New Jersey fishing reports
379 reports for New Jersey — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Fluke Building at Raritan Bay as the Jersey Shore Shifts into Summer Mode
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands is putting anglers on fluke with on-water temps running 61–62°F at Raritan Bay — Father's Day weekend produced a 3.9-pound pool-winner and several fish in the 2-to-just-under-3-pound range, with small Gulp sand eels and plain Gulp leading the way. A hard west wind and strong current made Saturday's drifts demanding, but the bite recovered as conditions settled. Multiple Northern NJ boat captains described the 2026 spring sea bass season as among the weakest in several recent years — Skylarker, Golden Eagle, Miss Belmar Princess, and Lady K Fishing Charters all called the fishing inconsistent through June, per The Fisherman — Northern NJ. The 10-fish sea bass bag limit also dropped to a one-fish bycatch allowance on June 22 per The Fisherman, formally closing the spring chapter. Bluefish in the 3–5-pound tailor class are showing on morning poppers, and lingering stripers are still picking up clam baits along structure, per Grumpys Tackle. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms the fluke bite is gaining consistency from the bays to the beaches.
Fluke and Sea Bass Lead Jersey Shore Into Summer as Bluefin Move In
Water temps in the low-to-mid 60s are shaping the Jersey Shore's early-summer transition, and the fishing is delivering across multiple species. Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands charters reported 62°F water around Father's Day and a strong fluke session, with multiple keepers to 3.9 pounds on Gulp sand eels over rocky bottom. Sea bass are the consistent performer: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on almost every charter trip, calling the bite "red hot." The biggest offshore news comes from Long Beach Island, where Fishermans HQ LBI reports bluefin tuna have pushed in close behind a massive squid invasion off the Jersey coast, with captains running 20 to 30 miles to reach the grounds. Striped bass remain in the picture, with OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report noting bass taking plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf. Blue Chip also reports shark fishing has "busted wide open," with multiple Mako sharks caught and released on recent trips.
Delaware Bay Stripers Transition to Summer Mode as Fluke Builds
Bigger striped bass are concentrating on squid, sand eels, bunker, and herring across New Jersey coastal waters as the spring run shifts gears, per On The Water's June 19 migration map. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report puts stripers on clams, plugs, and chunks in the surf region-wide, with bluefish running alongside. No NOAA buoy readings are available for Delaware Bay this cycle, so current water temperature cannot be confirmed; Fishermans HQ LBI reported low-to-mid 60s on the Atlantic coast side in mid-June, consistent with typical late-June bay warming. Blue Chip Sportfishing (NJ) notes shark fishing has "busted wide open" on recent New Jersey trips, with mako releases logged. Fluke action is building gradually across NJ bay and inlet waters per OTW Northern New Jersey. The First Quarter moon on June 23 supports building tidal flows heading into the week, with peak movement favoring structure-oriented bay fishing.
Summer Arrives at Raritan Bay: Fluke Rising as Sea Bass Season Closes
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands reported keeper fluke on nearly every drift over Father's Day weekend, with 62°F water temperatures and small Gulp sand eels leading the charge — a 3.9-pound fish took the pool that Sunday. The previous day was tougher at 61°F against a hard west wind, but anglers grinding rocky bottom still produced 8 keepers. The spring sea bass season closed June 21 in New Jersey, dropping to a one-fish bycatch limit through September 22, per The Fisherman — New Jersey edition. Multiple Northern NJ captains are calling this one of the weakest sea bass runs in recent seasons; the Skylarker's Capt. Steve Spinelli described it as "some of the poorest in the last several seasons," and the Golden Eagle is pivoting to bluefish and fluke trips (The Fisherman — Northern NJ). OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirmed fluke steadily improving from bay to beach, with stripers and bluefish still hitting plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf.
Delaware River Smallmouth Steady as Drought Pinches Late-June Flows
Old School Outdoors in Ewing confirms the Delaware River is still running below normal despite late-June rains, a finding consistent with USGS gauge 01408000 at 180 cfs early Tuesday. Smallmouth bass have held up well in the river corridor despite thin, clear conditions, and catfishing has remained consistently productive, per the same source. JB Kasper's freshwater roundup describes June as 'a great big puzzle' shaped by 90-degree air temperatures paired with lows in the 50s, erratic forecasts, and water running cooler and lower than typical for late month. Bass in local lakes and ponds have settled into an early-morning and late-afternoon pattern, going quiet through midday, per Dow's Boat Rentals. Crappie action has slowed considerably. With the First Quarter moon in play, walleye and hybrid stripers in the larger impoundments are worth targeting after dark on drop-offs and points, per Dow's Boat Rentals.
Delaware Bay summer bite on: fluke, blues, and drum in the mix
Water temps at NOAA buoy 44009 registered 70°F on June 23, signaling that Delaware Bay has firmly crossed into summer fishing mode on the NJ side. That warm, enclosed-basin water is good news for summer flounder, and OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms fluke fishing is "improving from the bays to the beaches" across the region as bait concentrations build. Striped bass and bluefish remain in play, with the same source noting both species are "hitting plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf." On The Water's striper migration map from June 19 adds broader context: bigger bass are now keying on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring run shifts into scattered summer patterns. Elsewhere in NJ, Blue Chip Sportfishing reports sea bass fishing as "red hot" with near-limit catches on most trips, and Grumpys Tackle's most recent report flags drum, bass, and blues all showing along the coast. First-quarter moon means building tidal push through the weekend.
