New Jersey & Delaware Bay - Southern New Jersey Fishing Reports

The ocean temps are creeping up according to Captain Gary of Cape Horn Marina and Irish Jig Charter Boats. The Garden State South Reef temp just hit 70 degrees on Sunday which translated into a decent flounder bite. Keepers, shorts and sea bass kept anglers busy at the rails. But even with the good bite in the ocean, there are plenty of anglers that are still finding a good pick of fish in Great Bay, especially during incoming tide.

Gary Dugan from Cape Horn Marina and Irish Jig Charters reports that the flounder fishing has been fantastic in Great Bay. And the fish are not far from the marina so everyone is happy to save on gas and still bring some fish home. There are also some blues and weakies in the mix and those traveling offshore say the sea bass are cooperating nicely on the wrecks and reefs. In another week or so, Capt. Gary will be venturing out to the deeper water for both sea bass and flounder once the back bay bite slows down. Back bays are also seeing good numbers of crabs and the sizes are very impressive.

A big, warm welcome to our newest advertiser Dockside Cafe and Marina. Although Gina was busy in the kitchen cooking up those famous lobster rolls when I called, the fishing reports from the area came rolling in. Sunday was an ideal day to be on the water and the fishing on the bay was just phenomenal. While larger flounder were a bit harder to find, the number of shorts more than made up for the lack of fish in the box. Anglers reported an average of 20 throwbacks per trip with most fish preferring the old minnow/squid combo. The early morning bite was on fire, leaving plenty of time for lunch at the cafe.

Reports from Dockside Cafe and Marina tell us that there are plenty of stripers and perch in the creek right now. But with the cold days we had recently, not a lot of anglers were fishing. Those that wet a line found stripers on bloodworms at South Green Street Park. Many of these fish were under 22 inches but there were some bigger ones mixed in that pushed past 27 inches but did not quite make 28. But every week this area has seen more and larger fish move in, so this might be the week to see some keepers.

Justin with Allen’s Dock Marina tells us he has a parking lot full of anglers eager to get out on the water this Father’s Day Weekend. The wind did not cooperate, which makes the flounder fishing very challenging, but many boats were able to score some bluefish. Some used cut bait while other boats found casting metals or even trolling Clarkspoons produced fish. Anglers who stuck closer to the marina report that the crabbing is fantastic. Large, full, blue claws will be on the menu for lots of customers this Father’s Day.

The early crab shed this week has turned on the weakfish according to Mary Anne with Chestnut Neck Boat Yard. The fish are most active early in the morning on any tide, but when slack tide coincides with sunrise, the action can be non stop. High slack tide has been best, but anglers are reporting that low slack tide was productive too. Either way, shedder crabs fished on a top and bottom rig were the key to catching both the weakies and some nice flounder. For a more consistent flounder bite, anglers headed to the Garden State South Reef for almost non-stop action as long as the tide was moving. Once the drift stopped, the flounder shut down. Crabbing continues to be very good with crabbers reporting lots of action with plenty of keeper crabs to take home.

Capt. Dave of Absecon Bay Sportsman’s Center says he was right back to fishing when last weekend's storm rolled out. With all the mullet, spot, bunker and snappers in the bay, it was time for him to make an exploratory trip to the mouth of the Mullica River in search of some summer stripers. He found them at sunrise feasting on the bait buffet and taking leadheads tipped with Gulp. All of the fish were in the 18- to 24-inch range but lots of fun on light tackle. Also mixed in with the stripers were a few blues in the 1-pound range which made for some nice fresh dinner fillets.

Capt. Andy with Riptide Bait and Tackle reports that kingfish and spot are really thick from the surf with bloodworms being the best bait right now as the water temperature dropped a few degrees since the hurricane blew through. The lower water temperature on the jetties has turned on the tog fishery. Fish to 18 inches were reported being caught on green crabs on the flood tide. The slightly lower water temperature also allowed anglers to find more keeper flounder in the back bays. Inlet fishing was also very productive with anglers fishing the incoming tide. Minnows and squid combos did the trick this week for anglers both in the back bays and inlet. Out at the reefs, long strip baits were taking larger flounder along with some nice sized sea bass.

