Cape May Inshore Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Fishing
Six-hour private charter targets striped bass, fluke, and black sea bassDaily 7 AM departures accommodate up to six passengers comfortablyAll equipment, bait, tackle, and fishing licenses included
Cape May's inshore waters offer some of New Jersey's most consistent fishing action, and this 6-hour private charter puts you right in the thick of it. Starting at 7:00 AM daily, you'll have plenty of time to work the productive grounds where striped bass, fluke, bluefish, black sea bass, and black drum call home. This trip is perfect for families wanting to introduce kids to saltwater fishing, small groups looking for a private experience, or anyone who's never dropped a line in the Atlantic before. With up to six passengers max, you get personalized attention from the crew and the flexibility to adjust the game plan based on what's biting and what conditions look like.
You'll be fishing Cape May's renowned inshore grounds where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, creating a mixing zone that draws baitfish and the predators that follow them. The early morning departure gives you the best shot at prime feeding times, when fish are most active and aggressive. Your captain knows these waters like the back of their hand - from the structure around the Cape May Reef to the drop-offs along the shipping channels. The boat is set up to handle groups comfortably, with plenty of deck space for everyone to fish without getting tangled up in each other's lines. Don't worry about experience level - the crew will get beginners squared away with the basics while letting seasoned anglers do their thing. Weather plays a big role in where you'll fish, but that's part of the adventure. Some days you'll be working shallow water for fluke, other days you might be bouncing bottom baits in deeper water for black sea bass and tautog.
This charter runs both bottom fishing and trolling depending on conditions and what species are showing up. Bottom fishing is bread and butter for black sea bass, tautog, and black drum - you'll be using conventional reels with circle hooks, sinkers heavy enough to hold bottom in the current, and fresh bait like clams, squid, and sand fleas. The crew will show you how to feel for that telltale tap-tap of a sea bass or the heavy pull of a drum. Trolling comes into play when targeting striped bass and bluefish, running spoons, bucktails, or umbrella rigs at different depths and speeds until you find what they want. All rods, reels, bait, and tackle are provided, plus your New Jersey fishing license is covered. The gear is maintained and matched to the fishing you'll be doing - no need to worry about bringing the wrong setup or having tackle fail when a good fish is on the line. If you've got favorite lures or rods you want to bring, that's fine too, but everything you need is already on board.
Tautog are the bulldogs of Cape May's inshore waters, pulling hard and testing your tackle with their thick shoulders and stubborn attitude. These blackfish love structure - wrecks, rocks, and bridge pilings where they can ambush crabs and mussels. Spring and fall offer the best tautog action, with fish ranging from keeper size around 16 inches up to doormat-sized specimens over 10 pounds. They're notorious bait stealers, so you'll need to stay sharp and set the hook at the first sign of a nibble. Landing a quality tog feels like pulling up a chunk of concrete that suddenly comes to life.
Bluefish bring non-stop action when they're around, traveling in schools and feeding aggressively on anything that moves. These choppers hit hard and fight dirty, making screaming runs and trying every trick to throw the hook. Cape May sees bluefish from spring through fall, with the best action often coming during the summer months when schools of snappers flood the inshore waters. They'll take both bottom baits and trolled lures, but wire leaders are a must unless you want to get bit off. A cooler full of fresh bluefish makes for excellent table fare when prepared properly.
Black sea bass are customer favorites because they're relatively easy to catch, fight well for their size, and taste fantastic. These bottom dwellers hang around structure and drop-offs, where they feed on crabs, worms, and small fish. Sea bass season typically runs spring through fall, with fish ranging from shorts you'll have to throw back up to keeper-sized fish over 15 inches. They have a distinctive way of hitting bait - often just mouthing it gently before swimming off with it. The trick is letting them take it and run before setting the hook. Their firm white meat makes them one of the best eating fish in these waters.
Black drum are the heavyweights of this fishery, with mature fish capable of reaching 40-50 pounds or more. These big fish cruise the shallows and channels looking for clams, crabs, and worms, often in water so shallow you can see them tailing like redfish. Spring brings the best drum fishing to Cape May, when fish move inshore to spawn. They're powerful fighters that use their size and strength rather than speed, making long, steady runs that test your drag and your patience. Landing a big drum is a real achievement - these fish have been around for decades and don't give up easily.
