About the Fish we Catch in New Jersey....

"Enjoy a day out at the shore, reeling in a Striped Bass, Weakfish, Doormat Fluke,
Slammer Bluefish, Sea Bass or Blackfish."

Here's a brief description of the great inshore fishing that's available at Sandy Hook, New Jersey,

Striped Bass in New Jersey. . . . .
Season: Open all year (0-3 miles offshore)
Legal size keeper fish: 2 @ 28" or greater per angler
Baits of choice: Chunking (Bunker heads and bunker chunks), clamming, eels or sandworms.
Fishing method: Drifting with Sandworms or Eels, chunking with Bunker heads, clamming, Trolling Stretch 25's and jigging/Casting with bucktails, shads, spoons and other various artificials.

The most sought after inshore gamefish in New Jersey. "Stripers" are one of the ultimate gamefish that inshore anglers spend numerous hours seeking. From April through December, Stripers can be found throughout the New York Bight area. Stripers can range anywhere from "schoolies" to "cows" in the 50 lb. range. I use St. Croix medium/heavy rods matched with Penn 965 International reels drifting sandworms or eels or at anchor chunking bunker.

New Jersey State Record Striped Bass: 1982 by Al McReynolds 78 lbs., 8 oz. @ Atlantic City.

Weakfish (Sea Trout) in New Jersey. . .
Season: No closed season
Legal size keeper fish: 1 fish per angler
Bait of choice: Sandworms or Peanut Bunker
Fishing method: Drifting Sandworms or Peanut Bunker or jigging & casting lures.

Sleek and beautiful, the weakfish (named so because his jaw is quite soft) is probably one of the most beautiful fish in the Northeast. Weakfish have a purple-hued back, bronze and deep green coloring around the head, silvery sides and the unmistakable yellow fins. Weakfish range in size from 2 lb'ers found in the back bays to 12 lb'ers found along the coast, with an occasional 14 lb'er thrown in for good luck. Drifting with Sandworms is my method of choice, although casting and retrieving soft-tail lures such as the Fin-S in bubblegum catches fish too.

New Jersey State Record Weakfish: 1986 by Karl Jones 18 lbs., 8 oz. in Delaware Bay.

Fluke (Summer Flounder) in New Jersey. . . . . .
Season: May 29 through September 6, 2010 (101 days)
Legal size keeper fish: 6 fish @ 18" per angler
Bait of choice: Squid, spearing, sandeels, live snappers, peanut bunker, bluefish or bunker ribbons.
Fishing method: Drifting bait or jigging and casting Bucktail lures.

One of, if not, THE most delicious eating fish in the New Jersey waters. Fluke is one of New Jersey's highly sought after fun fish to catch during the summer and fall months. Drifting baits such as Squid strips, Spearing, Sand Eels, Bunker strips, Bluefish strips, Sea Robin belly, peanut bunker and live snapper are some of the most productive ways to catch Fluke. Once again using light tackle gives you the ultimate opportunity to try to land the biggest of Fluke "the Doormat". Fluke usually range in size from 2 lb up to 5,6 & 7 lb'ers commonly found in New Jersey waters. "Doormat Fluke" of 10 lbs or greater are quite common.

New Jersey State Record Fluke: 1953 by Walter Lubin 19 lbs., 12 oz. @ Cape May

Bluefish in New Jersey...
Season: Open all year
Legal size keeper fish: No minimum size, 15 fish bag
Bait of choice: Cumming bunker, casting & jigging metals.
Fishing method: Chumming, jigging/casting metal lures or trolling.

Pound for pound, the nastiest fighting fish in the water.......hands-down winner! Bluefish on light tackle is a fishermens dream come true. Fishing for Bluefish can be done by chumming with bunkers or other types of bait, casting jigs and other artificials or trolling shad lures and deep diving plugs. Small Bluefish in the 2-3 lb. range are great eating, as Bluefish can also come into the 12-14 lb. range.

Winter Flounder in New Jersey...
Season: 3/23/10 thru 5/21/10
Legal size keeper fish: 2 fish @ 12" per angler
Bait of choice: Sandworms, squid and clams
Fishing method: Chum with chum logs and chum pots and/or a mixture of corn, rice and rabbit food.

One of the most delicious fish you can eat from the New Jersey waters. Typically the first fish of the spring fishing season found in the rivers of the Navesink and the Shrewsbury. Fish with an anchored boat along the edges of the channels and use chum logs/chum pots on the bottom. We also use a mixture of rice, corn and rabbit food tossed overboard to attract the flounder. Biat your hook with small pieces of sandworms and a flounder rig with small bank or dipsy type sinker. KEEP BOUNCING THOSE ROD TIPS TO ENTICE A STRIKE!!!!

Black Sea Bass in New Jersey...
Season: Open all year in state waters (up to 3 miles offshore) closed in federal waters for 180 days.
Legal size keeper fish: 25 fish @ 12 1/2" per man
Bait of choice: Clams and small cut squid
Fishing method: Bottom fishing at its best from an anchored boat.

Another one of New Jersey's great eating fish. Found around underwater rocks and structure (ex: Sandy Hook Reef)

Blackfish (Tautog) in New Jersey...
Season: Open all year/Legal size keeper fish:
4 fish @ 14" from 1/1/09 to 4/30/09, closed season from 5/1/09 to 7/15/09, 1 fish from 7/16/09 to 11/15/09,
6 fish bag from 11/16/09 to 12/31/09
Bait of choice: Clams, green crabs or white leggers
Fishing method: Bottom fishing at its best from an anchored boat.

Another one of New Jersey's great eating fish. Found around underwater rocks and structure (ex: Sandy Hook Reef) Break out your stout and sturdy equipment as these fish are real brutes to bring to the surface. Fish on rocky underwater structure such as my favorite places, the Sandy Hook Reef as well as Shrewsbury Rocks.

To make your reservations call:

Capt. John at: 908- 421- 4761
Reel Fun Sportfishing, LLC
Sea Bright, NJ 07760

email me at: captjohn@reelfunsportfishing.com

© 2005 Reel Fun Sportfishing, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

last revised 2/2/10ing Charters Sandy Hook, NJ