5.0(1 Reviews)New Jersey Bottom Fishing Charter
5.0(1 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target Atlantic Cod and Black Sea Bass on productive wrecks.Accommodates up to six guests with all tackle included.Choose between 4hour or 6hour bottom fishing trips.
Looking for consistent action on the water? Sandy Hook Charters delivers exactly that with our New Jersey bottom fishing trips along the productive waters of the New Jersey Bight. Captain Timothy has been working these waters for years, and he knows where the fish stack up. Whether you're a weekend warrior or just getting started with saltwater fishing, this charter puts you right over the structure where bottom fish love to hang out. We'll get you hooked up with Atlantic Cod, Black Sea Bass, Tautog, and plenty more species that call these wrecks and reefs home.
This isn't your typical "hope for the best" fishing trip. Captain Timothy runs a tight operation from our 29-foot boat, built for comfort and fishability. You can choose between a 4-hour or 6-hour trip depending on how much time you want to spend bending rods. We keep our groups small at just six anglers max, so everyone gets plenty of elbow room and personal attention from the crew. The morning trips tend to be customer favorites since the fish are more active before the sun gets high, but afternoon slots work great too. All your tackle is included – we're talking quality bottom rigs, sinkers heavy enough to hold bottom in current, and fresh bait that the fish can't resist. No need to stress about what to bring; just show up ready to fish.
Here's where years of experience really pay off. Captain Timothy has built up an extensive collection of GPS marks over productive wrecks, artificial reefs, and natural bottom structure throughout the New Jersey Bight. These aren't random spots – we're talking about proven fish-holding structure where bottom species congregate season after season. The technique is straightforward but effective: we anchor up over structure, drop heavy sinkers to get baits down to the fish, and let the current work the bait naturally. You'll be using traditional bottom rigs with circle hooks, which are perfect for the species we target and help with safe fish releases when needed. The depth finder tells the story – when we mark fish on structure, that's where we set up shop. Don't worry if you've never bottom fished before; the crew walks you through everything from rigging to fighting fish.
"Tim and Jack were excellent. We chose the 7 AM slot to get some of the early morning fish before it got too warm. The 4 hour boat trip included 3 different fishing experiences. We started off doing some bottom fishing for black sea bass, followed by trolling for bluefish, and ended with fluke fishing. It was a very successful fishing day. At the end, Tim filleted all the fish for us. We cooked the seabass and bluefish that night with lemon, garlic and herbs. Delicious! Highly recommended!" - Daniel
Black Sea Bass are the bread and butter of our bottom fishing trips. These chunky fighters typically run 1-3 pounds in our area, with some real doormat-sized fish pushing 4-5 pounds during peak season. They're structure lovers, hanging tight to wrecks and reefs where they feed on crabs, small fish, and whatever the current brings their way. Summer through early fall is prime time for sea bass, and they're aggressive feeders that'll slam fresh clam or squid baits. What makes them so popular with our guests is their willingness to bite and the fact that they're excellent table fare – sweet, white meat that's perfect for the dinner table.
Atlantic Cod bring a different kind of excitement to the trip. These fish can get hefty, especially the winter residents that move into our waters when temperatures drop. Cod are curious fish that'll often investigate baits for a while before committing, but when they do bite, you know it. They're not the flashiest fighters, but their size makes up for it – a good cod will test your tackle and give your arms a workout. The best part about cod fishing in the New Jersey Bight is the variety in size; you might catch schoolies one drop and then hook into a 15-pounder the next.
Tautog, or "tog" as most anglers call them, are the bulldogs of bottom fishing. These fish have serious attitude and even more serious teeth designed for crushing shellfish. They're year-round residents around structure, but fall and early winter offer the hottest action as they feed heavily before spawning. Green crabs and Asian crabs work best for tog, and you need to stay sharp – they're notorious bait stealers that can clean your hook without you feeling a thing. When you do hook up with a decent tog, get ready for a straight-down fight as they try to get back into the rocks.
Grey Triggerfish add some tropical flair to our bottom fishing trips, especially during warmer months when they move up from southern waters. These fish are absolute characters with their unique swimming style and curious nature. They're not huge – most run 1-2 pounds – but they're scrappy fighters that punch above their weight class. Triggerfish can be picky eaters, but when they're feeding, they'll take small pieces of squid or fish baits readily. They're also surprisingly good eating, with firm white meat that holds up well to different cooking methods.
