UTERCommon thresher fishing in New Jersey saltwater fishing
In New Jersey saltwater fishing, common thresher peak June–July and are around May–October, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. June: Threshers on the inshore lumps and the bunker schools.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Common thresher in New Jersey saltwater fishing, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilNot here
- MayArriving
- JunePeakThreshers on the inshore lumps and the bunker schools.
- JulyPeak
- AugustAround
- SeptemberAround
- OctoberAround
- NovemberNot here
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish common thresher 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 common thresher hold on.
What to use for common thresher
- Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.
- Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.
- 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 common thresher in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Peak season is June–July. Common thresher are in New Jersey saltwater fishing May–October. June: Threshers on the inshore lumps and the bunker schools.
Where do common thresher 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 common thresher in New Jersey saltwater fishing?
Live bait: bonito (cut), blue runners (hardtails). Bonito (cut): Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo. Tackle: leader 40–60 lb fluorocarbon, hook 4/0–8/0, braid 50–100 lb.
What are the rules for common thresher 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
Fish Scouter scores common thresher for this hour on this water, draws every reef, wreck and access point near you, and keeps your spots. $9.99 a month, 14 days free.
Start 14 free daysMore
All about common thresher · The Jersey Shore, the whole year