Fishing Reports from Captain Mikes

fishing reports
Tim O’Mara after a long morning trolling up and down the NJ coastline for stripers (circa 2021).

Fishing reports straight from Captain Mikes located on Great Bay Boulevard. We’re directly between Atlantic City and Long Beach Island.

We’re 45 minutes away from Long Beach Island (LBI) and 45 minutes away from Atlantic City perfect location for your fishing trip with friends and family. Or the perfect getaway from your friends and family (we don’t judge)!

Captain Mikes has access to inshore fishing reports in Great Bay, Long Beach Island (LBI), Brigantine, and off the coast of Atlantic City. We’re a 5 minutes ride from the inlet and in the heart of Great Bay.

Our vast network of salty fisherman allow us to have a good grasp on when the Striped Bass run north in the spring and return south during the fall. We also get tipped off when doormat fluke are chewing!

Don’t believe us? Check out our Instagram and Facebook for photos of our smiling rental and slip customers to see for yourself!

Latest Fishing Reports from Captain Mikes

  • Memorial Day Fishing Report
    We’ve been fishing before Memorial Day Weekend and the blue fish are blitzing through Great Bay and Barnegat Bay. There are 1-3lbers and plenty of fish to go around. The water temperature in the bay is high 60’s while the ocean has been low 60’s. Still plenty of opportunities to catch a striped bass chunking… Read more: Memorial Day Fishing Report
  • Fluke Season Starts Hot
    Fluke season starts off hot this weekend after a bit of a slow week. The best fluke bait has been spearing and salted mackerel on bucktails. Some guys using bobbers and gulp too. You’ll need to come into the shop if you want to find out the secret colors of gulp they’ve been hitting! Give us… Read more: Fluke Season Starts Hot
  • New Striped Bass Regulations
    Lots of news in the fishing world this week. Dead dolphin, new striped bass regulations and fluke season kicks off! It’s been a busy few weeks getting the marina up and running but Captain Mike’s is now open full-time! May 2nd kicks off fluke season and we’re looking forward to another prosperous season down in… Read more: New Striped Bass Regulations
  • Captain Mikes: April Fishing Reports
    April Fishing Reports So Far April is off to a warm start and prime-time spring fishing is upon us! The weather in New Jersey has been stellar this week. We’ve been pushing 70-80 degrees this past week. The ocean temps are beginning to rise from the low 50 fifties into the mid-fifties, when the ocean… Read more: Captain Mikes: April Fishing Reports
  • Fishing is Almost Here!
    Fishing is Almost Upon Us! Fear not anglers, fishing season is almost upon us. Captain Mikes Marina is almost open full time for business! We will be open weekends and most mornings weather permitting. We’ll be open full-time May 1st. Fluke fishing opens up May 2nd and closes on September 27th. Anglers are allowed to… Read more: Fishing is Almost Here!

Great Bay Fishing Profile

happy rental customers with fluke
Happy rental boat customers after a day of fluking Great Bay.

Great Bay’s grassy channels and holes are great to target fluke, tautog, striped bass, and bluefish.

April through June is the perfect time to get those early season trips in to pluck black drum, striped bass, and tautog without the summer ruckus on the water.

Striped bass during this time of the year return from the Mullica river back to Great Bay. Fluke fishing tends to heat up toward the tail end of May as well.

June through September is prime time for blowfish, fluke, snapper and cocktail blues. If you’re keen on shark fishing brown sharks patrol the grassy channels of Great Bay as well.

Rutgers Marine has a dock cam you can check the conditions, here.

Long Beach Island Fishing Profile

Angler Scott Hill with a trophy striped bass in a not so secret spot in LBI (Circa 2021).

We have family and friends who fish Barnegat Bay, inlet, and the wrecks off the coast of Long Beach Island (LBI).

April through June is predominantly for striper fishing, blue fishing, and tautoging. The elusive LBI black drum does exist but seldom caught.

Striped bass run through Barnegat Bay and off the coast of LBI as well.

June through August is when most anglers target fluke, bluefish, blowfish, tautog, and seabass when the latter two species are open.

