LBI NJ Fishing Report – LBI Surf Fishing, Barnegat Bay & Inlet

Continued strong Southerlies are keeping the inshore ocean temps closer the upper fifties leading to a favorable Summer striper bite. Light spinning tackle while employing artifiicials is our keys to success. Double digit bass numbers are the norm with some keepers thrown into the mix , rewarding both novice and veteran  bass anglers aboard the Reel Fantasea.

The summer pattern has prevailed this week on Barnegat Bay and if you have ever studied about pattern fishing you will catch fish every time. Well almost….. Hard afternoon southerlies have made fishing down right difficult. Around the inlet short to keeper bass are still available for those willing to leave the morning coffee brewing. If you know what I am saying. I have had some great sessions throwing BKDs and even had one of my client’s box a bass in between the shorts and blues. The bluefish that I have encountered are all over the place when it comes to size. You land a two pounder, then one around 10 pounds, then another around four. Not complaining, my trips have been a lot of fun with light tackle. I have found the fluke bite still hot when you catch the right tide at the right place. I am talking 10 or more fish an hour. Lots of shorts but enough fillets for a dinner or two. Can’t remember when I have seen this many small fluke this early on. I’m talking 12” and under. In most of the years past, I have seen countless small fluke close to the inlet come August, not now. Crabbing in my neck of the woods, or should I say Bay, remains solid.

On the nature side of things: I spent an afternoon this week with Ben Wurst from Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ and another volunteer surveying Osprey nests on the western part of Barnegat Bay from Barnegat to the Causeway. This was some super cool stuff. The kind of stuff I dreamt about doing when I was a kid. The mission was to do a census of young ospreys. Those that were old enough to be banded were. Those that were too young will get banded in the near future. The nests ranged from no sign of eggs or chicks to three pretty big chicks. At one nest, when Ben climbed up to check it he got to witness a chick just starting to poke its head out of the shell. Going to switch it up and attach some pictures from the Osprey survey instead of fishing. While going from nest to nest it was amazing to see how many schools of very small peanut bunker there were. Hopefully, that sets the tone for the fall run. I have a busy schedule already for the week ahead but there are still a few prime time open if you are looking to get out. Also, once the water temp off the beach stabilizes I will before offering again off the beach sharking trips (just off the breakers to five miles out). The typical action on one of these trips is multiple hook-ups with hard fighting sharks in the 40-80 pound class.  I use  7′ Okuma Pez Vela rods with matching 30-pound class conventional reels.  These outfits were designed for pitching baits to Pacific Sailfish making them a perfect fit for inshore sharking. If this kind of trip interests you give me a call and before you know it you may here click,     click,  clickkkkkkkkkkkkk shark on!

Living the dream,

Capt. Alex 609-548-2511

James Bailey sent in this photo, double fisted with a recent catch from Barnegat Bay!

Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association Fishing Report by Jim Hutchinson Sr. 

The Fourth of July weekend means that the summer fishing season has officially arrived in Beach Haven. The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have been making their mark fishing from the bays to the canyons and are making plans for more productive trips.

Captain Peter Doran fished the Wilmington Canyon on an overnight trip a couple of days ago on the “Mud Duck” and ended up with a good mix of pelagic species. They finished the trip with three nice yellowfin tuna to 50-pounds, mahi, tilefish, and a good-sized mako shark. They also saw several white marlin in the spread and tailing on the surface. Captain Doran feels it won’t be long until they show up in better numbers.

Captain Dave Kreines had the Dahlberg family out for a bay fishing trip on the “Byte Me.” They fished the Intercoastal waterway behind Beach Haven and had a nice pick of fluke, smooth dogfish, and sea robins. The group finished up with two nice keeper fluke and a great time on the water.

With the black sea bass season temporarily closed, it is frustrating to fish structure in the ocean for summer flounder and pull up big sea bass. Captain Carl Sheppard had the Young family out on the “Star Fish” and that was the situation. They did manage to pull in some keeper fluke in 60- feet of water. Mate Marlyn Graham was in constant motion running around the boat unhooking fish.

Captain Jimmy Zavacky had a father and son charter out on the “Reel Determined” recently, and they caught “tons” of large sea bass, but all were released with the season closed. Captain Jimmy announced the BHCFA Junior Mates had their first class with 12 eager junior mates in attendance and more expected at the next session.

Captain Ray Lopez had no trips slated last weekend but announced he has open dates coming up and is eager to put some anglers on the fish.

Captain John Lewis has just returned from Florida with his last boat delivery of the spring season. He is anxious to get the “Insatiable” out on the tuna grounds as he has gotten some excellent reports of bluefin, yellowfin, and bigeye already hitting the docks along with quite a few large makos.

