I have been watching this weather window for days and it is still right on the fence for what I like to sail in. The early morning looks good, but they have the wind coming up in the afternoon. I am going to keep getting ready as if we are going but there is always a chance I will cancel right up until our ride out the inlet or during our ride out to the grounds. It’s not beyond me to pull the plug if I don’t feel it’s right and I don’t make these decisions based on people’s level of disappointment. I feel it’s important to offer this information so you know what you are signing up for. You will always have a better chance of getting to the tuna grounds if you book another boat. I openly tell people that all the time. I’m not ashamed of it, I know where I am in the food chain. At the end of the day, we are a 25 foot center console. It is a very capable 25 foot, twin engine catamaran, with all the necessary safety equipment, including an inspected 6 man Viking life raft, EPIRB (search and rescue satellite beacon), on board Sirius/XM weather station that lets us track any storm cells and see new ones as they are born, redundant electronics including radar. I had all that stuff before I bought the first gold reel. 

I will continue to monitor the marine weather forecast right up until “go time”. The inlet is another factor in these departures in the dark. Fortunately, we have incoming tide on both our departure and return, which always makes for calmer conditions in the inlet.  

Open Boat Canyon Tuna, this Saturday June 11. 2AM to 4PM (usually later). $650 person plus tip for the mate. 4 people max. All fish are shared. We will be mostly trolling, targeting yellowfin and mahi. There is some warm water that pushed in and the boats that ran did well on good size yellowfin and gaffer size mahi. I will also have the tilefish rods and gear on board if we want to try. Sorry, no electric reels, we hand crank. Anyone interested in reserving a spot should call me on my cell below.

Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

Things have been strong in the LBI fishing arena with a variety of species for both beach and boat anglers. The past week there was an influx of bluefish which made for drag pulling excitement. Also some of the spring’s largest striped bass were caught and released (due to the new regulations). Anglers fishing bunker on the surf have caught striped bass and bluefish among incidentals; dogfish, skates, brown sharks. Anglers fishing clam on the surf have caught striped bass and some size-able black drum. Sea bass fishing at the mid-shore and offshore wreck sites has been productive. Fluke fishing has been good but not great for most. We are hoping that improved this month. Offshore fishing is firing up with reports of yellowfin, bluefin, big eye, tilefish among others starting.

Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Report

Recent Weigh In – Glenn Curtis caught a 17.86# 37-7/8″ striped bass off the LBI surf. He was fishing bunker and clam on the north end surf. His catch came on bunker fished short, close to the beach.

Another great report came in from Jim Crane who caught a brown shark, two blues, a big black drum and a big striped bass. Lots of other striped bass and bluefish were reported the past few days.

Upcoming Fluke Fishing Tournaments

The 26th Anniversary JCAA Fluke Tournament is this Saturday, June 11th. Join in because there’s a lot to win!!!… $50,000, A Boat/Motor/Trailer, Thousands is Region & Door Prizes! Enter the doormat fluke category for $25 and if you catch the largest fluke over 12 lbs. you will win $50,000. There is also a $1200 cash prize for the largest fluke caught in each of our 7 regions. The cash prizes are guaranteed regardless of the number of entrants. There are 1st to 7th prizes for each region so just about everyone may win a prize. The awards ceremony will be at Resorts Casino in AC with registration beginning at around 5 PM on 6/17/22. For complete details go to www.jcaa.org

Fluke-A-Mania – Saturday June 24, 2022

The 7th Annual Fluke-A-Mania Fluke Fishing Tournament hosted by the Beach Haven Marline & Tuna club is quickly approaching. Register now or at the Captain’s Meeting on Friday, June 24 from 5PM – 9PM. For more info… https://www.flukeamania.com/

The new month of June is here and with it we have a great variety of fishing opportinutes here on Long Beach Island and the surrounding waters. Both beach and boat anglers are catching. In recent days we’ve had good fishing for striped bass, blues, fluke, weakfish, kingfish and black drum, among others (sheepshead, blowfish, sea bass).

As per my last report video I hinted at the great opportunity for a shot at quality fish around the new moon (5/29-5/30), with a new wave of fish and possibly the spring’s biggest striped bass. Well, for the most part played out. More blues showed and some weakfish too. A few black drum catches popped up. And some big striped bass were caught.

