RJ
08-15-2009, 08:00 AM
Overview: Whoever said summertime fishing in Central Jersey is for the birds needs to get their head checked! Anglers are hitting just about every fish species, except stripers. Between bonito, Spanish mackerel and bluefin out deep, any offshore bandit would be in blue water heaven. In close to shore the fluke action is going out with a bang as doormats are becoming more and more frequent as the days pass. Brown sharks and kingfish are swarming around in the surf while weakfish and crabs are abundant in Berkeley Island Park.
Toms River: Small to medium sized bluefish are being reported along the beachfronts. Fluke anglers are hitting places like The Tires and the Seaside Lumps for decent flatfish action. The wash is also a place to land a fluke, but the keepers are in deeper water by now. Try Berkley Island Park at dusk or dawn for a consistent weakfish bite on Rat-L Traps and pink Fin-S jigs. Places like the RT. 37 Bridge are doing well on both snappers and blueclaws. The BB and BI buoy has been hot for croakers, kingfish and blowfish. Bonito are also starting to really take over at the Barnegat Ridge. Sea bass are doing well over at the Tires outside. Look for a nice bite at Double Creek Channel for fluke, but bring lots of live killies.
Island Beach State Park: Brown sharks have been all over the Island for most of the week. Average small guys are hitting 3 feet or less, but large sharks are being caught each day. Taylor blues have also been spotted in the surf feeding on the scraps. Cocktail blues were caught on a regular basis for most of the week. Weakfish have been caught near the Barnegat Inlet, but most are spike sized. If you are looking for a little light tackle action, try the North Jetty at dusk and sunrise for excellent triggerfish, blackfish and porgy action!
Waretown: The bay and the ocean have been producing small fluke for most of the week. BB and BI Buoys are holding small and keeper fluke with spike weakfish and kingfish mixed in. bluefish have also been caught inside the Barnegat Bay on the opposite side of Island Beach State Park. No striper action to speak of, but several large bluefish are being caught near the Barnegat Lighthouse. The Barnegat North Ridge has is also housing larger blues during the day.
Toms River: Small to medium sized bluefish are being reported along the beachfronts. Fluke anglers are hitting places like The Tires and the Seaside Lumps for decent flatfish action. The wash is also a place to land a fluke, but the keepers are in deeper water by now. Try Berkley Island Park at dusk or dawn for a consistent weakfish bite on Rat-L Traps and pink Fin-S jigs. Places like the RT. 37 Bridge are doing well on both snappers and blueclaws. The BB and BI buoy has been hot for croakers, kingfish and blowfish. Bonito are also starting to really take over at the Barnegat Ridge. Sea bass are doing well over at the Tires outside. Look for a nice bite at Double Creek Channel for fluke, but bring lots of live killies.
Island Beach State Park: Brown sharks have been all over the Island for most of the week. Average small guys are hitting 3 feet or less, but large sharks are being caught each day. Taylor blues have also been spotted in the surf feeding on the scraps. Cocktail blues were caught on a regular basis for most of the week. Weakfish have been caught near the Barnegat Inlet, but most are spike sized. If you are looking for a little light tackle action, try the North Jetty at dusk and sunrise for excellent triggerfish, blackfish and porgy action!
Waretown: The bay and the ocean have been producing small fluke for most of the week. BB and BI Buoys are holding small and keeper fluke with spike weakfish and kingfish mixed in. bluefish have also been caught inside the Barnegat Bay on the opposite side of Island Beach State Park. No striper action to speak of, but several large bluefish are being caught near the Barnegat Lighthouse. The Barnegat North Ridge has is also housing larger blues during the day.