We'll just get back from fishing by the hook went south along the beach about 8 miles and saw no birds anywhere But my son caught a fluke, that's right not a flounder but a fluke Go figure It was a very bad day fishing No stripers

Go south.....way south from cape may to longport.

One fact as a small boat owner I learned was fish only when the bite is on and when sea conditions are good!!!!!!!!!! I understand time and availability enters into this but................:head:

I went out Saturday morning with my son. We left the dock at 6am and headed south from Squan inlet. Found birds and bait off Lavallette. Pulled a few short bass then decided to go further south. Ended up off Island Beach with about 300 other boats. Birds all over bait being chased up all over by bass and bluefish. My son and I got a bunch more short bass and a few gator blues before we ran out of time. All in all it was a good day even though we didn't get any keepers. We managed to keep our rods bent. The weather for this weekend looks pretty good so far. I might go out again if I can convince my boy to give it one more shot.

Capt Pete where do you launch from? I go out of Atlantic highlands nj and the get to island beach it's a hell of a long ride But that's where the fish are I here

I keep my boat in a slip at the marina I work at. Garden State Marina. It's about a half mile in from the Manasquan Inlet.

Closest ramp to Manasquan inlet is Deep Creek Cove.
Good ramp last time I used it. You need to call for hours.
In summer, parking is a problem but now should be great.

Address: 381 Brielle Rd, Manasquan, NJ 08736
Phone:(732) 223-0400

~11 miles to Seaside Hts... so 15+ to Island Beach SP

If you launch south in barnegat bay in Forked River and use Barnegat Inlt, you might save a couple miles but BI sucks and the channels require some local knowledge

Check reports from this week - you may want to launch further south..........