New Jersey · Jersey Shore
WEAKFISH FISHING
IN LONG BEACH ISLAND
Long Beach Island is a solid destination for weakfish fishing. Book a charter and target weakfish with local experts.
About Weakfish Fishing in Long Beach Island
The weakfish is the mid-Atlantic cousin of the southern speckled trout, named for its tender mouth that easily tears free from hooks. Once incredibly abundant, weakfish remain a prized catch in Virginia, Delaware Bay, and New Jersey waters.
Weakfish — also called Squeteague or Gray Trout — are the mid-Atlantic cousin of the Speckled Trout. Named for their soft, easily torn mouth (not their fighting ability — they are actually strong fighters), weakfish have an iridescent purple, green, and copper body covered with small dark spots. Once incredibly abundant in the Chesapeake Bay and New Jersey waters, populations have declined significantly. A weakfish over 5 lbs is now a noteworthy catch in most areas.
Scientific name: Cynoscion regalis
Weakfish Seasonal Calendar — Long Beach Island
Month-by-month availability for weakfish in Long Beach Island, NJ.
How to Catch Weakfish in Long Beach Island
Techniques & Bait
Drifting with live spot, croakers, or bloodworms along channel edges and grass beds at dusk and dawn is the classic technique. Small soft plastic jigs (pink, white, or chartreuse) on light jigheads (1/8-1/4 oz) worked with a slow, steady retrieve produce well. Bucktails tipped with squid strips drifted near the bottom are effective. Surface plugs and small topwater lures at dawn and dusk can produce explosive strikes. The soft mouth requires a light touch — never horse a weakfish.
Recommended Tackle
Light spinning rod (6'6"-7 ft), 2500 reel, 8-10 lb braid, 15-20 lb fluorocarbon leader, small hooks (1/0-2/0), light jigheads (1/8-3/8 oz). Light drag setting is critical — their paper-thin mouth tears easily.
Best Inshore Fishing Spots in Long Beach Island
Top spots where local captains target weakfish and other inshore species.
Barnegat Bay (LBI Flats)
Barnegat Bay's western shore along Long Beach Island features extensive shallow flats, tidal creeks, and marsh islands that hold summer flounder, striped bass, and weakfish from spring through fall. The bay's grass beds and sand bottom provide productive sight-fishing for fluke on calm days when anglers can spot fish cruising the shallows. Drifting live killies across the bay's sandy channels remains the most reliable method for catching keeper fluke.
Little Egg Inlet
Little Egg Inlet at the southern tip of Long Beach Island connects Little Egg Harbor to the Atlantic Ocean, with powerful tidal currents that create prime inshore fishing along the channel edges. Striped bass, fluke, bluefish, and weakfish funnel through the inlet on every tide change, feeding on baitfish washed between the bay and ocean. The inlet's deep channel and adjacent sand bars hold fish throughout the season.
Manahawkin Bay
Manahawkin Bay sits between the mainland and the central section of Long Beach Island, its sheltered waters and marsh-lined shores providing productive habitat for fluke, weakfish, and striped bass. The bay's Route 72 causeway bridge pilings create fish-holding structure that attracts tautog and sheepshead in addition to the seasonal gamefish. Kayak anglers find excellent light-tackle action working the bay's creek mouths and grass edges.
Beach Haven Back Bay
The back bay behind Beach Haven at the southern end of Long Beach Island provides sheltered inshore fishing among docks, bulkheads, and tidal channels. Summer flounder, weakfish, and striped bass hold in the deeper channels and around marina structures, feeding on the abundant killies and spearing that inhabit the estuary. The Dorland J. Henderson Memorial Bridge pilings are a prime spot for targeting tautog and sheepshead.
Other Species in Long Beach Island
More fish you can target while visiting Long Beach Island.
Weakfish Fishing in Long Beach Island — FAQ
Weakfish fishing in Long Beach Island is productive during .
Weakfish fishing charters in Long Beach Island are typically inshore trips. Prices vary by trip duration and group size. Most charters include all gear, bait, licenses, and fish cleaning.
Drifting with live spot, croakers, or bloodworms along channel edges and grass beds at dusk and dawn is the classic technique. Small soft plastic jigs (pink, white, or chartreuse) on light jigheads (1/8-1/4 oz) worked with a slow, steady retrieve produce well. Bucktails tipped with squid strips drifted near the bottom are effective. Surface plugs and small topwater lures at dawn and dusk can produce explosive strikes. The soft mouth requires a light touch — never horse a weakfish.
No — when you book a charter in Long Beach Island, your captain provides all required New Jersey fishing licenses as part of the trip.
Weakfish regulations in New Jersey include minimum size limits and bag limits that vary by season. Your captain will know the current regulations and ensure compliance.
While targeting Weakfish in Long Beach Island, you may also catch Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke, Black Sea Bass, Tautog. Many charter trips target multiple species for the best action.
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