The Jersey shore is settled into its midsummer pattern. Ocean temperatures along the beach are in the low 70s, the back bays are warm, and the fluke have made their usual August shift out of the shallow bay water toward inlet structure and the nearshore reefs. Offshore, the canyon fleet has had a strong run of weather.
What’s Hitting
Fluke are the dominant inshore target, and the better fish have moved to structure — inlet rockpiles, the reef sites, and the nearshore wrecks in 40 to 80 feet. Back bay fishing is still producing numbers but the keeper ratio is better on the ocean structure. Sea bass are stacked on the same wrecks. Offshore, the canyons are giving up yellowfin, bigeye, and white marlin, and the inshore lumps have had bluefin and mahi around the pots. Along the beach, kingfish, croaker, and small blues are steady in the surf, with Spanish mackerel showing on the calmer mornings. Striped bass are largely deep and scattered in the summer heat but are around at night in the back bays and rivers. Weakfish are showing in the Delaware Bay tributaries.
Where to Find Them
Work Barnegat Inlet, Manasquan Inlet, and the Shrewsbury Rocks for fluke on structure. The Axel Carlson and Sea Girt reef sites have been consistent for fluke and sea bass. Back bay fluke are still on the channel edges in Barnegat Bay and Great Bay. Surf anglers should look for cuts and deeper sloughs — the Island Beach State Park stretch and the Long Beach Island beaches have been producing. Offshore, the Hudson and Toms canyons and the inshore lumps have had the tuna action.
Tides & Conditions
Ocean temperatures are 70 to 74 along the beach and warmer offshore. Back bay water is running into the upper 70s, which is what has pushed the fluke out. Tides are moderate with strong inlet flow — fluke drifting has been best on the last of the incoming. Seas have been reasonable for the offshore run. Afternoon sea breeze picks up most days by noon, which chops up the ocean drifting.
Tackle & Tactics
Fluke on structure calls for a heavier bucktail than you would use in the bay — three to six ounces depending on drift — tipped with Gulp and paired with a teaser. Stay in contact with the bottom and hop it. On the reefs, a whole squid or a spearing-and-squid combination on a high-low rig works well. Sea bass want clam or squid on a bottom rig. Surf anglers should fish a two-hook rig with bloodworm or Fishbites in the trough, and keep a metal ready for blitzing blues and Spanish. Offshore, trolling spreads early and chunking or jigging on marked fish later has been the pattern.
Local Intel This Week
Public ramps at Barnegat Light, the Manasquan River ramp in Brielle, and the Great Bay Boulevard ramp are the practical launches. Shore anglers have good access at Island Beach State Park with a beach buggy permit, and the Barnegat Inlet south jetty is walkable. Fish are concentrating on structure and current seams rather than open bay bottom. Fluke, sea bass, and striped bass all carry season and size restrictions in New Jersey that change year to year — check current NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife regulations and seasons before keeping any fish.
This Week’s Tip
When drifting a wreck for fluke, do not drift over the top of it. Set up so your drift takes you along the sand edge beside the structure. The big fluke sit in the sand adjacent to the wreck ambushing bait that comes off it, and you will lose far less tackle and catch bigger fish than the boats dragging bucktails through the wreckage itself.
Planning a trip to New Jersey?
This report tells you what happened. ReelAI tells you what to do about it — a briefing for your date, your target species and how you're fishing, built from our reports plus live NOAA and USGS data.
Powered by ReelAI — fishing.digital's intelligence layer. Answers are generated from fishing.digital reports and public NOAA, NWS and USGS data, and may be incomplete or out of date. Regulations and marine safety information are summaries only; always confirm with the responsible authority before you fish.