No takers on our Open Boat Tuna trip yesterday (Friday Sept 13) so being that the boat was fueled up, iced up, and loaded with bait, my deck hand Dave Flood, and I, decided to run ourselves. We broke the inlet at 4AM. It was a very mild NE wind so the sea condition was mellow. We ran 60 plus miles to the spot. When we arrived at 7AM, there were no birds, no slicks, no whales, no readings,….nothing. Started putt-putting around the area and stumbled on two chick birds and a single shearwater. Said “Oh well, that’s more than we’ve seen, so let’s go on the drift”. A few minutes in we had mackerel on the surface around the boat, Saw a good size splash and then the bow rod went off. Got to it, threw the lever, it was there, and then it wasn’t. Reeled in an empty hook. Finally marked a single fish at 110 feet. Put a bait down to that depth and ten minutes later we are hooked up. Decked a 50 lb yellowfin. Another runoff, bit off by a shark, leader was all scraped up. Go back for another drift, hook and lose another fish, appeared to be a tuna by the run. Hook pulled. At 9AM Dave sets up on a fish that won’t stop dumping line off of his 30 class. We run it down, but it takes two more big runs before we can stick a gaff in his 105 lb yellowfin. 55″ length, 39″ girth. His biggest tuna ever. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. All Dave does is help people on my boat catch fish. We were back in by 1:30 PM. Here’s some video, it’s not great, it doesn’t include the end game because I couldn’t film and assist with the gaff: www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJZC2j2Bc68
Looks like the wave heights are up for a little while so we will be fishing in the bay for weakfish, kingfish, blowfish, and the mixed bag on ultralite tackle.
We will be announcing more tuna dates as soon as there is a good weather window.
Awesome September weather rolls on! With schools back in session the broader area is significantly less congested and fishing is just as good, if not better! The mullet run continues strong and the beach, inlet and bay are bustling with well rounded variety.
Tune in my latest fishing report video from this afternoon…
With the mullet run in full effect here are some NJ Mullet Run Tactics for fishing right now!
For specifics on other approaches right now take a look at my previous report blog from 9/5 (link below) where I detail solid suggestions on targeting inshore hard tail pelagics (false albacore, bonito, spanish mackerel), back bay blowfish, spot and weakfish as well as a couple options for the surf. There blues, kingfish and fluke on the beach. And some big fluke as Dave Werner and his class showed us! See the report video for details.
PSA1: The beaches are opening (some already are) to 4×4 access. Stay tuned for a detailed LBI 4×4 Beach Buggy Access Info blog coming in the next few days.
PAS2: Oyster Creek dredging which started in mid August continues, but is schedules to wrap up any day. The work is being done to clean up the shoaling in the Buoy 38 – 40 area in the western area of Oyster Creek Channel. Boaters have run over the dredge pipe so if you are unaware, please slow down and proceed with caution. The dredge monitors VHF 13 if needed hail.
PSA3: Another round of beach replenishment is coming to LBI this fall. Equipment is already moving into position and sand will be pumping most likely later this month. First on the south end, Beach Haven and Holgate, and then up to the north end; Harvey Cedars as well as some of Loveladies and North Beach. I started writing a blog on the topic of beach replenishments a couple years ago which I never finished. Earlier this summer, when I learned about this fall action, I resurrected it but haven’t found time to complete. I’m hoping to find some time and post sooner than later. Maybe before the end of the year. Be on the look out.
PSA2: The Ship Bottom Wawa is currently closed for renovations. It is scheduled to reopen on Friday October 4th. If plan be is hit the 7-Eleven just a stones throw away… think again as it closed in the fall of 2022. Plan accordingly.
The New Jersey Mullet Run is a distinct segment of Jersey’s Fall Run. It’s the starter fluid that fires up the Shore’s inlets and beaches. As summer winds down the days get shorter, less sunlight and cooler nights get the air and water temperatures trending colder and the weather starts to turn. This transition it when things flip on and the Jersey Mullet Run comes alive.
The run can be short, so get after it and strike right away when the mullet start moving. Some of the fall’s best fishing can take place during the season’s first couple Nor’easters so surf anglers should be comfortable, ready to fish and able to capitalize in stormy conditions. It’s also important to point out that Mullet Run Tactics can be effective even when the mullet run is over.
There are basically two different NJ Mullet Run Tactics than anglers can choose… Bait Up & Soak or Pack Up & Plug!
