Here on Long Beach Island the ocean surf temps are straddling high-60s/low-70s but soon we’ll see a flip of the switch and things will get colder. Let’s hope we have another week or two of these great September sessions. It really has felt like fall since Erin. The recent full moon nudged schools of peanut bunker and mullet closer towards the inlets. With some of the traffic lights already blinking yellow the Island looks like fall. Here’s the fishing report update for the Long Beach Island area for Sunday September 14, 2025. Be sure to check out my latest fishing report video from Friday linked below.
For the most part things are the same from my last report… there’s a variety of things going on.
If you want fast bend-the-rod fishing, start at Barnegat Inlet rocks for blackfish (tog / tautog) with green crabs or sand fleas. Tog fishing has been active since the season opened (lots of shorts, better size class should show as temps tick down). Sand flea soakers are occasionally finding sheepshead too.
Fluke are still in play fishing the bay’s main channels and inlet as well as the surf. The biggest are coming from the deeper edges and on bigger baits. Here’s a 12# 30″ fluke that was caught yesterday by Jimmy Nacion fishing live bait inside.
Channels, inlet, rocks and surf are producing as well as nearshore wrecks/reefs when sea conditions allow. The NJ Fluke season runs through Sept 25 (last day to fish) so don’t delay at scoring the final inning of 2025/s summer flounder fishing season. Below is Jared Zaum who sent in this photo of his recent catch. This 23″ 5# fluke was caught off the Barnegat Inlet rocks. This is the main funnel where fluke slide out on their way offshore for the fall and winter.
Anglers fishing the inshore waters are finding a variety of fishing. There’s tog and fluke. While the water is warm, there will be cobia, mahi and triggerfish too. Also here… albies! Tony Butch shared this report from yesterday, “What a day! We set out this morning hunting for cobia and caught a 40#. Then switched gears to bottom fishing and boxed up a couple tog. Then we put a hurt on the fluke… 3 man limit with Fish Heads Alumni Bill having the largest at 7#.”
Captain Greg Carr aboard LBI Charters reports, “It has been a 9 days since we sailed due to a stretch of poor weather. Saturday was good so we went out fluke fishing. Didn’t expect much and it’s kind of what we got. Some life at times with some beautiful sea bass going back (season is closed until October; October 10 fish bag and then November and December 15 fish bag). My guys fished hard and ended with 10 keeper fluke and a couple XL triggerfish.” One is photoed below. Looking to get our fishing with Captain Greg give him a call at 856.2640319.
In the surf, expect bluefish with shots at kingfish, fluke and possibly pompano. You might even get a striped bass. The bass will become more common along the surf and jetty areas as the peanut bunker, bay anchovies and mullet get moving. Keep an eye out for life along the edges as that’s where mullet trickles through.
The LBI Surf Fishing Classic started a month early and runs through Nov 30 with daily and weekly prizes for kingfish, bluefish, striped bass, tog and fluke. It has been a strong start. Glenn Curtis (above) caught this 3.25# bluefish off the surf and currently holds the lead in the LBI Surf Fishing Classic. For full details on the surf fishing tournament check out… www.LBISFC.com
Did you see the bullshark video we posted on Instagram? If not watch this crazy one now. Yes there was a couple nights where the boys, Austin Pounds and friends Jetty Jockeys got into them and it wasn’t just one. Crazy!!!! I question and ask are these guys just showing up for a long around or were they here all summer and just leaving now?
