New Jersey fishing reports
250 reports for New Jersey — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Fluke Action Heating Up as Inshore Bluefin Arrive Along the Jersey Shore
A 12.3-pound doormat fluke weighed at Bayonne Bait & Tackle — highlighted in The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay region forecast — signals the state of the Jersey Shore fishery heading into the July 4th weekend. Water temps at Atlantic Highlands climbed back to 65.7°F per Capt Ron's, and reports from Barnegat Bay to Southern NJ confirm an improving keeper fluke bite with genuine slabs on the boards. The Fisherman's Southern NJ correspondents note an 8-pounder at the Ocean City Reef Site through Fin-Atics and a 7 lb 8 oz back-bay flattie near Wildwood via Pier 47 Marina, with bigger baits and live minnows the key separator. Offshore, a massive squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20-30 miles of shore; Fishermans HQ LBI and The Fisherman's NJ/DE Offshore both report fish to 70 pounds trolling ballyhoo at the Cigar and Elephants Trunk. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports shark fishing has "busted wide open," including mako releases. The season's sore spot remains sea bass — Northern NJ fleet captains called it one of the poorest runs in years and have shifted programs to fluke and bluefish for July.
Smallmouth and cats holding in low Delaware as summer patterns lock in
The Delaware River is running below its seasonal norm after a June defined by drought, heat spikes into the 90s, and erratic weather, but fishing is holding up. Old School Outdoors in Ewing (per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) confirms the river still runs low even after late-month rains, with smallmouth bass described as good and expected to improve into July, alongside solid catfishing. JB Kasper (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) frames the month as 'a great big puzzle' of extreme temps and drought, but points toward early-morning and late-afternoon topwater windows as the reliable play heading into summer. On the lake side, Dow's Boat Rentals reports largemouth locked into shadow-chasing dawn-and-dusk patterns, with fish holding tight to remaining vegetation after weed-cutting programs. Tonight's full moon could spark nocturnal feeding runs for catfish and walleye. No NOAA buoy or USGS gauge data was available for this report cycle.
Delaware Bay flounder bite surges as summer species move in
Summer flounder is dominating the NJ side of Delaware Bay as the season hits its stride. Waterfront Marine, per The Fisherman — Southern NJ, calls back-bay fluke action "astonishing," with fish turning up from skinny ICW flats to offshore reef structures. Keeper rates have been climbing — Boulevard Bait & Tackle recently weighed in a 7-pound, 8-ounce back-bay fish, and Pier 47 Marina reports fluke to 26 inches hitting live minnows and Gulp Mullets in as little as 6 feet of water along the ICW behind the Wildwoods. Hands Too Bait and Tackle confirms sheepshead, croakers, and kingfish are now moving in alongside the flounder, signaling that the full summer species transition is underway. The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake's Eric Burnley wrapped up June on an optimistic note — flounder, croaker, spot, sheepshead, and bluefin tuna all showing in improved numbers bay-wide — and sees no reason for that momentum to stall entering July. Tonight's Full Moon should power up feeding windows on both the incoming and outgoing tidal pushes.
Quality Fluke Arriving in Raritan Bay as Sea Bass and Sharks Heat Up
Water temps in Raritan Bay are hovering around 65-66°F, with Capt Ron out of Atlantic Highlands reporting 65.7°F on his most recent trip and 'quality fluke finally showing up' after weeks of mostly short fish. A 5-pound 2-ounce pool winner capped the turnaround, and bait rigs have been clearly outperforming jigs this week. Sea bass are the region's standout fishery right now: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every charter and calls the bite 'red hot.' Mako sharks have also arrived offshore, with Blue Chip landing and releasing multiple fish in recent days, signaling the offshore predator season is open in earnest. Striped bass remain present along the beaches, described as 'decent in the surf' by OTW Northern New Jersey as of June 25, with larger fish now concentrating around sand eels, squid, and bunker per On The Water's June 26 migration map. The June 28 full moon sets up strong tidal movement and prime low-light feeding windows through the weekend.
Sea Bass Limits and Bluefin Push Signal Jersey Shore's Summer Turn
Water temperatures holding in the mid-60s along the Jersey Shore, per reports out of Atlantic Highlands, as the fishery pivots from spring to summer. Black sea bass are the standout story: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every charter and calls the bite "red hot." Offshore, bluefin tuna have moved into range behind a massive squid invasion, with Fishermans HQ LBI noting productive grounds just 20-30 miles out. Fluke fishing rebounded after last week's upwelling event; OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report puts ocean fluking "back on the upswing," though Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands notes the bay-and-inlet bite remains picky, favoring simple bait rigs over jigs. Striped bass linger on the beaches, with On The Water's June 26 migration map showing bigger bass concentrating on sand eels, squid, and bunker as the spring run transitions to deeper summer holding water. Mako sharks add an unexpected dimension, with Blue Chip Sportfishing releasing three on a single recent offshore trip.
Delaware smallmouth and Pine Barrens pickerel settle into summer rhythm
NJ Fish & Wildlife confirms stocked trout and warmwater fish remain available at Silver Lake and Franklin Pond Creek within Hamburg Mountain WMA, offering freshwater anglers a managed entry point in the upper Delaware watershed. Beyond that report, direct freshwater intel from New Jersey sources was sparse this cycle, with regional coverage tilted heavily toward coastal fluke, stripers, and offshore bluefin. With the full moon peaking June 28 and summer conditions now firmly established, late-June patterns are in effect across the system: smallmouth bass on the main-stem Delaware have completed their post-spawn recovery and are holding in deeper current seams and eddy structure; chain pickerel and largemouth remain active through the cedar-stained Pine Barrens waterways. Seasonal WMA closures affecting five New Jersey areas remain in force through September 7, per NJ Fish & Wildlife — verify access before heading out to less-familiar launches.