Black Sea Bass Running Hot, Bluefin Tuna Arrive as Jersey Shore Turns to Summer
Black sea bass are running red hot off the Jersey Shore, with Blue Chip Sportfishing reporting limits on nearly every trip. Fluke fishing is building steadily: Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged keeper action at 62°F water temps around Father's Day, with small Gulp sand eels doing the damage on rocky bottom, and OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms gains from the bays to the beaches. The big headline is the arrival of bluefin tuna: Fishermans HQ LBI reports a massive squid invasion off the Jersey coast has pulled bluefin within 20 to 30 miles of shore, with drifting bait the primary tactic. Striped bass remain in the surf mix on clams and chunks per Grumpys Tackle and OTW Northern New Jersey, though bigger bass are now concentrating around sand eels and squid as the spring run transitions to summer patterns. Blue Chip also notes shark fishing has busted wide open, including released makos.
Fluke, Stripers, and Sea Bass All Active as Sandy Hook Shifts into Summer
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands reported water temps at 62 degrees around Father's Day weekend, with fluke keepers coming steady over rocky bottom on Gulp sand eels, including a 3.9-pound fish that took the pool. The spring-to-summer transition is well underway along the Raritan Bay corridor. Per OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report, fluke fishing is improving from the bays out to the beaches, while striped bass and bluefish continue hitting plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf. Grumpys Tackle confirms surf fishing with clams remains the go-to striper method heading into late June. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports sea bass charters are limiting out on nearly every trip, with shark action also busting wide open offshore. On The Water's June 19 striper migration map notes bigger bass are now concentrating around sand eels, squid, and bunker as the season transitions from the spring push into summer resident patterns.
Bass and pickerel on thin water as Pine Barrens streams drop to summer lows
USGS gauge 01408000 on the Mullica River at Batsto recorded 25.8 cfs on June 22, confirming low-flow conditions typical of late June in the Pine Barrens drainage. No water temperature reading was available from this station; mid-to-upper 70s are the seasonal norm for this corridor by now. Direct freshwater angler intel for the Delaware River and Pine Barrens is thin this reporting cycle; most NJ-sourced coverage is oriented toward the coast. NJ Fish & Wildlife News confirmed that seasonal closures remain in effect at five Wildlife Management Areas through September 7, 2026. Anglers planning WMA access for stream fishing should verify boundaries before heading out. Low, clear water conditions favor downsized presentations and early-morning timing. Bass tend to concentrate in deeper pools and shaded root-ball undercuts as surface temperatures climb, while chain pickerel hold along submerged vegetation edges in the tannin-stained backwaters the Pine Barrens are known for.
Sea Bass Limits and Fluke Keepers as Jersey Shore Shifts to Summer Mode
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands logged 62°F water and a productive fluke bite on Father's Day weekend, with a 3.9-pound keeper taking the pool and small gulp sand eels doing the heavy lifting. Sea bass is the standout story along the Shore right now: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports the bite is "red hot," with limits on nearly every trip. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms fluke improving from the bays to the beaches, with striped bass and bluefish also eating plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf. On The Water's June 19 striper migration map notes bigger bass are now concentrating on sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring run shifts into summer patterns. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI reports a massive squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20-30 miles of the coast, and Blue Chip Sportfishing says mako shark fishing has busted wide open with multiple releases on recent trips.
Atlantic Highlands Fluke Bite Picks Up as Summer Species Arrive
Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands reported water temps bouncing between 56°F and 62°F over the past week, with fluke action sharpening once anglers found the warmer water on rocky bottom. Father's Day aboard Capt Ron's produced fish "every drop," highlighted by a 3.9-pound pool winner on small gulp sand eels and plain gulp, with multiple keepers at or above 18 inches. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report confirms fluke is improving from the bays to the beaches, while striped bass and bluefish continue taking clams, plugs, and chunks in the surf. A significant regulatory reset took effect today, June 22: the spring 10-fish sea bass bag limit has dropped to a one-fish bycatch limit through September 22, per The Fisherman's NJ/DE Bay forecast. Blue Chip Sportfishing reports shark fishing has "busted wide open," with three Mako sharks caught and released on a single Friday trip. Early summer visitors including spot, croaker, and kingfish have begun showing up along the Shore.
Flounder lead the summer charge as Delaware Bay back bays heat up
Multiple Southern NJ sources confirm a strong back-bay flounder bite as the Delaware Bay (NJ side) shifts from spring to summer mode. Waterfront Marine reports fish holding in 10 to 14 feet of water and responding best on the turn of the outgoing tide, with spearing, minnows, squid, and bucktails tipped with Gulp grubs all accounting for fish. Riptide Bait and Tackle adds that squid-and-minnow combos have been particularly effective, with some boaters reporting keeper ratios high enough to limit out on fish to 23 inches. Striped bass continue showing at night near back-bay bridges on soft plastics per Riptide, though the spring run is winding down as a primary target. Black drum to 25 pounds have appeared per Riptide Bait and Tackle. Sea bass anglers face a significant deadline: per The Fisherman (Northeast), the 10-fish spring bag limit rolls back to a one-fish bycatch limit on June 21 as summer officially begins.