Coming down off of May’s full moon our expectations are high for a great stretch of fishing! Things are happening and will be rocking any day. All we need to do is get this (hopefully final) cold snap behind us. It’s time to FISH! Here’s the Long Beach Island Fishing Report Update for Friday May 8, 2020.

Bluefish Update
Bluefish reports are more consistent by the day. The fishery is still lacking the presence of gators as cocktails and medium size yellow-eyes rule the roost.
Sloane Endick tagged us in a post at sunset, “Live action from the LBI surf. Was getting bites but not hooking up. I changed to a Deadly Dick and bang! The bluefish are here.” She also caught a small bass on the same slender metal lure. For a short clip of the fish/catch go to our Instagram page.
For those that follow us, you saw the live action catch yesterday afternoon with Night Strikes Guide Service’s Steve George. He caught a medium size bluefish off the surf on a rubber swim shad searching for a bass.

Elio Scarpa also tagged us in a bluefish photo catch picture.

Mike Hoven shared this bluefish report today, “Got a few fishing the mid-island this morning and afternoon. All around the same size on plugs and fresh Fish Heads bunker. On bait the skates and dogfish were mixed in.”

Liam Velit sent in this photo… “Got this yellow eye yesterday.”
In the Bay
The annual cinder worm hatch went down around the full moon. Some areas of the bay were loaded with them. It’s always a special time to be fishing the bay. Sometimes can be very frustrating however if approached correctly with light tackle it can be some of the best fishing Barnegat Bay has to offer with striped bass, bluefish and weakfish all slurping on the surface.
Lots of bass on the flats! With the lighter winds Wednesday and Thursday anglers got into this shallow water fishing at it’s finest. This is one of the most un tapped opportunities that the Barnegat Bay and Manahawkin Bay has to offer. Very few fish the shallows. Why? I have no idea. I think it’s because anglers look to and like fishing the comforts of deep water.
For me in the spring it couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes the sod banks have fish and can be very productive however, the shallow water rolling flats warm up first and have the best games first.
Summer Flounder Are Showing Strong – More below!
Black Drum
Mike Green aboard the Luckey Stripes went drum fishing today in the southern bay and scored! We have fresh clams right now but there’s no telling how fast they will sell out.

Blowfish
The blowfish reports continue. Today Gary Adiar went out in the rain and caught a bunch.

It’s days like today where quality rain gear is worth its weight in gold. Stay warm, stay dry and enjoy fishing in comfort. We carry the areas largest selection of boot, gloves and all weather gear from top name brands like Grundens, Guy Cotten, Stormr and Xtratuf.
Summer Flounder Fishing
May 22 can’t get here soon enough! Lots of nice fluke are reported every single day this entire week. When the date finally gets here fishing will be good right out of the gate!
Stefen Melekos got three today up to 17.5″.