New Jersey fishing reports
379 reports for New Jersey — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Sea Bass and Stripers Run Red Hot in Raritan Bay's Summer Peak
Sea bass are running red hot in the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook corridor, with Blue Chip Sportfishing reporting anglers limiting out on almost every trip this stretch, and striped bass right behind them, with Blue Chip calling it the best striper fishing possible on recent trips. Shark fishing has also busted wide open for Blue Chip, including three released mako sharks landed in a single day. Closer to Sandy Hook, Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands is seeing a mixed keeper fluke bite, some days rewarding patient anglers with three-fish limits, other days tougher with mostly shorts. Just north, OTW Northern New Jersey reports keeper fluke becoming more common from the surf to the reefs, with cocktail bluefish working the rivers and inlets and bluefin tuna holding on the midshore grounds. Water temps and buoy readings aren't available for this update, but the overall pattern points to a strong mid-summer bite across the bay.
Sea Bass Limits Out as Bluefin Move In on the Jersey Shore
Surf temperatures have pushed to a seasonal high near 72°F this week, according to Fishermans HQ LBI, locking Long Beach Island and the rest of the Jersey Shore into a full summer pattern. Blue Chip Sportfishing is calling sea bass fishing "red hot," with anglers limiting out on almost every trip, while striped bass action has been strong enough that the crew is "crushing" them trip after trip; the shark bite has also busted wide open, with three Mako sharks landed and released on a recent Friday trip. Fluke fishing is more mixed close to shore — Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged a tough midweek bite mixed with better weekend keeper counts — but Grumpys Tackle reports the fluke bite rebounding on bucktails and scented soft baits, with bass still eating clams in the surf. Offshore, Fishermans HQ notes bluefin tuna have moved into range behind a heavy squid push.
Delaware River Smallmouth and Pine Barrens Pickerel Settle Into Summer Rhythm
No buoy or gauge readings came back for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens corridor this cycle, and this week's angler-intel pull didn't surface any shop, charter, or captain reports specific to this freshwater region either — the bulk of what came through was coastal NJ striper, fluke, and sea bass chatter from spots like Grumpys Tackle and Fishermans HQ LBI, which don't apply here. With a new moon overhead and mid-July water temps typically settled into the mid-70s across Delaware River pools and Pine Barrens cedar-stained waters, this is a report grounded mostly in seasonal pattern rather than fresh on-the-water intel. Smallmouth bass in the river's rocky stretches and largemouth around Pine Barrens lily pads and stumps are the headline draws this time of year, with chain pickerel and panfish filling in steady action for anglers working the tannic slow water typical of the Barrens.
Delaware Bay flounder bite heats up as keepers stack up in South Jersey
Water at the Delaware Bay entrance buoy (NOAA 44009) held near 74°F this week under light breezes, and South Jersey tackle shops are matching that warmth with some of the summer's better flounder fishing. Big Dave's Tackle, reporting for The Fisherman's Southern New Jersey column, says the Delaware Bay bite 'has really accelerated over the last few weeks,' with keepers running 20 to 22 inches, while Higbee's Bait and Tackle counts a decent flounder bite to 22 inches on live minnows plus plenty of spot and croaker mixed in. Smith's Bait Shop, in The Fisherman's DE/MD/Chesapeake report, notes the bay's reef sites and oyster beds are giving up croaker, flounder and blues on peeler crab, and columnist Eric Burnley calls June's croaker, spot, sheepshead and flounder numbers the best of the year, with no reason that pace should slow into July. Sea bass are also stacked on the wrecks just outside the bay mouth.
Fluke bite heats up around Sandy Hook as sea bass limits keep filling
Water off Sandy Hook is running 74°F per NOAA buoy 44065, and fluke are finally cooking around Raritan Bay. Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands called a recent Friday trip 'the best bite of the season,' with a 5-pound, 8-ounce keeper leading the pool and several anglers boxing three-fish limits on bucktails and minnows, with sea bass mixed in on nearly every drift. Just up the coast, Blue Chip Sportfishing reports sea bass fishing 'red hot' with boats limiting out, striped bass 'crushing' on every trip, and Mako sharks busting loose on a Friday charter. OTW's Northern New Jersey report notes fluking trending upward from the surf to the reefs, with small bluefish and stripers working the beaches, while Grumpys Tackle adds that bass are back on clams in the surf. Light winds and a new moon this week should keep the bite steady.
Sea bass stay red hot as the Jersey Shore fluke bite rebounds
Black sea bass are red hot on Blue Chip Sportfishing's boats, with anglers limiting out on almost every trip and shark fishing busting wide open, including three released Mako sharks in one outing. Fluke has been up and down closer to shore — Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands logged a "perfect weekend" with several three-fish limits and a 5-pound-10-ounce pool fish before Tuesday's bite turned tough. Down at LBI, Fishermans HQ describes the classic Barnegat Bay summer slam in full swing — fluke, bluefish, striped bass, weakfish, croaker and kingfish all in the mix — with bluefin tuna pushing into 20-to-30-mile range behind a squid invasion off the Jersey coast. Per On The Water's Northern New Jersey report, fluking is trending upward from the surf to the reefs now that last week's extreme heat has broken, with small bluefish and stripers working the beaches. Grumpys Tackle has surf bass eating clams and fluke back on bucktails. We're moving into a new moon, which should sharpen the tidal push over the next few days.
