Cape May Inshore Fishing - Full Day Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Six-hour inshore fishing adventure departing from Cape May, New Jersey.All fishing gear and required licenses included with charter booking.Charter accommodates up to twenty guests for shared fishing experience.
Nothing beats a solid day of inshore fishing off Cape May, and the Cape May Lady knows exactly where to put you on the fish. This 6-hour weekday charter gives you plenty of time to work the productive waters around one of New Jersey's premier fishing destinations. Whether you're a weekend warrior looking to fill the cooler or just want to spend quality time on the water, this trip delivers the kind of action that keeps anglers talking long after they dock. With all gear and licenses covered, you can focus on what matters most - putting fish in the boat.
The Cape May Lady runs a tight ship with space for up to 20 anglers, making it perfect for groups or solo fishermen looking to join a crew of like-minded fishing enthusiasts. Captain and crew know these waters like the back of their hand, hitting the sweet spots where fish consistently feed throughout the day. You'll be working inshore waters where structure, current breaks, and seasonal movements create prime fishing conditions. The 6-hour format gives you real fishing time - not just a quick ride out and back. Expect to cover different areas as conditions and fish activity dictate, with the crew constantly adjusting to put you where the action is hottest. All rods, reels, tackle, and bait come included, plus your fishing license is handled, so you can show up ready to fish without the hassle of gearing up.
Inshore fishing around Cape May means adapting your approach based on what's biting and where they're holding. The crew runs a mix of bottom fishing over structure, drifting productive flats, and working current edges where baitfish concentrate. You'll be using conventional tackle suited for the conditions - medium to heavy action rods paired with quality reels that can handle everything from keeper fluke to hefty stripers. Bottom rigs with fresh bait work magic on the fluke and tilefish, while live or cut bait presentations target the striped bass and redfish. The captain reads the water, tide, and fish activity to determine the best spots and techniques for each part of the trip. Structure fishing around wrecks and reefs produces consistent action, while drift fishing lets you cover water efficiently when fish are scattered. The crew handles rigging and re-baiting, keeping your line wet and maximizing your time actually fishing rather than fiddling with tackle.
Southern Flounder are the bread and butter of Cape May inshore fishing, with these flatfish holding in sandy areas and around structure where they ambush prey. They're aggressive feeders that hit cut bait hard, and a nice doormat flounder makes for excellent table fare. Best action typically comes during moving tides when they're actively feeding, and these fish can surprise you with their fight once hooked. Look for them in 15-40 feet of water, especially around drop-offs and channel edges.
Grey Tilefish provide steady action in deeper inshore waters, typically found in 80-150 feet around hard bottom and structure. These colorful fish are excellent eating and fight surprisingly well for their size. They're year-round residents that respond well to fresh bait fished on the bottom. Tilefish are perfect for anglers who enjoy the steady bite and consistent action, as they school up in good numbers when you find them.
Summer Flounder, or fluke, are the crown jewel of New Jersey inshore fishing. These aggressive predators can reach impressive sizes and provide some of the most exciting fishing around Cape May. Peak season runs from late spring through early fall, with fish ranging from keeper-sized fish to trophy doormat fluke over 5 pounds. They're structure-oriented and love current breaks, making them perfect targets for Cape May's productive inshore waters. The fight and the fillets make fluke a top priority for most charter trips.
Striped Bass bring serious excitement to any Cape May fishing trip, with these powerful fish providing memorable battles and excellent eating. Spring and fall migrations bring the best striper fishing, but resident fish provide action throughout the season. They're opportunistic feeders that respond to both live and cut bait, and their aggressive strikes and strong runs make them a favorite among serious anglers. Stripers around Cape May can range from schoolies to real cows pushing 40+ inches.
Redfish, or red drum, add a Southern flavor to Cape May fishing and have become increasingly common in recent years. These copper-colored bruisers are fantastic fighters that make screaming runs and provide non-stop action once hooked. They're often found in shallow waters around structure and grass beds, where they hunt for crabs and baitfish. Redfish have excellent table quality and their aggressive nature makes them a blast to catch on medium tackle.
