New Jersey fishing reports
397 reports for New Jersey — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Last Call for Sea Bass Limits as Fluke and Blues Fill Raritan Bay
Sea bass action on Raritan Bay's nearshore reefs has been delivering steady results heading into mid-June, with Northern NJ party boats logging multiple limit-catch trips. The Fisherman — Northern NJ reports the Big Mohawk III out of Atlantic Highlands notched five limit-catch trips in a single week, while Capt. Nick Caruso aboard the Ol' Salty II found jig-eel combos to be the top producers. Captains are flagging that the more generous bag limit is only days from reverting to one fish, making this the prime window to load the cooler. Summer species are arriving in force: The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports fluke sunning themselves tight to the beach on killies and Gulp out of Hazlet, spot and croaker moving into Raritan Bay on Fishbites, and cocktail bluefish running near Leonardo and Laurence Harbor. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 dispatch confirms stripers still taking clams in the surf. With coastal water temps climbing into the 65-67°F range per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, the spring-to-summer transition is fully underway.
Flounder Surge and Black Drum Lead Delaware Bay as Summer Pattern Takes Hold
With surf temperatures climbing into the 65-to-67-degree range per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, the Delaware Bay (NJ side) is shifting firmly into summer mode mid-June. Flounder has emerged as the marquee bite across Southern NJ bays, with Riptide Bait and Tackle reporting improving keeper ratios and some boaters limiting out on fish to 23 inches on squid and minnow combos. Ray Scott's Dock confirms solid back-bay action along the ICW using live minnows with strip baits, with fish approaching 4 pounds. Waterfront Marine adds that flounder are holding in 10-to-14 feet of water and responding best to the outgoing tide, with spearing, minnows, squid, and bucktails tipped with Gulp grubs all producing. Black drum to 25 pounds remain active along the beachfront, per Riptide Bait and Tackle, taking clam baits. Striped bass have largely transitioned to bycatch status in the back bays, though night anglers near bridges are still connecting on soft plastics. Kingfish and spot are beginning to push into the surf as the summer pattern consolidates.
Pine Barrens streams run low as summer bass and pickerel season opens
NJ Fish & Wildlife News highlights Silver Lake at Hamburg Mountain WMA (Sussex County) as actively stocked with trout and warm-water species heading into summer, with Franklin Pond Creek providing year-round trout habitat. The USGS Toms River gauge (site 01408000) registered 24 cfs on June 17, reflecting below-median flow across the Pine Barrens drainage and pointing to low, clear conditions in the system's characteristic cedar-stained streams. No water temperature was recorded, but mid-June conditions suggest Pine Barrens ponds and slow river pools are climbing toward the 70-degree mark. NJ Fish & Wildlife News also notes seasonal closures at five WMAs through September 7; confirm access before making the drive. Chain pickerel, largemouth bass, and sunfish hold the Pine Barrens' tannic shallows right now, while smallmouth and catfish work Delaware River structure as the post-spawn transition to summer patterns continues.
Sea Bass Limits and Striper Surf Action Drive Jersey Shore's June Peak
Water temps climbing into the low-to-mid 60s — per Fishermans HQ LBI's June 14 update — are driving the Jersey Shore into its spring-to-summer transition, with a full menu of species responding. Sea bass are the dominant reef story: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every trip and calls the bite red hot, while Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands confirms fish are present on the inshore grounds despite some finicky windows tied to thick sand-eel forage. In the surf, striped bass remain a reliable target — Fishermans HQ LBI and OTW Northern New Jersey both report clam-soaked rigs producing consistently from Atlantic Highlands south to Long Beach Island. Grumpys Tackle also notes black drum and bluefish joining stripers in the surf mix. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms bass remain widespread across the NJ coast, with the new moon this week expected to fire the tides and push bait toward summer haunts. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI reports a massive squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20 to 30 miles of the LBI coast.
Stripers Taking Clams in the Surf as New Moon Tides Kick In at Sandy Hook
Sea bass fishing around Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook is producing a split report this week. Capt Ron out of Atlantic Highlands notes fish gorged on tiny sand eels, visible on the sonar but refusing to commit, calling recent open-boat days 'not good fishing by any means.' Blue Chip Sportfishing tells a different story on their grounds, reporting sea bass as 'red hot' and limiting out on nearly every trip. On the surf side, OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report confirms striped bass are actively taking clams along the beach, with fluke to 8 pounds showing in nearby rivers. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) rounds out the picture with bluefish and black drum added to the bay mix. With today's new moon delivering stronger tidal differentials, On The Water's June 12 migration map notes stripers and bait are tracking toward summer haunts across the full Jersey coast.
Stripers and Black Drum Running as Delaware Bay Hits Summer Transition
OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report opens with a clear picture: stripers are taking clams in the surf, sea bass is steady on the reefs, and fluke are on the uptick as warmer water and bait push into NJ coastal grounds. Those conditions extend to the Delaware Bay NJ side, where the new moon this week brings the strongest tidal exchanges of the month. The June 4 OTW Northern New Jersey report documents black drum, bluefish, stripers, and fluke active in the surf, a multi-species mix that tracks with classic mid-June Delaware Bay opportunity. On the Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms bass remain widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new moon tides expected to accelerate bait and fish movement toward summer haunts. Grumpys Tackle notes surf clam fishing is the top striper producer right now. No buoy or gauge data is available for Delaware Bay NJ side; nearby LBI-area waters are running in the low-to-mid 60s per Fishermans HQ LBI.
