Fluke bite building in Raritan Bay as summer heat settles in

What's biting

What's next

**Fluke is the play this holiday weekend.** Capt. Ron's Atlantic Highlands has been landing consistent keepers in Raritan Bay when tide conditions cooperate, and OTW Northern New Jersey notes the reef bite is on an upward trend after last week's cold-water upwelling flushed through. As the Waning Gibbous moon continues to diminish, tidal ranges will moderate slightly — watch for the morning incoming and outgoing transitions to concentrate fish on channel mouths and structure edges. Gulp sand eels on a light jig head have been the standout rig at Atlantic Highlands; larger strip baits (mackerel or bluefish belly) tend to bump the size class offshore per broader NJ reports.

Bluefish remain a reliable early-start option from the beach and bay. Grumpy's Tackle reports 3–5-pound fish hitting poppers reliably in the morning hours, and this bite typically holds through the first couple of hours after sunrise before fish push deeper as water warms mid-day. Poppers, metals, and shallow swimmers all produce during active surface feeds; once the sun climbs, consider switching to a subsurface presentation or shifting focus to fluke.

Striped bass are a supporting player right now, not the main act. The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf notes clam baits continue to pick off errant bass along the surf zone, and bunker chunks fished on bay structure historically hold holdover stripers into early July near Sandy Hook. Don't expect blitz-style action, but a keeper or two is realistic for anglers willing to put in the time on productive structure.

Offshore, bluefin tuna are within 15–40 miles of the NJ coast per OTW Northern New Jersey, with school-to-medium fish showing at the inshore lumps stacked with sand eels. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports shark fishing has 'busted wide open,' with multiple mako releases on recent trips — a bonus for anyone targeting bluewater species. Note that OTW Northern New Jersey reports the Southern New England trophy bluefin fishery — for fish 73 inches CFL or greater — closed effective July 3; verify current NOAA HMS limits before making an offshore run.

With Fourth of July boat traffic at its peak across the bay and shore, plan to be on the water at first light to secure productive drifts and avoid the midday crunch.

Context

Early July is historically the inflection point in Raritan Bay and along the Sandy Hook coast when summer fishing patterns fully displace the spring run. Fluke become the dominant inshore target as water temperatures stabilize in the mid-60s to low-70s range, and bluefish chase bait through the surf and bay with increasing regularity. This year's transition is on schedule, with fluke keepers now appearing and charter captains pivoting away from sea bass.

What stands out as below-par this season is the groundfish picture. The Fisherman — Northern NJ gathered commentary from several area captains as the sea bass season wound down: fishing was described by multiple boats as among the 'poorest in the last several seasons,' with inconsistent action and smaller numbers than recent years. Captains noted that cooler-than-ideal bottom temperatures were likely the culprit and expressed hope that July warmth would reset both the fluke and bluefish bite — the Miss Belmar Princess and Lady K specifically flagged warmer bottom temps as the prerequisite for a normal summer.

The spring striper season was similarly uneven, with good-one-day, slow-the-next inconsistency frustrating charter operations across Northern NJ. Erratic weather and below-normal water temperatures were cited repeatedly by captains speaking to The Fisherman — Northern NJ. This pattern is not uncommon in years with a slow spring warm-up along the mid-Atlantic coast, and the summer typically rights itself as stable water masses set in through July.

On the more encouraging side, the offshore scene appears ahead of some recent years. Bluefin tuna within 15–40 miles of the NJ coast in early July is an early showing for inshore school fish; historically the sand-eel-driven lump bite doesn't reliably develop until mid-to-late July. If bait concentrations hold close to shore, this access window could extend meaningfully through the heart of summer.