Top-Rated Barnegat Light Fishing Charters

Atlantic Bonito

Little Tunny

Atlantic Bonito are fast, sleek fish that'll give you a good fight. They're shaped like tuna but thinner, with distinctive black stripes on a silver body. These guys can reach up to 12 pounds and 30 inches, though most are smaller. You'll find them in coastal waters, often in large schools chasing bait fish near the surface. Look for feeding frenzies with birds diving - that's a sure sign Bonito are around. They're not picky eaters, so once you spot a school, they'll hit almost any lure. I like using fast-moving lures or live bait like menhaden or squid pieces. If it's windy, go with a metal lure. Otherwise, soft plastics work great and stay in the strike zone longer. Bonito prefer water temperatures in the 60s, so late spring through fall is prime time. While they're not considered great eating, anglers love targeting them for their speed and acrobatics. They can zip through the water at 40 mph, so be ready for some exciting runs. My tip: when you see them feeding on top, cast just beyond the school and retrieve quickly through the frenzy.

Southern Flounder

Southern Flounder are ambush predators that hang out on sandy or muddy bottoms. They're flat, oval-shaped fish with both eyes on the left side of their head. Most are 15-18 inches long, but they can grow up to 33 inches and 20 pounds. Look for them in shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries. These fish are masters of camouflage, changing color to blend with the bottom. They'll often bury themselves in sand, leaving just their eyes visible, waiting to pounce on passing prey. Flounder feed on small fish, shrimp, and crabs, so those make great baits. The best time to target flounder is during their fall migration when they move to deeper waters. Still fishing or drift fishing near the bottom is most effective. Use a single-hook rig with a slip lead, baited with live minnows or mullet. My favorite trick is to use a light jig head with a soft plastic swimbait, slowly bouncing it along the bottom. Anglers love flounder for their delicious, mild white meat. They're not the hardest fighters, but the challenge lies in detecting their subtle bites and setting the hook at the right moment. Patience is key - give them time to fully take the bait before setting the hook.

Striped Bass

Tautog, or blackfish, are tough customers that love structure. These stout, dark-colored fish have thick lips and powerful teeth for crushing shellfish. Most weigh 1-3 pounds, but they can grow up to 25 pounds. You'll find them around rocky bottoms, reefs, and wrecks, often in water 20-40 feet deep. Tautog are homebodies, sticking close to their favorite haunts. They feed mainly on crabs, mussels, and other shellfish. Fall is prime time for tautog fishing, when they move to slightly deeper water. They're active during the day but tend to hunker down at night. Anglers prize tautog for their tasty white meat and the challenge they present. They're not fast swimmers, but they're strong and will try to dive back into their rocky lairs when hooked. Light tackle adds to the fun, but be ready for a tug-of-war. For bait, nothing beats green crabs or Asian shore crabs. Use a simple high-low rig with a sinker heavy enough to hold bottom in the current. My top tip: when you feel a bite, don't set the hook immediately. Let the tog take the bait and start to move off with it. Then, reel down slowly and lift the rod tip to set the hook firmly.

Tautog

Striped Bass, or "stripers," are a prized catch around here. These powerful fish can grow over 50 pounds, though most are in the 20-40 pound range. Look for their distinctive dark stripes running along silvery sides. Stripers are structure-oriented, so you'll find them near jetties, reefs, and drop-offs along the coast. They're aggressive predators, feeding on smaller fish like menhaden and herring. Early morning and dusk are prime times, especially in moving water. Stripers migrate seasonally, so fishing can be hot from spring through fall as they move along the coast. In summer, look for them in cooler, deeper waters. Anglers love stripers for their hard-fighting nature and excellent table fare. They'll hit a variety of lures and baits - live eels, bunker chunks, and swimming plugs all work well. My go-to trick is using a fish-finder rig with fresh bunker when they're feeding near the bottom. Cast uptide and let it drift naturally with the current. Remember, regulations on size and bag limits change, so always check current rules before heading out. Nothing beats the thrill of battling a big striper in the surf or from a boat.