Sea Bass Limits and Sharks Bust Loose as Summer Settles Over Raritan Bay

What's biting

What's next

The Full Moon arriving June 28 will be the dominant tidal factor through the holiday weekend. Strong currents flushing through Sandy Hook Inlet and Raritan Bay's channel edges concentrate bait and trigger feeding windows for striped bass and bluefish. Plan sessions around the two hours bracketing peak flood and ebb, with first and last light adding a second layer of timing advantage for quality fish.

Fluke fishing looks set to improve through the week. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 25 report noted ocean fluking is bouncing back after last week's upwelling knocked fish down, and Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands has been grinding out keepers in the bay despite tough stretches. Keep rigs simple: plain bait outperformed jigs on Capt Ron's recent charters, and that approach likely remains the edge until water fully stabilizes. As temperatures hold in the mid-60s, more quality summer flounder should slide back into their usual holding spots along sandy bottom and channel edges.

Sea bass action shows no sign of slowing. Blue Chip Sportfishing is limiting out on nearly every trip, and with mid-60s water and structure loaded with baitfish, hard-bottom wrecks and reefs should continue to produce well into the week. Blue Chip specifically notes dates are filling fast, so book early if you want in on what has been a standout run.

Offshore-capable boats have a compelling option right now: bluefin tuna have moved in behind a massive squid invasion, with Fishermans HQ LBI reporting 20-to-30-mile runs to the grounds. OTW Northern New Jersey (June 25) confirms the bluefin bite continues to the south of Sandy Hook. Sharks remain active along the coast as well, with Blue Chip logging Mako releases the Friday prior. Both fisheries are bait-driven and should hold as long as squid concentrations persist.

Striper fishing along the beaches looks steady rather than spectacular heading into the week. On The Water's June 26 migration map points to bigger bass shifting to summer forage patterns, concentrating around sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring. Work rip edges and sandy bars at the tide change for the best shot at quality fish through the Fourth of July weekend.

Context

Late June marks the boundary between spring and summer fishing in Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook, and the transition is playing out on schedule. The spring striper run has wound down from its peak: OTW Northern New Jersey describes conditions as 'decent' rather than exceptional as of June 25. Larger fish are shifting to summer forage patterns per On The Water's June 26 migration map, following sand eels, squid, and bunker pods toward cooler water or staging along the beaches at tide changes.

Fluke fishing typically gains momentum in Raritan Bay as June progresses, though a mid-June upwelling temporarily set the bite back. Cold-water upwelling during sustained northwest winds is a recurring late-spring occurrence on the NJ coast. OTW Northern New Jersey noted recovery was underway by June 25, consistent with the usual seasonal trajectory for this area.

Sea bass limiting out and Mako sharks running hot per Blue Chip Sportfishing sit right on schedule for late June. Black sea bass peak on NJ's nearshore structure through the summer months, and Mako sharks become a regular presence as coastal water temperatures climb and squid concentrations hold offshore. Blue Chip's consistent limits and multi-shark charters fit the seasonal norm for this calendar window.

The Full Moon falling on June 28 is a historically significant timing cue for Raritan Bay anglers. Peak lunar tides push bait through Sandy Hook's narrows and activate feeding windows across species. No year-over-year data exists in the current intel feeds to benchmark 2026 against prior seasons precisely, but conditions overall, mid-60s water temperatures, transitioning forage, active sea bass and shark fisheries, and a recovering fluke bite, read as solidly on track for the date.