Fri., March 29, 2024
Moon Phase:
Waning Gibbous
More Info
Inshore Charters
Offshore Charters
Party Boats
Saltwater
Tackle Shops &
Marinas
Saltwater
Boat Rentals
Freshwater
Guides
Freshwater
Tackle Shops
Brrr ...
It's Cold:
Upstate N.Y.
Ice Fishing
Upstate N.Y.
Winter Steelhead &
Trout Fishing
Long Island, N.Y.
Winter
Cod &
Wreck Fishing

New Jersey Inshore Saltwater Fishing Report 10-2-17

<b>Keyport</b>

The season’s first striped bass fishing sailed this weekend with the <b>Down Deep Fleet</b>, Capt. Mario said. Only bluefish, bigger and smaller, bit, but stripers should begin to hit in the cooling weather, and daily, open-boat trips will keep after the fishing. The blues were chunked and jigged. On Down Deep’s other boat, porgy fishing was fantastic. Open trips are sailing for that daily, and charters are available for either angling. Sign up for the Short Notice List on <a href="http://downdeepsportfishing.com" target="_blank">Down Deep’s website</a> to be kept informed about special open trips. Book charters for stripers, sea bass or blackfish that will sail later this season.

Although the <b>Vitamin Sea</b> is usually fishing from Keyport, N.J., a two-man charter fished aboard from Staten Island Marina on Saturday with Capt. T.J. at the helm, Capt. Frank wrote in an email. The fishing was great, and the anglers popper-plugged cocktail blues at first for a few hours. The blues busted the water surface, and afterward, the anglers bottom-fished. They cranked in porgies, blowfish, blackfish and a 3-pound, out-of-season sea bass. A few weekend dates are left for striped bass charters later this fall. Book striper charters and blackfish charters that will fish later this season.

<b>Leonardo</b>

The <a href=" http://fishingreportsnow.com/NJ_Fishing_Photos_View.cfm/PhotoID/20941/desc/Yeah-The-season-s-br-first-st.html
" target="_blank">year’s first striped bass</a> was boated, on an eel, this weekend with <b>Sour Kraut Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Joe said. Another trip this weekend piled up a ton of porgies, limited out on blackfish and released plenty of big, out-of-season sea bass aboard. Joe was going to fish offshore for tuna this weekend but was weathered out.

<b>Atlantic Highlands</b>

Excellent porgy fishing was laid up Saturday and Sunday like before on the <b>Fishermen</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Weather looks great with bright sun for the fishing this week. Don’t miss out -- the fish are biting! Trips are sailing for porgies 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.

On the party boat <b>Atlantic Star</b>, porgy fishing remained good in past days, Capt. Tom said. Seas were somewhat crummy Saturday and Sunday, and current ran, though not as strongly as previously. Current could build again around the full moon that’s coming. This morning’s trip was picking at porgies in shots, he said at 10:30 a.m., when he gave this report in a phone call. A couple would be seen, then anglers would wait, then a couple more would be. The fishing was a little better yesterday so far. One customer was trying for blackfish and was yet to tie into one on this morning’s trip, when Tom gave this report. Trips are sailing for porgies 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 6 p.m. daily. One three-quarter-day trip, instead of two half-day trips, will probably begin in two weeks. That’s because the fish will begin to push farther from shore, and the time is needed to sail to them.

<b>Neptune</b>

The boat’s been out of the water to be spruced up for fall fishing, like painting the bottom, said Capt. Ralph from <b>Last Lady Fishing Charters</b>. The vessel will be splashed Wednesday, and is slated to fish Saturday. Openings are available for an individual-reservation trip for cod at 2 a.m. Oct. 10. Spaces are available for an individual-reservation trip for sea bass Oct. 24 and another that was just added for Nov. 4. Room is open for an individual-reservation trip for blackfish Nov. 16, when the blackfish bag limit will be hiked to six, from the current limit of one.

<b>Belmar</b>

A few porgies, a couple of out-of-season fluke and lots of good-sized, out-of-season sea bass were hung from the ocean Sunday with <b>Celtic Stoirm Charters</b>, Capt. Mike said. Seas were a little rough, “but wasn’t a bad day,” he said. Charters are booking for sea bass beginning Oct. 22 and striped bass and blackfish afterward. Sea bass season opens beginning that day. Mike was seeing boats troll for stripers but hearing about none hooked yet on the vessels. Stripers caught off Long Island were heard about.

