At Captain Mikes we had excellent weather to report through the Fourth of July weekend.

Seth Katz caught a 27′ Cobia on Mike Yager’s boat off the stink house. Seth was bouncing a jig with a white mullet gulp (without a teaser). A surprise but a welcome one for sure! 

Although it wasn’t a keeper, that’s a bucket list fish for many New Jersey anglers!

Shorter Fluke in The Bay

Many anglers came back with coolers full of fluke in the 17″ range. However, many shorts in the 15-16 inch slot are being thrown back.

It appears the larger doormat fluke are heading out to the ocean to the wrecks. However, a spearfish diver reported the bottom of the ocean floor is about mid 40s. He reported many of the fluke are sluggish on the bottom.

Bad for an angler but great for a spearfisherman.

Best bet: If you’re fishing out of Great Bay head to Garden State North or Garden State South for doormats.

Weakfish Bycatch and Bluefish

Many of the anglers fishing for fluke in the bay are catching weakfish bycatch.

Most of these anglers are bouncing bucktails with gulp on the bottom targeting fluke but the weakfish can’t get enough of it. Bluefish have been consistently in the area too, while striped bass are rare and should be targeted later this fall.

The weakfish are mostly shorts but some keepers have been in the mix.

Moving into July

July is typically an excellent month for offshore, ocean fluke fishing, and wreck fishing in general.

If you’re going offshore for pelagic species it seems the mid-shore grounds are starting to heat up too! Many charter captains are returning home catching yellowfin tunas on top water and jigs.

While this weekend looks dicey with high winds and the potential for scattered storms in the forecast.

With warmer water finally coming in who knows what you’ll catch. We’re sure Seth didn’t expect that cobia on the line when he went out earlier this week!

Call (609)-296-4406 to book your rental and let’s go fishing!