NFT: Fishing LBI (or anywhere)

A very strange looking muskie. I'm not sure where it was caught

They're inshore, typically in areas where you won't get rocked too much. Pick a nice day, it'll be like fishing from a pier. Plus, you'll do plenty of catching, although a lot of releasing thanks to the size limits.

I think your best best is to head to the north end of the island at Barnegat Light. Either rent a boat or take one of the big charters (like Miss Barnegat Light). If you rent, go out in the Barnegat Bay (north end of the island) and fluke fish. Ask around for where they're biting. Don't set the anchor and just go with the tide. Throw out some crab traps to pick up here and there while you're doing it.

Be VERY careful around the inlet. It can be quite dangerous with pretty large waves if you're inexperienced (not sure if you are or aren't, but throwing the warning out there to be on the safe side).

The bigger boats are also pretty fun, and take a lot of the stress out of it for you. You can rent rods etc on them.

I'm doing some research on charters. Fluke sounds fun but I want to do something different. A shark outing sounds like fun. I'm a very patient fisherman and have been know to sit at the beach all day feeding surf critters bait.

If you are on the south end of the island I highly recommend.
Mrs Beach Haven - ( New Window )

In comment 13014030 AP in Halfmoon said:

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I'm doing some research on charters. Fluke sounds fun but I want to do something different. A shark outing sounds like fun. I'm a very patient fisherman and have been know to sit at the beach all day feeding surf critters bait.

Oh, sharking is awesome - but if you plan on bringing your son, and he gets seasick - it's not going to be a whole lot of fun for him. You have to get at least 40 miles out to be productive, and only on the best of days will you have anything better than 4 footers.

but we always see it when we are out fishing and always here nothing but good things for people that have done it

In comment 13014078 jlukes said:

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but we always see it when we are out fishing and always here nothing but good things for people that have done it

how many people does it hold? In Mass/RI I only go private charter now. It's like $700 - $900 for a "full day" (like 6 am to 2pm) and they'll fit up to 6 people.

so now that my friends and I are all out of the we can only afford $60 to get crammed in like sardines on the big boat that fits 90 people and spend the day untangling your line, we go every year on private charters. Maybe two or three trips a year.

if that's an option and you can afford it, it would be a much better experience for your son.

And AP, we have a shark fishing trip scheduled for August, but that's a 14 hour trip (from Point Judith in RI), not sure about Jersey shore shark fishing.

I can't wait.

We went last Friday and caught a few stripers, a bunch of blues, and a ton of flukes and black sea bass. gave him the stripers and blues. The fluke and sea bass are so good to eat.

Rent a small put put boat in Barnegat Bay and pull in some blue crabs. Its easy and great fun for kids and adults.

In comment 13014103 JerseyCityJoe said:

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Rent a small put put boat in Barnegat Bay and pull in some blue crabs. Its easy and great fun for kids and adults.

I spent nearly every Summer on LBI as a child and young adult. Nothing beat crabbing. Also the best eating IMO.

If there is something more mesmerizing to kids (porno aside) than a basket of blue crabs I don't what it is.

I wasn't planning on fishing for Makos; just Browns, etc like we target in the surf. There's a boat that has 4 hour inshore shark trips. I thought it would be worth a shot but again I don't know much about the area.

I'm not big on party boats but I appreciate the recommendations.

My son is 22 but we'll also have our grandson who is 5. The crabbing idea sounds perfect for him. We may rent a pontoon one day and I know he would like crabbing.

For me, it doesn't get any better than sitting in a chair watching a surf rod even if you're only catching skates and dog fish.

I appreciate all the tips.

In comment 13014227 AP in Halfmoon said:

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I wasn't planning on fishing for Makos; just Browns, etc like we target in the surf. There's a boat that has 4 hour inshore shark trips. I thought it would be worth a shot but again I don't know much about the area. I'm not big on party boats but I appreciate the recommendations. My son is 22 but we'll also have our grandson who is 5. The crabbing idea sounds perfect for him. We may rent a pontoon one day and I know he would like crabbing. For me, it doesn't get any better than sitting in a chair watching a surf rod even if you're only catching skates and dog fish. I appreciate all the tips.

The nice thing about the bay is that you can crab and fish. Drift for fluke and at least catch some sea robins or something fun.

I actually do not recommend shark fishing. You will be on a boat all day and going a long way without the ability to return if anyone gets sea sick. It is also hit or miss as to whether you would even catch a shark.

I will echo the fluke fishing suggestion or even go for bluefish. You will have a lot of action and it will be in shore.

