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.
Notes:
- 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.
- For the 2020 NJ recreational fishing regulations, go to:
njfishandwildlife.com
Back Bay
The ocean water temperature has continued to be warm and stable (currently 76 degrees). That’s helped the fishing continue to be just terrific!
There continues to be a wide variety of fish species in our local waters, with anglers catching some really goog and interesting fish. Catch reports include Flounder, Croakers, Blues, Kingfish, Snapper Blues, Sea Robins, Oyster Toad Fish, Striped Bass, Triggerfish and Sheepshead. We saw a good number of Brown Sharks and Striped Bass being hooked again.
Pompano
This week’s surprise: Pompano! Usually found in southern waters, but several were caught in the surf this past week.
Flounder fishing has been good this year, and was really good this week. Reports of 1 of 5 ratio of keepers to shorts, which is very good this time of year inshore. Most in the 4 – 6 pound range! Flounder are being taken with minnows, cut squid, and bucktails (Pink was the hot color again this week). Live bait or cut bait on the incoming tide are working well. Stripers were caught in the evening on surfing lures and clam near the inlets.
Good spots to catch all these fish mentioned are the at the inlet in Longport, seaglass beach in Margate, and ski beach in Ventnor Heights.
Piers and Bridges
With the warm water, the variety of fish caught includes Flounder, Blues, Croakers, Sea Robin, Snapper Blues and Oyster Toad fish, Triggerfish and Sheepshead. The Triggerfish catch was really strong this week. Also a mix of Sea Robin, Snapper Blues, and Oyster Toad Fish. The Triggerfish and Sheepshead are biting on fiddler crabs (on jig heads). Flounder (and Triggerifsh) are biting on squid and minnows – on smaller hooks (#4 or #6 hooks). Cut bait (bunker or squid) for the Blues, Croakers, Sea Robins, Snapper Blues and Oyster Toad fish.
Surf
Kingfish, Croakers (aka Spot), Flounder, Snapper Blues, Weakfish. Still a few Blowfish and Spanish Mackerel mixing in. Striped Bass being taken near the inlets at dusk with surface lures and clam. Plus Pompano reported in the surf this week!
Bloodworms on an over/under rig are baits of choice for Kingfish, Weakfish, Snapper Blues and Spanish Mackerel.
The sun is shining, the water is warm, so get out there and fish!
