BHCFA Report

It is the Fourth of July weekend on Long Beach Island, and the area is thronged with folks enjoying all the shore has to offer. Many of these visitors are enjoying time on the boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association.

The fascinating aspect of these BHCFA captains is the variety of experiences offered for adventures on the water. Hardcore anglers can travel to offshore waters for tuna and other big game fish or do some serious fishing the inshore waters for fluke.

Some boats are set up for cruising local waters whether it be on a pirate themed vessel, a tiki hut that leisurely cruises inshore waters, or more luxurious craft providing sightseeing opportunities in comfort.

Then there are the boats and captains that offer a more relaxed type of fishing, providing action for families including young children. They provide a fun atmosphere as they instruct everyone on fishing basics while instilling an appreciation for the marine environment. A source of information on finding details on the BHCFA can be found below at the link to their website.

Captain Gary Dugan reports that fishing the inshore reefs for fluke has ramped up as his anglers have enjoyed successful trips recently. He is finding fish both in the bay and ocean. His tiki boat has also been busy with sightseeing cruises and crabbing trips.

Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” has seen an upswing in fluke catches recently. Undersized fish have been keeping the rods bent while enough keepers for fish dinners provide eating action. His trip with the Bob Dodds crew landed 45 short fluke along with 5 keepers to 21-inches. He has been fishing in the bay, inlet, and inshore ocean waters.

Captain Dave Wittenborn brought in his first yellowfin tuna of the season with the four Ridley brothers. The trip resulted in over 20 fish bites with 10 ending up in the fish box. On the trip back to port, the group feasted on fresh tuna steaks and key lime pie.

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org

The summer of 2026 has now officially arrived, and the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are full speed ahead. Right now, fluke fishing is happening in both the bay waters and the local artificial reefs a short distance offshore.

Another hot fishery right now is the tuna bite. The positive aspect of this tuna fishing is that much of the action is closer to shore than the lengthy trips to the canyons. The weigh-ins from the recently completed Tuna Open sponsored by the Beach Haven Marlin and tuna Club showed those fish are around.

Bob Gerkens and crew fished the Tuna Open on the “Hot Tuna” catching a pair of bluefin tuna that weighed in at 50 and 62-pounds, earning the crew a 6^th place finish along some Calcutta funds from the contest. In addition, they boated another three bluefin which were swiftly released.

Captain Steve Palmer of Jingles Bait and Tackle reports the initial trip on the “Miss Beach Haven,” an 82-foot headboat was a successful one. The action on board kept the anglers with bent rods reeling in an assortment of black sea bass and fluke. The boat is now moored at Beach Haven Watersports.

Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” reports a busy week of fishing as he worked hard in the Barnegat Bay waters to find keeper fluke for his clients. Most trips are having to work through 20 to 30 fish to find keepers. Last Friday he had a family of five working their way through dogfish and over twenty-five short fish to land one keeper. But what a fish it was. The last drift of the day resulted in a 30.5-inch fluke that tipped the scales at over ten pounds.

In addition to catching fish, the captains will be instructing a fresh class of Junior Mates starting Thursday, June 25 at the Beach Haven Maritime Museum.

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org

Memorial Day weekend is finally upon us after a long winter, and the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are ready to put anglers on the fish.

There are several options available for anglers to bend rods and put fish dinners on the table. The waters are still on the cold side, so the striped bass bite has continued strong. While the fluke bite will pick up when those waters turn warmer, there are some nice concentrations of fluke in the bay waters where the water is warmer.

The opening of the black sea bass season has started off with a bang with both wreck and artificial reef fishing has been strong.

Captain Max Goldman of the “Starfish” had members of the Southern Regional Fishing Club out fishing a couple of deep-water reefs. Despite the chilly water the group had an action-packed day with over 150 black sea bass caught including 54 keeper bass and 9 ling.

Captain Jonathan Kelly of LBI Sportfishing had a group out this past week for non-stop action on a mix of black sea bass and ling including many doubleheaders. Captain Jonathan remarked the fishing seemed better closer to shore than outside.

The “Miss Beach Haven” will now be fishing out of Liberty Landing at the Mordecai Boat Basin this year. One of only two head boats on LBI, this will place the boat closer to the inlet.

Captain Gary Dugan had a group out doing some bay fishing for fluke this week. Captain Gary reported decent action but had trouble finding keeper fish due to the cold water.