Additional Information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.net.

The action has been very good with most trips catching 20 to 35 fish when the conditions are optimal.  The short to keeper ratios have ranged from 10 to 1 down to as low as 4 to 1.  Drift speed and drift angle has been the biggest factor, but when they are right – you can nail them.  We have been finding some of the keepers in very skinny water away from the crowds.  Reminder: We have started running 7 days a week until September.

In the beginning of the week, I had return client Tom McGough of Harrisburg, PA, his wife Kristen, Andy McGough of Philadelphia, and James McGough of Altoona on a 4hr Bay/Inlet charter. We started working one of the areas we worked the day prior and had steady action. With good tide and a solid bite, we stayed in two areas for a duration of the trip. The crew jigged 4 keeper Fluke to 21 inches and a lone 23 inch Bluefish. Nice job by the McGough family and I look forward to seeing them next year.

Next, I had Jacyn Kehr and his girlfriend Hannah Burger of Minnesota on a 4hr Bay/Inlet charter. We checked a couple of areas, but finally found a pretty good body of fish. The duo worked a very shallow area to produce 5 solid keepers (19, 21, 22, 22, 23.5 inches). The bigger fish were definitely on the feed today. All fish were caught on artificials and our new custom teasers. Nice job by both anglers and hope to see you next season.

I had Russ Johnson of Long Beach Island, Alan Gordon of Florida, and Peter Smith of NY on a 4hr Bay/Inlet charter. We had a little more wind then the day prior, but were able to get right on the fish. Russ struck first with a solid 19-inch on the first drift which was quickly boxed, followed by several shorts by Alan and Peter. We worked the same area hard and picked at fish with close to 30 Fluke being released. We lost 2 nice fish alongside the boat and it is so important to keep bigger fish below the surface.  With our next to last drift approaching, Russ nailed another solid 19.5 inch Fluke. Overall it was a solid day and the guys had a blast.

Thursday’s winds were tough making our drifts very quick.  I had return client Stan B. of Rahway and Michael Siessel of Princeton on a 4hr Bay/Inlet charter.  We got out early due to the predicted winds and got right on the fish.  The guys worked hard jigging bucktails over some skinny waters.  About halfway through the trip, the forecasted winds arrived early and we had to contend with sustained 22kt winds and gusts to 30.  The guys worked hard to release 17 fish and boat one nice 20.5 inch keeper in ultra challenging drift conditions.  Great job in tough conditions.  My Friday charter was cancelled due to poor wind conditions, so we will be back at them as soon as the winds subside.

If interested in booking a charter, book through the website (www.reelreactioncharters.com) or call/text 609-290-7709. As always, we use the highest quality gear and everything is included: gear, tackle, fish-cleaning, and ICE!  It’s “no worries” fishing.  Just come aboard and FISH.

Capt. Brett Taylor ~ www.reelreactioncharters.com ~ Call or Text: 609-290-7709

Fishing remains hot both inshore and offshore. The fluking in the bay continues to improve as customers are finding quality fish in bigger numbers. Weakfish and Kingfish are also starting to show up big time.  Makos of all sizes are still being caught on the midshore/offshore grounds as well. The bluefin are still chewing pretty good with fish up to over 60″ and quality yellowfin mixed in. As long as this bait holds the fish are not going anywhere for the time being even with this south blow coming.

Tight Lines,

Dan DiPasquale

If fish are in schools, why don’t they read the books about fishing? With all of the south wind, we have had the ocean temp along the beach has dropped well into the 50’s. So my plan of attack for striped bass was to catch the incoming, colder water when they should be feeding. During Friday’s charter with the Lozitto clan we went looking for bass on the last of incoming.  After reading the books saying bass like colder water, and with the bay close to 80 I looked to incoming to target them.  With water temps down to a chilly 54 degrees pouring over the rocks, you would have thought the bass bite would be on fire.  Wrong. With nothing happening, we switched over to catch the warm out going water in the back and found that the fluke read the book.  We did not box any but had plenty of fish coming over the gunwales. Sunday morning I caught the last off outgoing around the inlet.  Surface water temp was low 70’s and both bluefish and bass (that’s right bass chewing big time in warm water) were getting an early morning meal. Lots of action till about 6:45 when the current went slack. Today, Monday, morning I had Mike Petrazzello and Dianne out.  We hit the inlet first and found the fish chewing again under the same conditions as Sunday. Mike landed a keeper bass and a couple blues to 8 pounds. One thing for sure, there are some books either the bass don’t care about or they need to be re-written.

