The “What”
Fluke
Here is a list of fish (some common, some not as common) found in New Jersey waters: Blowfish, Bluefish, Croaker, Flounder, Kingfish, Ling, Oyster Toad Fish, Perch, Sea Bass, Sea Robin, Shad Sharks, Sheepshead, Skate, Spot, Striper(Striped bass), Triggerfish, Weakfish, Black Drum, Red Drum and many others.
The “Where”
Some suggestions for locations on Absecon Island:
Beach fishing (where allowed), the Longport jetty, and the Ventnor Pier (small fee) are excellent locations.
Bay fishing: The point in Longport, ski beach in Ventnor Heights, sea glass beach in Margate and any street end that is open to the public.
Note: Tide-forecast.com or any reliable tide app on your smart phone will help you fish at the right time of day. I suggest a few hours before and after high tide.
Back Bay
The water temp has warmed (mid 70’s currently), which brings more variety of fish into our local waters. Anglers are reporting lots of activity!
Blowfish
Usually the Summer Flounder have begun to migrate to deeper waters by now, but the catch is strong in the back bays still. Lots of Flounder being taken, with some in the 5 – 9 pound range this week! Keeper Striped Bass and Weakfish are bending rods around the inlets in the evenings. Kingfish continue to be plentiful. Bluefish, Sea Robins, and those ugly Oyster Toad Fish are present in our local waters. With the water warming, anglers are now seeing more Triggerfish and Sheepshead.
The main take right now are Flounder. Minnows, cut squid, and bucktails (white or pink) with Gulp tails are all good working bait. Bluefish in the 2 pound range are still hooking up in the bay on cut bait. Early morning and night fishermen have still been hooking Striped Bass using surface lures (I prefer Yosuri poppers) on the sod banks, and live Eel in deeper water. Triggerfish have been biting on fiddler crabs or squid. Sheepshead can be caught using squid as bait with smaller (#4 or #6) hooks, mostly around the bridges.
The Blue Crab catch is heating up, with more keeper size crabs being hauled in. *Maryland Style crabs are always good, but I prefer cleaned live, then sautéed in oil and garlic!
Good spots to catch all these fish mentioned are the at the inlet in Longport, and ski beach in Ventnor Heights.
Piers and Bridges
As the water has now warmed (currently mid 70’s), a good variety of fish are being taken from the bridges. Flounder, Blues, Sea Robin, Oyster Toad fish, Triggerfish and Sheepshead were all hooked this week. Flounder, Triggerfish, and Sheepshead can be caught using squid or minnows as bait on smaller hooks (#4 or #6 hooks), and also pink or white bucktails. Cut bait (bunker or squid) for Blues and Sea Robins.
Surf
Kingfish
Kingfish continue to be kings of the beach! 2020 is shaping up to be as good or better a season for Kingfish than 2019 – which was a really good Kingfish season. Many are being taken in the 1 – 2 pound range. Bloodworms on an over/under rig are the bait of choice. * Note: Try fresh Kingfish Tacos!
Stripers are being caught in the surf and (more often) in the inlets – usually in the evenings. Fresh clam is the bait of choice. Sunrise and sunset, at the top of the tide is the best time.
The Weakfish catch has been strong in the surf. Weakfish will bite on bloodworms (like Kingfish). They are a beautiful fish, and very good eating! A recent surprise has been the sight of Blowfish hooking up. Island Beach State Park has been the hotspot, but this week saw Blowfish being caught in the surf along the south Jersey beaches.
The sun is shining, the water is warm, so get out there and fish!