There was a minor upwelling event that took place from Monday night’s hard south blow but fishing has continued right through it. If anything it was a great reprieve from the heat wave. Due to this event there are large water temperature swings at the Inlet and waters in close proximity. I had waters as cold as 51 degrees on the flood tide Tuesday and as warm as 75 degrees on the flats during outgoing tide. The south wind also ripped up the snot which was growing from spring’s fertilizer run off and now it’s a hindrance at many areas on the ebb tide. Knowing of this swing should help all better prepare for a trip.

Off The Surf – LBI Surf Fishing Report

The striped bass fishing has been steady, not epic, along the beaches of LBI. This spring has been one of the better runs and it keeps on giving. Clam has been the best bait for most of the spring. Finally some bunker pods are beginning to come together. Expect a couple more weeks of surf side stripers and then they will really thin down in abundance. The bluefish made a good showing the past few days with anglers catching some good size ones off the surf. As these surf temps creep into summer more kingfish will arrive and hold in the Island’s beach structure, toughs and holes. Fluke fishing off the LBI surf is decent at the prime structures. Both kingfish and fluke will offer good fishing all summer long.

Barnegat Inlet Fishing Report

The “big three” are all being caught regularly at the Inlet rocks; striped bass, bluefish and fluke. Now’s a great time to take a shot at not only a slam but a Barnaget Bay Grand Slam. Yes there’s weakfish being caught. Randy Edwards caught a nice one on a Kettle Creek Paddle Tail. Also reported from the area sheepshead and black drum.

In The Bay – LBI’s Bayside Fishing Report

What started out as a phenomenal first couple weeks has become more challenging; warmer temperatures, grasses conditions, lots more boat pressure and boat traffic. But anglers are working and putting together some good catches. One epic catch was reported in from Gina Brenner. She caught a 12# fluke fishing the bay with live bait.

I’ve been all around the bay and have caught fish at just about everywhere I fished however finding quality fish was a different story. One day I had five keepers and one short in a two hour session. But the next day eight shorts and one keeper. I can’t seem to find any sort of consistent theme but I’m hunting and working through the paces. Mid June is when I switch over to focus primarily on fluke. Yes I sacrifice some of the best early season fluke fishing but that’s when I’m 100% focused on striped bass.

I had Marty Rodgers and his family from Ship Bottom, NJ out today for an interesting mix of fishing. We had two keeper sea bass among a lot of throwbacks, as well as a legal 21 inch cod, all at the Tires. We stopped to fish the inlet jetty on the way back and added a 28 and 30 inch striper to the cooler. Both on bunker we snagged right there at the jetty. 
Going to do more of the same tomorrow, Monday May 30 7AM to 1PM, Open Boat or Charter. If Open Boat, $165 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. We could mix in the bottom fishing at the reef or just stay on the stripers the whole time. This time slot works perfect. The tide will be on the slow down and start up. The wind is light all morning and doesn’t come up until late in the afternoon. Tons of bunker right now.
Call to reserve a spot.
Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

The weather hasn’t great but the fishing has been fire! Right now there is a great variety of species in the waters surrounding Long Beach Island. Let’s get out and go fishing!

Striped bass – Bluefish – Fluke – Black Drum – Kingfish – Weakfish – Blowfish – Sea Bass – Cod – Sheepshead and I’m sure others that are missing from the list.

The big (most popular) three striped bass, fluke and bluefish are on the LBI surf, Barnegat Inlet and Barnegat Bay, Manahawkin Bay and Great Bay.

LBI Surf Fishing Report

Now is the time to fish the Long Beach Island surf! Approaching the late May new moon on Monday (5/30) we are in the prime part of the spring run. This is your shot at a quality striped bass on the surf.

Today Chris Masino was in the shop getting some essentials before hitting the beach for an evening plugging session. He sent a message in at about 9pm, “Thanks for the AVA Jigs tonight! I got a good one on the eight footer, 41 inches.” Chris also shared that an angler fishing close by also caught a nice striped bass.

Striped Bass & Bluefish On The LBI Surf

Craig Perucki reported, “While soaking clam looking for bass I decided to cast a white Daiwa SP Minnow lure with a teaser. After a few casts I hook up! Nice hit but not a big fish. Then as I was reeling in…. BANG! Another hit. I finally reeled it into the beach and it was a bass on the SP and a bluefish on the teaser.” Photo below under “Bluefish Report” section.

Dallas Tharp caught this striped bass off the Ship Bottom surf Wednesday.

Black Drum & Kingfish On The LBI Surf

Michael Lewis caught and released a 34″ drum off the LBI surf’s south end on salted clam. Black drum have been around for a number of weeks. They are a couple drum catch reports from the surf but many more from the bay.

