Belmar Mahi Mahi & Deep Water Meat Trip
This offshore charter out of Belmar combines the best of both worlds – pot hopping for colorful mahi mahi followed by serious deep water bottom fishing. Captain and crew at Nearfall Fishing Charters have dialed in this combination trip to maximize your time on the water and your chances of heading home with a cooler full of quality eating fish. We're talking about targeting structures where cod, pollock, ling, flounder, and sea bass call home, plus chasing those electric-colored mahi around floating debris. With room for up to 6 anglers, this trip gives you plenty of elbow room to work different techniques throughout the day.
What to Expect on the Water
Your day starts early as we head out from Belmar's inlet toward productive offshore waters. The first part of our trip focuses on pot hopping – that's when we cruise around looking for lobster pot buoys, debris lines, or any floating structure that attracts mahi mahi. These fish love hanging around anything that provides shade or attracts baitfish. Once we locate some promising water, we'll work the area with a mix of live bait, jigs, and trolling techniques. The action can be fast and furious when we find a good school of mahi. After we've worked the mahi bite, we transition to deep water bottom fishing over structure. This is where the "meat" part of the trip really kicks in – we're anchoring up over proven spots where big cod, chunky sea bass, and other bottom dwellers hang out. The variety of species you can catch in these deeper waters keeps things interesting, and the quality of eating fish is top-notch.
Techniques & Tackle Setup
For the mahi portion, we'll be using medium-heavy spinning gear and conventional tackle depending on conditions. Live bait like ballyhoo or small blues work great, but don't overlook bucktails and soft plastics when the fish are aggressive. The key to successful pot hopping is staying mobile and reading the water – mahi are nomadic, so we need to adapt quickly. When we shift to bottom fishing, we're talking heavy sinkers, circle hooks, and cut bait to get down to where the big fish live. Cod love clams and squid, while sea bass go crazy for fresh cut bait. The captain provides all the tackle and bait you'll need, but if you have favorite rigs or lures that have worked for you in the past, feel free to bring them along. Bottom fishing requires patience and technique – you'll learn to feel the difference between a bite and the current, and how to work your bait to trigger strikes from fish holding tight to structure.
Top Catches This Season
Mahi mahi are the stars of the offshore show, and these fish put on a display like no other species. Bulls can reach 30-50 pounds and fight with incredible speed and aerial acrobatics. They're most active during warmer months when water temperatures climb above 70 degrees, typically from late spring through early fall. What makes mahi so exciting is their aggressive nature – when you find a school, multiple fish often bite at once, creating chaos on deck. Their brilliant gold, green, and blue colors make them one of the most beautiful fish in the ocean, and the meat is absolutely premium table fare. Summer flounder, or fluke as we call them locally, are flat fish that can grow to impressive sizes in New Jersey waters. These ambush predators lie on the bottom waiting for baitfish to swim by, then explode upward to grab their prey. A doormat fluke over 5 pounds is a real trophy, and the fight is surprisingly strong for a flatfish. Sea bass are chunky, aggressive fish that live around structure and make excellent eating. They're curious by nature and will often inspect your bait before committing, which makes for some interesting fishing. Atlantic cod are the holy grail of bottom fishing in our area – these thick-bodied fish can reach impressive sizes and provide some of the best eating you'll find in the ocean. They prefer cooler water and are most active during fall and winter months. Lingcod, despite their name, aren't actually cod but are fantastic fighters with big mouths full of teeth. They're ambush predators that hit hard and fast, often surprising anglers with their aggressive strikes.
Time to Book Your Spot
This combination trip offers something for every type of angler – whether you love the excitement of mahi fishing or prefer the steady action of bottom fishing, you'll find plenty to keep you busy. The variety of species and techniques keeps the day interesting, and you'll come away with new skills and hopefully a cooler full of fresh fish. Nearfall Fishing Charters has built a reputation for putting clients on fish and providing a professional, safe experience on the water. With limited space for just 6 anglers, these trips fill up quickly during peak season. The captain's local knowledge and years of experience fishing these waters give you the best shot at a successful day. Don't wait to secure your spot – contact Nearfall Fishing Charters today to book your Belmar mahi and meat trip.