How to Bucktail for Blue in Nj Shore 2018

Southern New Jersey Fishing Report – June 21, 2018

Above: Joe Hudak and crew caught this 82-inch bluefin while fishing Carteret Canyon on Saturday. The fish, which was weighed in at Captain Bills in Point Pleasant, checked in at 330 pounds!

The big news of the past week has been from the Scombridae family, aka Thunnus or Charlie tuna. Coastal ports from Seaside to Cape May reported an "EPIC" tuna bite with lots of anglers getting into solid action on bluefin and yellowfin at our offshore canyons. Some of the bluefin were caught slightly closer than the 80 to 100 miles to the canyons and fish surpassed the 300-pound mark. On an inshore note, the Sea bass season shuts down on Saturday, which means this Friday is your last day to load the freezer before the next 2-fish limit season starting on July 1st. The fluke front is finally improving across the board as most areas are reporting keeper to short ratios of 1 to 10. I personally have been taking my charters in shallow areas and it seems the sea-son is running about 2 weeks behind compared to last season. Barnegat Bay is experiencing a pretty good algal slime issue right now, so if you fish these waters be sure to fish the "clean" water.

South New Jersey Fishing Report

Fisherman's Supply in Point Pleasant had a great report on the Manasquan River being full of life. There have been plenty of 18" to 28" striped bass around the bridges up to Brick and these fish have been hitting soft plastics with regularity. Five to six-inch white Fin-S plastics rigged on 3/4oz jigheads has been the "go-to" lure for these fish. The fluke bite has been incredible from the mouth of the Manasquan Inlet to the mouth of the Point Pleasant canal and pretty much eve-rywhere in between. Four-inch Gulp shrimp and Gulp swimming mullets tipped on 3/4 to 1oz bucktails have been catching most of the keepers. There also have been plenty of 1- to 5-pound cocktail bluefish around the Treasure Island area. AVA 17 and AVA 27's have been producing by either jigging or casting and working quickly back to the boat or shore. The ocean fluke scene has been fair with the best bites coming from 45- to 55-foot depths with 6-inch Gulp Grubs. The headboats hitting the offshore reefs have been picking up Ling, Porgies, Seabass, Cod, and a few Pollock.

Capt. Bill's Landing in Point Pleasant Beach reported a superb bluefin and yellowfin tuna bite about 100 to 120 miles from Manasquan Inlet. Most of the fish have been in the 200- to 250-pound class with some over 330 pounds and they have been hitting chunk baits, jigs, and trolled feathers and spreader bars. There have been a few good sized makos getting weighed in, but a lot less due to the new regulations. Thirty- to forty-pound striped bass are around, but you have to put a lot of time in the dark to catch them. Sea bass fishing was hot at the Axel Carlson reef site and fluke have been slow in the ocean. The Manasquan River is very good for fluke along with cocktail bluefish, but you have to pick through quite a few short fluke to put a limit togeth-er. Store manager Don said, "Things are happening, now's the time to fish!"

Norma K III in Point Pleasant Beach reported some nice days on the water with both morning and afternoons producing keeper fluke to 5 pounds. There has been a lot of shorts caught which have kept the anglers and mates busy. The boat has been running to a few different areas along the beach and slightly offshore to produce flatties. Most of the fish have been caught on bait and bucktails or rigs with green feathers. The skipper is taking reservations for their annual 4th of July cruise to Long Branch.

The MIMI VI out of Point Pleasant had a few trips to the wrecks this past week and the crew has been doing consistently well on Sea bass and Ling. The boat is running its overnight off-shore tuna trip June 25th leaving at 10pm Monday and returning 10pm Tuesday. They have some open bottom fishing trips available June 27th and June 29th with a 7am departure.

Jersey Hooker Outfitter in Brick reported a solid bluefin and yellowfin tuna bite for anglers go-ing to the edge. Most of the canyons had good action on chunked yellowfin and additional ac-tion on trolling and jigging. Pelagic anglers have reported bluefin busting on the surface and some hooked up throwing plugs and big poppers. The inshore scene has some nice Sea bass be-ing caught from the Axel Carlson and isolated wrecks in 55 to 60 feet. Fluke fishing has been slow in the ocean, but much better in the Manasquan River. Crabbing is very good in the back and the shop has also received good reports around the Toms River / Berkley area in Barnegat Bay.

Grumpy's Bait & Tackle in Seaside Park reported that the crabbing is picking up in the bay and the shop has lots of fresh bunker. The surf is still producing quality bass to 40 inches on clam and bunker baits, but the key has been to fish the night-time incoming tides as the water is cooler. Fluking is slowly picking up along the beaches from Island Beach State Park to Mantoloking in 25 to 35 feet of water. The shop has been getting word that the Manasquan River and parts of Barnegat Bay are producing a fair number of keeper fluke for anglers jigging bucktails tipped with fresh bait.

Lacey Marine in Forked River reported fluke fishing improving in Barnegat Bay from the BB to the BI and through Oyster Creek channel towards the inlet. Most of the fish have been caught on bucktail tipped with Gulp or fresh bait. The offshore canyons were hot on bluefin and yellowfin with most of the action occurring along the Southern canyons. There are some short striped bass around in the backwaters which are hitting soft plastics and plugs at night. Crab-bing has been steadily getting better especially around Oyster Creek.

