5.0(5 Reviews)Extended Half Day Fishing Trip in Wildwood, NJ
5.0(5 reviews)
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Top Rated
Four hours targeting bass, flounder, and Spanish mackerel inshoreAll equipment, bait, and fishing licenses included with tripSmall group experience with maximum six guests aboard
Looking for a solid morning on the water without burning your whole day? This extended half-day trip with Captain Joseph Lyons aboard Tara Anne Sport Fishing gives you the best of both worlds - serious fishing time and plenty of day left over. We're talking six hours total with four solid hours of rod-bending action targeting some of the most sought-after species along the Jersey coast. From Spanish mackerel to striped bass, these waters hold serious fish, and we know exactly where to find them.
This isn't your typical rush-job fishing charter. With an hour each way to our prime spots and four full hours of fishing, you've got real time to work different techniques and chase various species. Captain Joseph runs a tight ship with everything you need already on board - quality rods, reels, fresh bait, tackle, and all required licenses. Just show up ten minutes early, grab your coffee, and get ready to put some fish in the cooler. The boat handles six anglers comfortably, so whether you're bringing the family or a crew of buddies, there's room for everyone to spread out and fish properly. We mix up the approach depending on conditions and what's biting - could be drifting for flounder, trolling for bonito, or working structure for black sea bass.
We run a variety of techniques on these extended trips, which is what makes them so productive. Early morning might have us trolling spreader bars and umbrella rigs for Spanish mackerel and bonito when they're feeding aggressively on baitfish schools. As conditions change, we'll switch to bottom fishing with circle hooks and fresh bait for black sea bass around structure, or drift natural baits for summer flounder over sandy bottoms. The boat's equipped with quality Penn and Shimano combos matched to the fishing we're doing - lighter tackle for the mackerel and bonito, stouter rods for the bass and bigger stripers. We keep a good selection of jigs, bucktails, and fresh bait on board, plus all the terminal tackle you'll need. If you've got your own lucky rod, feel free to bring it, but our gear is tournament-quality and ready to handle whatever we hook into.
"A fantastic fishing trip with Tara Anne Sport Fishing and Captain Joseph Lyons! Will definitely be returning!" - Megan. "Had an amazing time with Captain Joseph on Tara Anne Sport Fishing. He knew all the best spots and made sure we had a wonderful time. The boat was clean and well-equipped." - Sarah. "Captain Joseph was an excellent guide. He was professional, friendly, and knew exactly where to find the fish. Highly recommend Tara Anne Sport Fishing!" - David.
Spanish Mackerel are absolute dynamite on light tackle and one of our most reliable targets from late spring through early fall. These silver bullets typically run 1-3 pounds and hit trolled lures with serious attitude. They're fast, acrobatic, and make excellent table fare with their mild, flaky white meat. Best part? They usually travel in schools, so when you find one, you're often into multiple fish. We typically target them early morning when they're chasing bait near the surface.
Bluefish are the bulldogs of our local waters and provide non-stop action when they're around. These aggressive predators range from "snappers" (small blues) to hefty 8-10 pound "choppers" that'll test your drag system. They hit hard, fight dirty, and never give up until they're in the boat. Bluefish are excellent smoked or grilled, and their aggressive nature makes them perfect for less experienced anglers who want guaranteed action.
Black Sea Bass are our bread-and-butter bottom fish and arguably the best eating you'll find in local waters. These chunky, hard-fighting fish love structure - wrecks, reefs, and rocky bottom where they ambush crabs and small fish. They typically run 1-4 pounds with occasional bigger fish pushing 6-8 pounds. Sea bass are curious and often approach the boat, making them exciting to catch and perfect for kids. Their sweet, firm white meat makes them a favorite with local restaurants.
Summer Flounder, or fluke, are the ultimate flatfish challenge and prized for their delicate, sweet meat. These ambush predators bury in sand and strike baits with lightning speed. Keeper fluke in our area typically run 18-25 inches, with occasional doormat fish over 5 pounds that'll make your trip legendary. They require finesse and patience - perfect for anglers who enjoy the technical side of fishing. The fight might not be spectacular, but landing a nice fluke is incredibly satisfying.
Atlantic Bonito are the speed demons of our target species and provide some of the most exciting light-tackle action you'll find. These streamlined fish are built for speed and can peel line off your reel in seconds. They typically run 3-8 pounds but fight like fish twice their size. Bonito are excellent table fare when handled properly, with rich, red meat similar to tuna. They're most active during cooler months and often feed in competitive schools, creating fast-paced action when conditions are right.