Schoolie striped bass can be found but most anglers opt to wreck fish or bottom fish.

August through December is one of our favorite times of the year. The fall run offers pockets of false albacore and striped bass begin to migrate south through LBI.

Seabass and tautog regulations become more liberal and allow anglers to fill up their freezers for the winter.

Most boats are out of the water by this time of year and it truly is for diehard fishermen who choose to brave the chilly weather for opportunities of glory.

Atlantic City & Brigantine Fishing Profile

atlantic city reef fishing
Map of Atlantic City Reef from NJ.gov

May through August is a wreck and fluke fisherman’s paradise. Whether your drifting for fluke or locked into a wreck spot for sea bass or tautog, AC Reef is rich with structure.

Again, if you’re a Captain Mikes’ slip customer you are only 5 minutes ride from breaking the inlet to Garden State South or Atlantic City wrecks.

Depending on the time of year you may even be lucky enough to snag an August Mahi…

August through December is normally when striped bass return within striking distance .

The reefs can still be hold fish but the colder it gets the further they migrate east.

New Jersey Offshore Fishing Reports

We promise our offshore fishing reports from New Jersey’s canyons will be detailed enough with the conditions tuna, mahi, and other species were caught but not enough info to make our canyons a parking lot.

May to August bluefin tuna tend to be closer inshore canyons. Meanwhile yellowfin tuna and other pelagic species are further out in the Hudson canyons.

Mahi Mahi fishing picks up when the ocean temperatures are in the 70’s.

September to December is not for the faint of heart but you can chase ghosts for bluefin during the fall. We typically get a good run of bluefin tuna during late November and early December.

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Photos from Great Bay Outfitters’s post See MoreSee Less

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉 W Chad Doherty, Donald Neely, Lisa Neubert Mcginnis, Edward Foulks, Justin Wanckel. We appreciate you all🎣 See MoreSee Less

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉 W Chad Doherty, Donald Neely, Lisa Neubert Mcginnis, Edward Foulks, Justin Wanckel.  We appreciate you all🎣

2024 regulations are set… 🐟 See MoreSee Less

2024 regulations are set... 🐟

Comment on Facebook

Ken

18 " means???? 18" or larger or exactly 18"

David Heljenek

Call George today for all your Spring boating needsSpring fishing is right around the corner. Don’t wait until the last second to get your boat ready for the season. Call or text to schedule your spring service. We offer everything from engine work and bottom painting, to full boat detailing and trolling motor installs. See MoreSee Less

Call George today for all your Spring boating needs

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Captain Mikes Marina (Backbay Marina LLC) . Best in all of N.J. Family owned and they love their customers. Top Notch boat rentals for fishing or crabing and they also have kayaks for your pleasure. Very knowledgeable of the back bay waters and even has a chart to show the newcomer how to navigate the back bay areas. They fully cater to the needs of the customer. They also hired a awesome boat mechanic who has worked on my boat over the past few years. Great work, great guy and he's a awesome fit to an already top notch Marina. You get it all at Captain Mikes. If you haven't been there you need to give them a try. Can't go wrong. Tight linz everyone

Having been in the Bait and Tackle Business for many years. This is one of the best in New Jersey. It’s located in a prime location for multiple locations from Back Bay to the Little Egg Inlet. Oh yeah the Owner Tim is a Little Egg Legend. A little tough to pry Secrets out that Head. But it’s in there 😉😆👍

Getting close….. 🐟. Spring fishing is in the air !
We will be getting things ready over the weekends beginning April 13th and should be here daily beginning May 1. If anyone is interested in grabbing a slip or dry storage spot, give us a call.
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Getting close..... 🐟. Spring fishing is in the air ! 
We will be getting  things ready over the weekends  beginning April 13th and should be here daily beginning May 1.   If anyone is interested in grabbing a slip or dry storage spot, give us a call.

Always a great time 🐟 🦀. See MoreSee Less

Always a great time 🐟 🦀.

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I appreciate you guys!

Spring is right around the corner …. as soon as these storms finish up.

