Prime time summer is here and the summertime spotlight is on inshore fluke and offshore tuna. There’s great summertime bluefish and striped bass action that can be enjoyed on light tackle. Also sheephead and triggers on small crabs near structure with fouling. We have a variety of bait presence fueling the action; peanut bunker, spearing, cinder worms, grass shrimp, mole crabs and baby blue crabs. Fish the structure (rocks, rips, bowls, gutters) and match the hatch to connect.
The beaches and local waters are full of fishing opportunities, but they are also at peak season congestion. Fish earlier or later in the day for more breathing space.
LBI Surf Fishing Report
The best targets are fluke and kingfish on the LBI surf. One of the most effective ways to catch fluke off the beach is fishing Gulp on a jig. It can be fish solo or with a teaser. Another method is using a single drop or double drop rig (hi/lo). Do not use long leader hi/lo or 3 way style rigs as they cast very poorly and can tangle in the surf’s wave action turbulence. These style rigs are for drift fishing in a boat.
For kingfish use a small hook hi/lo rig that is dressed with pill floats. Rig up a small weight 1/2-3oz is most common depending on the surf conditions and the rod and reel outfit being used. A light 7-8-9′ rod is great. Bait up with live bloodworms or Fish Bites.
TIP: Look for pockets of water, cuts, gutter and rips and focus on them first. If nothing is going on in the first 15 minutes, approach from a different angle and also try another bait. Then prospect another area (might be tough with the crowds) and then another. If three spots in the area don’t produce bites, fish a different tide. Once dialed in you will enjoy some fun summertime surf fishing fun.
Barnegat Bay & Inlet Fishing Report
The bay and inlet zones remain productive, especially for fluke and blues. Anglers drifting the channels and working the structure are catching fluke with keepers in the mix. In recent days we have heard of numerous 4-6# fluke caught by both boat and land based anglers.
Kyle Bucktail scored some nice fluke and a beautiful weakfish off the rock this week.
Also the blues continue to make appearances in the inlet and adjacent areas. Brendan Faust caught this bluefish (below) as well as many others fly fishing the waters of LBI with Captain Zach Flake aboard Fly Away Charters.
I’ve been out fishing a bunch over the past week. I’ve have had great success catching fluke with Gulp Shrimp and Gulp Grubs 5/6″ both White and Pink Shine. Also live minnow! My best fishing has been n the outgoing, but for me the (past week or more) incoming tide has offered my best success with active fluke in the clean and clear water with little to no snot/seaweed. With the recent storm activity I expect things to be churned up but only time will tell. I’m looking to get back out there today after these storms clear. I’m expecting it might take a couple tides or days to settle down.
This past weekend I fished the 10th annual Fluke-A-Mania Fluke Tournament hosted by the Beach Haven Marlin Tuna Club. My crew and I caught a boat limit + but nothing bigger than 4#. We managed two really good size bluefish.
Congrats to the top three largest fluke…
- 6.76# Jason Marti and Mike Green
- 6.56# Philaay
- 5.92# Morning Wood
Philaay’s 17.58# three fish stringer was the heaviest and earned the team a wad of cash. We managed to catch the only two bluefish in the tournament and took home the side bet calcutta with a 7.98# bluefish. Below is Mike Greene holding up a pair of his fluke.
Whether it’s dropping a couple hand lines from the dock or some traps off a bayside bulkhead, crabbing offers fun for families and kids.
Now’s the time to get dialed in and enjoy some time on the water. Enjoy the catch and then the cook! Here at Fisherman’s Headquarters, the shop is fully stocked with bait and tackle to outfit for inshore and offshore fishing. Stop in or give us a call and let us help you catch more fish this summer.
