SaltInshore, surf and offshore trips out of Point Pleasant Beach. Striped bass, fluke, sea bass and canyon tuna.
Guided days on Lake Hopatcong, Round Valley and the South Branch of the Raritan.Fresh
Sandy Hook 40°28′N → Cape May 38°56′N
New Jersey fits more kinds of fishing into one small state than almost anywhere on the East Coast. About 130 miles of Atlantic beaches, inlets and back bays run from Sandy Hook to Cape May. Offshore, the canyons at the edge of the continental shelf hold tuna through summer and early fall. Inland, the Highlands lakes and trout streams are about 90 minutes from the surf.
Hookset runs guided trips on all of it, with local captains and guides who fish these waters year-round. We go where the fish are that week and tell you straight when the weather or the bite is poor. Every trip includes rods, tackle, bait and fish cleaning. You bring food, layers and a license when one is required.
Atlantic coastline
130mi
of ocean coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May, with inlets, jetties and back bays along the way.
Island Beach State Park
10mi
of undeveloped barrier-island beach, the Shore’s best-known surf fishing ground.
Lake Hopatcong
2,500acres
New Jersey’s largest lake, with largemouth bass, hybrid striped bass, muskie and walleye.
Round Valley Reservoir
180ft
maximum depth. The state’s deepest lake is also its best lake trout water.
Sonar10 species · salt & fresh water
The ten species anglers target most, from the surf to the canyons to the Highlands lakes. Pick one to see when it bites, where to find it and how to catch it.
Morone saxatilis
New Jersey’s signature game fish. Bass follow bunker schools into Raritan Bay in April and May, then run south along the beaches from October into December. The ocean fishery has a slot limit, so measure before you keep one.
Pomatomus saltatrix
Bluefish arrive in May and blitz bait along the beaches and inlets through the fall. They fight hard, cut line with their teeth and eat best when bled and iced right away.
Paralichthys dentatus
The most popular summer fish on the Shore. Fluke start in the back bays in May and move out to ocean reefs and wrecks by August, where the biggest fish, called doormats, are caught.
Cynoscion regalis
Weakfish, also called sea trout, show up in Delaware Bay and Barnegat Bay in May. Their numbers are lower than in past decades, so the bag limit is tight and many anglers release them.
Centropristis striata
Sea bass crowd the state’s wrecks and artificial reefs. The season opens and closes several times a year, with the best fishing in late spring and again in the fall.
Tautoga onitis
Tautog live right against rocks and wrecks and crush crabs with heavy teeth. The best fishing comes as the water cools in November and December, and again in April.
Thunnus albacares, Thunnus thynnus
Tuna feed along the canyons at the edge of the continental shelf from summer into fall. Canyon trips run overnight, with chunking and jigging after dark and trolling at first light.
Micropterus salmoides
Found in almost every lake and pond in the state. Fishing is best around the spring spawn and in early fall, when bass feed hard along weed lines and docks.
Rainbow, brown & brook trout
New Jersey stocks trout in spring and fall. Opening Day in April draws crowds to the Pequest and the South Branch of the Raritan, and wild brook trout hold in cold Highlands streams.
Esox masquinongy
The fish of ten thousand casts. New Jersey stocks muskies in several northern lakes, and fall is the best time to find a big one.
Rings, inside out: fresh water · surf & bay · reef & wreck · offshore
Trips4 ways to fish · gear included
Private trips for one to six anglers. Prices are per trip, not per person, and cover rods, tackle, bait and fish cleaning.
[Inshore]
Calm-water fishing in Barnegat Bay and the Manasquan River. A good first trip for kids and new anglers, and the best way to fill a cooler with summer fluke.
[Surf]
We meet you on the sand at Island Beach State Park or Sandy Hook with rods, bait and waders, then read the beach and the tide with you. Best at dawn and dusk in spring and fall.
[Offshore]
Overnight runs to the Hudson and Toms canyons for tuna and mahi, plus full-day reef and wreck trips for black sea bass and tautog.
[Freshwater]
Boat days on Lake Hopatcong and Round Valley, or wade trips for trout on the South Branch of the Raritan. Anglers 16 and older need a New Jersey fishing license.
Charter boats carry New Jersey for-hire registration, which covers the Saltwater Recreational Registry for everyone on board. Fillets are cleaned and bagged at the dock.