Flounder season begins May 4. We still have some boat slips and dry storage spots available. Call Tim 609-709-6425 to see what we have left. George is also in full swing doing boat maintenance and repairs so get your boat done now in time for opening day 🐟
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Spring is right around the corner .... as soon as these storms finish up.

Flounder season begins May 4.   We still have some boat slips and dry storage spots available.  Call Tim 609-709-6425 to see what we have left.   George is also in full swing doing boat maintenance and repairs so get your boat done now in time for opening day 🐟

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When’s a good day to come and pay for a spot for the season?

On January 19, 2024, Conservation Police Officers Allen Sutton and Jack Sikora observed two individuals ice fishing while patrolling at Lake Hopatcong. CPOs observed both individuals catch a large quantity of panfish. Upon inspection, the two were found to be in possession of a total of 141 Yellow Perch. The two individuals received court mandatory summonses for being in possession of 91 Yellow Perch over their legal creel limit.

If you witness hunting, fishing, trapping or Wildlife Management Area violations, please call the 24-hour DEP hotline at 877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337).

Fishing regulations and creel limits: dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/njfw/digest-freshwater-fishing-2024-complete.pdf

#NewJerseyFishAndWildlife #GameWarden #ConservationPoliceOfficer #NewJerseyConservationPolice #YellowPerch #IceFishing
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Terrible !

Flounder rigs still legal up there ? I'd always throw a rig in if I struck out on a striper. Secret bait ??? Linguica…. Swear to god

That’s a good one.

Ken

I'm hearing 3 @ 17" for the Jersey side of Delaware Bay also?

I wish

That's fine with me! Thanks

🐠 🎣 🛥 🌊

Thank you, Jim.The best news i've had in a while Joe b

I think it was probably the best of the bad choices available. Now we can all get ready for spring, bring on May. It was nice to see how many people participated and joined the meeting online last night. If you're not happy with the results I suggest you join the meetings and speak up.

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Be sure to call George and get your appt scheduled !!Spring fishing is right around the corner. Don’t wait until the last second to get your boat ready for the season. Call or text to schedule your spring service. We offer everything from engine work and bottom painting, to full boat detailing and trolling motor installs. See MoreSee Less

Be sure to call George and get your appt scheduled !!

Photos from We Haul Boats’s post See MoreSee Less

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As we enter February, can’t help but get that Spring Fever going when perch fishing turns to the bluefish/striper bite and then into flounder season in May and so it begins …. 🎣

Get your spot reserved with us now! We reopen the marina on April 15th.

We have a few boat slips open along with some dry storage spots available. First come, first served. **We also have yearly seasonal ramp passes (with key to gate for non operating hours) available.

Call Tim 609-709-6425 with any questions.
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As we enter February, cant help but get that Spring Fever going when perch fishing turns to the bluefish/striper bite and then into flounder season in May and so it begins .... 🎣

Get your spot reserved with us now!    We reopen the marina  on April 15th.   

We have a few boat slips open along with some dry storage spots available.   First come, first served.    **We also have yearly seasonal ramp passes (with key to gate for non operating hours) available.

Call Tim 609-709-6425 with any questions.

Comment on Facebook

Do you know the size limits for flounder and the quantity for this year

Tim this is Butch from Butch's tackle do you have time for me to come see you one day

Happy New Year 🎊 See MoreSee Less

Happy New Year 🎊

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Happy New Year 🎆

3 months ago
Captain Mikes Marina (Backbay Marina LLC)

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Happy new year

Nice ..Happy New Year 🎆

Happy New Year! From 2018

Home sweet home

5 MONTHS till MAY

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Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas 🎁🎄

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and Deb

Merry Christmas🎄

Have a wonderful day

Merry Christmas!

Thanks guys

M

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4 months ago
Captain Mikes Marina (Backbay Marina LLC)

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I’d rather jig any day and be skunked then troll for bass.

There used to be a old timer boat called Bass something. He would always say troll to.find the fish then Jig them up

See u soon

Drop a Spot on their heads. Problem solved.

Happy follow-versary to my awesome followers. Thanks for all your support! Janet Earnest ❤️👋 See MoreSee Less

Happy follow-versary to my awesome followers. Thanks for all your support! Janet Earnest ❤️👋
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