Fishing was tough during the weekend “with the conditions,” an email said from the party boat <b>Miss Belmar Princess</b>. Mostly bluefish were swung in, and some false albacore, bonito and porgies were picked up. Experienced anglers put together good catches. Plenty of fish were marked. On today’s trip, blues and albies gave up super fishing until that slowed at mid-day. Decent day of fishing.  Trips are sailing 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. 

All the blues anglers could want and plenty of false albacore were pounded Friday on the <b>Golden Eagle</b>, a report said on the party boat’s website. Very good fishing. Saturday’s trip picked blues and albies, plenty, but not as many. Weather was nasty on a trip Saturday night, and jumbo blues to 20 pounds were picked. Sunday’s trip picked small blues and a few albies. An overnight tuna trip was supposed to sail today. Spaces are available for <a href=" https://www.goldeneaglefishing.com/tunafish" target="_blank">tuna trips</a> this month, and reserve them. When no tuna trip is sailing, the boat is fishing for bluefish, bonito and false albacore 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

<b>Brielle</b>

Fishing for yellowfin tuna was a little slow at Hudson Canyon, said Alex from <b>The Reel Seat</b>. Mostly longfin tuna and mahi mahi were boated there, almost all on the troll during daytime. Chunking at night was slow. The yellowfins weighed 40 to 70 pounds, and the longfins weighted 20 to 35. The mahi ranged from chickens to 20 pounds. Few trips fished the canyon because of rough weather, though. Lots of small bluefin tuna seemed to swim mid-shore, biting trolled ballyhoos with Joe Shutes, but details were scarce, because of weather. In a break in weather early last week, big bluefins were hooked at Shark River Reef, but none was known to be landed. Also at Shark River Reef, false albacore, bonito, skipjacks and a couple of mahi were decked, when trips had the weather to sail. Porgy fishing was good at places like the Deal rocks. Blackfish chomped from Sandy Hook Reef to the Deal rocks. Some were good-sized, and some anglers jigged for the tautog with blackfish jigs on 10- to 20-pound, braided line on light spinning rods. Lots of bunker schooled off ocean beaches. The cool weather should get striped bass “moving” in the water, and Alex was going to try trolling for them this week. Surf anglers tried for stripers, but not much was heard about catches. Again, the cool weather should get stripers “moving” in the surf or begin to improve the angling. Stripers 24 to 30 inches bit in Manasquan River, Point Pleasant Canal and Manasquan Inlet at night on rubber shads, bucktails and eels.  

<b>Point Pleasant Beach</b>

The <b>Gambler</b> fished for tuna at Hudson Canyon on Friday to Saturday, a report said on the party boat’s website. Not much bit at night, except sharks. At daybreak, a flurry of yellowfin tuna, big ones 60 to 80 pounds, showed up. About 15 bit, and less than half were landed. Another one of the trips was headed out Saturday afternoon when the report was posted. <a href=" http://www.gamblerfishing.net/offshoretrips.php" target="_blank">Tuna trips</a> are fishing into November. Reserve them, and they do fill. An inshore “exotics” trip was going to fish today aboard. 

A day trip for tuna Saturday was put together at the last minute with <b>Mushin Sportfishing</b>, Capt. Alan wrote in an email. The trip arrived at a local canyon early enough in the morning to chunk in the dark. During the chunking, a swordfish ran off with a bait before dropping it, and blue sharks were landed “to keep it exciting,” he said. The boat got up on the troll early when daylight began, and a good-sized yellowfin tuna was bagged. Catches slowed for a moment, and then five tuna bit at once. Three were hooked, and one, another good-sized yellowfin, was landed. The others got off. Purple-and-black plastics and blue-and-white Joe Shute skirts on RonZ soft baits “were the lures,” he said. The trip trolled a little longer and called it a day. Alan’s looking forward to better weather to get on the fish! he said. Charters are fishing, and open-boat trips are set for Oct. 9 to 10 and 12 to 13. Telephone to book.   

