Full Day Fishing Trip - New Jersey
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Sevenhour inshore fishing charter off New Jersey coastCaptain Ryan provides local expertise and all fishing equipmentFourguest capacity vessel targets multiple local fish species
When you're ready to get serious about fishing New Jersey's coastal waters, Captain Ryan's full-day charter is where the action happens. Seven hours on the water gives you plenty of time to work different spots, dial in your technique, and load up the cooler with quality fish. The Jersey coast has always been a hotspot for mixed-bag fishing, and Ryan knows exactly where to put you on the bite. From the break walls to the deeper structure, you'll fish the zones where stripers cruise, blues are busting bait, and the occasional yellowfin tuna makes your day. Everything's provided - rods, reels, tackle, and bait - so you just show up ready to fish. With only four anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of elbow room to work your lines.
This isn't a rush job - seven hours means you're getting the full treatment. Captain Ryan starts by checking conditions and planning the day based on what's been biting and where the water looks right. You might start working the inshore structure for stripers and sea bass, then push out to the canyons if the tuna bite is hot. The boat's rigged for everything from light tackle bottom fishing to trolling spreads, so you're covered no matter what kind of action develops. Ryan's been working these waters long enough to read the signs - bird activity, water color, bait schools - and he's not shy about moving when the fish aren't cooperating. Expect to learn a few things along the way, whether it's reading your fish finder or working a bucktail properly. The intimate group size means everyone gets hands-on coaching when they need it.
The beauty of New Jersey inshore fishing is the variety of techniques that produce. Captain Ryan keeps the boat stocked with everything from spinning gear for casting plugs and bucktails to conventional tackle for trolling and bottom fishing. When the stripers are holding on structure, you'll be dropping bucktails and working soft plastics around the rocks and wrecks. If the blues are up feeding, it's time to break out the topwater plugs and watch them explode on the surface. For the deeper water species like sea bass and the occasional mahi, you'll be fishing bait rigs with fresh squid or clams. The trolling spread comes into play when hunting yellowfin tuna - Cedar plugs, spreader bars, and ballyhoo create the commotion that brings these speedsters to the transom. Ryan provides all the gear, but if you have favorite rods or lucky lures, bring them along. He's always interested to see what other anglers are throwing.
Striped Bass remain the backbone of New Jersey inshore fishing, and for good reason. These fish fight hard, taste great, and show up in good numbers from spring through fall. The best action typically happens around structure - wrecks, rocky bottom, and the various artificial reefs scattered along the coast. Stripers are ambush predators, so they'll hold tight to cover waiting for bait to drift by. They're curious fish too, often following a lure for quite a distance before deciding to eat. When you hook a keeper-size striper in 30 feet of water, you're in for a fight - they'll make strong runs and try to wrap you around any structure they can find.
Mahi Mahi might seem like an offshore species, but New Jersey's coastal waters see plenty of action, especially during summer months. These fish are absolute dynamite on the line - jumping, tail-walking, and changing colors as they fight. They're also schooling fish, so when you find one, there are usually others nearby. Mahi love floating debris, weed lines, and temperature breaks, making them perfect targets for a roaming charter. At 10-30 pounds, they're the perfect size for great action without being overwhelming for newer anglers.
Yellowfin Tuna represent the premium catch on these trips. While they're more common in deeper offshore waters, the smaller "football" yellowfins regularly push into the canyons and edges accessible on a full-day trip. These fish are pure muscle - built for speed and endurance in the open ocean. When a yellowfin takes your trolled bait, there's no mistaking it. The initial run can peel hundreds of yards of line, and they rarely give up without a prolonged fight. Even a 20-pound yellowfin will test your tackle and your stamina.
Bluefish are the aggressive opportunists of the New Jersey coast. When they're feeding, they'll hit almost anything you throw at them - plugs, metals, bait, even bare hooks sometimes. They travel in schools and can turn a quiet morning into chaos when they show up busting bait on the surface. Blues are excellent table fare when handled properly and kept cold, despite their reputation for being oily. They're also perfect for newer anglers since they're aggressive and relatively easy to hook.
Black Sea Bass might not be the flashiest fish, but they're consistent producers and excellent eating. These bottom dwellers love structure and are often found around the same spots that hold stripers. They're curious fish that will investigate anything dropped near their territory. Sea bass have excellent vision and can be surprisingly picky about bait presentation, making them a good species for honing your bottom fishing technique. The New Jersey reefs and wrecks hold good populations, and a day of sea bass fishing often produces a nice mixed bag.