Scup, also known as porgy, might be smaller than the other species we target, but they make up for size with numbers. During peak season, it's not unusual to have multiple rods bent at once when you find a school of feeding scup. They're perfect for beginning anglers or kids since they bite aggressively and fight hard for their size. Most scup run 8-12 inches, but the jumbo porgies that show up in late summer can surprise you. They're excellent in the pan, and their abundance means you can keep enough for a proper fish fry.
Sandy Hook Ch
Our 29-foot center console is built for serious bottom fishing in the New Jersey Bight. This 2006 vessel got a complete makeover in 2022, so everything runs like new. Twin 225HP Honda engines push her to 45 knots when we need to cover water fast, getting you to the productive wrecks and structure where the cod and sea bass hide. The boat handles six anglers comfortably with plenty of room to work your rods without getting tangled up. GPS and fish finder keep us positioned over the best bottom structure, while radar ensures we can navigate safely in any conditions. The wireless trolling motor lets us stay quiet when working specific spots. An icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during those longer sessions. There's also a head onboard for convenience during extended trips. The center console design gives everyone easy access to the rails and plenty of space to fight fish. Built to handle the Atlantic's conditions while keeping you comfortable as you work the bottom for those keeper bass and cod.
Gadus MorhuaAtlantic Cod are the prize fish of our winter season, typically running 10-25 pounds with some reaching 40-plus. You'll recognize them by the distinctive barbel under their chin and those white lateral lines. They stick to rocky bottom and structure in 100-300 feet, preferring the cooler water temps from late fall through early spring. What makes cod special is the incredible eating - flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They put up a solid fight but nothing crazy, making them great for all skill levels. We target them with fresh clam, squid strips, or jigs on heavy tackle. The key tip I always share: use a fish finder rig with enough weight to stay on bottom, and be ready to reel fast once you feel the bite. Cod will mouth the bait before committing, so patience pays off.
Centropristis StriataBlack Sea Bass are our bread-and-butter bottom fish, perfect for consistent action. Most run 1-3 pounds and 12-16 inches, though we see some nice 4-6 pounders around deeper structure. They love wrecks, rocky bottom, and artificial reefs in 40-120 feet of water. Peak season is May through October when they're shallow and aggressive. What makes sea bass great is they're always willing to bite, fight hard for their size, and taste fantastic - firm, sweet meat that's tough to beat. These fish are social, so where you find one, you'll usually find more. During spawning season, the big males turn bright blue and develop a hump on their heads. Best technique is squid strips or clam on a dropper loop rig. Keep your bait moving slightly off bottom - they'll often hit on the drop.
Balistes CapriscusGrey Triggerfish are tough-skinned fighters that average 12-17 inches but can reach up to 24 inches. You'll find them around wrecks and hard bottom structure in 60-180 feet of water. These pale grey fish with their beak-like mouths are surprisingly aggressive and will charge at bait when they see other fish going for it. They're most active during warmer months when they move closer to shore. What makes them fun to target is their unique feeding behavior - they'll nip at bait before committing, so you need to stay alert. The meat is excellent eating with a firm texture. Pro tip: use squid chunks about an inch wide since it stays on the hook better, and try dropping your bait near snapper or grouper to trigger their competitive feeding instincts.
Stenotomus ChrysopsScup, also called porgy, are silver-scaled bottom feeders that typically run 8-14 inches and up to 2 pounds, though they can reach 18 inches. These migratory fish show up in our waters from May through October, staying close to shore around rocks, pilings, and structure where they crush mollusks and worms with their strong jaws. They're perfect for beginners - very easy to catch and almost always willing to bite. The meat is surprisingly good eating, and they make excellent live bait for stripers. Best fishing is during their peak season from late spring through summer. Here's a local trick: when you drop your bait to the bottom, jig it slowly up and down. Scup often hit on the lift, and many anglers targeting other species end up with a cooler full of these scrappy little fighters.
Tautoga OnitisTautog, or blackfish, are the bulldogs of our local waters. These thick-bodied fighters average 2-5 pounds but can push 10-plus pounds around the best structure. They live tight to rocks, wrecks, and jetties year-round, though spring and fall fishing is peak when they're most active. What guests love about tog is the challenge - they're smart, structure-oriented fish that require skill to land without getting cut off. The payoff is some of the best eating fish in our waters, with sweet white meat. They're daytime feeders with crushers for teeth, built to crack open crabs and mussels. My go-to technique: use green crabs with legs removed, fish tight to structure, and be ready to pull them away from the rocks immediately on the hookset. Change baits every 5 minutes - fresh crab scent is everything.
5.0 out of 5.0Tim and Jack were excellent. We chose the 7 AM slot to get some of the early morning fish before it got too warm. The 4 hour boa...
New Jersey