August 2025 — New Jersey: Fluke Peak, False Albacore Arriving, Canyon Tuna Strong. August is a peak summer month with water in the 74-80°F range — OFFSHORE peak — white marlin, yellowfin, mahi; cobia (lower bay/CBBT). Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics.
What’s Biting — August 2025
Primary targets this month: Fluke, Tuna, Marlin, Mahi.
Fluke
Fluke (summer flounder) on Raritan Bay, Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, the inshore wrecks (Sea Girt Reef, Atlantic City Reef), and offshore in 60-120 feet. Drift over sandy bottom with a bucktail jig tipped with Berkley Gulp! 5-6″ or a strip of squid. Three-way rigs with a teaser and a large bucktail are deadly. Bigger fish hold in deeper water (60-120 ft).
Tuna
Yellowfin tuna on the Hudson, Toms, and Lindenkohl Canyons — yellowfin and bluefin in summer and fall. Chunking (cut sardine, butterfish) at anchor, live bait drifting, or trolled feathers and cedar plugs. Heavy stand-up tackle (50-80 lb class) for the bigger grades.
Marlin
Marlin (primarily blue and white) on the canyons in summer — white marlin primarily. Trolled skirted lures (Black Bart, Joe Yee), rigged ballyhoo, or pitched live bait. White marlin is the smaller, schooling species; blues are the trophies.
Mahi
Peak mahi season on the canyons and inshore lumps 20-40 miles offshore in summer. Look for weed lines, color changes, floating debris, and frigatebirds. Trolled ballyhoo with skirts (blue/white, pink/white), or live pilchards pitched to schools. Bull and cow pairs in spring; schoolies (3-12 lb) summer.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 74-80°F. Offshore peak — white marlin, yellowfin, mahi; cobia (lower bay/cbbt). Raritan Bay striper fishing is tide-driven — outgoing concentrates fish at the rips off Sandy Hook and channel edges. Surf bite shifts with tide and time; pre-dawn and the first hour of darkness are universally strong. Manasquan and Barnegat inlets push hard on outgoing.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction often matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — clean water beats churned water nine times out of ten.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Canyon offshore peak. White marlin, yellowfin, mahi 50-70 miles offshore — long days but lights-out fishing.
- Cobia (Lower Bay). Sight-fishing the CBBT and Cape Charles buoy lines — peak window.
August Outlook
Peak summer — offshore prime (canyon billfish, deepwater snapper); inshore challenging in heat.
Regulations Reminder
Fluke (Summer Flounder): 17-19″ minimum (state-by-state), 3-4 per day. Marlin: HMS permit required. Blue 99″ LJFL minimum; white 66″ LJFL minimum. Most tournaments catch-and-release. Always verify current state regulations before each trip — slots, bag limits, and seasons change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Brielle Bait & Tackle (Brielle, 732-528-5720); Grumpy’s Bait & Tackle (Seaside Park); Fisherman’s Den (Belmar); Surf City Bait & Tackle (LBI).
Public Boat Ramps: Cheesequake State Park (Raritan Bay), Manasquan River (numerous ramps), Forked River, Barnegat Light, Atlantic City marina district, Cape May.
Charter Fishing: $600-$900 inshore; $1,200-$2,500 canyon tuna; $700-$1,100 nearshore wrecks.
More New Jersey Resources
New Jersey Fishing Guide · New Jersey Seasonal Calendar · All New Jersey reports →
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