet and Wildwood reefs, <a href="http://seaislebaitandtackle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">the shop’s blog</a> said. The fishing was “really getting good,” it said.

<b>Wildwood</b>

Croakers showed up in the ocean off Wildwood, said Capt. Jim from <b>Fins & Grins Sport Fishing</b>. Anglers had been telephoning to ask about croakers, but the fish weren’t in previously. Now they were, and kingfish and blues schooled off Cape May Point. Blues and Spanish mackerel were trolled 10 to 15 miles off the coast. A few more summer flounder were bagged at ocean reefs than before, when conditions were good. Small mahi mahi swam around the boat during flounder fishing at the reefs. A few mahi were around, if anglers wanted to troll for them. The ocean had been 80 degrees, and cooled almost to 70. A friend even saw water 61 degrees at a creek in the back of the back bay. Water temperature depends on wind direction, and weather was supposed to become somewhat cooler soon, so wind direction would change. Fins fishes for all these catches. Crabbing remained good, and this was a good year for crabbing. Fins even crabs – let the captain find the blueclaws. Fins fishes every day, and reservations aren’t required but suggested. Telephone for availability.

Back-bay anglers reeled in summer flounder better than expected, said Mike from <b>Canal Side Boat Rentals</b>. The water cooled somewhat, and that helped. Many of the flatfish usually migrate to the ocean this time of year, seeking cooler water. But keepers were sometimes bagged from the bay still, including a couple of 19-inchers the other day. A few weakfish were caught from the bay, not a strong population, but the fish were there. A few small striped bass were angled at night from the bay. Baby sea bass schooled all over the bay. No snapper blues were seen, but normally they’d be seen currently. Mike usually sees them at night now. Crabs were trapped but either in deeper water in the bay, like along bottom in 10-foot depths, or from creeks. Crabbers talked about pulling the blueclaws from 10 feet, and water salinity seemed the reason the hard shells gathered in the deep and in the creeks. Water was less salty and cooler there. The crew at the shop has seen this in other years, and rain is needed to decrease the salinity.  Overall, all these different catches were good. Mike would like to see better crabbing, but trips consistently trapped one to two dozen keepers. Canal Side rents boats for fishing, crabbing and pleasure and kayaks. <b>***<i>Get a $5 discount</i>***</b> on a rental boat if you mention Fishing Reports Now. A large supply of bait and tackle is carried. Crabs for eating are sold, and the price depends on the market. No. 1s were currently $32 per dozen live, $34 pre-cooked and chilled and $36 cooked to order. No. 2s were $22 per dozen live, $24 pre-cooked and chilled and $26 cooked to order.  No. 2s were also on special for $35 for 1 ½ dozen live or pre-cooked and chilled. Clams, shrimp and occasionally oysters are also sold for eating. Those were the main foods sold, and customers enjoy the food at picnic tables with tents on the water at the store. Or they take out the food and enjoy.

<b>Cape May</b>

Small yellowfin tuna were chunked inshore Monday and Wednesday on the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>, Capt. George said. That was on Frank Gabrielli’s charter and Rick Mckeown from Cape May Concrete’s charters, respectively, and Wednesday’s charter also trolled a wahoo. Bigger tuna were hooked aboard, but broke off light leaders fished. Summer flounder fishing sounded like it picked up at ocean reefs in the past week, and bluefish could be trolled on the ocean. Telephone if interested in any of this fishing.

Summer flounder fishing, on the ocean, was hit and miss, like before, but a few limits were cracked on the party boat <b>Porgy IV</b>, Capt. Paul said. Some days fished slowly for the flatfish, but a few of the fluke were around. Conditions failed to drift the boat much on Sunday’s trip, “and we didn’t do much,” he said. On Monday’s trip, Casey Garzieliki from Salem limited out on flounder to an 8.9-pounder, and Shawn Pottichen from Philadelphia also limited. On Tuesday, George Schmidt from Magnolia bagged three flounder to a 5-pounder, splitting the pool with another angler for the fish. On Wednesday, Ryan Dorshtimer from Camp Hill, Pa., bagged four flounder to an 8.49-pounder. Nobody could know if the fish would be around this coming weekend. The angling could become worse, better or stay the same. The Porgy IV is fishing for summer flounder at 8 a.m. daily.

Good reports about summer flounder catches, good numbers and healthy-sized, rolled in from a certain area of the back bay toward Wildwood in past days, said Joe from <b>Hands Too Bait & Tackle</b>. Catches like three and four keepers, sometimes 5 pounds, were made in early mornings. Anglers often fished in early mornings until maybe noon to escape heat this past week. The warmth also kept some from fishing. On the ocean, the north end of Cape May Reef was the only place heard about that served up flounder. Ten or 12 locals boated Delaware Bay every morning, bagging flounder. The average angler’s trip who boated the bay less frequently bagged only a couple. Customers fish the bay locally, so no news was heard about flounder from the bay farther north toward Fortescue. Lots of spike weakfish schooled the bay. Not many croakers were around in the water, but sometimes a few were banked from the surf. Surf anglers also beached small flounder, small blues, kingfish, weaks and brown sharks. A few red drum, the southern species, began to be heard about from the surf. They showed up by this time of season in recent years, and currently a couple were known about from along one particular jetty. Somebody said one was angled at Hereford Inlet, too. The brown sharks must be released by law, and could bite throughout the day, but dusk is his favorite time. Nighttime and mornings could also fish well for them. The kingfishing in the surf could be pretty good. The bluefish popped into the surf in early mornings and late in the day, chasing bunker. Bigger blues to 10 or 12 pounds supposedly chased bunker schools in the ocean a couple of miles from shore recently. Nothing was heard about tuna, because wind prevented trips. But good catches of tuna were reported from inshore, the last time news came in. Anglers bought bait like butterfish for the angling. Not a ton of reports about any fishing rolled in, because of the heat. Fishing was okay, not great, but better than during some years this late in summer. If anglers headed out, they caught.  Crabbing was super, the best in years, just about anywhere locally. The current full moon might slow crabbing a couple of days, but crabs were trapped well during the last moon.

Back to Top