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.
Current Conditions
- Moon
- New Moon
- Tide / flow
- New moon producing strong tidal swings; target moving-water windows in inlets and surf for best striper action.
- Weather
- Recent warm days are filling the beaches; check local forecasts for wind and sea conditions before heading out.
New to these readings? What do water temp, cfs, tide, and moon phase actually mean for fishing?
What's Biting
Striped Bass
clam bait and bunker chunks in the surf
Sea Bass
bottom rigs on nearshore reefs
Fluke
bucktails and Gulp! along current breaks
Bluefin Tuna
drifting live or fresh squid 20-30 miles out
What's Next
The new moon today sets the table for strong tidal movement over the next several days. On The Water's striper migration map from June 12 noted that big tides around the new moon should "continue to move bass and bait toward summer haunts," which is favorable news for surf and inlet anglers who time their sessions around moving water.
Striped bass should hold on the beaches through at least the next week. Grumpys Tackle reports that a larger class of fish has moved in, and with the squid invasion drawing bait across the inshore zone, predators have plenty of reason to stick around. Clam baits remain the most reliable surf presentation; bunker chunks and plastic swimmers are also working, per Grumpys Tackle. LBI surf-side striper fishing rolled into June in strong form, with Fishermans HQ LBI describing quality fish in the first and second week of June historically.
The bluefin tuna bite off LBI warrants serious attention this week. Fishermans HQ LBI reports fish running 20 to 30 miles offshore, with drifting live or fresh squid as the primary tactic and jigging as a secondary option. The squid invasion is described as massive and widespread along the coast, so both bait and predators should sustain the opportunity into the coming weekend.
Sea bass on the reefs should remain productive. Blue Chip Sportfishing has been limiting out, and Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands reports fish on most drops, even on slower days when the bite is a grind. A key detail from Capt Ron's: fish stomachs are packed with tiny sand eels, suggesting a micro-bait pattern that rewards slower presentations and smaller profiles.
Fluke are the species most likely to improve as the week progresses. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report described the bite as "slowly improving" as warmer water arrives. Bay and back-bay anglers should work bucktails and Gulp! along current seams, while surf casters are finding fish on plastic swimmers per Grumpys Tackle.
Planning note: target the first two hours of an outgoing tide in inlets and along access points where current concentrates bait. Offshore, any calm morning window early in the week may offer the smoothest run to the tuna grounds before afternoon sea breezes develop.
Context
Mid-June represents a transitional moment for Jersey Shore anglers. The spring striper migration, which typically peaks in late April through early June, is winding down, but Fishermans HQ LBI notes this year's run has held on into mid-June with consistent quality. That aligns with what On The Water called "widespread" bass presence from New Jersey to Maine as of June 12, suggesting this spring's fish have lingered longer than average or a fresh push from the south is supplementing the resident population.
Sea bass have been a consistent bright spot throughout the spring. Blue Chip Sportfishing's run of near-limit trips is in line with what anglers typically expect when the seasonal reef bite is near its peak before summer pressure and warming water push fish to deeper structure.
The squid invasion described by Fishermans HQ LBI is a recurring seasonal phenomenon, but its scale this year appears elevated. OTW Saltwater separately documented squid beaching themselves in large numbers on Cape Cod this week, pointing to regionally high squid abundance along the entire Northeast coast. Elevated squid concentrations routinely pull bluefin tuna into striking range of Jersey inlets in June, and 2026 appears to be following that template.
Fluke appear to be running slightly behind a typical mid-June pace based on OTW Northern New Jersey's characterization of the bite as still building. Water temperatures in the low-to-mid 60s at LBI are on the cooler side for peak summer flounder activity, which generally kicks into high gear once nearshore temps settle into the upper 60s. Expect the fluke bite to sharpen meaningfully over the next two to three weeks.
Mako shark activity is on schedule for the season. Makos historically begin showing in NJ nearshore waters in May and June as water temperatures rise, and Blue Chip Sportfishing's recent reports confirm that pattern is tracking normally for 2026.
This report is synthesized by Hooked Fisherman from real-time NOAA buoy data, USGS stream gauges, and current reports across regional fishing blogs, captain updates, and angler forums. Source names are cited inline where they appear. Check local regulations before keeping fish. Never trust a single source for a trip decision.