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

There’s a lot to report since my last fishing report post almost one month ago. Sorry for the lack of posts. Here’s the Fisherman’s Headquarters Long Beach Island Fishing Report Update for October 5th.

It’s time to get your gear ready because it’s Fall and that mean fishing! The waters are still warm but on their slow decline. There plenty of good fishing happening now and we expect it to only get better on the coming weeks. The wind machine has been on for what seems like weeks. It is both bitter and sweet. The rough conditions whipped up from persistent north east winds cut off access for the boats looking to get out and hunt. This same wind really helps out land based anglers.

Mullet – Bass & Blues

The Mullet Run continues on strong. Another couple solid weeks and this year might stack up close to last year’s epic run.

The NE winds have resident striped bass and bluefish fired up chasing mullet in the inlet and surf. Most days these feeds are close in and are loving poppers and swimmers. Anglers on the surf fishing fresh mullet reports lots of small bluefish on mullet. Many of these anglers are releasing out of season fluke. Kingfish are still around too.

Grey Colston and friend got into some good fun action this afternoon. With his light tackle approach he shared, the stripers were chewing along the sod banks.

LBI Surf Fishing Report

Cocktail blues are the main target for surf anglers with kingfish taking the passenger seat. Soon larger blues and striped bass will arrive. Last weekends 73rd World Series OF Surf Fishing had 303 anglers (48 teams) with 806 total fish caught. 721 were blues! This goes to show they dominate the suds right now.

65th LBI Surf Fishing Classic

Let the games begin! The 65th LBI Surf Fishing Classic kicked off today. For the next 9 weeks, it’s time to fish till you drop! For more information on the event… www.LBISFC.com

False Albacore Fishing

Be sure to stock up now on Deadly Dick Lures and Hogy Epoxy Jigs because these are top producing lures that always sell out fast when the action is hot. The last few years were great and we expect this year to be the same. Reports from the waters in North Jersey are strong. Any day the greenies will show up near BI.

Barnegat Bay Fishing

The backwaters of Long Beach Island hold an abundance of life all summer and fall. Currently weakfish, bluefish, striped bass, blowfish, croakers and kingfish are present. Crabbing and clamming are also great past time to take advantage of while the wind is blowing!

Tog & Sea Bass Fishing

With only one a one fish bag limit catch and release tog fishing is good with some anglers getting some large fish when the conditions allow. Reports from both boat and land based anglers are promising. If your looking for a little blackfish action, the rocks at the inlet and shallow wrecks and reefs have been the ticket for most guys. These same areas are still holding triggerfish too.

Black Sea Bass opens for Jersey anglers on October 8. The minimum size of 12.5″ with a 10 fish bag limit will be open all month. Come November it bumps up to 13″ with 15 fish until the end of the year. Right now fishing should be good but the weather and sea conditions will dictate.

We finished the fluke season [ Sept 21]  with still plenty of action with both keeper and shorts in the bay and inlet with some of the fluke reaching 23-24″ while utilizing the abundance of live bait presently on hand. 
Stripers are always available even through the dog days of summer but now we are able to add the smaller versions of 24-27.99″ to the ice as part of and participating once again in the striper bonus program. These smaller bass are a blast on light spinning tackle and are cooperating on both live and correctly utilized artificial baits.
The ever abundant and cooperative bluefish are ranging in sizes from 12-27″ and are also a blast on our light spinning tackle while utilizing both live and artificial baits as well. Poppers are our go to when the tide is right providing exciting surface strikes!!
Weakfish are responding best while initially getting them in a feeding mood while employing a grass shrimp chum slick , once worked up into a feeding frenzy and visually splashing and swirling around the shrimp a well placed shrimp or artificial lure is the best way to connect with these beautiful and colorful specimens. A myriad of other species also join in the action providing lots of fun for the new comers for fast paced action.  
Further back in the bay buckets of blow fish are coming over the gunnel as fast as you can get a bait to the bottom . Just an hour or so is needed for those who would like to add some of these tasty fish to the freezer . 
I have a few weekday trips still available in November for the striper enthusiasts and only a couple of week afternoons available as well, Don’t delay book to today!!
Wishing everyone fair winds and calm seas,Captain StevePurulReel Fantasea Fishing Charters 609-290-1217

Fishing has been good when we find those weather windows. One of which appears to be on Saturday. I had a good trip out last Sunday with bonita and albacore in the 20 mile range. The best part is we caught them on bait with spinning rods, no trolling (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Anchored up, slinging chum and spearing over the side. Albies are outnumbering the bonita. 

In the bay we have been catching some weakfish with regularity on live grass shrimp. They aren’t huge, quite a few under the 13 inch mark but fish up to 16 inches, as well. We are using 6 pound spinning outfits with small jigs and baited hooks. The biggest hurdle is fishing through the silver perch that invade the shrimp slick almost immediately. There are also quite a few snapper blues that are bordering on not being called snappers anymore, they are just about bluefish. If you’re nostalgic about weakfish or chumming with live grass shrimp this is a good time to go. 
Open Boat Bonita and Albacore Saturday, Sept 28 7AM to 2PM, $175 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared.
Open Boat Live Grass Shrimp Weakfish Sunday, Sept 29 7AM to 1PM, $125 person, 4 people max, all fish are shared.
Either day is available for charter and the Saturday trip could be converted to a live grass shrimp charter if you prefer but Sunday can’t be converted to bonita/albacore as the ocean will be nice on Saturday and rough on Sunday according to the current marine forecast. 
The best way to reach me is always on my cell below. 