Seven hours with Captain Ryan gives you the real deal - time to explore different fishing zones, work various techniques, and put together a mixed bag that showcases what New Jersey waters have to offer. The small group size means personalized instruction and plenty of room to fish comfortably. All tackle and bait are included, so whether you're a seasoned angler or picking up a rod for the first time, you're set up for success. The combination of Ryan's local knowledge, quality equipment,
Captain Ryan's 2022 21' Parker center console is built for serious New Jersey fishing adventures. Powered by a reliable Yamaha 200HP engine that cruises at 40 knots, this boat gets you to the productive offshore waters quickly and comfortably. The center console design offers plenty of deck space for up to 4 anglers to work the waters without getting tangled up in each other's lines. The fish finder takes the guesswork out of locating schools, while the GPS keeps you on the hottest spots along the Jersey coast. When fog rolls in, the radar ensures safe navigation back to port. An icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those long summer days on the water. Between fishing sessions, you can grab some shade or use the onboard facilities. Captain Ryan provides all the tackle and gear, so just bring your enthusiasm for hooking into stripers, fluke, and whatever else is biting in these waters.
Centropristis StriataSea bass are the perfect "keeper" fish - chunky, cooperative, and absolutely delicious on the table. Most run 1-4 pounds with some bruiser males hitting 6-8 pounds around deeper wrecks and structure. These bottom-dwellers love rocky areas, wrecks, and jetties in 20-120 feet of water. Late spring through summer is prime time when they move inshore to spawn and feed. They're not flashy fighters, but they're reliable biters that make great eating with sweet, white, flaky meat. The bigger males develop a distinctive hump during spawning season and turn darker colors. Pro tip: use a double-drop rig with squid or clam strips and keep it right on the bottom - sea bass are structure-huggers and won't chase your bait very far from their rocky homes.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBlues are Jersey's most aggressive predator - think of them as underwater piranhas with an attitude problem. These silver bulldogs typically run 2-10 pounds, with occasional 15-pounders that'll really test your gear. You'll find them anywhere there's bait - surf, inlets, bays, and offshore structure from spring through late fall. They hunt in packs, creating feeding frenzies that churn the water white. What makes them exciting? Pure aggression - they'll hit anything that moves and fight dirty with powerful runs and head shakes. The meat is rich and oily, great smoked or grilled fresh. Watch your fingers though - those razor teeth don't quit even after they're in the boat. Best tip: when you find a bluefish blitz, cast metal spoons or poppers right into the mayhem and hold on tight.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi mahi are pure eye candy - bright gold and electric blue colors that put on a light show when you bring them boatside. These tropical visitors show up in our offshore waters during summer, typically 15-30 pounds with occasional 40-pounders. Look for them around floating debris, weed lines, and temperature breaks in 100-400 feet of water. They're aggressive feeders that hit trolled ballyhoo and surface lures with serious attitude. The fight is fast and acrobatic - they'll jump, tail-walk, and make blazing runs. Plus, the meat is top-shelf eating with a mild, sweet flavor that's perfect grilled or blackened. Here's the key: when you hook one, keep the boat moving and get a second line out quick - mahi travel in schools and you can often double up before the school spooks.
Morone SaxatilisStripers are the bread and butter of New Jersey fishing, running 20-40 pounds on average with some reaching 50+ pounds. These silver fighters with their distinctive black stripes love structure - we find them around jetties, bridge pilings, and rocky bottoms in 15-60 feet of water. Spring through fall is prime time when they migrate up our coast, but the best action happens during moving water on incoming tides. What makes them special? They fight hard, taste great, and give you that classic striped bass run when hooked. The meat is sweet and flaky, perfect for the dinner table. Pro tip: when fishing around structure, drop your bait right to the bottom then reel up a few cranks - stripers often suspend just off the rocks waiting to ambush baitfish.
Thunnus AlbacaresYellowfin tuna are the ultimate offshore prize - built like torpedoes and capable of 50 mph runs. Most we catch run 40-80 pounds, though 100+ pounders show up regularly. These warm-water speedsters cruise the deep blue in 200-2000 feet, following bait schools and temperature breaks. Summer through early fall gives us the best shot when they push north following warm water. The fight is what legends are made of - long, powerful runs that'll test your tackle and your back. The meat is sushi-grade quality, deep red and rich in flavor. We target them trolling spreads of ballyhoo and cedar plugs, but the real fun starts when they surface on poppers. Local secret: when trolling, watch for bird activity and temperature breaks on the fish finder - that's where the yellowfin will be stacked up.
New Jersey