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org

Although some recent chilly weather may not indicate it, we are well into spring and starting the 2026 southern Ocean County fishing season. The captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have been waiting all winter for this and are pretty much ready to go.

Thus far, the spring striped bass bite has been stronger than in recent years. There is the typical early season action on smaller linesiders. The striper action on the beach has been good, and boats fishing close to shore in the ocean have also been reeling fish in.

The past month has been decent for blackfish, but that season ends on April 30. The black sea bass season will open on May 15 with predictions high for that action.

The big news is the start of the fluke season on Monday, May 4. The water is still on the cool side, but this is the time of the year when the big flatties come into the bay waters. Some good catches are guaranteed right away as long as the weather cooperates.

Some of the BHCFA boats are in the water and ready to go. Others are getting the finishing touches on the bottom paint and the last pieces of fishing gear stowed on board just prior to launching.

This is a good time to make reservations for fishing in any of the upcoming months. Most of the captains have a goodly number of open dates at this point, but many will soon be filled.

Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org 

Thanksgiving is about here, and Christmas is not that far away, but the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are still bending rods for anglers.

There is currently a mass of striped bass off the northern end of Long Beach Island comprised of both large fish and others that are dinner fish in the 28–31-inch keeper size.

Captain Ray Lopez reports the “Miss Liane” still has a few open spots to get on “some fantastic fishing.” He calls the bite “super-hot.”

Captain Gary Dugan notes the “stripers are here” and he too only has a few spots open for groups of anglers on the “Irish Jig.”

Captain Jonathan Taylor of “LBI Sportfishing” fished a day over the weekend and ended with a full boat limit of slot fish while releasing a bunch more to swim off for another day. The popper and jig bite held consistent action. He is already booking up for December dates for both bluefin tuna and bass.

Captain Max Goldman has temporarily moved the “Star Fish” to Barnegat Light for the rest of the season. He notes the “bite is hot and the striped bass are stacked.”

On his days off from teaching, Captain Brett Taylor has been finding great action on both the striped bass and tautog action during bottom action on structure.

Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org

The calendar indicates that fall is almost half over, and that means multiple things to the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association. It means the threat of storms and high seas at times, but it also means a variety of outstanding fishing when the conditions permit.

Captain Gary Dugan of “Irish Jig Sportfishing” reports wreck fishing has been exceptionally good with black sea bass catches and blackfish limits including a number of very nice fish. He plans to continue with the wreck fishing until the striped bass arrive in numbers.

Captain Ray Lopez reports the “Miss Liane” has experienced some deep-water wreck fishing trips as being very productive. His anglers are returning with black sea bass, porgies, and triggerfish. This is active catching with these fish being excellent table fare.

Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” has also been finding good bottom fishing despite some rough weather. He had a charter that battled conditions to find excellent porgy and sea bass action along with some triggerfish. Many throwbacks added to the excitement.

Captain Jonathan Taylor of “LBI Sportfishing” states “The inshore bluefin tuna bite is as good as it gets right now!” On a trip recently his anglers went 5 for 5 with some giant fish mixed in by 10:30. Even though it is catch and release on these fish, it is exciting fishing, especially being so close to shore.

Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org 

After weathering a very nasty and extended northeaster, the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are back and ready to go.

Prior to the arrival of the storm, the captains spent time preparing their boats for the effects of the wind and tides. Most of the Association boats were still in the water, so that meant checking and double checking all dock lines. It was important to have all lines long enough to accommodate the rise of the waters.

Bilge pumps were checked, batteries were charged, and anything that could suffer effects from the winds were carefully stowed away.

Fortunately, the preparations worked, and no serious damage from the storm for the BHCFA boats has been reported.

The fall fishing will officially get into swing now as the water clears up and temperatures drop. Captain Gary Dugan of the “Irish Jig” reports he has a reading on some hot action for black sea bass. In addition, he will be working the back waters for stripers.

Captain Dave Wittenborn on the “Benita J” is waiting for ocean swells to settle down before he heads back offshore to continue some of the hot tuna action he was enjoying until right before the winds arrived.

Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” also is planning to get into the black sea bass along with some blackfish from Barnegat Inlet.

This is an exciting time of the year to get out fishing, and the BHCFA captains are the means to get the job done. Additional information on all the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org