Cape May Inshore Fishing - 6 Hour Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sixhour inshore fishing adventure off Cape May watersAll fishing gear and licenses included with bookingAccommodates up to twenty guests aboard Cape May Lady
Looking for a solid day of fishing without breaking the bank? This weekday charter with Cape May Lady puts you right where the action happens in New Jersey's prime inshore waters. Cape May's unique position where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic creates some of the most productive fishing grounds on the East Coast. You'll spend six hours working the structure, channels, and flats that hold everything from doormat flounder to trophy stripers. With all your gear and licenses covered, just bring yourself and get ready to put some quality fish in the cooler.
This isn't your typical party boat crowd - weekday trips mean serious fishing with up to 20 anglers who actually want to catch fish. Captain and crew know these waters like the back of their hands, from the Delaware Bay's oyster beds to the Atlantic's nearshore wrecks and reefs. You'll start early, hitting the prime bite times when fish are most active. The boat's equipped with quality tackle, from light spinning gear for smaller species to heavier conventional setups when you're targeting bigger stripers or tilefish. Expect to move around based on conditions - that's how you stay on fish throughout the day. The crew handles everything from rigging baits to netting your catch, so you can focus on what matters: getting bent.
Cape May's inshore fishing is all about reading the water and adapting to what the fish want. You'll be drift fishing over structure for flounder, using bucktails tipped with squid or gulp baits to tempt these bottom-huggers. When the stripers are running, expect to troll umbrella rigs or live-line bunker around the jetties and inlet mouth. The tilefish bite usually means dropping jigs or bait rigs to deeper water where these colorful fighters stack up on rocky bottom. Redfish action often happens sight fishing the shallows or working cut baits around marsh edges. The crew rotates techniques based on tides, weather, and what's biting - flexibility is key to a successful day. All rods, reels, tackle, and terminal gear are provided, along with your New Jersey fishing license.
Southern Flounder are the sneaky predators of Cape May's sandy bottom, often lying buried waiting to ambush baitfish. These fish can exceed 20 inches and provide excellent table fare with their flaky white meat. Peak season runs from late spring through fall, with bigger fish showing up as water temperatures drop. What makes them exciting is the way they absolutely crush a bait - you'll feel that distinct thump followed by steady pressure as they bulldogs toward bottom.
Grey Tilefish bring serious color and fight to your cooler, with their bright yellow and blue patterns making them one of the prettiest catches in local waters. These deep-water residents typically run 2-8 pounds and fight like fish twice their size, making multiple runs toward structure. They're most active during cooler months and bite best on squid or clam baits fished near bottom. Tilefish are also fantastic eating, with firm white meat that's perfect for grilling or frying.
Summer Flounder, or fluke, are the bread and butter of Cape May fishing, with doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds always possible. These aggressive feeders ambush prey from sandy bottom, creating exciting visual fishing when you can see them following your bait. The season typically peaks from May through September, with bigger fish moving through during summer months. Landing a keeper fluke requires skill - they're notorious for throwing hooks with their head-shaking jumps.
Striped Bass represent the ultimate inshore gamefish, with Cape May's population including both resident fish and migrating giants. These silver-sided fighters can range from schoolie size up to 30+ pound cows, providing battles that test your tackle and technique. Spring and fall migrations offer the best action, though resident fish provide year-round opportunities. Stripers are smart, often requiring precise presentations and quality gear to consistently hook up.
Redfish have been expanding their range northward, making Cape May catches increasingly common. These copper-colored fighters average 20-35 inches and are known for their bulldogging runs and refusal to give up. They're most active in warmer months around grass beds and structure, often feeding in surprisingly shallow water. What makes reds special is their attitude - they eat aggressively and fight until the net, making every hookup memorable.