Bait Up & Soak
Mullet can range in size from finger muller (small baits ranging from 3-5″) up to corn cobs (large baits weighing a pound or more). Cast net your own bait or buy fresh / frozen from the bait shop. Mullet can be fished a variety of ways; whole, chunk, strip.
A classic skewer style mullet rig is the most popular way to fish a whole mullet in the Jersey surf. These have a 1/0-5/0 size double hook which has has a slot for the rig’s stiff wire skewer to be attached or detached. This allows the hook to be fixed at the tail of the bait which is where bluefish tend to strike. Some of these rigs also have a float added for attracting color and also bring the bait up off the bottom, away from the crabs and gets it to swim in the current.
TIP: When rigging be sure to slide the mullet back down and either settle the hook as deep as possible into the bait (as shown in the photo above) or put one of the two hook into the tail. Be sure to always have at least one hook exposed for best hook ups.
Other popular rigs are the classic bluefish chunk rig (shown above with a half of mullet chunk) as well as the Doodle Bug, Fire Ball Rig and a Hi/Lo or One Drop rig. These rigs can be used to fish a whole mullet, a chunk of mullet or a strip of mullet. Below shows a strip of mullet fished on a simple hi/lo rig with 3/0 hooks which is perfect when small cocktail blues are present. These rigs will also catch fluke when cast and slowly retrieved off the surf.
Mullet is awesome fished live on a plain hook and it can also be deadly fished live off a popping cork on top or a small egg weight on bottom. It all comes down to what the situation calls for.
Pack Up & Plug
Plugging (casting lures) during the mullet run is very effective because mullet tend to swim in tight to the beach and they are a small-medium size bait. This makes it east for anglers to match the hatch.
Match the hatch!
Size: 3-5+”
Profile: Big head for their size
Colors: White, Silver, Blue, Grey
Movement: Distinct v-wave,
Depth: Tends to hang around the surf line in shallow water
Mullet move in a unique way, in schools on the surface, commonly in tight to edge. Their wide nose puts out a v-wave on the surface. Some perfect matches are wake bait – metal lip swimmers and Red-fins as well as floating poppers, Bomber Wind-cheater, light swim baits and darters.
Rather than diving into specifics here , I’ll reference a detailed blog on the best mullet run lures. For more on top producing fishing lures for the Jersey Shore Mullet Run check out this blog article…
A lot of game species chase mullet. The main game here are striped bass, bluefish, fluke, weakfish and occasionally speckled trout and redfish. Yup Jersey surfcasters get a mini window each year.
School sizes striped bass that are mostly made up of residents striped bass that have hung around the area all summer long. There’s also a better class occasionally with fish in the 30″ but rarely in the 40″ range during this part of the run.
Bluefish love mullet and get active during the run. Commonly small class ranging from the year’s young (snappers) ranging up to cocktails in the 2-4# range and occasionally there’s times where bigger blues can show up to the party.
The 9th Inning of fluke normally coincides with the mullet run. It’s one of the best time to fluke fish the surf and inlets in search of large class fluke.
Fishing the jetty’s is a great option to find exiting mullet. But if creeping the rocks… Be Careful!!! Rocks are slippery but there’s more to consider. This time of year the region gets long period tropical swell energy. What look like a calm flat ocean can sometimes have very spaced out inconsistent wave action. The lully set waves can easily catch an angler off guard.
There are yellowfin tuna in the 50 to 60 mile range. There are also bluefin tuna in the 20 to 25 mile range.
Friday looks like a good marine forecast to go tuna hunting. We are running an Open Boat Tuna trip on Friday Sept 13, 4AM to 3PM $475 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. This is the schedule and rate for the longer range yellowfin trip. If we don’t get good reports or intel from the yellowfin grounds we will pivot to bluefin fishing.
That schedule would be 5AM to 2PM and the cost $400 person. Either trip the emphasis will be on bait and jigs.
The bonita are still going strong. Good size fish and Ziplocks of some of the most delicious loins you will ever have.
Chumming and catching them on light spinning rods. We have also had albacore, spanish mackerel, chub mackerel and more eat our hookbaits. Bait and lures are working equally well.
Saturday Sept 14 and Sunday Sept 15, we will be sailing Open Boat Bonita 6AM to 2PM, $300 person,
4 people max, all fish are shared.
We are also catching weakfish, kingfish, blowfish, and more in the bay. Super ultralite 6 lb outfits. These trips are offered for charter only and we do not run Open Boat in the bay.
Any of the above Open Boat trips are also available for your private charter.