You have a lot of location options too. There are fish being caught on the beach. You have the bay and across the channel from the lighthouse over on the long beach island side you have the sedge islands. Lots of tributaries with all kinds of fish over there. I was out in my kayak there last Friday. As a novice though, you need to be mindful of the tides and boat traffic. Suggest going out on a weekday and not a weekend.

Spro Bucktails and Gulp minnows. Find out from the local tackle shop the best colors. Cast it and jig it in with a slow retrieve.

Have fun!

I will definitely take my grandson crabbing. I'll get the surf rods out and see how the week unfolds.

should be running and they give you a hell of a fight.

In comment 13015183 OldPolack said:

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should be running and they give you a hell of a fight.

Can't go wrong with a bunker chunk on a fishfinder rig!

are a fun fish to catch, and if that's your goal go and have a great time, but if you want to eat them you may as well be catching a big human shit that burns your forearms reeling it in.

they're disgusting. and almost every trip we go on (at least annually) someone says "oh, you just haven't had them with this recipe" and tells me the one recipe on the planet to cook bluefish and have them taste good.

none work, they suck, being awful tasting is their anatomical defense mechanism, LOL.

I like bluefishing, but I throw them back, unless someone else wants them.

I'll eat stripers, but also not my favorite.

which is why I like fluking or general bottom fishing.

Black sea bass are great, fluke are great, I'd even eat porgys/scup before bluefish.

and agree on Blues. I had smoked Bluefish, sharp cheese and crackers for lunch at the Point Judith marina and it was great in small doses but other than that it's not edible.

In comment 13015217 pjcas18 said:

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are a fun fish to catch, and if that's your goal go and have a great time, but if you want to eat them you may as well be catching a big human shit that burns your forearms reeling it in. they're disgusting. and almost every trip we go on (at least annually) someone says "oh, you just haven't had them with this recipe" and tells me the one recipe on the planet to cook bluefish and have them taste good. none work, they suck, being awful tasting is their anatomical defense mechanism, LOL. I like bluefishing, but I throw them back, unless someone else wants them. I'll eat stripers, but also not my favorite. which is why I like fluking or general bottom fishing. Black sea bass are great, fluke are great, I'd even eat porgys/scup before bluefish.

Fluke sashimi is perfect. Black seabass are delicious and for my money the prettiest fish in our waters. Agree on striped bass, not my favorite but I think porgys are great. Baby blues (snappers) are good on the grill but anything over a pound I agree they are just oily garbage. Blackfish are IMO the best tasting fish out here though. A pain in the ass to catch from the surf but delicious.

The bigger you get, the stronger it's going to taste - but if you bleed 'em out immediately, throw them on ice the second their caught, and take care to filet not too close to the skin (skipping some of the dark meat towards the tailbone), you can get a good filet out of them. And if you brine it a bit and smoke it, you end up with probably the most awesome smoked fish paste known to man.

I would just add cut out the red center blood line from the fillet, and any dark red meat you see. Also helps to soak in milk to take away the fishy taste. Sure it doesn't compare to fluke or sea bass, but properly smoked blues can be good.

Best bet- find your local Greek diner/deli owner, usually they love blues and will trade fish for food. Middle Eastern restaurants as well. My Chinese food guys would take all my fish, except blues.

In comment 13015442 BigBlue in Keys said:

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I would just add cut out the red center blood line from the fillet, and any dark red meat you see. Also helps to soak in milk to take away the fishy taste. Sure it doesn't compare to fluke or sea bass, but properly smoked blues can be good. Best bet- find your local Greek diner/deli owner, usually they love blues and will trade fish for food. Middle Eastern restaurants as well. My Chinese food guys would take all my fish, except blues.

one of the guys I went with his mother-in-law is one of those bargain-hunting New Englanders (maybe they have people like her everywhere I don't know) who will eat just about anything, she practically eats the shell of the lobster when we get lobsters (they have a house in Narragansett we go to a few times a summer). she gets the blue fish. And loves it.

I'm fine with that since I like almost all the other fish we catch. But my go-to fish recipe is panko breaded and lightly fried anyway, so I may as well be catching dogfish, but still fresh and tasty.

the first mate on our boat did exactly what jcn said and he said while it's not his favorite, bluefish is much more tolerable when handled that way.

In comment 13015506 pjcas18 said:

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But my go-to fish recipe is panko breaded and lightly fried

That really is the best. Panko changed the fish cooking world. Sometimes I mix it up and add blackening spices into the flour first.