Cape May Lady's weekday trips offer serious value for dedicated anglers who want to fish without weekend crowds and premium prices. Six hours gives you enough time to work different areas and techniques while staying within a reasonable budget. The crew's local knowledge combined with quality gear means you're fishing, not just hoping. With licenses and tackle included, this is one of the best deals for productive inshore fishing in New Jersey. These weekday spots fill up with regulars who know a good thing, so don't wait too long to secure your date. Book now and get ready to see why Cape May's reputation for world-class inshore fishing keeps growing every season.
Caulolatilus MicropsGrey Tilefish are deep-water bottom dwellers that live in 250-400 foot depths along muddy and rocky bottoms off our continental shelf. These chunky fish average 5-8 pounds but can reach 23 pounds and 35 inches. They're nicknamed "poor man's lobster" for good reason - the meat is sweet and firm with a similar texture. You'll spot them by the distinctive blue line running from nose to eye. They're not shy about hitting bait and often come up in multiples once you find them. Winter months tend to be most productive when they're more active in our area. The fight isn't spectacular, but the payoff at the dinner table makes up for it. Here's the key: use heavy weights (2-5 pounds depending on current) to get down to them quickly, and don't be afraid to run multiple rigs - they school up and you can often catch several at once.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are copper-colored bruisers with distinctive black spots near their tails that make for exciting shallow water action. While they're more common down south, we see them in our Cape May area during warmer months, usually running 20-30 inches and 5-15 pounds. They prefer shallow bays, around oyster beds, and near structure in 2-8 feet of water where they root around for crabs and shrimp. Late summer through early fall gives us the best shot at them as they follow baitfish north. What makes them special is their aggressive strike and bulldogging fight - they'll make long runs and use their broad sides against you. The meat is excellent too, with a mild, slightly sweet flavor that's perfect for the grill. When targeting reds here, focus on areas with current and structure. Use cut bait like crab or shrimp on the bottom, or throw topwater plugs early morning for heart-stopping surface strikes.
Paralichthys LethostigmaSouthern Flounder are flat, oval-shaped fish that hang out on sandy and muddy bottoms in our shallow coastal waters, bays, and estuaries. You'll recognize them by their unique feature - both eyes on the left side of their head - plus the scattered light and dark spots covering their dark side. Most run 15-18 inches, but we've seen some beauties push 33 inches. They're masters of camouflage, changing colors to match the bottom while they ambush prey like crabs, shrimp, and small baitfish. Fall and winter are prime time when they move to deeper offshore waters. Guests love them because they're excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. My tip: use a slow drift with live minnows or shrimp on a single hook rig, and be patient - they like to mouth the bait before committing to the bite.
Morone SaxatilisStriped Bass are the backbone of our Cape May fishing scene. These silver fighters with distinctive black stripes can range from schoolie size around 20 inches up to trophy fish over 40 pounds. They're structure-oriented, hanging around jetties, bridges, and drop-offs where they ambush baitfish. You'll find them in everything from shallow surf to 60-foot depths, depending on season and bait movements. Spring and fall migrations bring the best action when massive schools move through our waters chasing bunker, herring, and sand eels. Guests love them because they fight hard, grow big, and make excellent table fare with sweet, flaky meat. The fall run from October through December is legendary here - that's when hungry bass feed aggressively before heading south. My go-to technique: find the birds diving on bait, then work live eels or chunk bunker around the edges of the school. When bass are feeding, you'll know it.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer Flounder, or "fluke" as we call them locally, are the most popular flatfish in our Cape May waters. These ambush predators lie camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to strike unsuspecting baitfish. They average 15-20 inches but can grow over 26 pounds - the females get much larger than males. Both eyes sit on their left side, and they're amazing at changing colors to match the bottom. You'll find them in 20-60 feet of water around structure, drop-offs, and along channel edges. September through November is prime time when they're feeding heavily before moving offshore. Guests love the challenge of their subtle bite and the reward of excellent eating - sweet, white fillets that are hard to beat. Pro tip: use a bucktail jig tipped with squid or spearing, and keep it moving slowly along the bottom. When you feel that telltale tap-tap, wait a beat before setting the hook - they grab prey sideways.
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