Noel at One Stop Bait and Tackle is out and about again in 2021 with the video camera spotlighting some of the local action throughout the area. He’s been getting some decent reports on striped bass from along the Great Egg Harbor River of late. For those out getting it done, sign up for the One Stop bass and perch tournament running through March 31.

Our offshore tog report comes from the Osprey V out of Gardner’s Basin. Early in the week the togging was spotty and the captain really worked hard to find fish willing to chew. Later in the week, the water warmed just a couple degrees and turned on the bite at most of the usual sticky spots. Several limits were taken along with countless shorts and the big fish of the week was a 10-pound behemoth.

Captain John has the Keeper all set and ready to go for the start of the flounder season on May 22. He expects a big crowd on Saturday as well as for the rest of the inaugural week. Make your plans now to secure a spot as reports are that those pre-fishing the season are seeing a lot of nice flounder in the area already.

The storms did not put a dent in the back bay flounder fishing according to the crew at Ray Scott’s Dock in Margate. In fact, after the storms moved out, anglers reported lower water temperatures and a more aggressive flounder bite. Lots of shorts in the back taking minnow and squid combos, but still plenty of keepers to keep many anglers from venturing to the offshore wrecks and reefs. Those that are hitting up the reef sites tell us that the Great Egg Reef was especially productive this week after the storms. Some anglers found their limits with fish topping out at 5- pounds along with some real nice sea bass in the 15- inch range.

The crew at Waterfront Marine reports that after battening down the hatches on Tuesday, the fishing picked up where it left off. The wrecks and reefs are just loaded with nice sized flounder and many anglers are reporting quick limits along with a few sea bass in the mix. Those fishing behind the barrier island are finding that the flounder fishing is even hotter than pre-hurricane conditions as the water dropped a few degrees. Tons of shorts are aggressively taking minnows, squid, mackerel strips and Gulp. Also in the back, anglers are finding that the sheepshead population seems to be exploding. Dozens of bites and six fish reported by one kayak angler including an 11-pounder on fiddler crab.

The crew at Fin-Atics is back up and running, seven days a week, with bloodworms in stock. Word is that perch action is pretty good up the Great Egg with some small stripers in the mix as well.

Bait N’ Hook reports that the flounder fishing in the bays, creeks and ICW has picked up a bit after the hurricane rolled out. Flounder are being found in the deeper holes and channels on Gulp and minnow baits. Offshore, the wrecks and reefs are consistently giving up larger fish on strip baits. Check out Bait N’ Hook’s website to get all the details on this year’s Bernie Parent Fishing Challenge benefiting the Ed Snyder Youth Hockey Foundation.

Avalon Hodge Podge reports that crabbing was very good all week with customers finding a few dozen keepers to take home right from the local piers. Boaters fishing the back bay found lots of small flounder along with tiny sea bass. For keeper flounder and sea bass, anglers headed out to the Wildwood Reef for some hot and heavy action. Flounder to 6 pounds were reported along with some sea bass to 16 inches. Minnows and minnows and squid combos did the trick this week.

Debbie with Grassy Sound Marina reported on an influx of stripers with Carmen DiGeronimo picking up a beauty from the pier, on an outgoing tide with a bunker chunk. The bass may be in the area because of all the spot and peanut bunker around which are perfectly sized for a striper snack. Founder fishing along the ICW from Grassy Sound down through Rio Grande Ave. remains steady with tons of shorts reported on Gulp and minnows. Larger fish are coming from the inlet on the incoming tides. Also in the inlet, anglers are finding both tog and triggerfish from the rocks and some real nice sheepshead under the bridges.

Similar report as last week from the crew at Pier 47 Marina with small flounder in the back bays and larger ones on the Wildwood and Cape May Reef Sites. Same with sea bass; huge influx of small fish in the back, but larger keepers reported from the local reef sites. Cobia continue to be spotted offshore and several anglers are specifically making cobia and mahi trips with mixed success. Inshore, the tog fishing and sheepshead fishing are fairly consistent. Tog are being found on the local jetties from Avalon down to Cape May, while the sheepshead have taken up residence under just about every bridge in the area.

