Fresh Ocean Township Fishing Reports

Thanks to Mike F. and the rest of his crew. Fishing was a challenge to start with no wind and drift, after another week of brutal conditions blowing 25-35 mph from the East-Northeast winds, heavy surf, and rip currents kept us and most of the rest of Charter Fishing Fleet in as well all week long. After a slow start and trying to find some clean water, his group was having a blast trying to catch that elusive Summer Flounder, while some had no trouble catching them, others just kept feeding them reeling up with no bait. They worked very hard to land the fish they caught. They ended up with 12 shorts, seabass, and numerous croakers, but in the end, for all their hard work, they were rewarded with a very nice 5lb weakfish to take home for dinner.

Thanks to Jose A. and his family for joining us on their fishing charter on Labor Day 2025. They decided to fish the 5 Hour NJ Private Group Fishing Charter. With 5’ heavy seas from it blowing 10 knots to 20 knots Northeast and East Northeast winds from Sunday to Monday, limited us to fishing inside today in Barnegat Inlet and along Oyster Creek and Double Creek in the Barnegat Bay. Fishing was steady throughout the 5 hour fishing charter, even though we were constantly jockeying for position with all the other boats. Everyone was very close to each other in the inlet along the deep drop off point alongside of the Barnegat Light House on Long Beach Island. On most drifts, because of the wind and the incoming tide, we were able to start our drifts at Island Beach State Park red can and drift passed the lighthouse to the United States Coast Guard Station at Barnegat Light. This allowed us to fish the entire structures and depths along the lighthouse. They landed 19 Flukes which were caught and released; all (4) black seabass were also caught and released. They ended up with (2) keepers to go home with, a very nice 22 ½” Summer Flounder doormat, and one at 18+”. Top angler on this Fishing Charter was using Green Buck Tails, with spinner, along with sand eels to catch her 22” Summer Flounder. Second place angler was using white and pink squid skirt with a spinning orange and yellow float, along with spearing. Third place angler was using a 4” squid body with spinner along with Baby Shads. With Labor Day being on Monday September 1, 2025, Black Sea Bass Season closed this past weekend on Sunday August 31, 2025, and will not reopen until October 01, 2025.

Slow start to fishing this trip, after being held in by the weather all week from the effects of Hurricane Erin out in the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks to our good friend Bill S and the rest of his crew. This week they decided to fish the 5 Hour NJ Private Group Fishing Charter on 08/24/2025. The fishing was slow to start, after a week of brutal conditions from Hurricane Erin churning and being offshore in the Atlantic. Heavy surf, rip currents and winds were the theme last week. After a slow start and trying to find some clean water, they landed 23 Fluke, 3 seabass and 2 Keepers. We ended up using our Sea Anchor to control the speed of our drift, because the tides were ripping 2 miles off the beach in 50’ of water outside Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island. Top angler on this Fishing Charter was using Green bucktails and spearing to catch his Summer Flounder. With Labor Day coming next Monday September 1, 2025, we have 2 openings for fishing charters this coming week. Also, Black Sea Bass Season will close this weekend on August 31, 2025, and will not reopen until October 01, 2025.

Congrats to Jon A. with this nice 19” inch Summer Flounder (Fluke) and two other 18” keepers. Jon and his crew were clients on our 4-Hour Morning Private Group Fishing Charters this past Sunday; they managed to catch and release 38 other Summer Flounders, a few Snapper Bluefish and Croakers on their Summer Flounder 4 Hour AM Private Group Bay / Inlet Fluke Trip. Fishing was consistent from start to finish, until the wind and current picked up and they needed to add additional weight to hold bottom. We were fishing in 45-50’ of water outside Barnegat Light, about 2 miles from the Barnegat Reef. One recreational fisherman on this trip was using green bucktails with spinners with squid strip and spearing. Top angler on the Charter was using 6” white squid skirt and spearing to catch his Summer Flounder. Weather for this upcoming week through Friday, will be challenging with Hurricane Erin coming up the coast with the increased winds and rip currents.

Thanks to our good friend Bill and the rest of his group on their 4 Hour weekly private charter today 08/09/2025. Fishing was consistent, they landed 30 Fluke and 4 Keepers. Winds had been blowing 20 + NE all week, today they were 10 to 15 and with the current moving from the Full moon, we used a Sea anchor to control our drift. In between netting all their fish, I was able to catch a nice 19" Summer Flounder. Next week's weather is looking good.

Good friend and frequent charter client shows off his 21" Summer flounder. Fishing was constant as they caught and released 20 fluke and 5 seabass