Southern New Jersey Fishing Report- August 17, 2023

Fluke fishing is good around the inshore reefs, kingfish, cocktail blues and sheepshead bite in the bays, and the canyons give up mahi and yellowfin tuna.

by Captain Brett Taylor

A few more weeks and the kids will be back at school, but until then it’s straight fishing if you have the time.  This time of the season provides tons of opportunities both inside and outside based on the reports from the local tackle shops.  Offshore action has been hit or miss, but when the yellowfin bite, it’s usually a good one.  Mahi are all over the pots and even some are being found closer inshore.  Casting light jigs around floating debris is the easiest way to find cooperative mahi.  Fluke fishing is better from the inshore reef sites, than from the bays.  The bays are loaded with short fluke, kingfish, and sheepshead off the bridges.  Jetties along most of our inlets are producing a few keeper fluke and lots of tautog.  

Here is this week’s rundown: 
 
Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River said it’s been a good bluefin tuna bite from the nearshore waters with squid and some anglers have got them on poppers.  Fluke fishing has been very good off of Island Beach State Park.  Bluefish have been invading the Barnegat Light inlet on the incoming tides and are easily caught on small bucktails or metals. 


Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported that the fluke bite in the bay has been a pick recently with short to keeper ratios running 15-20 to 1.  The inshore reef bite was much better for keepers over the past week with some nicer fish being caught at the Garden State North and South reef sites.  The bluefin bite east of Seaside and the yellowfin bite at the canyons has been running strong. 

Reel Reaction Sportfishing out of Waretown was busy over the week and the skipper said ocean trips have been producing full boat limits of fluke to 8.4 pounds.  Bay trips have been averaging about 3 to 5 keepers per 4hr.  The boat will be running after-school weekday charters going from 3 to 7pm, so give them a call. 

The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light continued to work inshore and offshore trips from bottom fish such as fluke & sea bass, whereas the offshore ones have been for tuna.  Anglers looking to get out with the boat for fluke or October tuna should give the skipper a call as dates are going fast.   

Tony’s Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported some action along the bridges of Long Beach Island for short tautog, sheepshead, and some bluefish.  Both sides of Barnegat bay are starting to see better numbers of blowfish.  Fluke fishing has been steady from the southern reef sites and along Barnegat Inlet.  Anglers working small jigs tipped with minnow and Gulp are finding decent action.  Yellowfin, yellowfin, and more yellowfin are being caught from the canyons along with lots of mahi, but the only issue has been the weather forecasting.   

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported a solid sheepshead bite from the bridges of Ocean City and Avalon with some nice ones to 12 pounds being caught on mud crab, sand fleas, and fiddlers.  Summer flounder fishing was good at the Ocean City reef site on jigheads and Gulp.  Anglers working the bays have been picking at keepers, but have to go through a good number of shorts.  

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point said it’s been tog and sheepshead from the bridges on green crabs and fiddlers.  Flounder are keep anglers busy in the bays and close to the inlets, but the better keeper bites have been on the wrecks and reef sites.  Surf fisherman are finding short fluke, kingfish, and a few bluefish off the beaches on clam and squid.  Offshore action has been hot on yellowfin and some nice wahoo have been landed at the lumps 30-40 miles out. 

Badfish Charters in Ocean City reported decent backbay fishing for charters and the skipper has been putting clients on fluke along with some schoolie striped bass on the cooler incoming tides.  The skipper is gearing up for September striped bass action, so give him a ring to get on the schedule. 

The Cape May area had reports of solid surf fishing from the Delaware Bay surf-zone with kingfish, croakers and some cocktail bluefish in the mix.  Anglers working baits closer to Cape May and the inlet are finding short fluke with keepers to 19 inches.  Reef site #11 and depths to 90 to 120 feet are producing good numbers of fluke.  Anglers working the deeper depths are finding fish to 9 pounds.  The canyon bite depends on the day, but yellowfin, mahi, and wahoo are around for trollers. 

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for the weekend will be to jump on a charter, headboat or personal vessel as the inshore reef and wreck fluke bite has been off the charts.  Lower lying structure on the reefs are producing consistent action for fish to 8 pounds.  Squid strip baits or 8-inch Gulp baits tipped on 3 to 6 oz bucktails are the best bait choices for anglers.  Another viable option for shore-based anglers is to tackle tautog off our jetties, but be sure to bring lots of crabs and tackle.  The best way to catch some of the bigger tog is finding the tougher nooks and crannies along the inlet or jetty boulders.  Drop down and be ready for the bite as the water is warm and the bites incredibly fast.  Offshore anglers should be hitting Toms or Lindy for bites on quality yellowfin, but be sure to check the updated sea surface charts.  Good luck, be safe, and tight lines! 

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