Pics from recent bay trip:
Geri DeGennaro of Barnegat NJ
(Mrs Hi Flier) with a kingfish
Kelly Kieckhefer of Lake Como NJ with a blowfish
Sue Belford of Lake Como NJ with her second striped burrfish of the trip.
September is here! With cool dry air and easterly swell in the water, it sure feels like fall! The new moon was Tuesday and it marked a new stage in the season’s progression, an exit from summer. I’ve shared recently that the bait is staged up and abundant. Some is moving out front; peanut bunker, bay anchovies, spearing, soon to be mullet!
Yesterday might have been the best weather day of the week for those looking to get our front and fish the ocean via boat. However areas of the bay in the leeward side of the island and sod banks will offer protection. The surf will be a little churned up but that isn’t a bad thing for surf anglers. The second half of this week, we will have onshore winds and easterly swell. A large slow moving low pressure system offshore will keep the conditions sloppy and fall like. Expect 3-4’ surf on the beaches Thursday – Friday – Saturday, then fading Sunday. The tropics are waking up so all should keep an eye and ear out for developments.
Tune into my latest LBI Fishing Report video…
Current Fishing Info – What’s on tap?
My morning charter yesterday wasn’t bad today. We had a fun trip starting out with quick action with small blues on light tackle. After a few minutes everyone aboard caught a few and we went to hunt albies. It was sloppy with the north easterly blow making it more challenging but we founds some not far from Barnegat Inlet. Since the trip’s main focus was fluke we didn’t spend too much time with the albies before running out to the Barnegat Light Reef. First drift we had a 20″ keeper, a handful of shorts and some perky sea robins. The fish were not cold to the touch, so the bottom temperature was not cold. That was great news and most likely the reason the bite was active for the rest of the trip. The cold bottom was a curse for most of the summer season.
We finished the day with three keepers up to 21″ in about a three hour fluke session drifting the reef. Somehow I caught all of the keeper. The best action for me was on the jig. I was using a Magictail Round Head Jig 6oz Glow baited with 8″ Gulp Grub, rigged with a naked 6″ Gulp Grub teaser above. Salmon (orange) and Fire Tiger (orange /chartreuse) were best. Pink shine and white glow, my two favorites over the past couple of years didn’t come close in terms of productivity.
September Offers Lots Of Good Fishing Opportunities
We are in the final stretch of the fluke season, but in my opinion, some of the best weeks of the season. NJ summer flounder (fluke) season closed on Wednesday September 25, 2024. There’s still good fluke fishing right now in the bay and inlet. The west side of the bay as well as the main thoroughfares linking the open bay to the inlet are great spots to fluke fish all season long and they are producing right now.
With water temperatures hovering around the 70 degree mark, both in the bay and the ocean offer an active bite. With regards to the bay even on both side of the tide.
Summer Flounder
This is not just a boat game. Surf and jetty anglers get good late season fluke fishing too. The inlet is a great area to fish as all fluke departing Barnegat Bay in route east funnel through. These same fish can staged up along the sand beaches feeding on shellfish and other baits (fluke love mullet) in the pockets and wash.
Tautog
There’s action but mostly smaller critters. Anyone looking to go is just about guaranteed to get into an active bite but go into it knowing you will need to earn a keeper size fish. While the water is still warm in addition to the tog, there are sheepshead, triggerfish and porgies as well as smaller class of black sea bass on nearshore structure. We expect tog fishing to only improve from here. Once colder weather and water settles in the tog bite will be prime.
False albacore, bonita and Spanish mackerel as well as mahi are present in the nearshore – inshore – midshore waters. If wanting to hunt these fun and fast small pelagics feeding under the small quick moving bird plays you have to use light tackle. The only way to effectively use small lures which are needed to match the hatch, is to fish light line and a light outfit (rod/reel) to long cast.
My three favorite and best producing lures this season and previous years…
Color is the least of my concern. I’m most particular with the weight and size/length. Fish the smallest possible. On calm days I use the smallest sizes (3/8, 1/2, 5/8) and these are fished on my lightest rods. When fishing windy days I will go up to the 7/8-1oz sizes. I would suggest staying away from anything over 1oz and larger than 4″ unless you are fishing a heavy rod or looking to fish deeper in the water column. I refrain from both in this scenario
With regards to rigging, light line and leader is a must. I prefer 20# braid with a 20# fluorocarbon leader which connect via line to line knot (FG, double alright, uni to uni). I tie a perfection loop at the end of the leader and then loop on the jig. There’s no hardware needed and I can quickly change the lure if needed. I’m not a fan of jewelry (terminal tackle hardware).