Super Chic in Barnegat Light has been fishing the outside wrecks for Sea bass and they have been producing good numbers with keepers in the mix. The boat has been cashing in on the 2- to 5-pound bluefish around the Barnegat Inlet during the incoming tides. The skipper has some openings for July for fluke and Sea bass, so them a ring.

Creekside Outfitters in Waretown reported consistent action on Sea bass from the Barnegat Light reef south to the Little Egg reef site. There have been lots of short fish, but some nicer ones in the mix. A few keeper fluke have been caught at these locations, but it is better near the Barnegat Inlet as some fish have been up to 28 inches. Cocktail Blues are abundant on both sides of the inlet for anglers casting small metals like the A07 or A17 diamond jigs. Crabbing in the back has been steadily improving as the water temperatures are reaching 77 degrees on the outgoing tides.

Tony's Bait & Tackle in Manahawkin reported fair fluke fishing occurring over the past week in which the New Moon had some effects going into the weekend. But over this week, the bite has steadily improved with lesser current flow. The Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, and flats along the backside of Long Beach Island have been producing fish. Most of these fish have been caught on jigged bucktails tipped with Gulp. There as a very good bluefin and yellowfin tuna bite just shy of the canyons to the Wilmington and Baltimore. Most of these pelagics were caught on the troll. The crabbing has been steadily improving especially with the bay waters trickling up in temperature.

Riptide Bait & Tackle in Brigantine reported great crabbing on both hand lines and Chesapeake style pots baited with Bunker. It is key to work around the sedges or 4 to 6 feet areas around the marshes. Fluke fishing in the backwaters is consistent, but you must work for your keepers. This past week the Alaburda family brought 4 nice keepers into the shop two weighing around 5 pounds. Spearing and mackerel strips or Gulp and spearing has been the two most effective combinations.

Fin-Atics in Ocean City reported a good number of tuna brought to the docks this past week for anglers venturing to the canyons. The shop heard that the bite was very good with almost all boats catching. There have been some nice Mako's landed, but not too many kept with the new regulations. Fluke fishing is very good with most fish coming from the 5- to 8-foot depths, but you have to fish during the cleanest water. Sandi Kennedy caught a nice 21 incher weighing 4 pounds at Corson's inlet. There are still some small striped bass hitting soft plastics and small plugs around the jetties and bridges, but this is an incoming tide-nighttime fishery.

Peace Token Fishing Tackle in Cape May Courthouse had hot, hot, hot yellowfin and bluefin bites at the offshore canyons. The Baltimore and Wilmington were very good for chunked Yel-lowfin at night, and areas just shy of these had bluefin caught on the troll. The inshore Sea bass bite has been excellent, especially on some of the inshore reef and wreck sites. Summer Flounder is slowly improving, especially in the backwaters, where keepers are being caught in the 5- to 8-foot depths on worked bucktails tipped with Gulp. There are some schoolie striped bass hitting soft plastics off the jetties at night. At these same locations, anglers are picking up 2- to 5-pound Weakfish.

Hands Too Bait & Tackle in Cape May reported an absolute stellar tuna and Shark bite occurring at the Wilmington and Baltimore canyons. Most of the bluefin have been caught on the troll, while the yellowfin, Bigeye, and Mako's have been caught on the chunk and fresh bluefish. 200- to 300-pound class tuna have been weighed in at local tackle shops and brought home for sashimi. Fluke fishing is solid in the backwaters of Cape May with smaller boats able to hit those 3- to 6-foot depths to catch keeper fluke . There are many throwbacks, but most ratios are steady at 10 shorts per 1 keeper. Weakfish and small schoolie striped bass have been hitting pink and white soft plastics worked around the jetties and rock-piles.

South New Jersey Fishing Report

The best bet for this weekend relies on what "the angler" wants as there are quite a few options and locations that are providing consistent fishing. The back-bays of Cape May, Atlantic, and Ocean counties are producing consistent action on fluke. The depths 4 to 10 feet seem to be holding the greatest number of keepers as compared to shorts. The inlet areas are always a great place to start and should be fished as the tidal current is slowing down. The hottest inlets so far have been Manasquan, Corson's, and Cape May. The tuna bite was red hot and should continue to produce for our offshore anglers, so be sure to pay attention to those temperature breaks and Gulf Stream eddies. The simple game plan has been to set up the chunk at night for yellowfin and troll the morning for Bluefin. Kayakers and land fisherman have decent shots at fluke, small striped bass, and Weakfish by working the local jetties and rockpiles, especially at night for the latter two species. In fact, my Father's Day gift was a depth finder for my yak and I ended up finding a few nice 8- to 12-foot cuts which were holding some fluke . The weather looks great and the northeast winds predicted should bring in some warmer water which in turn should trig-ger even better bites.

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Source: https://www.onthewater.com/fishing-reports/2018/06/southern-new-jersey-fishing-report-june-21-2018

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