New Jersey fishing reports
665 reports for New Jersey — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Fluke bite holds strong as Delaware Bay eases toward fall
NOAA's buoy near the mouth of Delaware Bay logged water in the high 70s this morning, still solidly summer despite the waning gibbous moon and early fall cues creeping up the coast. Fluke remain the story: Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has put anglers on quality keeper fluke and jumbo sea bass most mornings this week, and Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports steady fluke action alongside a fresh push of Spanish mackerel and bonito while warm water holds. Fishermans HQ LBI notes early fall tells -- cooler nights, more peanut bunker and mullet in the bay -- while OTW's Northern New Jersey report flags keeper fluke on reefs and wrecks plus an inconsistent midshore tuna bite. Bay-side anglers should expect a similar pattern: fluke and sea bass on structure, mackerel and bonito possible if bait pushes into the inlets. Check current NJ size and possession limits before keeping anything.
Fluke bite holds strong at Sandy Hook as fall transition nears
The morning buoy reading off Sandy Hook (NOAA buoy 44065) put water temps at 73°F with 4- to 5-foot swells and a stiff onshore breeze — comfortable water that's still holding strong summer patterns into September. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has been posting some of the best fluke action of the season on recent trips, with multiple keepers and jumbo sea bass stacking up between tide changes, though the bite can shut off for an hour before turning back on. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) confirms fluke remain thick and notes warm water has pulled Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix. OTW's Northern New Jersey report backs that up, adding that keeper fluke are holding on the reefs and wrecks while the midshore bluefin tuna bite stays inconsistent. Striped bass are still quiet locally — the fall push hasn't arrived yet, so surf anglers are watching the calendar more than the water.
Delaware River smallmouth gear up for the early fall turnover
No fresh gauge or angler reports came in this cycle specifically for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens system, but the seasonal signal is already loud everywhere else on the surrounding coast and inland fisheries. Wired 2 Fish's September rundown flags the same pattern likely developing here: as water temps ease off summer highs, bass shift onto baitfish and start feeding harder through the afternoon into evening. On the Delaware, that typically means smallmouth pushing out of thermal refuges into current seams and rocky structure, while Pine Barrens cedar-water streams and ponds keep their chain pickerel active in the tannic, weedy margins they're known for. Largemouth in the Pine Barrens lakes should still be workable on summer patterns for another few weeks before the real fall bite kicks in. Waning Gibbous moon this week favors low-light bites at dawn and dusk. Check local forecasts and stream flow before heading out — direct reports for this stretch were thin this cycle.
Fluke Bite Holds Strong at Jersey Shore as Tuna, Bonito Push In
Fluke are still the headline act along the Jersey Shore. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands reports "very nice fluke" this week, including a 5-pound, 8-ounce pool winner and steady doubles around the boat, though the captain notes the bite is "certainly getting tougher" as August winds down. Sea bass are filling the gaps nicely — Blue Chip Sportfishing calls its sea bass charters "very good," with jumbo bass mixed into the bottom structure per Capt Ron's. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI is putting anglers on 25-to-40-pound bluefin tuna within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on trolled baits and live squid, while OTW's Northern New Jersey report calls the midshore tuna bite inconsistent even as mahi stay abundant. Bonito and Spanish mackerel continue showing in the surf and around the inlets per Grumpys Tackle, with epoxy jigs producing. Fishermans HQ LBI also flags the season's first real fall signals: cooler mornings and bait stacking in the back bays.
Fluke and sea bass hold strong as fall bait stacks up on the NJ coast
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged a strong stretch of keeper fluke this week, including a 5-pound-8-ounce pool fish and several fish over 4 pounds, with jumbo sea bass mixed in on nearly every drift, though the captain noted the bite "certainly getting tougher" by the weekend. Grumpys Tackle in NJ reports warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the mix, with false albacore starting to show as well. Fishermans HQ on LBI describes spearing, peanut bunker, and mullet building up along the surf and bay — early signs of the fall transition — while also landing 25-to-40-pound bluefin tuna within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet. Northern New Jersey's midshore tuna bite has been inconsistent per OTW Northern New Jersey, though mahi remain abundant and big keeper fluke are holding on the reefs and wrecks. No Delaware Bay-specific reports came through this cycle, so treat this as a regional read on NJ coastal conditions.
Fluke Stay Red-Hot Off Sandy Hook While Bonito Push Into the Surf
Capt. Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands has strung together five straight days of solid fluke fishing, including a 5 lb 8 oz pool fish Monday and Eric limiting out on his first two drifts Wednesday — sea bass have been mixed in on the same drifts, at times thick enough to eat bait before the fluke can get to it. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports warm water has pushed Spanish mackerel and bonito into the area, with false albacore starting to show as well, and epoxy jigs are the go-to. OTW's Northern New Jersey report backs that up: big keeper fluke are stacking on the reefs and wrecks even as bonito and Spanish mackerel work the surf and inlets, while the midshore tuna bite stays inconsistent. Offshore, Blue Chip Sportfishing is finding excellent mahi around the lobster pots along with sharks and tuna. Striper action hasn't switched on in the bay yet — that push is still building.
