New Jersey fishing reports
172 reports for New Jersey — what's biting, water temps, and where to focus.
Fluke Improving and Stripers Still Running as Delaware Bay Enters Summer
OTW Northern New Jersey's June 18 report flags improving fluke across NJ bays and beaches, with striped bass and bluefish hitting plugs, clams, and chunks in the surf — a pattern consistent with what Delaware Bay anglers typically see as the region crosses into summer. On The Water's June 19 striper migration update notes bigger bass are now concentrating around sand eels, squid, bunker, and herring as the spring run transitions to summer patterns. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) confirms the striper run is still producing and highlights black drum, blues, and a surprise "new player" species in the mix this week, with surf fishing over clams remaining the most consistent striper method. Water temps along the Jersey coast have climbed to the low-to-mid 60s per Fishermans HQ LBI — a level that typically unlocks active fluke in bay channel edges. No buoy or gauge data was available for the Delaware Bay specifically today; conditions in the bay's calmer inner reaches may differ from ocean-side reports.
Smallmouth and Catfish Step Up as the Delaware Enters Summer Mode
NJ Fish & Wildlife News confirms stocked trout remain in select WMA waters heading into summer, with Silver Lake and Franklin Pond Creek at Hamburg Mountain WMA carrying fish for early-season anglers. No USGS gauge readings were available for this reporting cycle, so conditions below are grounded in established seasonal patterns for the Delaware River corridor and Pine Barrens. With the summer solstice landing June 21 and a First Quarter moon, the Delaware's smallmouth bass — typically in post-spawn recovery through early June — are now repositioning to mid-river current seams, rocky ledges, and eddy pockets where they feed more actively. Channel and flathead catfish are ramping up on the warmer lower Delaware, a trend typical for this time of year. In the Pine Barrens, largemouth bass and chain pickerel are holding tight to lily pad edges and submerged wood in dark, tannin-stained flows. Several NJ Wildlife Management Areas are under seasonal closure through September 7, per NJ Fish & Wildlife News — confirm access before heading to backcountry waters.
Sea bass limits, inshore tuna, and mako sharks mark the Shore's summer turn
With surf temperatures climbing into the 65–67°F range per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, the Jersey Shore has entered its summer transition. Sea bass fishing is the current standout: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every reef trip, and Northern NJ party boats (Big Mohawk III, Skylarker, and Miss Belmar Princess) all logged strong catches this past week per The Fisherman — Northern NJ. Anglers should act quickly: the Golden Eagle's captain noted the sea bass bag limit is set to revert to one fish per angler within the week, making this a priority window. Shark fishing has broken wide open, with Blue Chip reporting three released mako sharks on a single Friday trip. Inshore, bluefin tuna have pushed within striking range, with both Fishermans HQ LBI and The Fisherman — Central NJ reporting fish accessible on 20–30 mile runs. Back bay fluke action is improving across Southern NJ per The Fisherman — Southern NJ, and stripers continue taking clam baits in the surf from LBI northward.
Last Call for Sea Bass Limits as Fluke and Blues Fill Raritan Bay
Sea bass action on Raritan Bay's nearshore reefs has been delivering steady results heading into mid-June, with Northern NJ party boats logging multiple limit-catch trips. The Fisherman — Northern NJ reports the Big Mohawk III out of Atlantic Highlands notched five limit-catch trips in a single week, while Capt. Nick Caruso aboard the Ol' Salty II found jig-eel combos to be the top producers. Captains are flagging that the more generous bag limit is only days from reverting to one fish, making this the prime window to load the cooler. Summer species are arriving in force: The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf reports fluke sunning themselves tight to the beach on killies and Gulp out of Hazlet, spot and croaker moving into Raritan Bay on Fishbites, and cocktail bluefish running near Leonardo and Laurence Harbor. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 dispatch confirms stripers still taking clams in the surf. With coastal water temps climbing into the 65-67°F range per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, the spring-to-summer transition is fully underway.
Flounder Surge and Black Drum Lead Delaware Bay as Summer Pattern Takes Hold
With surf temperatures climbing into the 65-to-67-degree range per The Fisherman — NJ/DE Surf, the Delaware Bay (NJ side) is shifting firmly into summer mode mid-June. Flounder has emerged as the marquee bite across Southern NJ bays, with Riptide Bait and Tackle reporting improving keeper ratios and some boaters limiting out on fish to 23 inches on squid and minnow combos. Ray Scott's Dock confirms solid back-bay action along the ICW using live minnows with strip baits, with fish approaching 4 pounds. Waterfront Marine adds that flounder are holding in 10-to-14 feet of water and responding best to the outgoing tide, with spearing, minnows, squid, and bucktails tipped with Gulp grubs all producing. Black drum to 25 pounds remain active along the beachfront, per Riptide Bait and Tackle, taking clam baits. Striped bass have largely transitioned to bycatch status in the back bays, though night anglers near bridges are still connecting on soft plastics. Kingfish and spot are beginning to push into the surf as the summer pattern consolidates.
