New Jersey
73 Fishing Charters
New Jersey Fishing Charters
Top New Jersey Destinations
Top New Jersey Destinations
Top Fishing Charters in New Jersey
Top Fishing Charters in New Jersey
Fishing in New Jersey
Every summer, visitors flock to the New Jersey coast to enjoy a few days of sun, sand, and seafood. There’s a lot more to the area than bars and beaches, though. Step aboard one of the endless fishing charters NJ has waiting for you, and you’ll discover a whole new side to the Garden State. New Jersey has one of the largest charter fleets in the Northeast, and you can find anything from 16-foot bay boats to 60-person party boats ready and willing to take you out. Why such a varied fleet, you ask? Because there are just so many fish to target!
From the Delaware Bay to the mouth of the Hudson River, anglers comb the shallows for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, and more. Try your luck at bottom fishing, and you can also pull in some tasty Tautog, Flounder, and Seabass. And that’s just the inshore scene. New Jersey’s bluewater bite really puts the “big” in big game. We’re talking five species of Tuna, two species of Marlin, and more Sharks than you can shake a chum block at. No matter what you’re after, you won’t be disappointed by fishing trips in NJ.
Fishing Spots in NJ
With 130 miles of productive coastline, NJ saltwater fishing can vary greatly depending on where you go. Different areas do have their own specialties, but there’s great angling all over the state. Here’s a rundown of what to expect and a few top places to visit.
Sandy Hook
The Sandy Hook and Raritan Bays offer miles of brown, murky shallows full of all the state’s favorite inshore species. Launch out of Highlands or Keyport, and you can catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, and both Summer and Winter Flounder. If you somehow still have room in the freezer after all that, you can also find “Blackfish” (Tautog) around rocky piles here. It really is one of the most underrated fisheries around.
North Shore
The Point Pleasant area has a lot going on both inshore and offshore. Mussel-covered rocks line this part of the coast, making it a hotspot for Tautog and Seabass. NJ party boats focus on these tasty food fish, but you can also catch Stripers and Blues if you’re more of a sporting type. The area also has some of the best deep sea fishing NJ can offer, 70 miles out at the Hudson Canyon. Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, and Albacore Tuna are caught on these trips, as well as Blue and Mako Sharks, and Blue and White Marlin.
South Shore
This is one of the top tourist spots in the state. Brigantine and Atlantic City draw crowds all summer thanks to their iconic beaches and boardwalks. It may get hectic on land, but you won’t have to share fishing grounds with the whole of New York like you would further north. That means monster Marlin and tasty Tuna without having to fight for elbow room. Sure, the run to the canyons is longer down here (80+ miles, depending on where you launch from) but it’s well worth the journey. You’ve also got trophy Stripers, Blues, and Weakfish if you don’t want to travel.
Delaware Bay
If you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll find that many of New Jersey’s prize catches are out of town. Not so in the Delaware Bay. You can find Striped Bass and Flounder wintering in these sheltered shallows. During the summer, Black Drum and Weakfish move into the bay, along with a ton of Flounder. Striped Bass spawn here in spring, and you can’t keep them during January, February, April, or May. You can still enjoy incredible catch and release action, though.
Fishing Techniques
The Striper fishing NJ is best known for is usually done by drifting live Eels. Many guides prefer to throw topwater lures on light spinning gear, though, and there are more than a few die-hard fly fishers. One of the most effective techniques, known as live-lining, involves slow-trolling live Bunker or Spot. It may be pretty basic, but nothing will bring in Blues and Rockfish faster.
Trolling is also popular offshore, especially for Marlin and Mahi Mahi. Many guides troll for Tuna early in the season, but start chunking as the waters warm up. Most of the Shark fishing in NJ focuses on chunking, too. The technique is more or less the same for both species: send out an oily chum slick then pelt the water with bait after bait to stir up a feeding frenzy. Heavy, stand-up rods and level-drag reels are the norm for this style of fishing. Couple them with wire leaders for Shark fishing, but switch to fluorocarbon for keen-eyed Tuna.