This extended half-day format hits the sweet spot for serious fishing without the full-day commitment. Four hours on the water gives you real time to work different spots and techniques while still leaving your afternoon open. Captain Joseph's local knowledge and professional approach consistently put fish in the boat, and the top-rated reviews speak for themselves. Whether you're looking to fill the cooler, introduce someone to fishing, or just enjoy a quality morning on the water, this trip delivers. The boat stays busy, especially during prime fishing months, so don't wait to secure your spot. Book now and get
Step aboard the Coastal Voyager, a solid 30-foot Island Hopper that's been working these Wildwood waters since 2002. This pilothouse cruiser handles up to 6 anglers comfortably while her reliable 330HP Cummins engine gets you to the fishing grounds and back at a steady 20 knots. She's equipped with everything you need for a successful morning on the water - GPS and radar keep us on course, the fish finder helps locate those productive spots where Spanish Mackerel, Striped Bass, and Bluefish are feeding. VHF radio keeps us connected with other boats sharing intel on the bite. The enclosed pilothouse provides shelter when you need it, plus there's a head on board for convenience during those 4-hour fishing sessions. Built tough for coastal waters, this boat gets you out to where the action is while keeping everyone safe and comfortable.
Sarda SardaBonito are built for speed - these silver bullets can hit 40 mph and school in huge numbers that create surface feeding frenzies you can spot from miles away. They typically run 2-12 pounds with compressed, tuna-like bodies and distinctive black stripes. Look for diving birds to find the schools - bonito feed aggressively on the surface chasing baitfish in mid-water. While they're not great eating in the US, they provide some of the most exciting light tackle action you'll find, taking almost any lure thrown at a feeding school. They're pelagic fish that prefer water temps in the 60s and travel in coastal waters. Pro tip: when you find a school feeding, work fast with small metal spoons or soft plastics - the action is hot but brief, and the school can disappear as quickly as it showed up.
Centropristis StriataBlack sea bass are chunky, bottom-dwelling fish that average 1-4 pounds around here, though bigger males in deeper water can push 8 pounds. They hang around wrecks, jetties, and rocky structure in 30-120 feet of water, especially from late spring through summer when they move inshore. These fish have an interesting life - they start as females and change to males as they grow larger. Guests appreciate their solid fight and excellent eating quality with firm, white meat that's hard to beat. The males develop a distinctive hump on their heads during spawning season and can turn bright blue. My tip for sea bass: use a double-drop rig with squid or clam strips, and once you find them, stay put - they school up tight on structure.
Pomatomus SaltatrixBlues are aggressive fighters that typically weigh 3-20 pounds and have razor-sharp teeth that'll give you a nasty cut if you're not careful. These gray-green predators are famous for their feeding frenzies where they attack baitfish schools even after they're full - we call it a "bluefish blitz." They hang around jetties, wrecks, and sandy bottom areas, especially during summer months when they move into our coastal waters. Guests enjoy the strong fight they put up until they break the surface, and smaller blues under 10 pounds are great eating with mild, flaky meat. The key with blues is using wire leaders or heavy fluorocarbon - those teeth will cut through regular line in a heartbeat, and you'll lose more fish than you land.
Scomberomorus MaculatusSpanish mackerel are fast, silvery fish with yellowish spots that usually run 1-2 feet and weigh 8-11 pounds. They're lightning quick swimmers that travel in large schools near the surface, making them exciting to target when they're feeding. You'll find them around structures and open water flats during warmer months - they migrate south in winter but stick around our waters through fall. What guests love about these fish is their speed and the way they hit lures hard, plus they make excellent table fare with mild, flaky meat that's perfect grilled or smoked. Here's a local tip: when you see them schooling, drift to the area rather than motor right up to them - the engine noise will scatter the whole school and kill your chances.
Paralichthys DentatusSummer flounder, or fluke, are flatfish that lie camouflaged on sandy bottoms waiting to ambush prey. Most run 15-20 inches, but the big "doormat" females can reach over 20 pounds and make for trophy catches. They're found in bays, inshore waters, and around structure where they blend in perfectly with the bottom. Fall is prime time - September through November when they're feeding heavily before migrating offshore. What makes them special is their ambush style and the challenge of detecting their subtle bite, plus they're some of the best eating fish we catch with sweet, white meat. Here's the trick: use a bucktail jig tipped with strip bait or live minnows, and keep it moving slowly along the bottom - fluke hit on the drop, so stay alert.
5.0 out of 5.0A fantastic fishing trip with Tara Anne Sport Fishing and Captain Joseph Lyons! Will definitely be returning!
Had an amazing time with Captain Joseph on Tara Anne Sport Fishing. He knew all the best spots and made sure we had a wonderful ti...
Captain Joseph was an excellent guide. He was professional, friendly, and knew exactly where to find the fish. Highly recommend Ta...
Tara Anne Sport Fishing and Captain Joseph Lyons provided an outstanding fishing experience! The boat was comfortable and well-mai...
Had a fantastic time fishing with Captain Joseph on Tara Anne Sport Fishing. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the trip enj...
Wildwood, NJ