The Fisherman’s Jim Hutchinson let me know he and Frank Mihalic joined the folks from the Cape-Atlantic Striper club for a tautog trip aboard the Cape May Lady on Sunday morning. The crew headed south to Reef Site 11 off the Delaware coast and moved around quite a bit from piece to piece to put a decent catch together. Hutch said the Century “Pro Togger” rod designed by Frank Mihalic is a stellar bit of equipment, but he got schooled in the art of togging by Mihalic standing next to him. However, the pool-winning fish was caught by David Doebley who just beat out Mihalic for top fish honors, a fish going just shy of 8 pounds.

Cape Queen Charters does it all. Reports from Captain Mike tell us that “you name the species, we will make it happen.” In just the last couple weeks, Captain Mike and Captain Andy have put their customers on bluefish and mackerel on the troll, flounder on the reefs, sea bass on the wrecks, sharks in the bay and even a tuna trip thrown in here and there. This boat really does it all in the very capable hands of two experienced captains.

The big news in Cape May of course as seen on the cover of the Report Section was the monster 25.8-pound tautog taken on December 20 aboard Capt. Tom Daffin’s Fishin’ Fever about 20 miles off Cape May in roughly 100 feet of water. Angler Chris Sullivan nailed that pending state record which was later weighed on a certified scale at Utsch’s Marina and would become the second New Jersey record blackfish caught aboard Fishin’ Fever in the past five years. Angler Frank LaMorte is the current record holder with a 25-pound, 5.92-ounce monster caught while fishing with Capt. Daffin back in 2015.

I spoke with Capt. Bob Cope of Full Ahead Sportfishing last week for an update on the action, but he said both he and Capt. Tom Daffin of Fishin’ Fever were both laying up for a while. Bob said they’d found some good tautog life out at about 20 fathoms, but with weather windows being what they are in late January and into February most of the local captains were taking a break or getting caught up on winter maintenance at this point.

Again this past week, Hands Too Bait and Tackle reported that the fishing action was hot and heavy. Inshore, offshore, nearshore, inlets and back bays all offered some sort of fishing opportunity. The Cape May Reef saw lots of flounder action but the big ones this week came from Reef Site 11 and the Old Grounds. Many boaters reported limits of fish at these two sites topping the 6- pound mark. Herford’s Inlet and Cape May Inlet saw a steady flounder bite, but not many keepers came aboard. The inlet jetties also saw lots of tog and more than a few triggerfish caught on green and fiddler crabs. The back bay creeks and ICW are still stacked with short flounder being caught on everything from minnows to squid strips along with a variety of small bucktails tipped with Gulp. Sheepshead are being caught in good numbers from the bridges with jig heads and fiddler crabs. Lastly, the offshore cobia and mahi bite is still on fire both around the lobster pots and any floating debris.

As of Monday at 6:30 a.m. Higbees Bait and Tackle is reopened again daily, seven days a week, with jumbo bloodworms in stock for those looking to hit the beach and sod banks on the Delaware Bay for early season stripers.

The folks at Sea Isle Bait and Tackle received a shipment of jumbo bloodworms on Friday and hope to expand their spring schedule this week.

Looking to hit the bulkhead at Mays Landing for some perch? The folks from Buck Tails Outfitters are keeping live grass shrimp in stock wherever and however possible for folks looking to target the spineys.

While perusing the aisles of the Girl’s Place Bait and Tackle in Port Elizabeth I was told that the tog are chewing good and it's not just the boaters on the wrecks finding good action. Plenty of fish have moved inshore and taken up residence around Cape May Point and even further up the bay and into the Matt’s Landing Area. Jetties, bridges and piers are producing a good mix of keepers along with lots of short fish on quartered green crabs (no shell, no legs) and tog jigs. On the striper front, several keepers were reported from off of Fortescue on bunker chunks.