Porgies and a few blackfish kept getting bucketed on the <b>Norma-K III</b> on the ocean, including today, a report said on the party boat’s website. Anglers are leaving with plenty of fish, and weather looks beautiful the whole week for the trips. Friday night’s trip picked 4- to 15-pound bluefish. More were marked than were caught, but the trip picked away. Saturday night’s bluefish trip was weathered out. Trips are fishing for porgies and blackfish 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily, and clams and crabs are provided. The boat is bluefishing 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. A trip will also bluefish this coming Sunday night, because of Columbus Day that Monday.

<b>Point Pleasant</b>

The <b>Tin Knocker</b> fished Hudson Canyon on Friday to Saturday, Capt. John said. The trip landed a bunch of mahi mahi and a good-sized swordfish and lost a sword. No tuna were caught. The swords and about six mahi were hooked at night on the chunk, and the rest of the mahi were trolled during daytime. The mahi fishing was good. The water was fairly blue but cool, in the 60 degrees. Wind blew up at night, and seas were quite rough on the way home. Closer to shore, bonito fishing is good, if anglers want to do that aboard. John’s waiting for striped bass to bite. None really did yet, including at places like Shrewsbury Rocks where the angling can begin first. The ocean was warm for the angling.

<b>Seaside Heights</b>

The surf calmed to just about normal by Saturday, after the water was rough for fishing last week, a report said on <b>The Dock Outfitters</b>’ website. Anglers are waiting for the fall migration of striped bass in the surf, and baitfish were seen spraying in the surf a little to the north Friday. “Always a good sign!” the report said. The surf fishing could pick up any time because of bait that began to swim the water and because of cooler weather. Blackfishing was good along Barnegat Inlet’s north jetty and Point Pleasant Canal. Green crabs are best bait and are stocked. Eels began to be carried for striper fishing. In Barnegat Bay, bluefish and small stripers swam. Few people crabbed along the bay, but crabbing was improving. Some decent catches were made. Some large were trapped from the dock. The Dock Outfitters, located on Barnegat Bay, blocks from the ocean surf, features a bait and tackle shop, a café, a dock for fishing and crabbing, boat rentals and jet-ski rentals. 

<b>Barnegat Light</b>

An open-boat tuna trip was weathered out Saturday to Sunday on the <b>Super Chic</b>, Capt. Ted said. That was the season’s final open trip for the fishing, unless the angling really picks up. Then he might schedule more. Otherwise, charters fill the schedule. A charter is slated to fish inshore Saturday for bluefish, bonito or whatever will bite. A tuna charter is booked for Sunday to Monday.

A few tuna and some mahi mahi were boxed on a trip Saturday to Sunday on the <b>Miss Barnegat Light</b>, reports said on the party boat’s website and Facebook page. One 60-pound yellowfin tuna was trolled on Saturday, after the trip trolled most of the afternoon. At night, in rough seas, blue sharks hit, and five 20-pound yellowfins were landed in a half-hour flurry. After sunup, a few anglers tilefished along bottom. A few tuna bit and broke off the light tilefish leaders. The anchor was pulled, and the trip pot-hopped for mahi mahi. Mahi were picked at almost each of the lobster-pot buoys fished. <a href="http://www.missbarnegatlight.com/TunaFishing.html" target="_blank">Tuna trips</a> are fishing throughout the month, and telephone to reserve.

<b>Barnegat</b>

The following was posted as an update Sunday and is being re-posted in case anybody missed it: An email from Capt. Dave DeGennaro from the <b>Hi Flier</b>: “Looks like a break in the weather and sea condition (was forecast for today). We (were) planning an Open Boat trip to Barnegat Ridge for bonita and albacore. Trolling and bait fishing with the light rods. We will also be prepared to cast any surface albies on our way out and back. Depending on sea condition and our success we could also mix in some bay fishing for weakfish. 7AM to 2PM. A full day to allow us some time to hunt them and then catch them. The boat (was) also available to charter this day and then you could dictate the hours and agenda. Some folks prefer the bay, and that's fine with me. Four people max. All fish are shared. Also mixed bag bay fishing this Wed, Thurs, and Fri afternoons, Oct 4, 5, and 6. Depart at 11AM and return at 4PM.”

<b>Beach Haven</b>

False albacore were trolled “on a regular basis” at Atlantic City Reef on Saturday on the <b>June Bug</b>, Capt. Lindsay said. That was on Clark spoons, Drone spoons and pony tails. Seas were fine on the way out but built and were rough at the fishing grounds. A bunch of the fish were lost, because they needed be reeled in without pumping the rods. Still, a decent day, he said. 

