Southern New Jersey Fishing Report- September 7, 2023

Fishing Report For Southern New Jersey

Hook House Bait & Tackle in Toms River received some decent reports from Island Beach State Park of bluefish, fluke, and a few false albacore caught off the beaches. Metals and epoxy jigs are perfect to use for these critters. The bay is alive with bait, crabs, and lots of blowfish. The Route 37 bridges have some evening action on small bluefish and a few schoolie striped bass.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported good ocean fluke fishing from the reef sites over the past week and the seas have finally calmed down. Anglers working bucktails and jigheads tipped with Gulp are finding the best success for fluke. Bayside fluking has been much tougher on keepers, but there have been plenty of small sea bass, spot and blowfish to keep anglers busy. The usual haunts from the BB to 42 marker are producing good numbers of all three species, but better size blowfish have been landed closer to the inlet. The crabbing has been excellent, especially around the Barnegat marshes.

Reel Reaction Charters out of Waretown worked the bay waters on days the ocean was too rough. The bay trips have been producing good numbers of blowfish and keeper fluke to 19.5 inches. The ocean charters worked bucktails and Gulp to put 14 keepers in the boat to 23 inches. With school officially back, weekends are in play and weekday trips from 3 to 7pm are available through the end of fluke season.

The Super Chic out of Barnegat Light has been working the wrecks and deep water to box up fluke to 6 pounds. Bottom fishing has been excellent for fluke and most anglers are getting at least 2 keeps on the trips. The crew will also be sailing offshore for yellowfin and mahi.

Tony’s Bait and Tackle in Manahawkin reported a nice bite on bluefish around the Barnegat inlet on small metals and bucktails. The inlet rocks are also producing tog, triggerfish, and some sheepshead on crabs. Ocean fluke fishing has been solid at the local reef sites and there are some smaller mahi around fish pot markers. Offshore fishing in the canyons has been stellar with lots of yellowfin and tons of mahi. The bridges have lots of bait and a few fluke and bluefish around.

Tackle Direct in Egg Harbor City reported bluefin at the lumps between 20 to 40 miles and lots of yellowfin at the canyons. There are plenty mahi around the pots, so definitely bring minnows or peanut bunker. The bays and inlets are showing some weakfish and even a few striped bass being caught on sand fleas. Fluke fishing has been better in the ocean for keepers, but much tougher in the bay with good numbers of shorts. There are a few keepers around, but you have to work closer to the inlet.

Tight Lines Bait & Tackle in Somers Point had a nice weigh-in over the last few days of a 55 pound cobia caught about a mile off the beach while the anglers were looking for false albacore. Flounder fishing has been excellent from the reef sites with large Gulps and bucktails. The bridges have lots of tautog and sheepshead around, but the big news has been some night-time weakfish on soft plastics. The canyons have been absolutely awesome for yellowfin, mahi, and there was several wahoo in closer.

Badfish Charters in Ocean City has been busy with bay charters for fluke, blues, and some striped bass. The skipper did a night-time scouting trip and found a nice weakfish along with some others. With some weaks around, Capt. Brian will be running some evening trips in the coming weeks.

The Cape May area had excellent reports of solid yellowfin and mahi action at the southern canyons. Chunking sardines and butters has been the top method, followed by trolling and few boats on the troll hooked up with billfish. Inshore action continued to be decent for keeper summer flounder in the 15 to 20 mile with anglers working bucktails over open bottom. The reef sites are also producing solid numbers of flounder, but anglers have to work tight to the structure. The beaches of Cape May and Delaware bay were solid for croakers, kingfish, small bluefish, and flounder.

South Jersey Fishing Forecast

The best bet for the weekend will be get offshore if you have the ability as the fishing has been on the hot side for yellows, big eyes, and mahi. We may have some tropical weather coming up the coast next week with Hurricane Lee, but hopefully it stays well east of us. High speed trolling is also picking up some nice wahoo from the canyons to 20 miles prior to them. Flounder or fluke fishing is on everybody’s mind this time of year as you can find larger specimens in the doormat category. The reefs are perfect places to look as is wrecks in the 55 to 90 feet zone. Sometimes patches of fluke are off the wrecks, so it pays to do several “off-wreck” drifts. Land-based anglers have excellent opportunities to catch fluke, bluefish, kingfish, and croakers from the beaches depending on your locale. Most bridges have a variety of fish during the day, but working the night shifts will provide some shots at weakfish and schoolie striped bass.
Good Luck, Be Safe, and Tight Lines!