Pine Barrens streams run low as summer bass and pickerel season opens
NJ Fish & Wildlife News highlights Silver Lake at Hamburg Mountain WMA (Sussex County) as actively stocked with trout and warm-water species heading into summer, with Franklin Pond Creek providing year-round trout habitat. The USGS Toms River gauge (site 01408000) registered 24 cfs on June 17, reflecting below-median flow across the Pine Barrens drainage and pointing to low, clear conditions in the system's characteristic cedar-stained streams. No water temperature was recorded, but mid-June conditions suggest Pine Barrens ponds and slow river pools are climbing toward the 70-degree mark. NJ Fish & Wildlife News also notes seasonal closures at five WMAs through September 7; confirm access before making the drive. Chain pickerel, largemouth bass, and sunfish hold the Pine Barrens' tannic shallows right now, while smallmouth and catfish work Delaware River structure as the post-spawn transition to summer patterns continues.
Sea Bass Limits and Striper Surf Action Drive Jersey Shore's June Peak
Water temps climbing into the low-to-mid 60s — per Fishermans HQ LBI's June 14 update — are driving the Jersey Shore into its spring-to-summer transition, with a full menu of species responding. Sea bass are the dominant reef story: Blue Chip Sportfishing reports limiting out on nearly every trip and calls the bite red hot, while Capt Ron's Atlantic Highlands confirms fish are present on the inshore grounds despite some finicky windows tied to thick sand-eel forage. In the surf, striped bass remain a reliable target — Fishermans HQ LBI and OTW Northern New Jersey both report clam-soaked rigs producing consistently from Atlantic Highlands south to Long Beach Island. Grumpys Tackle also notes black drum and bluefish joining stripers in the surf mix. On The Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms bass remain widespread across the NJ coast, with the new moon this week expected to fire the tides and push bait toward summer haunts. Offshore, Fishermans HQ LBI reports a massive squid invasion has drawn bluefin tuna within 20 to 30 miles of the LBI coast.
Stripers Taking Clams in the Surf as New Moon Tides Kick In at Sandy Hook
Sea bass fishing around Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook is producing a split report this week. Capt Ron out of Atlantic Highlands notes fish gorged on tiny sand eels, visible on the sonar but refusing to commit, calling recent open-boat days 'not good fishing by any means.' Blue Chip Sportfishing tells a different story on their grounds, reporting sea bass as 'red hot' and limiting out on nearly every trip. On the surf side, OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report confirms striped bass are actively taking clams along the beach, with fluke to 8 pounds showing in nearby rivers. Grumpys Tackle (NJ) rounds out the picture with bluefish and black drum added to the bay mix. With today's new moon delivering stronger tidal differentials, On The Water's June 12 migration map notes stripers and bait are tracking toward summer haunts across the full Jersey coast.
Stripers and Black Drum Running as Delaware Bay Hits Summer Transition
OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report opens with a clear picture: stripers are taking clams in the surf, sea bass is steady on the reefs, and fluke are on the uptick as warmer water and bait push into NJ coastal grounds. Those conditions extend to the Delaware Bay NJ side, where the new moon this week brings the strongest tidal exchanges of the month. The June 4 OTW Northern New Jersey report documents black drum, bluefish, stripers, and fluke active in the surf, a multi-species mix that tracks with classic mid-June Delaware Bay opportunity. On the Water's June 12 striper migration map confirms bass remain widespread from New Jersey to Maine, with new moon tides expected to accelerate bait and fish movement toward summer haunts. Grumpys Tackle notes surf clam fishing is the top striper producer right now. No buoy or gauge data is available for Delaware Bay NJ side; nearby LBI-area waters are running in the low-to-mid 60s per Fishermans HQ LBI.
Pine Barrens bass and pickerel prime as NJ summer bite takes hold
NJ Fish & Wildlife News spotlighted Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management Area this week, citing Silver Lake and Franklin Pond Creek in Sussex County as productive stocked-trout and warm-water fisheries heading into summer. No USGS gauge readings or NOAA buoy data are available for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens drainages this cycle, so flow and temperature must be checked locally before you launch. NJ Fish & Wildlife News also notes that seasonal WMA closures are in effect at five Wildlife Management Areas through September 7, 2026, for resource and safety protection; verify access to your planned WMA before you go. The new moon of June 16 sets up favorable low-light feeding windows at dawn and dusk this week. With the Delaware's spring shad run traditionally winding down by mid-June, the fishery shifts to smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and largemouth bass in the back-country Pine Barrens lakes and cedar-stained streams. No charter or tackle-shop freshwater reports for the Delaware River or Pine Barrens basin appeared in this cycle's intel feeds.
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.
Stripers and Sea Bass Running Hot at Sandy Hook Under the New Moon
Blue Chip Sportfishing is reporting near-limit sea bass action on recent offshore trips, with shark fishing also 'busted wide open' and Mako sharks being caught and released. Closer inshore at Atlantic Highlands, Capt Ron finds a more mixed picture — sea bass and ling are present on the structure, but on some days the fish simply won't commit despite strong sonar marks. OTW Northern New Jersey's June 11 report captures the broader story: stripers are actively hitting clams in the surf, sea bass are steady on nearshore reefs, and fluke are slowly building as warmer water and bait push north. Grumpy's Tackle confirms that a larger class of striped bass has moved into the Jersey surf zone, with clams and bunker chunks both drawing strikes. Per On The Water's June 12 striper migration map, bass remain distributed from New Jersey to Maine, and the new moon this week is expected to push fish and bait toward their summer grounds.