Fall is advancing quickly toward winter in Beach Haven, NJ, but one would never know it by the recent warm temperatures and nice weather. Some captains of the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association have been taking advantage of the conditions by running successful fishing trips.
There are several appealing fishing targets for anglers. Tuna appear daily, often just a few miles off the coast. The bulk of the striped bass migration is in full swing following the schools of bunker. The challenge is to weed through the large fish to find keepers in the 28–31-inch slot.
On the bottom fishing front the daily limit for black sea bass has increased to 15 fish while the tautog daily limit increases to 5-fish on November 16.
Captain Ray Lopez of the “Miss Liane” reports that he and Captain George are taking trip reservations for inshore bluefin tuna, stripers, and wreck fishing. Their past several trips have been “very productive.”
Captain Brett Taylor of “Reel Reaction Sportfishing” says his anglers of been enjoying the great fishing and weather. On one trip “in the shadows of Old Barney” he released over 55 short and keeper tautog while keeping their 5-man limit to 17 inches. He has also been doing well on bass in the inlet and nearby waters and also taking trips to nearby wrecks
Captain Dave Wittenborn has been finding nice bluefin tuna fishing aboard the “Benita J.” He reports finding an “amazing fishery only a few miles outside our inlet.” He will soon be targeting striped bass but hopes to get one or two more tuna trips in. A recent trip saw a bass measuring out at 51-inches, a new “Benita J” record.
Captain Jonathon Kelly reports an “awesome day” on the “Outcast” with a beautiful 66-inch bluefin very close to shore. His most recent trip saw 4 fish hooked up just as they started fishing with a 68-incher in the boat by 7am.
Additional information on the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association can be found at www.BHCFA.org