Belmar Full Day Private Fishing Charter
Captain Matt's got something special waiting for you out of Belmar – an 8-hour private charter that'll have you and five of your crew chasing some of New Jersey's hottest fish. We're talking early morning departure at 6 AM when the bite is prime and the water's still got that glassy look. This isn't your typical party boat deal where you're elbow-to-elbow with strangers. You get the whole boat, the captain's full attention, and first dibs on the best fishing spots along the Jersey coast. Pack your cooler with ice because you're going to need it for the haul you're about to bring back to the dock.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day kicks off before sunrise because that's when the magic happens. Captain Matt knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's not wasting any time getting you to where the fish are feeding. The boat's rigged and ready with top-shelf tackle, so you don't need to worry about bringing anything except your fishing license and whatever snacks keep you going. We'll be working a mix of techniques depending on what's biting – from trolling the deeper channels for tuna and mahi to dropping lines near structure for flounder and scup. The beauty of an 8-hour trip is you've got time to really dial in the bite and adjust your strategy. When things get hot, we stay on the fish. When they're finicky, we move around until we find the action. That's the advantage of going with someone who lives and breathes these waters.
Techniques and Tackle
We're running a variety of setups depending on what's showing up on the fish finder. For the pelagics like mahi and tuna, we'll have the outriggers out with ballyhoo and cedar plugs, working the temperature breaks and weed lines where these fish love to cruise. The bonito fishing calls for lighter tackle and smaller presentations – these fish are fast and finicky, but when you hook into a school, it's game on. For the bottom fish like flounder and scup, we're dropping rigs with fresh bait to structure and drop-offs where these guys hang out waiting for an easy meal. Captain Matt's got all the gear dialed in, from the heavy conventional setups for the big tuna down to the spinning gear that makes fighting a nice fluke feel like the battle it should be. The boat's equipped with quality electronics to mark fish and structure, plus all the nets, gaffs, and tools you need to get your catch safely on board.
Species You'll Want to Hook
Atlantic Bonito are the speedsters of this fishery, typically running 3-8 pounds of pure muscle and attitude. These silver bullets show up in good numbers from late summer through fall, and they'll absolutely smoke your drag when they take off on their initial run. What makes them special is their willingness to eat artificials – small spoons, tiny jigs, and sabiki rigs will get crushed when you find a feeding school. They're also fantastic on the table, with meat that's darker and richer than their skipjack cousins.
Mahi Mahi are the poster fish for offshore excitement, and when they're around Belmar, it's pure gold. These fish are absolutely gorgeous with their electric colors, and they put on a show when hooked – jumping, tail-walking, and fighting hard right to the boat. Most of our mahi run 10-25 pounds, though bigger bulls are always possible. They love floating debris, weed lines, and temperature breaks. The meat is white, flaky, and perfect for the grill, making them a favorite target for groups looking to fill the cooler with quality eating fish.
Scup, or porgy as the old-timers call them, might not be the flashiest fish in the ocean, but they're consistent producers and excellent table fare. These guys are structure-oriented, hanging around wrecks, reefs, and rocky bottom in 20-80 feet of water. They'll eat just about anything you drop down – squid, clams, marine worms, even small jigs. A good scup runs 1-3 pounds, and they're perfect for keeping the action steady when the bigger fish aren't cooperating. Plus, they're one of the best eating fish in the ocean – sweet, white meat that's perfect for fish tacos or a classic fish fry.
Bluefin Tuna represent the holy grail of Northeast fishing, and Belmar's proximity to the canyons means we've got legitimate shots at these ocean giants. The fish we typically see range from school-sized fish in the 30-60 pound range up to larger fish that can push 100 pounds or more. These fish are pure power – when a bluefin takes your bait and decides to sound, you'll understand why serious fishermen obsess over them. The fight can last 30 minutes or more on appropriate tackle, and the sashimi-grade meat is absolutely unmatched. Bluefin fishing is highly regulated, so Captain Matt stays current on all size and bag limits to ensure everything's done by the book.
Southern Flounder are the flatfish prize of the inshore scene, and New Jersey's got some of the best fluke fishing on the East Coast. These fish are ambush predators that bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting for baitfish, squid, and crabs to swim by. A keeper fluke starts at 18 inches, but the fish that get everyone excited are the "doormat" fluke – those thick, 5-10 pound fish that stretch the tape to 25 inches or more. They're incredibly good eating, and the bigger fish provide enough fillets to feed the whole crew. Fluke fishing requires patience and technique – you're often working jigs tipped with strip baits or whole squid along the bottom, feeling for that subtle tap that signals a fish has picked up your offering.
Time to Book Your Spot