While we had literal 72-degree water temperatures in early June, the incessant southerly winds dropped early July temperatures into the 55-degree range which cooled off the nearshore waters. However, we should already see a bounce back up into the mid-70-degree range in August. That will usher in a whole array of tropical species such as mahi, cobia, jacks, king mackerel, Spanish macks, etc. Tops on anglers’ hit lists are of course fluke while bluefish seem to be sticking around as well. Tuna fishing got off to a mediocre start in early July but should be firing by the time you read this report. Regulation-wise, blackfish season reopens again from August 1 to November 15 with a one-fish limit at 15-inch minimum size and black sea bass season is still open through August 31st with 1 fish at 12.5 inches.
RARITAN BAY
Raritan Bay had its ups and downs throughout July but the heat of the summertime should get the fluke bite rolling this month. Flatties will be moving into deeper waters of 30 to 60 feet in areas such as Ambrose Channel, Raritan Reach, and Chapel Hill Channel. This is the time when sharpies float live killies under a big bobber up at Sandy Hook’s Rip to score with monster flatties pushing 10 pounds. The bayside piers at Keansburg and Belford were ripe with activity, albeit small in stature as spot, croakers, kingfish and small bluefish were around the pilings, with the occasional fluke or tailor bluefish. Big bluefish could very well move into the bay waters this month and they can be targeted with top water poppers or if you are willing to lose some baits and rigs, by chunking bunker. You never know just what kind of weird exotics may be hanging in the bay too including cobia, sturgeon, brown sharks and false albacore, so always be on the lookout for some oddities.
NORTHERN COAST
The reef sites at Sandy Hook Reef and Sea Girt Reef were productive for bottom bouncers as sea bass had to take a back seat as the season was closed, but ling aka red hake were on the chew to load the coolers up. Porgy fishing should be dominant this month on those reefs as well as the structure piles at 17 fathoms, The Farms and any inshore wrecks like the Arundo or Oil Wreck. With the heart of the fluke season upon us, big flatties should start whacking strip baits and bucktails along the sea floor ledges and rubble piles, mainly in 45 to 75 feet of water off of Long Branch, Elberon, Highlands and Spring Lake. You’ll see plenty of party boats packed fishing in those waters so if you need a general location, you can just be on the lookout for them. It appears bluefish may be sticking around this summer and that means we could get a solid Mud Hole fishery for the choppers during both day and night trips. Most party boats run every night to target them with bunker or butterfish chunks on wire hook rigs and usually the ones out that far are of quality caliber in the 10-to-15-pound class. Whenever you hit the bluefish grounds in the heat of the summer you also have a shot at finding mako sharks, cobia and mahi hanging in the slick so bring a heavy-duty setup if you happen to have luck shine on your side.
CENTRAL COAST
I know I don’t have to say it but fluke will be the number one target here like everywhere else in Jersey during August, but you can amp up your chances of landing 18-inch plus fish by scaling up your baits to long strip baits such as legal fluke belly or larger bucktails tipped with huge Peruvian spearing or long slender sand eels. Hardscrabble structure tends to attract doormat caliber flatfish pushing the 10-pound mark but be prepared to work through the structure and lose a few rigs, though the effort is always worth it to hang a true doormat. Plug in the numbers for the Elberon Rocks, Rattlesnake and Klondike areas to start off. While fluking, you’ll find your one sea bass limit pretty easily there too. With tropical-like air temperatures, waters should be boiling to bring in exotics and blue water. Lobster pot hi-flier flags attract mahi-mah like magnets and bucktails tipped with Gulp grubs should trick them off the ropes as some dolphin can be up to 10 pounds on the Axel Carlson Reef and Manasquan Ridge area pots. Try and spot brown outlines too as cobia could very well be hanging in the areas of the pots as well as the Barnegat Ridge. Sharks should be aplenty everywhere you go if you feel like a big game battle setting out a chum slick and stand-up rods. Look for flashing speedsters too in the form of Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bonito and little tunny as they move into the bath water warm waters. Troll some Clark spoons or small 3-inch feathers around the ridges, humps and lumps to get zipped.
OFFSHORE
Bluefin tuna fishing took a while to get going but as of early July, there has been a better showing and that should peak in August. Most catches were in the southern canyons of the Toms, Wilmington and Lindenkohl but the Hudson should be on fire right now as well as the Texas Tower and Triple Wrecks. Yellowfin tuna should be primed to go in the canyons and we can hope they move further inshore to the Chicken Canyon and other 40-to-60-mile wrecks and edges. Check temp charts daily and predict where the eddies will spin off while looking for the temp breaks of 2 to 5 degrees as that’s where tuna will be on the feed. A welcomed amount of bigeye tuna were caught between the bluefin and yellowfin so far this year and we can hope the wolfpacks stick around to give us some big game battles. For tuna, be sure to check the NOAA website for up-to-date regulations as they can change by the hour. If you ever blackout on tuna trips, you can always motor around and search for lobster pots and floating flotsam and jetsam that will be holding scores of schools of mahi-mahi, some of which can push the 25-pound mark and greater. Troll around with the usual spreader bars, cedar plugs, daisy chains and whatnot to target all the species including mahi. Also on tap are golden and gray tilefish on the canyon flats, though you have to bring the right gear with electric reels and heavy-duty rods to drop down 5 to 10 pounds of bait and weight to get down to the 400 to 600-foot depths.
Ah, summertime is here and the livin’ is easy, but you’re gonna have to work for the fish! Good luck!