Yup! There’s kingfish on the surf. Theo Door posted this photo of his son with a pair of kingfish he caught off of the LBI surf on Fish Bites.

Bluefish Report

There’s bluefish on the LBI surf, inlet and bays. While it isn’t epic fishing there are good flurries of action at the right places and time. Store staffers Tyler and Paul have got into some fun fishing this past week. A number of other reports have come in from happy customers. Hunter Bunnell posted a photo on Wednesday evening of his mom with a nice Barnegat Inlet bluefish.

We will be sailing Open Boat Sat, Sun, Mon, and Tues this holiday weekend, May 28, 29, 30, 31. Sat 5:30AM to 11:30AM, Sun 6AM to Noon, Mon 7AM to 1PM, Tues 10AM to 4PM, all based on tide. $165 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared. Also available to charter these days. 
We will try fishing the inlet jetty for stripers and the back bay for fluke. If the ocean is nice, we could also try the reef for sea bass. 
Here are a few short clips of the 25 and 33 inch stripers we had this past Sunday. Chris Hartman of Lancaster, PA in the blue/silver jacket and Dennis Destefano of Harrisburg, PA in the green sweatshirt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofAawGphXw4
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZZ_F1MlEbcQ

Call to reserve a spot.

See you on board!

Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association Fishing Report

by Jim Hutchinson Sr

With Memorial Day quickly arriving, the captains of the Beach Haven Charter fishing Association are loving the current fishing action. The only big question is deciding what species to target.

There are striped bass to be had in many bay waters, especially in the Great Bay area. Most of these fish are schoolie-sized which makes light tackle action a fun way to go. Some larger stripers are also to be found in the ocean with trolling producing some fish over the slot limit.

The bay fluke action has been intense since the opening of the season several weeks ago. The new size regulations have resulted in a goodly number of fish heading home for dinner. Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” has had great success fishing inside Barnegat Inlet while Captain Gary Dugan on the “Irish Jig” is doing well in Great Bay.

The black sea bass season recently opened with a 10-fish per day limit, and many limit catches have been reported. Captain Max Goldman has seen this action on the “Star Fish.”

Long Beach Island Reef Building

Coinciding with the top-notch fishing action, there are two other actions going on with the BHCFA, both involving its efforts to re-build the local reefs.

The association just received the first of two new truckloads of reef balls. These balls are a cost sharing effort with the Sportfishing Fund. The plan is to deposit some 20- reef balls each on the Little Egg, Garden State North, and Barnegat Light reefs. When completed the BHCFA will have deployed on all four reefs off Long Beach Island including Garden State South Reef.

Do you fish the local reefs? If so donate now here!

The Little Egg deployment will be named the Captain Carl Sheppard Reef, in honor and recognition of his long and devoted service to the BHCFA. Captain Carl is one of the founding members and has held elective office for seventeen of its nineteen years.

Continuing their reef efforts, the Junior Mates will be hosting a sunset cruise on the “Black Pearl” pirate ship on Wednesday, June 22, from 7:00-8:30pm. Proceeds will benefit the reef fund. There will be a brief presentation on the reef project and its benefits. There will be music and a cash bar aboard the boat. 

For more info check out the BHCFA Reef Project website. The donations are tax deductible, and attendance on the cruise is limited to 75. Questions can be directed  to  BHCFA president  Captain John Lewis at [email protected]

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at  www.BHCFA.org .

Fishing was great this past weekend and all signs point to a great week ahead. Striped bass, blues, fluke and NJ black sea bass opens tomorrow the 17th. Here’s the LBI fishing report update on Monday May 16th.

With a wild week of windy weather the fishing reports aren’t flowing like they were. But things are starting to settle down and we have high hopes that mid-May will rock like it always does each year. Let’s go fishing!

FINALLY! The wind subsides enough to have a good go at it in Barnegat Bay this weekend. I will be loaded up with a flat of sandworms and a bucket of fresh salted clams. The target will be stripers, blues, and fluke. Casting lures along the sod banks and channel edges, drift jigging with shad darts tipped with sandworms usually does well for me this time of year for the schoolie bass. Anchoring up and chumming with the fresh clams can produce bigger stripers. Poppers on the west side for blues if we can find them. We can mix in some fluke fishing, it’s all up to you guys. We will be bringing the “kitchen sink”…something has to work…right? 

Sat, Sun, and Mon, May 14, 15, and 16. 6AM to Noon each day. $165 person, 4 people max. All fish are shared. Also available to charter these dates.

See you on board!

Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com