In The Bay
Blowfish and weakfish are active in the bay and should offer good fishing all month. Also fluke (mentioned above), blues and striped bass are on tap.
Blowfish are a fairly easy approach; anchor up in 7-10′ of water in the heart of Barnegat Bay, drop a chum pot down and then a rig (small long shank blowfish hooks – Blowfish Rig) baited with clam and/or small pieces of Fish Bites. You very well may catch spot, croakers and some spike weakfish.
Targeting weakfish is a little more challenging. They are occasionally caught by accident/bycatch when targeting fluke or blowfish. To best target them you’ll want to anchor up and chum with live grass shrimp.
Fishing for blues and striped bass is best done earlier or late in the days with light tackle utilizing plugs in the 3-5″ range. Expect this fishing which was really great all summer to continue if not get better as we exit summer.
On The Surf
Kingfish, fluke, blues and a stray striped bass are surf side opportunities. Fishing a small hook rig baited with live bloodworm or Fish Bites is best for kingfish. Catching fluke on the surf is easy use a Gulp baited jig, with or without a Gulp teaser or a simple hi-lo rig baited with Gulp. Fish slowly yet actively working the pockets of water in the cuts and troughs. Blues will hammer any type of lure, but I suggest fishing an epoxy jig or a 4-5″ Jerk Bait. Striped bass and fluke will also eat these two.
Chris Moffitt shared the first surf side striped bass we have heard about in a weeks. Bass have been active in the bay and inlet all summer long and we are looking forward to an increase of linesiders in the suds as the mullet run rolls on.
Speaking of the mullet run, here’s mullet run blog from 2018 that is just as valuable today as it was then.
The 70th Annual LBI Surf Fishing Classic kicks off October 5th with the opening day seminar at the Ship Bottom Fire House 9am. Registration has already begun so now is a great time to sign up and score the free goods while supplies last! Be sure to participate in the main event as well as the Surf Master Catch and release division. If you have questions or want to learn about getting into surf fishing and the event I welcome you to stop by the seminar. See you there!
Since my last post, Ernesto gave us a weekend full of waves and that has petered out into the new work week. Monday’s full “super” moon gave us extreme tides/currents which will slowly wane. The water temperatures have been somewhat stable and warm making fishing more active and consistent.
The past couple days we have had a taste of fall with some northwest flow and cool dry air. The outlook shows somewhat fair winds and fair seas. So now is a great time to get out and enjoy what’s left of summer… Let’s go fishing!
On the fishing front, we are still playing the same old record with a new addition. There’s a variety of species from fluke, bluefish, striped bass and weakfish to tog, sheepshead and triggerfish. Recently we’ve had some larger (then the common summertime cocktail 1-3 cocktail blues) size bluefish. ALSO… Albies were cracking the past two days! Now is also prime time fluke fishing with great opportunities in the bay, inlet, surf and ocean.
Just a heads up the tropics look clear however towards the end of the month things very well may get active again so keep an eye out.
Prize Categories: 1st – 5th Place Single Heaviest Fluke: (Entrants may take a only a single place) 1-2nd Place Single Heaviest Fluke Female Angler (18+) 1-2nd Place Single Heaviest Fluke Jr Angler Ages 12 and Under 1-2nd Place Single Heaviest Fluke Jr Angler Ages 13-17 1st Place Single Heaviest Fluke Land Based/Kayak Angler
$1,000 BONUS DRAWING: A random tournament entrant who weighs in a legal sized fluke (18”+) will be selected to win $1,000 thanks to sponsors: Fisherman’s Headquarters, Jingles, The Boatyard and Beach Haven Yacht Club
Entry Fee
Private Vessel: $225 (Early Bird Entry $200 Before August 10th) Land Based/Kayak Angler: $60 (Early Bird Entry $50 Before August 10th) Miss Beach Haven Angler: To Be Announced
Single Entry Calcutta
Private Vessel $300 Single Angler $60 Calcutta Payouts: Single Entry Calcutta Makes you Eligible for the following prizes 1st and 2nd Single Heaviest Fluke (1 Entry can win both places in Calcutta) 1st and 2nd Combined Three Heaviest Fluke 1st Place Heaviest Sea Robin
Just had a last minute cancellation for tomorrow, Wed Aug 21. Two new people already signed on for an Open Boat Bonita/Albacore with a shot at Bluefin Tuna trip tomorrow. I can take two more, and will sail with just one more. Phone is the best way to get me.