Fall transition sets up bass and pickerel on the Delaware and in the Barrens
No fresh buoy or gauge readings came through for the Delaware River corridor this cycle, so today's read leans on the calendar: early September is when the late-summer-to-fall handoff typically kicks in. Wired 2 Fish's September lure roundup this week flags water temps starting to ease and baitfish beginning to migrate as the trigger for more aggressive feeding, and Tactical Bassin's late-summer notes this week warn against sticking with the spots and retrieve speeds that worked through July once that cooling starts — both point toward more topwater and swimbait opportunity as bass key on moving baitfish. That lines up with how Delaware River smallmouth and Pine Barrens chain pickerel typically behave once afternoon heat breaks. No NJ freshwater-specific reports landed in this week's feeds — the inbound intel skewed toward Jersey Shore saltwater (fluke, sea bass, mahi) and national bass content — so treat species status below as seasonal expectation, not confirmed local bite reports, until region-specific intel firms up.
Fluke and Sea Bass Stay Strong at the Shore as Fall Bait Arrives
A 6-pound, 10-ounce fluke topped the pool aboard Capt. Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands this week, with the boat reporting action all day mixing fluke and jumbo sea bass on the drift, per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ. Fluke remains the story up and down the Shore — Grumpys Tackle (NJ) says fluke are thick alongside a fresh push of Spanish mackerel and bonito as warm water holds, while The Fisherman — Central NJ notes bonito working the surf from mid-island south and yellowfin, mahi, and tilefish filling out the offshore board out of Barnegat Light. NJ Fish & Wildlife News highlights Shark River Inlet as a reliable multi-species spot for fluke, sea bass, tautog, and bluefish this time of year. At night, surfcasters are still finding striped bass on plugs and bloodworms per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf. Bait signs point toward the fall run building.
Delaware Bay flounder limits keep coming as tog bite builds
Flounder action in Delaware Bay has been hot lately, with customers of Higbee's Bait and Tackle bringing home limits of fish to 23 inches, concentrated around the EP Tower and areas near the lighthouse. Big Dave's Tackle confirms the pattern bay-wide, with flounder, croakers and spot showing from the beaches out to the shipping channel, while anglers working structure are finding tog and sheepshead on green crabs and sand fleas. Hands Too Bait and Tackle reports sheepshead pushing over 10 pounds on the same baits, plus a decent triggerfish bite around the oceanfront jetties. Pier 47 Marina notes customers are willing to make a longer run for keepers as the season winds down, with the Old Grounds and Reef Site 11 giving up limits to 9 pounds. No local buoy or gauge readings came through today, but the mix of species and bait choices reads like a typical late-August Delaware Bay pattern with the flounder window starting to narrow.
Sea bass carry Raritan Bay while fluke bite goes see-saw
Capt. Ron out of Atlantic Highlands logged an up-and-down week on Raritan Bay: Wednesday's trip put a customer on a limit of fluke plus a 6-lb 10-oz pool fish and "much better life" on the bottom, Tuesday delivered a "top ten day" mixing jumbo sea bass with keeper fluke, but the most recent Sunday trip went quiet with "the bite certainly getting tougher" and only a few keepers boated, per Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ reports. Sea bass have been the steadier producer all week, loading up fast enough on the bottom to steal bait before fluke can reach it. A bit south in Belmar, Golden Eagle and Grumpys Tackle both flag bonito, Spanish mackerel and bluefish mixing in on epoxy jigs as warm water lingers, while OTW's Northern New Jersey report notes big keeper fluke still coming off area reefs and wrecks even with an inconsistent midshore tuna bite. The fall turnover is close but hasn't fully landed.
Delaware River smallmouth improve as Pine Barrens bass hold steady
Largemouth are keying on vegetation across local ponds and lakes this week. Dave's Sport Shop in Doylestown, reporting via The Fisherman's NJ/DE Freshwater column, says most bass are coming on weedless-rigged plastics worked around weed edges at Lake Nockamixon, with lakes Galena and Towhee continuing to produce panfish and some topwater bass. On the Delaware River, smallmouth fishing is improving, and the shop expects good live-lining opportunities if conditions hold into September. Cedar-water pickerel are active too — Allen's Dock reports some pickerel coming on killies in the local Pine Barrens cedar waters, though the shop notes recent heat has kept some anglers off the water. Panfish and perch are already showing in spillways at Garrisons Lake, Massey Mills, and Silver Lake per Smith's Bait Shop in Leipsic. No live buoy or gauge readings came back for this region today, so treat flow and temp as unconfirmed until you check a local gauge.
Fluke Bite Holds on Jersey Shore Reefs as Bonito Run Fills the Surf
Keeper-size fluke are still coming over the rail from Jersey Shore reefs and wrecks, with OTW Northern New Jersey's August 27 report calling the bite strong even as the midshore tuna bite runs inconsistent. Out of Atlantic Highlands, Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands NJ logged a tougher Sunday pattern — fluke getting pickier as the week wore on — though customers are still boxing keepers alongside jumbo sea bass. The bigger late-August story is the surf: Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports Spanish mackerel and bonito pushing into the suds, and The Fisherman — Central NJ notes Surf City Bait and Tackle stocking Deadly Dick jigs for the same run. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI (NJ) has anglers on 25-40 lb bluefin within 30 miles of Barnegat Inlet on trolled ballyhoo and live squid. Several Northern NJ headboat captains, per The Fisherman — Northern NJ, plan to pivot to striped bass once fluke season winds down — the fall transition is close but not here yet.