UTERAtlantic bonito fishing in New Jersey saltwater fishing
In New Jersey saltwater fishing, Atlantic bonito peak August–September and are around July–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. August: Bonito on the inshore lumps and ridges; trolled small feathers and metal.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Atlantic bonito in New Jersey saltwater fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayNot here
- JuneNot here
- JulyArriving
- AugustPeakBonito on the inshore lumps and ridges; trolled small feathers and metal.
- SeptemberPeakAlbies off the inlets; the fall bite stirs. Epoxy jigs for false albacore off Barnegat and Sandy Hook; last fluke week on the reefs; snapper blues everywhere.
- OctoberLeaving
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish Atlantic bonito 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 868 artificial reef, 470 wreck spots in the The Jersey Shore map area — the kinds Atlantic bonito hold on.
What to use for Atlantic bonito
- Glass minnows (bay anchovies)Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook4/0–8/0
- Braid50–100 lb
Feeds in 58–76°F water, best at 62–72°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch Atlantic bonito in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Peak season is August–September. Atlantic bonito are in New Jersey saltwater fishing July–October. August: Bonito on the inshore lumps and ridges; trolled small feathers and metal.
Where do Atlantic bonito hold in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Look on artificial reef, pass / inlet, beach / surf, wreck — around Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Point Pleasant, Belmar, Sandy Hook.
What is the best bait for Atlantic bonito in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Live bait: glass minnows (bay anchovies), pilchards (whitebait). Glass minnows (bay anchovies): Thrown by the handful as chum for Spanish, trout and ladyfish, or several on a tiny hook. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for Atlantic bonito 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/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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