New Jersey Fishing Reports (December 2025)

Frank Breakell
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Reported: 2 years ago

We ended the year with three great trips! We went out and spot locked over some wrecks and did well with tautog. Green crabs were the go to bait, but clams caught too. When running back inside, we spotted some birds and cruised in close to see what all the...

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Frank Breakell Stone Harbor, New Jersey Reported: 2 years ago

We ended the year with three great trips! We went out and spot locked over some wrecks and did well with tautog. Green crabs were the go to bait, but clams caught too. When running back inside, we spotted some birds and cruised in close to see what all the fuss was about. Turned out to be striped bass (finally!). So, we dropped jigs down and had a blast catching and releasing stripers up to 40". We kept a few for the table as well. The first two trips were mostly about the stripers. The final trip was all tog. The weather has been unbelievable, and unseasonably warm. If it stays like this we could fish right through the winter.

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Frank Breakell
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Reported: 2 years ago

Tried bridge hopping with Justin tonight. We hit a few normally productive areas, but they were dead zones. They all held bait, mostly spearing, some sand eels, but no stripers. Not a nibble. There were great blue herons at just about every place we went. That was cool. Not sure...

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Frank Breakell Stone Harbor, New Jersey Reported: 2 years ago

Tried bridge hopping with Justin tonight. We hit a few normally productive areas, but they were dead zones. They all held bait, mostly spearing, some sand eels, but no stripers. Not a nibble. There were great blue herons at just about every place we went. That was cool. Not sure what the deal was with the lack of fish. Impending full Moon, strong current, general lack of bait, quick drop in water temperature,...who knows. Maybe next time.”
Tight Lines!

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Frank Breakell
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Reported: 3 years ago

Not really doing a whole lot at this time with school back in session. We were out this past Saturday and mugged up on nice flounder. We were throwing back over sized fish, which was painful. The key was making short drifts over the structure and working it hard. When...

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Frank Breakell Stone Harbor, New Jersey Reported: 3 years ago

Not really doing a whole lot at this time with school back in session.
We were out this past Saturday and mugged up on nice flounder. We were throwing back over sized fish, which was painful. The key was making short drifts over the structure and working it hard. When the bite stops, hit the next piece. The fluke have turned on just in time for them to go out of season on the 27th.
The back bays are alive with peanut bunker, spearing, and some mullet. When you can get anything to actually bite there are stripers and weakies around. Small blues too. But the bite is very spotty with all the bait. But worth the effort. Fun times are ahead. Sea bass will be opening soon. And tog is just around the corner. As are the stripers. Come on Fall!

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Frank Breakell
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Reported: 3 years ago

The water us finally warming up to where is should be this time of the year. We are starting to get better fluke action on the reefs and wrecks in the 40-80' range. There are good numbers of sea bass around too, but mostly on the short side. 1-4# blues...

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Frank Breakell Stone Harbor, New Jersey Reported: 3 years ago

The water us finally warming up to where is should be this time of the year. We are starting to get better fluke action on the reefs and wrecks in the 40-80' range. There are good numbers of sea bass around too, but mostly on the short side. 1-4# blues have invaded the Inshore lumps and can be taken on small metals or trolling. There have even been some king mackerel taken while trolling. We had one launch right in front of the boat the other day. There are schools of bait pretty much everywhere you look, so it's just a matter of time, or finding the right one, to get on the fish. It should only get better from here on. Tight Lines!"

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Frank Breakell
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing has been pretty off out front on the inshore reefs. We continue to have upwelling thanks to the constant southerly winds. The water temperature is fluctuating constantly from the upper 50s to the low 70s. The fish can't get acclimated and just turn off. So, we have been...

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Frank Breakell Stone Harbor, New Jersey Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing has been pretty off out front on the inshore reefs. We continue to have upwelling thanks to the constant southerly winds. The water temperature is fluctuating constantly from the upper 50s to the low 70s. The fish can't get acclimated and just turn off. So, we have been targeting the smaller fluke and little sea bass in the back bays.
The beaches are providing more consistent action with kingfish, spot, and a variety of other species. There are occasionally larger sharks and rays in the mix.
The back bays at night are loaded with peanut bunker and spearing. Small blues are constantly harassing them. There are some stripers around here and there. The bite is definitely not what is should be though.
Things would bust wide open if the water would just get stable.

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Mark Elliott
Cape May, New Jersey
Reported: 3 years ago

The inshore troll bite has remained consistent with a mixed bag of blues, bonita and spanish mackerel. Water temps are still cold for this time of year so any other exotic species should be here soon. Flounder has been a struggle, mainly due to the colder water temps.

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Mark Elliott Cape May, New Jersey Reported: 3 years ago

The inshore troll bite has remained consistent with a mixed bag of blues, bonita and spanish mackerel. Water temps are still cold for this time of year so any other exotic species should be here soon. Flounder has been a struggle, mainly due to the colder water temps.

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Frank Breakell
Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been hot and cold, much like the water lately. Southerly winds are causing unwilling and it shuts the fishing down. When we get northerly or westerly winds, and the water heats up, the fishing turns on. We have been picking flounder off the reefs, and shorts un the...

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Frank Breakell Stone Harbor, New Jersey Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been hot and cold, much like the water lately. Southerly winds are causing unwilling and it shuts the fishing down.
When we get northerly or westerly winds, and the water heats up, the fishing turns on.
We have been picking flounder off the reefs, and shorts un the back. There are triggerfish and sea bass on the reef structure as well. Ribbonfish made an appearance on a few of the wrecks too. In the surf we have been getting small weakies and blues, kingfish and spot. Occasional sharks and rays too.

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