Sea Bass Limits, Shark Action, and Bluefin Closing In on the NJ Shore

What's biting

What's next

The approach of the full moon through this weekend means tidal exchanges will be at their strongest, and that is a genuine plus across multiple Jersey Shore fisheries right now.

On the reefs, **sea bass** are the slam-dunk play. Blue Chip Sportfishing has been limiting out on the nearshore reefs on nearly every recent trip, and there is no reason to expect that to change in the near term. Keep targeting structure with jigs or bait and you should be filling boxes.

**Fluke** fishing is on an upward trajectory. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands has been grinding rocky, sticky bottom with gulp sand eels and plain gulp for keeper fish, and noted water temps stabilized around 62 degrees after an earlier cold-water dip that had slowed the bite. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirmed improvement spreading from the bays out to the beaches, and that push should continue as temps hold in the low-to-mid 60s. If you are targeting keepers, fish the rocky structure where the current breaks, per Capt Ron's.

**Bluefin tuna** are the offshore headline. Fishermans HQ LBI is calling it a massive squid invasion off the Jersey coast, with the bluefin following the bait in tight. Captains are running 20-30 miles to the grounds and finding fish; drifting with squid bait is the primary tactic, with jigging as a backup option. Before heading out offshore, confirm current 2026 bluefin retention limits, which NOAA Fisheries adjusted effective June 1 — NJ Saltwater Fisherman has the updated breakdown.

**Sharks** are a legitimate bonus right now. Blue Chip Sportfishing says the bite has busted wide open, with a recent Friday trip producing three mako releases. Warm water and concentrated bait are ideal conditions for the shark action to stay elevated as July approaches.

**Striped bass and bluefish** remain in the surf mix. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report had both species hitting plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf. OTW Saltwater's June 23 final migration recap signals the big spring push is winding down, so focus efforts on dawn and dusk windows around moving water to capitalize on what remains of the transitional bite.

Context

Late June on the Jersey Shore marks the reliable turn from the spring striper migration circus to the steady rhythms of midsummer fishing. By historical standards, the fishery right now is tracking on schedule. Sea bass reach their stride on the nearshore reefs in late June and typically carry strong catches through August. Fluke season, which opened earlier in the month, generally peaks when water temps push into the mid-60s to low 70s — the low-to-mid 60s readings anglers are logging right now put us right at the cusp of that prime window.

The offshore story is what stands out this season. Fishermans HQ LBI's description of a massive squid concentration off the coast appears to be drawing bluefin tuna into unusually accessible range, with trips measured in the 20-30 mile zone rather than the longer canyon runs typical earlier in the season. When squid pile up on the Jersey shelf in mid-to-late June it often signals the start of a productive summer tuna window.

OTW Saltwater published their final 2026 striper migration report on June 23, noting that the spring run has wrapped up. That is right on the normal calendar — migratory stripers have historically passed through or settled onto nearshore structure by the summer solstice, leaving resident and schoolie-class fish available in the surf through the summer months.

The mako shark action Blue Chip Sportfishing is reporting is consistent with warm-water species arrival patterns that follow midsummer bait congregations. No source in this report provided a direct year-over-year comparison on shark catch rates, so it is not possible to say whether this year is running above or below the historical average — but the activity is real and current.