<b>Longport</b>

The <b>Stray Cat</b> was poked out to the ocean Saturday and today, and lots of bluefish were tackled, Capt. Mike said. Lots of out-of-season sea bass, sizable, 80 percent keepers on Saturday, were released on the trips. Catches including triggerfish, weakfish, kingfish and croakers also came up. The water was lit up with life 5 to 8 miles out. That included bunker that schooled from 1 ½ miles from shore to there. The depth-finder marked loads of fish. The water was 70 degrees, the same as recently. Space is available for open-boat trips for sea bass Oct. 23 and 25. Sea bass season will open beginning Oct. 22, and Stray Cat will jump all over them, fishing farther from shore, where the fish will have migrated. A trip Sunday with kids fished the inlet, releasing catches including sand sharks and sea bass.

<b>Sea Isle City</b>

Three anglers joined two traveling charters to Montauk on Saturday and Sunday aboard, said Capt. Joe Hughes from <b>Jersey Cape Guide Service</b> and <b>Sea Isle Bait & Tackle</b>. On Saturday’s trip, they fought aboard 18 false albacore from Long Island Sound. On Sunday’s, they wrestled aboard 10 albies from the Sound and off Montauk Point and all the 2- to 3-pound bluefish they could want, on the ocean. The albie fishing was best on Saturday in rougher seas and weather. Weather and seas were calmer on Sunday’s trip, and better albie fishing in rougher conditions isn’t unusual. The albies were hooked on Albie Snax and Slug-Gos near the water surface. The Albie Snax are great, Joe said, and metal didn’t catch the albies well on the trips, but every day’s different. The blues were jigged along bottom. Huge sea robins, maybe the biggest Joe ever saw, were also hooked on the jigs. The trips each year fish the migrations of striped bass, blues and albies from the historic port until mid-October. See the <a href=" http://www.captainjoehughes.com/page3.html" target="_blank">traveling charters page</a> on Jersey Cape’s website. Joe will concentrate on the migration of stripers and blues off Sea Isle City in the ocean in November. Reserve those trips to ensure a date. Keep up with Joe’s fishing on <a href="http://captainjoehughes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jersey Cape’s Blog</a>.

<b>Avalon</b>

<b>Fins and Feathers Outfitters</b> usually fishes for striped bass beginning in the week before Thanksgiving, Capt. Jim said. He watches the water temperature and likes water in the mid-50-degrees for that. Trips aboard fish for them on the ocean or Delaware Bay. Weather was windy this weekend, and he made no attempt to fish. He watched boats head out the inlet, but they must’ve dealt with stiff seas. A bunch of anglers fished on foot at Avalon’s 8th Street jetty and the Hereford Inlet Bridge. People said small bluefish were biting there, though Jim saw none caught when there. Small peanut bunker filled the Intracoastal Waterway in the back bay. That usually attracts stripers and weakfish. Jim worked on his duck boats this weekend. An early duck season will open in the middle of the month, and he guides duck and goose hunting. An early Canada goose season closed last Monday. A trip with him shot two of the geese that Saturday. Salmon fishing is underway on upstate New York’s Salmon River. Jim’s got a nearby <a href="http://www.sjlodge.com/" target="_blank">lodge</a> that he rents out, including for the salmon fishing. Guests are booked at lodge this weekend. Jim visited the lodge last Tuesday and Wednesday, and weather was 90 degrees, unusually warm. That seemed to slow the salmon migration, but weather was cool again now. A discount is offered on the lodge until Thanksgiving, but only on Airbnb. Afterward, the lodge becomes popular for snowmobiling. Steelhead fishing lasts in the Salmon throughout winter, and anglers fish for them from the lodge. Fins offers a variety of outdoor adventures.

<b>Cape May</b>

Wind blew all weekend, and almost no news about fishing was available, said Capt. George from the <b>Heavy Hitter</b>. He’d been going to sail for weakfish on Delaware Bay on a friend’s boat, but trees doubled over from wind, the bay was all white caps, and the trip was canceled. Charters will fish for sea bass on the Heavy Hitter beginning Oct. 22, opening day of sea bass season. Later in fall, charters will sail for striped bass and then blackfish.

Back to Top