Cape May's inshore waters offer some of the most consistent and productive fishing along the entire Atlantic coast, and the Cape May Lady puts you right in the middle of the action. With experienced crew, quality gear, and access to prime fishing grounds, this 6-hour weekday trip gives you everything needed for a successful day on the water. The variety of target species means something's always biting, whether you're after a fish dinner or just want to spend time doing what you love. Weekday trips often provide the best fishing with less pressure on the grounds and more room to work. Don't wait - prime dates fill up fast, especially during peak seasons when the fishing really turns on.
Caulolatilus MicropsGrey Tilefish, or "poor man's lobster" as we call them, are deep-water fighters that taste just as good as their nickname suggests. These grey-bodied fish with distinctive blue lines under their eyes live in 250-400 feet of water on muddy and rocky bottoms. They average 5-8 pounds but can reach over 20 pounds. Winter months are best here in New Jersey when they're more active and feeding heavily on crabs, shrimp, and bottom fish. What guests love most is the sweet, lobster-like meat and the steady action - these fish aren't shy about hitting baits. The deep drop fishing adds excitement, and you often get multiple hookups on the same rig. They put up a decent fight coming up from the depths too. My go-to technique is using 2-3 pound weights to get down fast, with fresh squid or cut bait on 6/0 circle hooks. Pro tip: add a small light stick above your bait - it makes a huge difference in getting their attention down there.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish aren't common in New Jersey waters, but when they show up during warmer months, they create quite a stir. These copper-colored beauties with distinctive black spots near the tail typically run 20-30 inches and pack serious power in shallow water. They prefer 2-6 feet of depth around structure like jetties, marsh edges, and sandy flats where they hunt crabs, shrimp, and baitfish. Late summer through early fall gives us our best shot at them as they follow warmer currents north. What makes redfish special is their explosive topwater strikes and bulldogging fight - they'll pull drag and test your patience in shallow water. They're also fantastic eating with firm, sweet meat. These fish are spooky in skinny water, so stealth is key. When we do find them, they'll hit spoons, soft plastics, and topwater plugs with authority. Local tip: look for nervous water and bait schools in the back bays during incoming tides - that's when these bronze beauties are most likely to show up and feed aggressively.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are fascinating flatfish with both eyes on their left side, perfectly built for life on the bottom. These ambush predators bury themselves in sand and mud, waiting to strike at passing shrimp, crabs, and small fish. Most run 15-18 inches, but we see some beauties pushing 25+ inches in our waters. They hang out in shallow bays, estuaries, and sandy bottoms from spring through fall, with late summer and early fall being prime time when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. What makes them special is their incredible camouflage ability - they can change colors to match the bottom perfectly. Guests love the challenge of finding these "chameleons of the sea" and they make excellent table fare. My local tip: use live bull minnows or finger mullet on a simple Carolina rig, and be patient - let them run with it before setting the hook since they bite sideways.
Morone SaxatilisStriped Bass are the backbone of New Jersey fishing, and for good reason. These silver-sided beauties with distinctive black stripes can range from schoolie size up to 40+ pound bulls that'll test every ounce of your tackle and skill. They're structure-oriented fish, hanging around jetties, bridges, drop-offs, and surf lines in 10-50 feet of water. Spring and fall migrations bring the best action, but we catch them year-round. What keeps guests coming back is their aggressive strikes and powerful runs - a big striper will take you into your backing and make your arms burn. They're also excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. These fish are smart though, often following massive bait schools and feeding during dawn and dusk periods. They'll hit everything from live bunker to diamond jigs. My Cape May trick: when you mark fish but they won't bite, downsize your offering and slow your retrieve. Sometimes a smaller bucktail or soft plastic will trigger strikes when the big baits won't.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder, or "fluke" as locals call them, are the crown jewel of New Jersey flatfish. These sideways swimmers with both eyes on the left side can stretch over 25 inches and weigh 8+ pounds, with females being the real trophies. They love sandy and muddy bottoms in 20-60 feet of water, especially around structure like wrecks and drop-offs. Peak season runs May through October, with September and October being prime time when they're feeding aggressively before heading offshore. What makes fluke fishing addictive is their explosive strike and strong fight - they'll test your drag and boat-handling skills. Plus, they're hands-down some of the best eating fish in our waters, with sweet white meat that's perfect for any recipe. These ambush predators change color to match the bottom, making them masters of disguise. My secret weapon is drifting with a bucktail and squid combo, bouncing it just off the bottom while maintaining contact with the weight.
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