Low water pushes Pine Barrens bite into dawn and dusk
The USGS gauge (01408000) logged just 23.1 cfs Tuesday evening, a low-water summer stage typical of Pine Barrens cedar streams by mid-July. No direct reports came in this cycle from Delaware River or Pine Barrens freshwater sources, so we're leaning on seasonal patterns and general technique guidance rather than fresh bite confirmations. Chain pickerel remain the Pine Barrens' signature species and should still be workable in tea-stained slow water even as flows drop. Tactical Bassin's summer-heat breakdown notes bass tucking into shade in the shallows while deeper fish group up tighter this time of year, a pattern that tracks for smallmouth and largemouth in low, warm water. Field & Stream's summer creek guidance leans toward patience and ultralight presentations for stream trout, which matters more than usual with flows this thin. Panfish stay the reliable option for a quick, warm-water outing.
Delaware Bay flounder bite accelerates as summer patterns lock in
Fluke fishing in Delaware Bay has picked up sharply this month. Big Dave's Tackle, reporting via The Fisherman — Southern New Jersey, says the bay bite "has really accelerated over the last few weeks," with keeper flounder running 20 to 22 inches and ocean wrecks holding fish to 6 pounds. Higbee's Bait and Tackle adds a decent flounder bite to 22 inches on live minnows, alongside croaker, spot and snapper blues working bloodworm and Fishbites hi-lo rigs off Fortescue Beach. On the Delaware side, Smith's Bait Shop (via The Fisherman — DE/MD/Chesapeake) notes slot stripers on peeler crab and bloodworms at Augustine Wall, plus croaker and blues around bay reef sites and oyster beds. Eric Burnley's midsummer notes call it "a typical summer fishing week," with catches spanning canyon yellowfin down to pier spot and croaker. No live buoy or gauge readings are available this cycle, so treat conditions as intel-only until a fresh reading comes in.
Fluke bite stays hot in Sandy Hook Bay after a stellar weekend run
Capt Ron's out of Atlantic Highlands called Friday the 'best bite of the season,' with angler Don Owen boxing four keepers headlined by a 5-pound, 8-ounce fluke, and the hot stretch carried through a calm, all-day Saturday bite (pool fish 4 pounds, 1 ounce) and a strong Sunday when several anglers limited out on keeper fluke mixed with sea bass. Monday's fishing held up despite quickening current, but Tuesday cooled off considerably with short life on most drops and just a handful of keepers, per the shop's own report. Farther north, OTW Northern New Jersey's July 9 report notes fluking trending upward from the surf to the reefs, small bluefish and stripers working the beaches, and bluefin tuna still holding on the midshore grounds. The Fisherman's Northern NJ desk is backing that up with steady ling and one-fish sea bass limits mixed into the fluke catch. New moon tides are pushing extra current through Raritan Bay this week. Plan drifts around the slack.
Fluke bite builds as bluefin push into Jersey Shore reefs
Fluke are turning on across the Jersey Shore heading into the second week of July. Per OTW Northern New Jersey's July 9 report, fluking is on the upswing from the surf to the reefs, bluefin are still working the midshore grounds, and small bluefish and stripers are mixing it up on the beaches. In Central Jersey, The Fisherman — Central NJ notes an 8.5-pound keeper striper taken on live spot while drifting for fluke, plus bluefish and striped bass doubling up in Barnegat Inlet, while the fluke bite is improving as jigged Gulp outfishes bait. Farther south, The Fisherman — Southern NJ describes a hot back-bay and reef flounder bite, with fish up to 8 pounds showing at Ocean City. Offshore, The Fisherman — NJ/DE Offshore reports bluefin to 40-60 pounds and a building yellowfin push at the canyons. Black sea bass has been inconsistent this season, per The Fisherman — Northern NJ, with several captains pivoting to fluke and blues.
Low water tests Pine Barrens anglers as smallmouth bite holds strong
New Jersey's freshwater scene is running lean this week, with JB Kasper (The Fisherman — NJ/DE Freshwater) reporting a drought-driven dip going into July: below-normal water temps, low flows, and a wobbly June finally giving way to the steadier "Dog Days" pattern anglers expect this time of year. At Old School Outdoors in Ewing, John Bullock says smallmouth fishing is good and should sharpen further this month, with catfishing also producing well in the river even as crappie action has slowed. Dow's Boat Rentals reports largemouth settling into classic early-morning, late-afternoon feeding windows around the vegetation that's survived recent cutting and spraying, while walleye and hybrid stripers are working drop-offs and points after dark. Fairfield Fishing Tackle notes low flow on the Passaic is pushing pike and smallmouth into deeper holes, eddies, and bridge pilings, and anglers willing to dig them out are still connecting. Tackle World adds that northern trout streams remain well stocked and should keep producing with any rain.
Delaware Bay stripers and fluke ride the statewide summer push
No buoy or gauge readings came in for the Delaware Bay (NJ side) this cycle, and this week's angler intel feed carries no direct reports from Bayshore towns like Fortescue, Gandys Beach, or the mouth of the Maurice River. What we do have is a strong statewide signal: per Grumpys Tackle, striped bass are still eating clams in the surf and summer flounder are coming on bucktails and scented soft baits, with "a couple weakfish reported" and crab hauls running good off local docks. OTW Northern New Jersey likewise notes fluking trending upward from the surf to the reefs this week. Delaware Bay shares the same striper, fluke, weakfish, and blue crab mix at this latitude and time of year, so these statewide trends are a reasonable proxy until Bayshore-specific reports show up. Check current NJ Saltwater Fisherman size and possession limits before keeping anything.