Barnegat Bay, New Jersey Fly Fishing Report & Conditions

Barnegat Bay is one of New Jersey's most prolific bay systems. Offering tidal flats, deep channels, river mouths, and inlets. The proximity of this entire area to Barnegat Inlet provides a steady influx of bait and predators throughout the season. Target species for fly fishermen include Striped Bass, Weakfish, Bluefish, Fluke, and some Albacore. The best way to fish the Barnegat Bay is by a small boat but access on foot is not completely limited. The Bay also has great potential for fishing from kayaks. I will start my discussion just North of Long Beach Island in Island Beach State Park. There is good wading access located behind Island Beach State Park at Areas 7, 15, and 21. Here you can park in designated areas and walk along several well-marked paths to the Bay. Located on the backside of Island Beach State Park is the very productive area known as the sedges. Here you will find a deep channel that drops off from the sedge banks to 18-20 feet. Good tidal flows are present in this area during the changing tides and large stripers and weakfish can be found along the bottom and along the drop-offs in this area. When fly fishing these areas you will need to use 450-650 grain sinking lines to get your flies down into the strike zone. There are numerous creeks that run through the sedges where large bass and weakfish will enter providing excellent sight casting. At the southern end of Island Beach State Park you will find Barnegat Inlet. This Inlet provides the boat fly fisher with a prime opportunity to fish "world class trophy waters". Known as one of the most productive locations throughout our state one can hook into stripers in the twenty to thirty pound range, bluefish in the eight to fifteen pound range, and tide running weakfish in the six to eleven pound range throughout the course of the season. Some False albacore will also enter the picture from September through October that are in the six to twelve-pound range along the North Jetty but rarely along the South. In the Inlet the most productive location to fish is on its north side along the area known as the Sunken Rocks. This is the submerged portion of the North Jetty that extends from its walk-able tip (These rocks can be very slippery so be sure to use caution when fishing in these areas) out to what the locals call the Monument. Which for me was always a welcome site back in my mating days. As waves are pushed over these rocks from the ocean into the Inlet a lot of whitewater is created that disorients the bait that are moving through this area. In between high and low tide usually produces the best whitewater conditions. Use large Decievers and some Poppers when fishing in this area. Across the Inlet you will see "Old Barney" the lighthouse. The south Jetty runs along the Lighthouse and has a walk if you are not as agile and do not feel comfortable jumping your way from rock to rock. At the base of the light there is a small jetty that offers clear casting and some very deep water. Use a sinking line as the current can move at a quick clip. Some late summer evenings you may see hoards of spearing stacked here with bass having a feeding frenzy. Across the channel and west of the Light you will come to Meyers Hole. This maybe the most productive weakfishing spot in Barnegat Bay. Meyers Hole runs parallel to and is confined by a series of bars and shoals and by a spit of land known as the Dyke. Here you can find large tide running weakfish in the spring and spikes in the Summer. Anchoring up and creating a chum slick with grass shrimp is sure way to have nonstop action especially when the spikes are in. Once the weakies enter your chum slick throw a small shrimp fly “Black eyed pea” and allow the fly to work back with the current. You can also access this point from shore where you can cast into the hole. Use an olive colored Garretts Flats Minnow! All of the sod banks that are located behind the Dyke are also prime spots to check when in the Meyers Hole vicinity. A sixteen-foot channel runs all along the edge of these sod banks that will hold fish. The Honey Hole as the locals know it is the most productive spot along this channel. If fishing from a boat use your eyes and look for bird play. Gulls can be seen crashing bait along the edges of the channels especially around the BB, BI, and 42 Buoys. The BB Buoy marks the entrance to the Forked River, the BI Buoy marks the entrance to Oyster Creek Channel, and the 42 Buoy marks the Double Creek Channel. All three Buoys are located in water that averages eight to ten feet in depth. The extensive array of flats that border these channels can be very productive particularly in the early part of the spring as they warm quickly from the sun's rays. Here you will find some of the first stripers and weakfish of a new season. As may rolls around a good population of bluefish will invade their warmer waters. Moving down along Long Beach Island there are numerous places you can check out as some fish return each year. These spots are tight lipped and with a little exploration you may find one of your own. The Causeway Bridge is sometimes overlooked but the last bridge just before you enter Ship Bottom holds some nice fish. Fish this area at night as the lights from the bridge attracts bait fish. I like to use a Black Deciever. Cast the Deciever into the light and let it swing back into the shadow as you strip. The Predatory fish wait in the shadows to ambush their prey. I use this technique when snook fishing in Florida it works wonders here as well. Speaking of Snook fishing. One of the best methods for fishing is to fish docks. The south end of Long Beach Island “Beach Haven” has numerous docks with many lighted. Light attracts bait and well you get the point. Explore and you will be rewarded! Behind Holgate there are some sedges that can offer up some great fishing. Access to some of these spots can be challenging but you never know till you go! Last but not the least. The surf can offer the hottest action. This is where you can get some serious blitzes. The problem is the majority of these fish are on the move you may get a report and by the time you get your rod together the fish are gone. Sometimes it’s just a matter of putting the time in. Wind is usually an issue so plan on using your 9-12 wt. and large flies, as the wind will be hitting you right in your face. Practice makes perfect and this is what stories are made of. Capt. Adam F. Sprague Barnegat Bay Outfitters

Check out this site. It gives graphical water temp at Coast Guard Barnegat Light. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01409125 You may have to refresh page to update when you are on the link.

1. Flat Brook
2. Musconetcong River

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