Barnegat Bay - Ocean, NJ Fishing Report on 23rd Jun, 2026

The summer transition is in full swing here on Barnegat Bay. With water temperatures steadily climbing this June, the backwater estuaries and shallow flats are holding a solid variety of bait, bringing our target species right into their feeding zones.

Current Bite & Techniques Striped Bass: The early morning "Magic Hour" trips have been highly productive. We are finding active bass working the quiet marsh edges right at dawn. Walking topwater plugs across the surface has been the most effective presentation before the sun gets too high and the boat traffic increases.

Summer Flounder (Fluke): The fluke have settled down into their summer patterns across the clear water flats. We are seeing a healthy class of keeper-sized fish. Technical casting with soft plastic paddletails on light jig heads is currently outperforming traditional heavy setups, especially when we use the trolling motor to quietly slide along the drop-offs.

Bluefish: We are regularly encountering moving schools of bluefish pushing bait in the channels. When they surface, casting fast-retrieving plugs into the mix results in immediate, aggressive hookups on light tackle.

Spotted Weakfish: A very welcome sight in the unpressured backwaters. The side-scan sonar has been instrumental in locating small pods of weakfish holding near deeper estuarine structure. A slow, precise presentation with small soft plastics is getting them to bite.

Captain's Note Staying stealthy remains the absolute key to our recent success. By avoiding the heavily crowded spots and relying on the trolling motor to navigate less pressured areas, we are able to present artificial lures naturally to unspooked fish.

If you are planning a trip soon, getting on the water early for the 5:00 AM or 6:00 AM departures will give you the absolute best shot at a multi-species day before the midday heat sets in.