1 month ago · Updated 5 days ago
Point Pleasant, New Jersey sits at the heart of the northern Jersey Shore, offering anglers access to the Manasquan River, Point Pleasant Canal, and offshore waters renowned for their fall fishing action.
Weekly Catches
The catches below cover the last 7 days.
Blackfish (Tautog)
The Point Pleasant Canal and Manasquan Inlet have delivered strong blackfish action this week, with anglers reporting steady bites and a mix of shorts and keepers. The bite has been especially good on green crabs, with the best results coming from fishing near structure and pilings.
- Hotspots: Point Pleasant Canal, Manasquan Inlet
- Effective bait: green crabs
- Keeper ratio: A few keepers mixed among many shorts
Striped Bass
Striped bass are active at night in the Manasquan River and around the bridges, with solid catches reported on soft plastics and live spot. The Point Pleasant Canal is also producing stripers, particularly for anglers using live spot and eels. Surf anglers are finding more bass showing up, feeding on mullet, with blues mixed in.
- Hotspots: Manasquan River (bridges, nighttime), Point Pleasant Canal, local surf
- Effective baits/lures: soft plastics, live spot, eels, mullet
- Timing: Night bite is best in the river and canal
Bluefish
Bluefish are mixed in with stripers along the surf and are also being caught in the rivers and canal. The bite has been described as good, with blues responding to the same baits as stripers, especially mullet and soft plastics.
- Hotspots: Surf, Manasquan River, Point Pleasant Canal
- Effective baits/lures: mullet, soft plastics
Yellowfin Tuna
Offshore anglers targeting the Bacardi and Texas Tower areas have found a productive yellowfin tuna bite, though action has been inconsistent day-to-day. The Hudson Canyon continues to produce yellowfin, bigeye, and longfin tuna, with some boats landing up to a dozen fish before the recent blow. Anglers using live peanut bunker have had the best success.
- Hotspots: Bacardi, Texas Tower, Hudson Canyon
- Effective bait: live peanut bunker
- Catch rates: Up to a dozen yellowfin per trip reported
Mahi-Mahi
There are good-sized mahi-mahi offshore, particularly around the Hudson Canyon, with catches reported alongside tuna trips. These fish are often found near floating debris and weed lines.
- Hotspots: Hudson Canyon
- Effective method: Targeting floating debris and weed lines
Sea Bass
Local boats are preparing for sea bass trips as the season opens, with expectations of good action on nearby reefs and wrecks. The bite is expected to be strong in 50–60+ feet of water, with anglers using jigs and baited rigs.
- Hotspots: Local reefs and wrecks in 50–60+ feet
- Effective baits/lures: jigs, baited rigs
Other Species
Anglers in the area are also catching bigeye tuna, white marlin, and longfin tuna offshore, with occasional reports of blue claw crabs still being caught around docks. The rivers are loaded with bait, attracting bass and blues, and surf anglers are seeing the tail end of the mullet run.
- Hotspots: Offshore canyons, local docks
- Effective baits/lures: live bait, soft plastics
Weather & Marine Conditions
Recent weather has been variable, with a blow affecting offshore trips earlier in the week. Anglers fishing breaks in the weather have found productive windows, especially for surf and canal fishing. The upcoming stretch is forecasted to bring light winds, pleasant air temperatures, and no precipitation, creating ideal conditions for both inshore and offshore fishing.
- Forecast: Light winds, mild temperatures, dry conditions
- Best fishing windows: Breaks in weather, especially afternoons
Tides & Solunar Activity
Nighttime tides have been productive for striped bass in the Manasquan River and canal, with anglers reporting the best action after dark. The dropping bay water temperatures to the low 60s have triggered increased activity for both tog and bass.
- Best tide: Nighttime outgoing and incoming
- Water temperature: Bay temps around 60°F
Fishing Conditions & Tips
Anglers targeting blackfish should focus on structure in the canal and inlet, using green crabs for best results. For striped bass, soft plastics and live spot are effective around bridges and deeper holes at night. Offshore trips should be prepared with live peanut bunker for tuna, and keep an eye out for floating debris to locate mahi-mahi. Surf anglers are advised to work the mullet run and bunker schools for bass and blues.
- Blackfish: Fish near structure with green crabs
- Striped bass: Target bridges and deep holes at night with soft plastics and live spot
- Offshore: Use live peanut bunker for tuna, search for debris for mahi-mahi
- Surf: Focus on mullet run and bunker schools for bass and blues
Regulations & Notices
Anglers fishing aboard charter boats in Point Pleasant have their fishing license covered for the day. The sea bass season is open with a 10-fish bag limit at 12.5 inches. Boaters should be aware of ongoing dredging operations in local bays and channels, with active work zones requiring caution and no wake speed. Use VHF Channel 4 to coordinate passage with contractors. Always check the latest updates from New Jersey Fish and Wildlife for changes to bag limits, size restrictions, and open seasons before heading out.
- Sea bass: 10-fish bag limit, 12.5-inch minimum size
- Charter fishing: License included with trip
- Boating: Active dredging in local channels—proceed with caution
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