Latest fishing news from the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association from Jim Hutchinson Sr.
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
Fall is now officially here, and that means several things to the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association.
First, is that Thursday, September 25, is the final day of the summer flounder season in New Jersey. This season has been a decent one for these favorite targets of the BHCFA. Captain Steve Palmer does not plan to let this fluke season end without a special trip planned on the “Miss Beach Haven.”
Captain Steve has a Fluke Mania trip for the last day of fluke fishing. He will have prizes, food, drinks, and a good time for all. The trip can be booked online at www.missbeachhaven.com.
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sport Fishing is back fishing with his new Yamaha outboard. He had Luke Warwick of Medford with his son Dillon on an afternoon fluke charter. They worked wrecks but could only muster 20 shorts and 1 keeper fluke. On the way in they worked the jetty and had action on bluefish to 25-inches on jigs.
Second, Wednesday, October 1, marks the reopening of the season for black sea bass. The limit will be 10 fish daily for the month of October, and then 15 daily for the rest of the year. All indications point to an abundance of these fish around the inshore structures.
Finally, the arrival of fall means cooler weather accompanied by a cooling of water temperatures. That means the fall arrival of striped bass. The captains of the BHCFA still have some openings on charters for bass, but they are filling up fast.
Captain Dave Wittenborn of the “Benita J” reports he is almost out of open dates for offshore tuna fishing before he turns to stripers.
Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org
Fall is now officially here, and that means several things to the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association.
First, is that Thursday, September 25, is the final day of the summer flounder season in New Jersey. This season has been a decent one for these favorite targets of the BHCFA. Captain Steve Palmer does not plan to let this fluke season end without a special trip planned on the “Miss Beach Haven.”
Captain Steve has a Fluke Mania trip for the last day of fluke fishing. He will have prizes, food, drinks, and a good time for all. The trip can be booked online at www.missbeachhaven.com.
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sport Fishing is back fishing with his new Yamaha outboard. He had Luke Warwick of Medford with his son Dillon on an afternoon fluke charter. They worked wrecks but could only muster 20 shorts and 1 keeper fluke. On the way in they worked the jetty and had action on bluefish to 25-inches on jigs.
Second, Wednesday, October 1, marks the reopening of the season for black sea bass. The limit will be 10 fish daily for the month of October, and then 15 daily for the rest of the year. All indications point to an abundance of these fish around the inshore structures.
Finally, the arrival of fall means cooler weather accompanied by a cooling of water temperatures. That means the fall arrival of striped bass. The captains of the BHCFA still have some openings on charters for bass, but they are filling up fast.
Captain Dave Wittenborn of the “Benita J” reports he is almost out of open dates for offshore tuna fishing before he turns to stripers.
Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org
Although the captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association are thankful that Hurricane Erin passed out to sea, the size and ferocity of the storm did have a negative effect on the fishing last week.
Although the ocean waves made fishing a no-go for a few days, some captains did look for calm bay spots to wet some lines and catch an assortment of fish there. Captain Steve Palmer had the headboat “Miss Beach Haven” in bay waters keeping anglers busy.
Other captains took the opportunity to tune up their gear for the last weeks of the summer and the upcoming fall fishing action.
Captain Max Goldman of the “Starfish” reports he will be right back on the inshore hot areas catching an assortment of bottom fish including fluke, black sea bass, triggerfish, and others.
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” tried a bay trip once the storm passed by. The 5-hour trip produced a mix of tautog, blowfish, sport, fluke, and a few dogfish. His anglers worked a variety of spots with different techniques. He said the water was silty from the storm but should clear up in a day or so.
Captain Dave Wittenborn had to cancel an offshore trip on the “Benita J,” but spent time on the Mike Sheppard Fishing Show out of Atlantic City sharing information on the recent white marlin tournament at the Beach Haven Marlin and Tuna Club.
Additional information on the captains and boats of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org
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