6AM to 3PM, $350 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared.
On Wednesday, before Ernesto rolled through, I had Ray Polikoski and his son Brayden, 14, from upstate NY, on board for their first bluefin tuna. We trolled three tuna between 25 and 40 pounds, and two bonita. Brayden handled two of them by himself. Less than 20 miles from the inlet.
Yesterday, (Sunday), I had Jim Maresca and family out for our first live grass shrimping effort. We caught a bunch of weakies, some shorts, three legal ones, and dropped another legal one. My son Capt Nick DeGennaro jumped on the boat as soon as I jumped off and returned for a bunch more weakies with friends. We also had fluke, snapper blues, perch, spot, and sand sharks. All on 6 lb spinning tackle. I returned there today and it was even better weakfishing.
FYI: This might be our last season of using this technique as our bait supplier might be retiring and there doesn’t appear to be anyone taking it over. It’s been a good run, though. I’ve been shrimping weakies in Barnegat Light since 1978. If you have never done it, you might want to give it a try. We will be running for them until at least Late Sept.
Also, there have been a lot of bonita on the tuna grounds, as well as in closer. They are solid size, too. We can troll for them or drift and catch them on bait.
I have Wed, Aug 21 available for Open Boat, or charter for Bluefin Tuna, Bonita, or Weakfish in the bay. Call for details. My next available day is Sunday, Aug 25.
Pics:
Ray Polikoski of upstate NY with 40 lb bluefin tuna (jeans, sleeveless shirt)
Ray with son Brayden holding a 30 lb class bluefin tuna
Ray holding a bonita
Jim Maresca of Levittown, PA with family and friends and weakies (group shot)
Bob Maresca of Levittown, PA with weakie
Cassie St Onge of Davie, FL (Nick’s fiance) and Tessa Jones of Barnegat, NJ with weakies
The good weather window this past week has come to a close and a big powerful swell is here. Hurricane Ernesto slammed Bermuda early Saturday morning and tracked northward. It is a very large somewhat slow moving storm that has sent the greater region large long period swell. The forerunners showed up Friday evening and all day Saturday was pumping on the beaches. Expect the same all weekend and into the early part of the work week.
Once things settle down we are looking forward to picking up where things left off with good fishing in the area.
The past week things were significantly better than the week before. Ocean fluke was sharping up with the reefs and wrecks producing Many areas have an abundance of sea bass as well as ling and most snags have tog too. The sea bass have made fluke fishing in some areas frustrating. We really wish we had the two fish summertime (July & August) bag limit like 2022. Just a reminder NJ Black Sea Bass closes at the end of August. Fluke is open until September 25.
In the bay there are plenty of spot and anglers targeting them are starting to catch some blowfish. Maybe we get a strong late summer showing? Still plenty of fluke, bluefish and striped bass in the bay. Crabbing and clammer are also to great options.
In the inlet anglers are catching tog, fluke, stripers, sheepshead, bluefish, striped bass and weakfish. Take your pick just be careful out there. Its not suggested to fish the outer portion of the jetty while the swell is in town.
We have a full moon on Monday so expect extreme high tides. Not sure that we will get the extreme lows too. Be on the look out for the mullet to start moving even more than they have during this next lunar cycle. Ocean water temperatures are warm ranging in the upper 60’s to low 70’s.
After a challenging start to the season with upwelling and cooler water temperatures, I’m pleased to report that this week has brought some excellent fishing conditions. In the back bays, we’ve seen a significant uptick in activity, with plenty of small croakers, spot, fluke, and the occasional weakfish making for a great experience with the kids.
Inshore, our local reefs and wrecks have proved to be productive spots. The summer flounder and sea bass are biting well, with numerous shorts and some impressive keepers in the mix. It’s all shaping up to be a great time for targeting these species.
For those venturing further offshore, the mahi-mahi fishing has been outstanding. We’ve been seeing larger fish start to show up, and if the water temperatures continue to rise, we can expect an increase in yellowfin tuna and wahoo in the mix as well.
Looking ahead to September, I have a variety of dates still available for both inshore and offshore trips. Whether you’re aiming to reel in fluke closer to shore or chasing mahi-mahi, tuna, and wahoo further out, there’s plenty of opportunity to secure a great day on the water! Feel free to reach out to book your next fishing adventure.
609-494-5739 
