Mid-May is a great time for fishing Long Beach Island and the local central NJ waters. Whether inshore, offshore or from shore right now offers arguably the year’s best fishing opportunities. Below is a morning fishing report video from yesterday May 17 and then it’s followed up by a quick fishing report below. To All… Good Luck Fishing!

Striped Bass

It’s prime time spring bassin’ on LBI. This year the bass fish showed up a little earlier and surf anglers have scored. I’ll go out there and say it… so far this spring on LBI has been one of the better if not the best run we’ve seen in a handful of years. As more post spawn striped bass migrate into and through our waters the already lit stage will pop off!

Expect solid fishing from here through June’s new moon (6/9/21) and then things will taper off fast especially if the water stays warm. Some years we get upwelling events that keep the big bass until 4th of July. Once that wave moves through it’s all about the residence bass population which are a special treat to us on LBI! They really showed early this season in a strong way.

Bluefish

So far the blues haven’t showed in the number that everyone would have liked but there have been some yellow eye flurries. A couple gators were caught in the Barnegat Bay. Many more however smaller blues in the cocktail size (1-2#) are frequenting the Barnegat Inlet.

Eli Haegele reported two days in a row catching some small toothy ones fishing the rocks on the north end. Here’s three he kept of the 20 he caught.

Black Drum

Black Drum were caught in recent days in the bay and surf but boat and land based anglers.

Weakfish

They are here. Hopefully is matches up to last years run which was a big improvement from what we have seen over the past five or so years.

Summer Flounder

Very good showing of fluke pre-season! Their abundance in the surf, inlet and bay is telling that opening day May 22 and the beginning stretch will be strong!

Black Sea Bass

Bottom fishing – Wreck fishing for black sea bass is a fun especially jigging. Lots of boats have been out since opening day May 15th with good catch reports to share. Get out there while the weather and fishing is good!

I’ve found that the slender sand eel jigs have been best for me in terms of the jig game. I went out Sunday and we jigged up a bunch. We opted to leave the clam and home and it paid off.

If you are looking for clams we are doing our best to keep a stock in all spring for black bass, rock bass and drum.