Fishing report for 09/09/26

Welcome to the post summer fishing report. A lot stayed the same hence no updates. But finally some changes to report. So lets get into it!

Back bay starting first. Fluke are everywhere it seems. Tons of small fish around, have to put in some work for the keepers. Minnows and squid seem to be catching the smaller ones, while mackerel and gulp seem to be hitting the few keepers. North end hasn't been that great since the replenishment but Corson's has been quite decent Micro seabass, little sand sharks, decent croaker and spot have flooded the bay. They aren't picky they hit just about any bait. Hearing spotty reports of snapper blues around just not too many of them, small metals and meat (bunker & mackerel) are best. Sheepshead have been quite good around the bridges and piers but tog have been best by far, sandfleas & fiddlers for sheepshead with green crab and sandfleas for the tog. Lots of tog even with a decent amount of keepers which we don't normally see this time of year. But the big news is the recent uptick in the weakfish catch! Hearing quite a few in Corson's and even more in the surf. They haven't been picky either hitting just about anything from bait to plastics. Rivers are still absolutely loaded with perch. Same old song and dance find deeper holes for the bigger ones with bloods, fishbites and grass shrimp. Crabbing has been phenomenal in the creeks in the back. Get away from people and you will find crabs,

Surf side has been kind of iffy. They just finished the north end beach replenishment which really put a hurting on the fishing. Not sure if they are still pumping in Strathmere but that effected the south end as well. Center of the island has been the best by far. Spot is the big thing, kind of overtaking everything. Its been a big struggle to find kingfish but there has been some croaker mixed in. Bloodworms or fishbites are the best thing to use by far. As i stated in the bay report there has been a number of weakfish as well coming in waves. Caught on fishbites, shedder squid and plastics. Sand sharks are all over especially the north end after the replenishment.  Browns are still quite active, Mackerel, spot, kingfish and croaker are best for bait. Just be careful and DO NOT REMOVE THEM FROM THE WATER!

Ocean side has been pretty good. The shallower reefs are producing some keeper fluke but a TON of Sea robins. Deeper the wreck or reef the better for bigger fluke tog and seabass. Trigger are still plentiful as well. Started getting reports of Spanish mackerel, bonito & bonita inshore as well. Mahi have been inshore as well. Find some pots or buoys and you should find them as well as cobia. Little bluefin have been pushing just past the 10 mile line with most people throwing live peanut bunker.

Billy's dad took him down to the inlet for the holiday weekend and wound up catching this beautiful weakfish! Congrats Billy!