Pine Barrens bass and pickerel prime as NJ summer bite takes hold
NJ Fish & Wildlife News spotlighted Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area this week, citing Silver Lake and Franklin Pond Creek in Sussex County as productive stocked-trout and warm-water fisheries heading into summer. No USGS gauge readings or NOAA buoy data are available for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens drainages this cycle, so flow and temperature must be checked locally before you launch. NJ Fish & Wildlife News also notes that seasonal WMA closures are in effect at five Wildlife Management Areas through September 7, 2026, for resource and safety protection; verify access to your planned WMA before you go. The new moon of June 16 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk this week. With the Delaware's spring shad run traditionally winding down by mid-June, the fishery shifts to smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and largemouth bass in the back-country Pine Barrens lakes and cedar-stained streams. No charter or tackle-shop freshwater reports for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens basin appeared in this cycle's intel feeds.
Sea Bass at Full Boil on Jersey Shore as Bluefin Follow the Squid In
Sea bass fishing is on fire across Jersey Shore reef grounds, with Blue Chip Sportfishing reporting near-limit catches on nearly every trip. Water temperatures along Long Beach Island have climbed into the low-to-mid 60s, per Fishermans HQ LBI, signaling the full handoff from spring to summer. Striped bass remain highly active: Grumpys Tackle confirms a larger class of fish has settled into the surf zone, with clams and bunker chunks producing consistently, while OTW Northern New Jersey notes stripers are taking clams up and down the beaches. The standout offshore story is a massive squid invasion off the Jersey coast that has drawn bluefin tuna to within 20 to 30 miles of LBI, according to Fishermans HQ LBI. Mako sharks have also arrived: Blue Chip Sportfishing logged multiple releases on recent trips, including three makos in a single outing. Fluke action is building steadily, and bluefish are rounding out the surf mix as well.
Stripers and Sea Bass Running Hot at Sandy Hook Under the New Moon
Blue Chip Sportfishing is reporting near-limit sea bass action on recent offshore trips, with shark fishing also 'busted wide open' and Mako sharks being caught and released. Closer inshore at Atlantic Highlands, Capt Ron finds a more mixed picture — sea bass and ling are present on the structure, but on some days the fish simply won't commit despite strong sonar marks. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report captures the broader story: stripers are actively hitting clams in the surf, sea bass are steady on nearshore reefs, and fluke are slowly building as warmer water and bait push north. Grumpy's Tackle confirms that a larger class of striped bass has moved into the Jersey surf zone, with clams and bunker chunks both drawing strikes. Per On The Water's June 12 striper migration map, bass remain distributed from New Jersey to Maine, and the new moon this week is expected to push fish and bait toward their summer grounds.
Black Drum, Stripers, and Blues Running as New Moon Tides Hit Delaware Bay
Grumpy's Tackle (NJ) reported black drum, striped bass, bluefish, and fluke all actively biting along the Jersey coast this week, with clams and bunker producing the best action on bass and drum. The OTW Northern New Jersey June 4 report specifically confirmed black drum chewing in the surf alongside stripers and bluefish — patterns that mirror what Delaware Bay's NJ shoreline typically sees at this time of year. No Delaware Bay-specific buoy readings are available, but Fishermans HQ LBI places nearby coastal NJ water temperatures in the low-to-mid 60s, and those conditions generally prevail in the bay as well. With the new moon landing June 16, tidal movement is at its strongest, setting up aggressive feeding windows along channel edges and rip lines. On The Water's striper migration map (June 12) notes bass running widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new-moon tides expected to push fish and bait toward summer grounds over the coming days.
Delaware River & Pine Barrens Bass Bite Heats Up for Early Summer
NJ Fish & Wildlife News highlights Hamburg Mountain WMA this cycle, noting Silver Lake carries a car-top boat ramp and is well stocked with trout and warm-water species, while Franklin Pond Creek provides year-round trout habitat in the region. Beyond that WMA signal, no gauge or buoy data was available for this period, leaving Delaware River flow and temperature unconfirmed. On the mainstem, mid-June typically marks the close of the spring run and the opening of peak smallmouth season as flows stabilize and water pushes toward the upper 60s. Pine Barrens cedar waters are entering early-summer pattern, with largemouth bass transitioning off beds and chain pickerel retreating to shaded, deeper structure as afternoon heat builds. Today's new moon sharpens the dawn and dusk bite windows across both zones. No dedicated Delaware River or Pine Barrens charter or tackle-shop reports appeared in this cycle's data feed.
Sea Bass Red Hot as Mako Sharks and Bluefin Arrive on the Jersey Shore
Blue Chip Sportfishing is reporting sea bass fishing "red hot," with charters limiting out on nearly every trip as mid-June arrives. Water temperatures along Long Beach Island have climbed into the low-to-mid 60s, per Fishermans HQ LBI, signaling the spring-to-summer transition in earnest. In the surf, striped bass continue to respond to clam baits up and down the beaches, with OTW Northern New Jersey noting the bite stays consistent heading into the new-moon tidal window. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI reports bluefin tuna have moved in hot on the heels of a massive squid invasion off the Jersey coast, reachable on 20- to 30-mile runs. Blue Chip Sportfishing also reports shark fishing has "busted wide open," with multiple mako sharks caught and released in recent trips, including three makos on a single Friday outing. Fluke are steadily improving in bay and inlet waters, and Grumpys Tackle notes a larger class of striped bass has moved into the surf alongside bluefish and black drum.