Need to Know
There’s no general NJ fishing license for saltwater angling. If you are fishing on your own, you will need to register with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Program. Registration is free and not necessary when fishing aboard NJ charter boats. A few things you should always bring are sunscreen, shades, a hat, and any food and drink you want for the day. If you’re heading offshore, you may also want to consider taking Dramamine or other seasickness medications.
New Jersey fishing seasons may be short, but they pack a heck of a lot in. The action usually starts in March and April and begins to die down by October. Luckily, this is also when the vast majority of people visit. If you’re one of them, don’t miss the chance to try fishing here. It’s sure to be the highlight of your trip!
New Jersey
Based on 21163 reviews by FishingBooker anglers
4.48
Fishing in New Jersey
Fishing in New Jersey
Every summer, visitors flock to the New Jersey coast to enjoy a few days of sun, sand, and seafood. There’s a lot more to the area than bars and beaches, though. Step aboard one of the endless fishing charters NJ has waiting for you, and you’ll discover a whole new side to the Garden State. New Jersey has one of the largest charter fleets in the Northeast, and you can find anything from 16-foot bay boats to 60-person party boats ready and willing to take you out. Why such a varied fleet, you ask? Because there are just so many fish to target!
From the Delaware Bay to the mouth of the Hudson River, anglers comb the shallows for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, and more. Try your luck at bottom fishing, and you can also pull in some tasty Tautog, Flounder, and Seabass. And that’s just the inshore scene. New Jersey’s bluewater bite really puts the “big” in big game. We’re talking five species of Tuna, two species of Marlin, and more Sharks than you can shake a chum block at. No matter what you’re after, you won’t be disappointed by fishing trips in NJ.
Fishing Spots in NJ
With 130 miles of productive coastline, NJ saltwater fishing can vary greatly depending on where you go. Different areas do have their own specialties, but there’s great angling all over the state. Here’s a rundown of what to expect and a few top places to visit.
Sandy Hook
The Sandy Hook and Raritan Bays offer miles of brown, murky shallows full of all the state’s favorite inshore species. Launch out of Highlands or Keyport, and you can catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, Weakfish, and both Summer and Winter Flounder. If you somehow still have room in the freezer after all that, you can also find “Blackfish” (Tautog) around rocky piles here. It really is one of the most underrated fisheries around.
North Shore
The Point Pleasant area has a lot going on both inshore and offshore. Mussel-covered rocks line this part of the coast, making it a hotspot for Tautog and Seabass. NJ party boats focus on these tasty food fish, but you can also catch Stripers and Blues if you’re more of a sporting type. The area also has some of the best deep sea fishing NJ can offer, 70 miles out at the Hudson Canyon. Bluefin, Yellowfin, Bigeye, and Albacore Tuna are caught on these trips, as well as Blue and Mako Sharks, and Blue and White Marlin.
South Shore
This is one of the top tourist spots in the state. Brigantine and Atlantic City draw crowds all summer thanks to their iconic beaches and boardwalks. It may get hectic on land, but you won’t have to share fishing grounds with the whole of New York like you would further north. That means monster Marlin and tasty Tuna without having to fight for elbow room. Sure, the run to the canyons is longer down here (80+ miles, depending on where you launch from) but it’s well worth the journey. You’ve also got trophy Stripers, Blues, and Weakfish if you don’t want to travel.
Delaware Bay
If you’re visiting in the winter, you’ll find that many of New Jersey’s prize catches are out of town. Not so in the Delaware Bay. You can find Striped Bass and Flounder wintering in these sheltered shallows. During the summer, Black Drum and Weakfish move into the bay, along with a ton of Flounder. Striped Bass spawn here in spring, and you can’t keep them during January, February, April, or May. You can still enjoy incredible catch and release action, though.
Fishing Techniques
The Striper fishing NJ is best known for is usually done by drifting live Eels. Many guides prefer to throw topwater lures on light spinning gear, though, and there are more than a few die-hard fly fishers. One of the most effective techniques, known as live-lining, involves slow-trolling live Bunker or Spot. It may be pretty basic, but nothing will bring in Blues and Rockfish faster.