Map13 spots · numbered north to south
The places we fish most through the year, from the mouth of New York Harbor to the Delaware Water Gap. Most are open to shore anglers; the rips and canyons need a boat.
The spring striper run starts here in April, when bass push into the bay behind schools of bunker.
A six-mile barrier spit at the mouth of New York Harbor, with ocean surf on one side and calm bay water on the other.
The jetties at Belmar and Avon-by-the-Sea hold blackfish in spring and fall, and the channel produces summer fluke.
One of the busiest inlets on the Shore and home to a large charter and party-boat fleet in Point Pleasant Beach and Brielle.
About 10 miles of undeveloped beach. A mobile sport fishing vehicle permit lets you drive onto the sand.
Fish the jetty at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park or drift the channels into Barnegat Bay for summer fluke.
Protected marsh water behind Little Egg Inlet and Brigantine, and a good choice on windy days.
Known for big weakfish and black drum in late spring, fished from Fortescue down to the Cape May shore.
Strong currents where Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic off Cape May Point. Best during the fall migration.
The spring American shad run peaks in April and May, and smallmouth bass fishing is best through the summer.
New Jersey’s largest lake at about 2,500 acres, fished from boats in summer and through the ice in cold winters.
Ken Lockwood Gorge on the South Branch is one of the state’s best-known trout streams for fly and spin anglers.
New Jersey’s deepest lake, about 180 feet at its deepest point, and the state’s best lake trout water.
Jan → DecTypical bite by month · updated September 2026
When each species usually bites best. Water temperature and bait shift the dates by a few weeks each year, and open seasons are set by NJ Fish & Wildlife.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped bass | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Bluefish | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Slow or closed |
| Summer flounder (fluke) | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed |
| Weakfish | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Peak | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed |
| Black sea bass | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Good |
| Tautog (blackfish) | Good | Good | Slow or closed | Peak | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak |
| Yellowfin & bluefin tuna | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed |
| Largemouth bass | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow or closed |
| Trout | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Peak | Good | Slow or closed |
| Muskellunge | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Good | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Slow or closed | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
PeakGoodSlow or closedThis month
RulesCheck before you cast
What you need before you fish in New Jersey. Rules change, so confirm the details with NJ Fish & Wildlife each season.
16+
Anglers 16 and older need a New Jersey fishing license for lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Buy it online and carry it while you fish.
NJ Fish & Wildlife ↗$0
Anglers 16 and older fishing marine waters must register each year, and registration is free. You don’t need it aboard a registered for-hire boat, including every Hookset charter.
Register with NJ Fish & Wildlife ↗Slot
Every species has a minimum size, a daily bag limit and open dates, and they change from year to year. Striped bass have a slot limit, so a fish can be too small or too large to keep.
Current regulations ↗4×4
Driving onto the sand at Island Beach State Park requires a mobile sport fishing vehicle permit. Many shore towns also sell summer beach badges for walk-on access.
For fresh water, yes: anglers 16 and older need a New Jersey fishing license. For salt water, anglers 16 and older must sign up for the free New Jersey Saltwater Recreational Registry, unless they fish aboard a registered for-hire boat like ours. You can get both online from NJ Fish & Wildlife.
Spring (April to June) and fall (October to December) are the prime seasons for striped bass and bluefish. Summer is fluke season in the bays and tuna season offshore, from July to September. Freshwater bass fishing is best from May to October.
Island Beach State Park, with about 10 miles of undeveloped beach, and Sandy Hook are the two classics. The beaches and jetties around Cape May are strong in the fall. Fish the first and last hour of daylight, and check the tide and wind before you go.
Bring layers, a rain jacket, soft-soled non-marking shoes, sunscreen, polarized sunglasses, food and drinks, and a cooler with ice for your fillets. We supply rods, tackle, bait and fish cleaning.
Yes. Our inshore and back-bay trips run in calm water and suit anglers of any age. We teach casting, knots and fish handling on board. Kids under 16 don't need a license or a registry number.
The captain makes the call the evening before or at the dock. If we cancel for weather, you choose a new date or get a full refund of your deposit.
Yes, within New Jersey's size, bag and season limits for each species. We measure every keeper on board, then clean and bag your fillets at the dock. We encourage releasing large breeding striped bass.
BookReplies within one business day
Pick a trip and a date and tell us who’s coming. We’ll confirm availability, suggest the best tide window and send a deposit link.