Summer Transition Brings Fluke and Blues to Delaware Bay
OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report puts ocean fluking back on the upswing after last week's upwelling, signaling that the summer transition is fully underway along the Jersey coast. Fishermans HQ LBI is also logging bluefish and fluke in bay and inlet waters, with stripers still in the mix. On The Water's June 26 striper migration map confirms bigger bass are now concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring push fades into summer patterns. Water temperatures at nearby Atlantic Highlands were sitting at 64-65°F per Capt Ron's latest reports, a reasonable proxy for conditions at the Delaware Bay mouth. No NOAA buoy data is available directly for the NJ side of the bay at this writing. With a full moon on June 28, tidal swings are at their peak: expect bait to move hard on the outgoing flow and predators to stack on channel edges and rip lines. Fluke and bluefish should be the primary targets through the Fourth of July weekend.
Sea Bass Limits and Sharks Bust Loose as Summer Settles Over Raritan Bay
Black sea bass are running red hot off the Jersey coast, with Blue Chip Sportfishing reporting near-limits on virtually every trip out. Sharks have busted wide open, too: Blue Chip's Friday charter released multiple Mako sharks. Closer to Raritan Bay, Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged a productive striper charter Saturday with water temps back up to 65°F. Customers reached their three-keeper limit on bait (not jigs), with solid short-fish action alongside. Fluke fishing has been a grind. Capt Ron's describes mostly short fish with scattered keepers through mid-week, water temp running in the mid-60s. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report notes ocean fluking is recovering after a recent upwelling event, while striper fishing remains decent along the beaches. On The Water's June 26 migration update shows bigger bass concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring run fades into summer mode. Tonight's Full Moon will push strong tidal currents through Sandy Hook.
Sea Bass Limits, Shark Action, and Bluefin Closing In on the NJ Shore
Sea bass fishing along the Jersey Shore is about as good as it gets right now. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every trip, with crew after crew filling bags on the nearshore reefs. Fluke action is picking up steadily — Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged keeper fish on rocky-bottom structure using small gulp sand eels, and the June 18 OTW Northern New Jersey report confirms the bite is spreading from the bays out to the beaches as water temps climb into the low-to-mid 60s. Offshore, a massive squid invasion along the Jersey coast has pulled bluefin tuna within striking distance, with Fishermans HQ LBI noting 20- to 30-mile runs to find fish. Blue Chip is also reporting shark action has "busted wide open," highlighted by a Friday trip that put three mako sharks boatside. With a waxing gibbous moon driving stronger tides through the weekend, the next few days set up as one of the better fishing windows of early summer.
Delaware River bass and Pine Barrens pickerel shift into summer patterns
NJ Fish & Wildlife News confirms seasonal closures are active at five Wildlife Management Areas through September 7, 2026 — anglers should verify access before visiting familiar spots. No USGS gauge readings or direct freshwater angler intel are available for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens this cycle, so conditions below reflect established late-June seasonal baselines for this corridor. The Delaware River mid-summer transition is underway: smallmouth bass have moved through post-spawn recovery and are settling into summer feeding patterns around current breaks, rocky ledges, and deeper pool edges. In the Pine Barrens, cedar-stained lakes and streams favor early-morning largemouth and chain pickerel action before midday heat pulls fish deep. Channel catfish on the Delaware River are traditional summer targets after dark, when cooler bottom temperatures concentrate them near deeper channel holes. A waxing gibbous moon extends low-light windows on both ends of the day.
Drum, Fluke, and Bluefish Active as Delaware Bay Heads Into Peak Summer
Grumpys Tackle (NJ) reports drum, bass, and bluefish all in the mix as New Jersey waters transition to peak summer, a combination that lines up well with what Delaware Bay's NJ shore typically offers in late June. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms fluke are improving across inshore bays and beaches, with striped bass and bluefish taking clams, chunks, and plugs in the surf. No NOAA buoy data is available for Delaware Bay today, but Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged water temperatures of 61 to 62°F around Father's Day, consistent with the low-to-mid 60s range that usually characterizes Delaware Bay by late June. Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) notes sea bass trips are limiting out, and shark action has "busted wide open" with multiple mako releases adding offshore excitement. The waxing gibbous moon this week should produce strong tidal exchanges through the bay, concentrating bait in current seams and setting up productive feeding transitions at dawn and dusk.
Sea Bass Limits and Fluke on the Rise as Raritan Bay Hits Summer Stride
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged 62°F water on Father's Day and found fluke biting on nearly every drift, with keepers reaching 3.9 pounds on small Gulp sand eels and plain Gulp baits. The week before was tougher: a cold snap to 56°F had the captain working rocky bottom for mostly short fish before conditions recovered. Sea bass has been the true headline. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on almost every trip, with mako sharks also busting wide open (three releases on a recent Friday outing). OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report fills in the broader picture: fluke improving from bays to beaches, and striped bass plus bluefish still responding to plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf. With water temps consolidating in the low-to-mid 60s, late June looks like prime time to target keeper fluke and stack up on sea bass structure in the Sandy Hook corridor.