Trolling is also popular offshore, especially for Marlin and Mahi Mahi. Many guides troll for Tuna early in the season, but start chunking as the waters warm up. Most of the Shark fishing in NJ focuses on chunking, too. The technique is more or less the same for both species: send out an oily chum slick then pelt the water with bait after bait to stir up a feeding frenzy. Heavy, stand-up rods and level-drag reels are the norm for this style of fishing. Couple them with wire leaders for Shark fishing, but switch to fluorocarbon for keen-eyed Tuna.
Need to Know
There’s no general NJ fishing license for saltwater angling. If you are fishing on your own, you will need to register with the New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Program. Registration is free and not necessary when fishing aboard NJ charter boats. A few things you should always bring are sunscreen, shades, a hat, and any food and drink you want for the day. If you’re heading offshore, you may also want to consider taking Dramamine or other seasickness medications.
New Jersey fishing seasons may be short, but they pack a heck of a lot in. The action usually starts in March and April and begins to die down by October. Luckily, this is also when the vast majority of people visit. If you’re one of them, don’t miss the chance to try fishing here. It’s sure to be the highlight of your trip!
New Jersey
Based on 21163 reviews by FishingBooker anglers
4.48
New Jersey Fishing Seasons
New Jersey Fishing Seasons
New Jersey Fishing Calendar
New Jersey Fishing Calendar
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Reviews of Fishing in New Jersey
Reviews of Fishing in New Jersey
Top Fishing Techniques in New Jersey
Top Fishing Techniques in New Jersey
Top Targeted Species in New Jersey
Top Targeted Species in New Jersey
FAQs about Fishing Charters in New Jersey
FAQs about Fishing Charters in New Jersey
What are the best private fishing charters in New Jersey?
According to customer reviews, Wots Up Dock Charter Fishing, Treemendous Sportfishing Charters, and Get Hooked Fishing Charters are some of the most popular fishing charters in New Jersey. Full list of top fishing charters in New Jersey.
Which fishing charters in New Jersey are good for families?
Wots Up Dock Charter Fishing, Treemendous Sportfishing Charters, and Get Hooked Fishing Charters all received great reviews from families who booked fishing trips in New Jersey.
What's the best way to experience fishing in New Jersey?
The best way to experience fishing in New Jersey is to book a private charter with a licensed fishing guide. See the full list of charters available for online booking here: List of fishing charters in New Jersey.
What are the top fish species I can catch in New Jersey?
The top 8 fish species targeted on guided fishing trips in New Jersey are:
What's biting now in New Jersey?
Things really start to heat up inshore. Stripers are biting hard and Bluefish are fighting them for every bait. Flounder and Tautog are on fire in April, and big Mako Sharks are showing up offshore.
Check availability for local fishing charters in New Jersey.
FAQs about Fishing Charters in New Jersey
What are the best private fishing charters in New Jersey?
According to customer reviews, Wots Up Dock Charter Fishing, Treemendous Sportfishing Charters, and Get Hooked Fishing Charters are some of the most popular fishing charters in New Jersey. Full list of top fishing charters in New Jersey.
Which fishing charters in New Jersey are good for families?
Wots Up Dock Charter Fishing, Treemendous Sportfishing Charters, and Get Hooked Fishing Charters all received great reviews from families who booked fishing trips in New Jersey.
What's the best way to experience fishing in New Jersey?
The best way to experience fishing in New Jersey is to book a private charter with a licensed fishing guide. See the full list of charters available for online booking here: List of fishing charters in New Jersey.
What are the top fish species I can catch in New Jersey?
The top 8 fish species targeted on guided fishing trips in New Jersey are:
What's biting now in New Jersey?
Things really start to heat up inshore. Stripers are biting hard and Bluefish are fighting them for every bait. Flounder and Tautog are on fire in April, and big Mako Sharks are showing up offshore.
Check availability for local fishing charters in New Jersey.