Summer flounder, or fluke, are the chameleons of Cape May's waters, changing color to match the bottom as they lie in wait for baitfish to swim overhead. These flatfish can be tricky to hook since they often grab bait from the side and need time to turn it around in their mouth. The key is patience - let them run with it before setting the hook. Fluke season runs from spring into fall, with the biggest fish often caught in deeper water during summer. A nice fluke dinner is hard to beat, and these fish can grow quite large in Cape May's productive waters. Doormat fluke over 5 pounds are always a possibility and make for great photos and better eating.
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Fish Cape May's productive waters aboard this well-equipped center console built specifically for local bay and ocean conditions. The spacious layout comfortably handles up to six anglers while you target black drum, black sea bass, striped bass, and fluke using both bottom fishing and trolling techniques. This boat cuts through choppy water smoothly and features a wireless trolling motor for quiet approaches to structure where fish hold. The GPS and fish finder help locate productive spots, while radar keeps you safe when visibility drops. Quality safety gear and an open deck design mean everyone stays comfortable during those long fights with drum and bass. All rods, reels, bait, tackle, and Jersey licenses included so you just show up ready to fish. Perfect setup for families or small groups wanting serious fishing time without the crowded party boat scene.
Pogonias CromisBlack drum are the bruisers of the drum family, running 5-30 pounds with some giants hitting 50+ pounds. They're bottom feeders with powerful jaws built for crushing oysters and crabs in shallow, brackish waters around mud flats and oyster beds. Spring is prime time when they school up for spawning and make their famous drumming sounds underwater. What guests love is their bulldog fight and the challenge of landing a big one on lighter tackle. The smaller fish under 15 pounds are excellent table fare, but the big ones get tough and stringy. You'll find them in 2-20 feet of water around structure and creek mouths. My go-to technique: use fresh blue crab or clam on a fish-finder rig, keep your bait on the bottom, and be patient. When they bite, they often mouth the bait first.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are stocky bottom dwellers that love structure like wrecks, rocks, and jetties. Most run 1-4 pounds, but trophy males can hit 8+ pounds and turn bright blue during spawning season. They're perfect for families since they fight hard but aren't too big to handle. You'll find them in 20-120 feet of water around hard bottom from late spring through summer. What's cool is they start life as females then change to males as they grow. The meat is white, flaky, and delicious - one of the best eating fish we catch. They hit squid, clams, and small jigs readily. Here's my local trick: use a two-hook rig with squid strips and bounce it right on the bottom near structure. Once you find one, there's usually more since they school up on good spots.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBluefish are aggressive predators that show up in Cape May waters from mid-June through October before heading south for winter. They typically run 3-7 pounds but can reach 20+ pounds. These silver-blue speedsters travel in schools and are famous for their feeding frenzies, attacking bait schools even when they're full. You'll find them in open water, around structure, and pushing bait in the surf. What guests love is their fierce fight and razor-sharp teeth that can slice through leaders. The smaller "snappers" are perfect for kids and beginners. The meat is tasty when fresh, especially fish under 10 pounds. My tip: use wire leaders and oily bait like bunker or mackerel. When you see birds working, get there fast - that's usually blues in a feeding blitz tearing up the water.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder, or fluke, are the "chameleons of the sea" - flatfish that change color to match the bottom perfectly. They range from keeper size around 18 inches up to doormat-sized fish over 5 pounds. These ambush predators bury in sand and mud, waiting to grab passing baitfish with their sideways bite. Best action runs May through October in 15-60 feet of water over sandy bottom and drop-offs. Guests love the challenge of finding them and their excellent white, flaky meat. They're smart fish that require finesse and patience. The key is drifting live bait or bucktails along the bottom where they're hiding. Here's my technique: use a fluke rig with squid and spearing, keep moving until you find them, and when you feel a pickup, wait a few seconds before setting the hook - they grab prey sideways and need time to turn it.
Tautoga OnitisTautog, also called blackfish, are chunky wrasse that love hanging around rocks, jetties, and structure. They run 1-3 pounds typically, though big ones can hit 10+ pounds. These guys are built for crushing shellfish with powerful jaws and extra throat teeth. Spring through fall is prime time when they're active during daylight hours. They're territorial around their rocky homes, which makes fishing tricky since you'll lose tackle on the bottom structure. What makes tautog special is their unique appearance with mottled skin and their habit of lying sideways at night. The meat is excellent eating. Here's my tip: use green crab bait, crush the shells to make scent, and fish just off the rocks rather than right in them. Change your bait every 4-5 minutes or it loses effectiveness.
Cape May