Dave DeGennaro

Back Bay Adventures

732.330.5674 cell

phillyfishingshow.com

hiflier.com

Video Report

Please subscribe to my channel

Screaming drags,
Capt. Alex
609-548-2511

Well, summer has given way to fall, how’d that happen? Well, I know how it happened, but just like came upon us was too fast. Fluke season ended this past Saturday. Quite frankly during the last two or more weeks, I have hardly even fished for fluke during my trips. No, I don’t have flukophobia I have a recipe to have light tackle fun with blues to three pounds and schoolie bass on poppers, And this action is sometime mid-day! And in the backwaters
I can honestly these trips have consistently produced. It might get slow for a while, but after making some minor adjustment is game on! Again The exciting news is a somewhat respectable showing of weekies, many of which are in the 3-5 lb. range and some pics of one pushing seven. Local keeper bass have started to the mullet run and I know of several fish of 28”. Not much to report on the beachfront as we hand what seems to rip currents for two weeks straight now. Running every day now so just pick up the phone and get on the schedule. Fishing is great right now!

Scream drags,

Capt Alex.
609-548-2511
Lighthouse Sportfishing

Please Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: Fishing Barnegat Bay

Fishing report

As fluke season came to a close this past weekend and we eagerly await for the opening of sea bass season on October 8 as well as the fall striper run, we switched gears to targeting local striped bass on light tackle.

The past few evenings have been very productive with plenty of striped bass and bluefish. We also started to see some nicer sized bass as well up to 15lbs. Surprisingly we have also been catching more striped bass than bluefish too. There are plenty of unders in the 28”-32” range as well as slot fish which we can tag and keep in the 24”-27.99” range.

The evening bite seems to be the best for the striped bass so we will be running evening trips every day of the week! There are also still plenty of blowfish around in the bay if you are looking to get the kids out or fill a cooler to bring home a nice dinner.

If you would like to get out and catch some striped bass, blowfish, or book a wreck trip for sea bass in October, don’t hesitate to call! We still have a couple of weekend dates available in November for striped bass but we also just opened up several weekday dates to allow for more availability! If you are interested in getting out please give us a call to book your trip. Call or text Captain Mike to get out on the water or send us a message through our website! (609)-709-7264

https://www.nolimitssportfishingllc.com/

The weather and swell has been a little uncooperative since I got back into the swing of teaching 10-12 graders about chemistry. I have been running weekday afternoons & weekends, and we have been catching some quality Fluke. Most recently I had a few trips in the Ocean boating up to 4 keeper Fluke to over 24.5 inches and our bay trip boxing 4 keeps to 20 inches on live bait. I’m booked through the close of the Fluke season (Sept 21st).

The backbay does have a lot of options until the start of Sea Bass season with Blowfish, 1 to 5 pound Bluefish, Striped Bass to 28 inches, and some Weakfish around. I have openings for weekend Sea Bass and Tog trips through October and then Striped Bass / Tog trips in November. Last year, we had Tog up to 13 pounds. Of course, backbay multi-species are always available from September through October.

We have open dates in October for Sea Bass or multi-species and in November/December for Striped Bass or Tog. With our new Minn Kota 87-inch trolling motor, rougher conditions shouldn’t be an issue.

If interested in booking a charter, book our site (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.

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The Bay, inlet and inshore waters are teeming with life in all kinds of sizes and variety providing fun and exciting light tackle action!!
There’s no doubt that species of fish are swimming in our bays that have yet to reveal themselves ! This variety has added to the fun and excitement of the action in the way of “what am I going to catch next”? 
I have this Sunday morning and afternoon available for anyone interested in getting in on the action!
Wishing everyone fair winds and calm seas,Captain Steve PurulReel Fantasea Fishing Charters609-290-1217

As Labor Day came and went we have been very busy! Here is a recent report from the past couple of days.

Sunday 9/15, we had a last minute cancellation for a blowfish charter. With the boat already loaded up and ready to go, we made a phone call and were able to get our friend Mike out for some blowfish. It was a short trip, but with only 2 hours of fishing time we caught over 70 blowfish and kept 40 for dinner. We also caught juvenile kingfish, porgies, and sea bass. We will have Mike out again in November for striped bass.

Monday 9/16, Jess and I were able to sneak out after work and do some prospecting to prepare for what to fish for and where to fish once fluke season closes this coming Saturday 9/21. We worked several areas, throwing plugs and poppers with light tackle. With less than 2 hours of day light we caught 10 striped bass up to 26” and 30 bluefish in the 2-6lb range. We have our striped bass bonus tags which will allow our customers to keep an extra striped bass between 24” and 27.999”.

As for this coming weekend, I have Saturday 9/21 available for anyone who would like to get out and take a last shot at fluking before the season closes. After Saturday, we will be running multi species trips for striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, blowfish and whatever else would like to bite. Blowfishing is an awesome trip for bringing home dinner or taking kids out after school or on the weekends!

We will also be wreck fishing for sea bass/tautog once the sea bass season opens on 10/8. If you are interested in getting out please give us a call to book your trip. Call or text Captain Mike to get out on the water or send us a message through our website! (609)-709-7264

https://www.nolimitssportfishingllc.com/