UTERAlbacore fishing in New Jersey saltwater fishing
In New Jersey saltwater fishing, albacore peak August–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Longfin albacore on the canyon edges and the chunk.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Albacore in New Jersey saltwater fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArriving
- AugustPeakLongfin albacore on the canyon edges and the chunk.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish albacore near Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light
A 130-mile barrier-island coast of surf beaches and rock jetties, cut by inlets (Cape May, Townsends, Absecon, Barnegat, Manasquan, Shark River) into shallow back bays — Barnegat Bay, Great Bay, the Cape May wetlands — with Raritan Bay at the north end; offshore, a field of artificial reefs, ridges and wrecks out to the Hudson, Toms, Wilmington and Spencer canyons.
Fish Scouter charts 148 ledge / hard bottom spots in the The Jersey Shore map area — the kinds albacore hold on.
What to use for albacore
- SquidStrips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig.
- Sand eelsFree-lined or on a light jig head for stripers, fluke and bluefish; strips teased on a fluke rig.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 60–72°F water, best at 62–68°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch albacore in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Peak season is August–September. Albacore are in New Jersey saltwater fishing July–October. August: Longfin albacore on the canyon edges and the chunk.
Where do albacore hold in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Look on ledge / hard bottom — around Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Point Pleasant, Belmar, Sandy Hook.
What is the best bait for albacore in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Live bait: squid, sand eels. Squid: Strips on a bottom rig for snapper, grunts and porgies; whole on a deep-drop rig. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for albacore in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJ Fish and Wildlife) and change — read the current rule at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/fishing/marine/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://dep.nj.gov/njfw/licenses-and-permits/.
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