Final Days Of Fluke, Bluefish Blitzes, Moving Mullet & Pompano
The days are getting shorter, mornings are getting cooler and fall is in the air, but the ocean hasn’t gotten the memo yet. Long Beach Island’s surf remains exceptionally warm for mid September, measuring 75°F on the Ship Bottom surf this morning. That warm, clean water is keeping plenty of late summer fishing opportunities alive while the first pieces of the fall transition are beginning to come together. Mullet are moving, spearing and bay anchovies remain abundant, bluefish are feeding aggressively and bonito and false albacore continue to chase small bait. Summer officially ends September 22, but from a fishing standpoint we’re currently enjoying a great overlap between summer and fall. Here’s the Fisherman’s Headquarters Fishing Report Video from Wednesday September 16, 2026.
LBI Surf Fishing Report
Surf fishing hasn’t been great recently, but there are definitely fish to pick at while enjoying some beautiful September beach weather.
Kingfish remain an option and will be available for at least a few more weeks if the warm water sticks around and no big storms churn it up and sweep them out. Fish Head staffer Paul fished the north end surf yesterday and caught a couple kings on Fishbites. Bloodworms are the number one bait. Fishbites, sand fleas and small pieces of fresh mullet can all produce too.
There are also still fluke on the beach. Anglers only have until September 25 to target them before New Jersey’s season closes. Wayne Smith reported short fluke chewing Gulp this morning.
For these final days of surf fluking, keep things simple. A single jig is one of the most effective presentations. On calm days without excessive current, sweep or swell, a 3/8 to 3/4-ounce lead head paired with a Gulp Jerk Shad covers most situations. Pink Shine and Chartreuse Pepper Neon are two of the most popular colors.
The Jerk Shad is an especially good match right now because of the small, slender baitfish (particularly spearing) along the LBI surf. Unlike a Gulp Swimming Mullet or Grub, it doesn’t have a curly tail creating its own action. Fish it with subtle pulses and twitches to bring the bait to life.
Pompano Are Back on the Radar
Here’s an interesting report: Pompano!
Joe from Keeper’s Liquor Store in Barnegat Light reported a pompano caught recently in the north end surf on a small jig. We heard more pompano reports around this time last year and while one fish doesn’t make a bite, where there’s one there could certainly be more.
Pompano can be targeted much like kingfish with small hook rigs baited with bloodworms, Fishbites, sand fleas or small pieces of bait. They can also be caught actively fishing micro jigs.
We have two good options at Fisherman’s Headquarters: the JYG Pro Mycro Jig and Buccaneer Pompano Wiggler Jig with Stinger. With 75-degree, clean surf water, pompano are certainly a species worth keeping on the radar over the next couple of weeks.
Mullet Are Starting to Move
This might be the most important development to watch in the coming days and weeks.
We’re now waxing toward the first quarter of the Harvest Moon and mullet movement has increased. We’ve had reports/catches of mullet on both the north and south ends of Long Beach Island, and Fish Head’s staffer Emmett is keeping our coolers stocked with fresh baits.
While on the topic of local baits… there are still plenty of spearing and bay anchovies along the beachfront. These small baits have been abundant in the bays throughout the summer and for a few weeks (or more) long the surf. These guys make up an important part of the surfside action right now attracting bonito and bluefish. Albies could be showing up to the party anyday.
When these fish are feeding on small rainbait, match the hatch. Small epoxy jigs, compact metals, diamond jigs and other slender presentations are excellent choices. The Yo-Zuri Hydro Shot is another productive option.
As September progresses, watch for the forage base to gradually shift. Spearing and anchovies are important right now, but increasing mullet movement could be the spark that pushes us further into fall fishing. Our fingers are crossed some bunker will school up this fall, but we aren’t holding our breath.
Bluefish Provide Some of the Best Action
Fluke and bluefish are probably the two best local opportunities right now.
Bluefish remain around in a variety of sizes and we’ve heard several reports over the past few days of fish balling up bait and breaking loose with feeding frenzies.
Barnegat Inlet and the north end of LBI have been particularly productive. Steve Cammann reported bluefish crashing bait recently and Rob Crossley took his daughter out after school and found another round of feeding blues.
Above: 9/19/27 – Saturday morning tournament weigh in from Fred Finger. Fred caught this 3.42# bluefish on a lure fishing Barnegat Light.
These yellow eyes provide outstanding light tackle fishing when they’re chasing bait. Small metals, epoxy jigs and small plugs are all excellent options.
As increasing numbers of mullet begin moving toward and eventually out of Barnegat Inlet, hopefully these bluefish stay right with them. That’s one of the classic ingredients of our early fall fishery.
Barnegat Bay Fishing
The blowfish bite has improved considerably compared to what we saw through much of the summer. The last several reports have included better numbers of blowfish in Barnegat Bay, providing another fun option for anglers looking for steady bay action.
There are also still fluke available in both the bay and Barnegat Inlet during these final days of the season.
Weakfish have been part of the September mix as well, particularly smaller spike weakies. That bite is another one worth targeting as we move deeper into the month.
Sheepshead & Tog
Sheepshead are still here and fishing has been good. Fish Heads alumni Willie Davis recently stopped into the shop to load up on Bottom Sweeper Jigs and reported good sheepshead fishing. With the water still extremely warm, these fish should remain available for several more weeks.
Tog are a different story. The local inlet tog bite has been slow. The better (not great) fishing has been further out on the jetty. The warm water certainly isn’t helping. In the low to mid 70’s on the surf, we’re still well above the cooler conditions normally associated with improving fall tog fishing around the inlet rocks.
As water temperatures eventually cool, we expect that bite to improve. Anglers will soon catch with green crabs and sand fleas. October is historically a great month for land base anglers fishing the rocks at Barnegat Inlet.
Nine Days Left to Fluke Fish
The clock is ticking. New Jersey’s fluke season closes September 25, leaving just nine days from this report to get in those final trips.
There are still fluke on the surf, in Barnegat Bay, around Barnegat Inlet and on the inshore wrecks and reefs. The ocean has produced some quality fish this month, so don’t put the fluke tackle away just yet.
Summer Water, Fall Fishing
September is a transition month, and right now we’re seeing that transition happen in real time.
Get out and enjoy the final days of summer and the final days of fluke season. Keep an eye out for working birds and nervous water, have a small metal or epoxy jig ready for hardtails and blues, and start paying close attention to the mullet run.
Fisherman’s Headquarters is open daily, year-round in Ship Bottom. We’re fully stocked with bait and tackle for the surf, bay, inlet and offshore fisheries. We’re also a full-service rod and reel repair shop specializing in Penn and Van Staal service and parts.
Helping anglers catch more fish since 1962.
