Month: May 2026

Late May is delivering Long Beach Island some spring magic. After a wet holiday weekend, the beaches cleaned up and the sun is back out. The surf is fishy with good looking white water, clean – clear green water and very little weed along the tide line. (We got work the north end had some weed.) It’s prime-time for spring striped bass and with water temperatures in the mid-50s, the next couple of weeks could offer some of the best opportunities of the spring run. The LBI Spring Derby is in full swing with a great spread of catches on the leaderboard and there’s a bluefish and black drum on the board. The Derby’s Surf Master Catch – Photo – Release Division is lit up daily with submissions of over sized striped bass.

More info on the Derby >>> https://www.lbisfc.com/lbi-spring-surf-fishing-tournament

Here’s the Long Beach Island fishing report update brought to you by Greg at Fishermans Headquarters. Let’s go fishing!

On the local fishing front, the surf continues to be the standout. Clams remain the top producer for striped bass. There’s quality striped bass catches (fish in the upper 30″ range and over 40″ range) reported daily. There have also been some nice fish taken on lures, including the classic surf casting swimmers and larger glide baits. This is normally the time when anglers start mixing bunker into the game. We got a beautiful delivery of fresh bunker this evening (Tuesday 5pm). We have live eels in stock which are a great option right now for those hunting a bigger class of bass especially at night.

Fluke fishing is start but slowly. The waters have been chilly. Everyone’s fingers are crossed that it will come alive once the waters warm up… maybe this week or next, it will come soon. Reports from the beach, inlet and bay are popping in. Below is Kayla Kovalak who sent in this recent catch photo.

There’s a few bluefish showing up with a couple being caught off the surf, inlet and bay. Gary Grippaldi weighed in a 11.78# gator this evening that he caught off the mid-Island surf on bunker. We had a few other report from small to large size range. They are showing up! A few weakfish, spot and blowfish have showed up too.

Captain Steve Purul reported strong fishing this past weekend even though the weather wasn’t the best the bass were chewing. On Monday, “perfect and productive morning!” He’s dialed in so if you are looking to get out on a charter give him a call today! Call / Text Captain Steve – 609.290.1217

Stop by Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom for bait, tackle, fresh line, reel service, rod repair and the local intel you need to make the most of your next trip. Also 24/7 at www.FishermansHeadquarters.com

Remember Amazon Don’t Fish!

LBI Surf Striper Bite Still Cranking! Big Bass Showing, New Moon Shift & Memorial Day Outlook

The spring surf fishing season on Long Beach Island continues to fire on all cylinders with striped bass dominating the action up and down the beaches. Anglers fishing clam are seeing the best success, while some are also finding fish on bunker chunks and lures. Another less popular but very effective method is fishing live sand fleas, mole crabs. That’s what these fish rooting around the suds are eating!

After several weeks of incredibly consistent fishing, there’s been a slight taper in the overall abundance of bass BUT quality fish are now becoming a bigger part of the story. The catches of 40″+ striped bass are becoming more common the season transitions through the recent new moon phase. We are now in the final chapter of spring fishing with only one month to summer on June 21.

Water temperatures remain cool and it has helped keep the striped bass locked into the area longer. Currently the Long Beach Island surf is in the mid-50’s. It seems like for the most part they have been parked on the LBI beaches and fortunately for us they are hungry. Surf anglers continue catching even with salted and frozen clam. The black drum bite has slowed but they remain here and a viable target for at least a coup-le more weeks. Bluefish are beginning to trickle into the mix and some fluke reports are starting up in the bay, inlet and surf. Offshore, black sea bass season is underway with better reports coming from deeper water trips (80’+). Once the inshore waters warm up in a couple week we should have a better shot with a shorter run.

Penn Van Tour Event

Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial kickoff to summer on LBI and here at Fisherman’s Headquarters we are ready. RAIN OR SHINE – The Penn Van Tour rolls into Fish Heads this Saturday May 23, 2026 from 10am to 2pm. There will be special deals, new apparel, tackle blowouts and plenty of popular best selling fishing gear for the spring and summer fisheries. Spend $50 on Pure Fishing Brand Products (Penn, Fenwick, Abu, Berkeley, Spiderwire, Stren) and score a chance to win a Fenwick rod & Penn Fathom 300 low profile reel outfit. Also bring your recent catch to the event… Live Fish Prints by Tim at Tiger Shrimp Prints.

Whether you’re chasing striped bass in the surf, gearing up for fluke season or looking for the latest local fishing intel… Stop by Fisherman’s Headquarters in Ship Bottom or shop online at www.FishermansHeadquarters.com

The spring fishery is as good as it gets for surfcasters working the sands of Long Beach Island. The past couple of weeks were great and it keeps on grinding. There’s NOT blitzing fish breaking under birds; however most of the cuts, bowls, toughs and gutters have fish. The spring run is alive on the LBI surf and anglers putting in the time are being rewarded with great catches. Here’s the Long Beach Island Fishing Report Update for Monday May 11, 2026.

Anglers are finding striped bass and black drum on the beaches of LBI both day and night, many times in all of the tide phases and some days in gorgeous and others foul weather. Here’s my latest fishing report video that was published on Friday May 8, 2026.

Last week we have had a lot of firsts…

• First week of fluke fishing season! The opening on May 4th and the first week wasn’t lit up with great fluke fishing but we did here some scattered catch reports. Two challenges were chilly ocean water on the incoming current and weedy conditions at many areas. Let’s hope it get’s better.
• First bluefish of the season! Store staffer and Van Staal Reel Tech caught a toothy yellow eye chunking off the surf. After sharing Frankies catch a few other bluefish reports have come in. Usually around Mother’s Day we see some. Maybe a bunch! Happy belated Mother’s Day to all of the moms!
• First sheepshead of the season! Cooper Adams caught a 21″ sheepshead while hunting striped bass and drum on the LBI surf.
• First 50# black drum of the season! Jamie Gramley shared a photo that he took of a friend’s catch, a monster surf side black drum.