For two weeks now the fish have been catching around the inlet are loaded with 3-4” sandells.. And on the last two trips I used BKDs for the bass and bluefish because they are great sandell imitations. What I also like about them is that even though they are plastic they hold up pretty good under the demands put on them by bluefish. If you know what I am saying.  I think I landed five blues Sunday morning before I had to put a new one on.  I am not saying they are indestructible, just saying they hold up really well to the razor sharp teeth of bluefish while being an excellent lure in my arsenal. Have some slots open for morning, afternoon or magic hours trips this week so contact me by phone if you want to plan a trip.

Screaming drags,

Capt. Alex 609-548-2511

The accumulative effect of the Continued SW winds have thrown a salty , rusty wrench into the temped coastal inshore waters into the polar zone to the dismay of both beach goers and inshore fisherman alike. Incoming tidal temps have taken a tail spin way down into the lower 50f [ 53 lowest we have seen] .

 

The boat just became available Monday 6/26 for all day tuna or half day bay fishing for weakies, blues, and fluke. The weather report and sea condition are excellent for either. Open Boat or Charter. Sign on as an individual or charter the boat.
I will be offshore from 4AM to 2PM tomorrow (Sun). I will be back in cell range around 2PM to reply to your email, text, or voicemail. You could also get me between 3:30AM and 5AM tomorrow (Sun) before I’m out of cell range if you feel so inclined. 
Also available Tues, Wed, and Thurs afternoons for bay trips, Charter or Open Boat. It looks like I will have live grass shrimp for these dates so we will be targeting weakfish and the mixed bag on ultralite tackle. We could also mix in topwater lures and soft plastics for blues and short stripers in the inlet. 
Capt Dave DeGennaro

Hi Flier Sportfishing 

732.330.5674 cell

hiflier.com

We have room for one person tomorrow Sun 6/25 on our Open Boat tuna trip. The fare is $300 and the target is bluefin. Four people total. Recent reports have been really good. The run is about 50 miles. The size is varied. A lot of pint size fish with some bigger ones in the mix. I’m going 20 class! Some 30 class and at least one way back ballyhoo for a shot at a cooler fish. All fish are shared. Call me at 732.330.5674 right up until go time.

Hi Flier Sportfishing 

732.330.5674

hiflier.com

The last couple of days have produced incredible fishing for both inshore and offshore anglers. Both the bay and surf are loaded with Fluke. Over the past week I caught well over 40 fish all on gulp. A good friend of mine Max Lentz caught a 30 incher on a white 4″ swimming mullet from shore on the north end yesterday evening (6/22). There are also quite a few reports of weakfish, blowfish, and kingfish being caught throughout the bay. The fishing should only improve as the water temp is still climbing back up after the south wind knocked it down last weekend. With a cooler temp, lots of bass have been showing both in the surf and bay. Paul Haertel had 11 the other night up to 30″. Paul also did very well Cod fishing on the mid-shore wrecks boating quite a few keepers along with a bunch of ling.

Out front the tuna fishing is on fire, some of the best fishing in a while. Bluefin has been lights out on the mid-shore grounds with blitzes producing fish up into the 40 pound class on plugs. Multiple customers got into them yesterday between 30-50 miles out whether it was trolling Joe Shutes with Ballyhoo or throwing stickbaits. Mark Haley went 7-8 and another friend of mine went 16-16.

  With a few nice bodies of water out in the deep, the canyons are even hotter. I was lucky enough to score big time on Thursday (6/22) aboard the Reel Innovation run by one of my best friends’, Captain Jeff Warford. We started off the morning with a triple header on Bigeyes but only landed one that came in at around 90-100 pounds. Then about 20 minutes later I came tight to the fish of a lifetime. We finally found the one, a 67″, 200+ pound Bigeye. Another solid fish was caught today by the Hubris. These are the first larger-sized class Bigeye of the year. After that, we decided to play around with the yellowfin. We had around 15 or so up to 50 pounds but broke an 80 pound class fish off at the boat. They were feeding on squids at the surface. To end the day we filled the box with over 30 golden and blue line tilefish. I had multiple friends in canyons both to the north and south catch fish as well. Giant Bluefin are still around too as a 350# was landed and an even bigger one was lost. It seems if you can find the right break in the water temp out there, you will get into fish. The amount of bait and life spread out right now is unbelievable.

Finally, sharking continues to get better and better. Brown sharks are being caught both in the bay and on the beach. Threshers are still close in as a customer went 1-2 the other day 5 miles off. The canyons are loaded with Mako’s on the night chunk. Don’t forget, Mako Mania is this weekend!

Looking forward to the coming weeks as everything seems to be coming together nicely, now is the time to get out and get on it!
Tight Lines,

Dan DiPasquale