When striped bass are off Beach Haven
Striped bass fishing out of Beach Haven has two windows: spring and the fall run. Boats leave Beach Haven through Little Egg Inlet and fish the inlet, the bay and the near-shore ocean. Most of the local fleet builds its striper trips around the fall run.
Spring
Spring is the first window. Boats work the same zones they work in the fall.
The fall run
The fall run is the second window. Captain Dave’s striped bass trips run November to early December. The coastwide migration is covered in the fall run along the Northeast coast (see also the Atlantic Northeast offshore fishing guide).
Where boats run and the grounds that hold fish
Boats fish three zones: the inlet, the bay and the near-shore ocean. The reefs and wrecks below are on the chart layers in Breakpoint, which are not for navigation.
Inlet, bay and near-shore ocean
Little Egg Inlet is the ocean exit for boats off the southern end of Long Beach Island. Inside it, the back bay holds fish in the same windows. Outside it, the near-shore ocean is where the reefs and wrecks sit.
Little Egg Inlet Reef, with the Jessie C
Little Egg Inlet Reef (also called Little Egg Reef) sits at 50 ft off Little Egg Inlet. The Jessie C, a crew boat, lies within Little Egg Reef.
Garden State South Reef, with the Rhino, Ocean Wreck Divers I and the VHFC patrol boat
Garden State South Reef is 5.1 nautical miles off Spray Beach, in 55 to 65 ft. Three wrecks sit within it:
- Ocean Wreck Divers I, a USCG 44-foot patrol boat, at 60 ft
- The Rhino, a crew boat, at 65 ft
- The VHFC patrol boat, at 80 ft
| Ground | Depth (ft) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Little Egg Inlet Reef | 50 | Off Little Egg Inlet |
| Jessie C (crew boat) | Within Little Egg Reef | |
| Garden State South Reef | 55 to 65 | 5.1 nautical miles off Spray Beach |
| Ocean Wreck Divers I (USCG 44-foot patrol boat) | 60 | Within Garden State South Reef |
| Rhino (crew boat) | 65 | Within Garden State South Reef |
| VHFC patrol boat | 80 | Within Garden State South Reef |
| Triple Wrecks | ||
| Mud Hole |
Triple Wrecks and Mud Hole
Triple Wrecks and Mud Hole are two more local grounds fished out of the port.
The Barnegat Inlet trips
Captain Dave’s fall striper trips leave from Waretown rather than Beach Haven. They run through Barnegat Inlet and fish off Island Beach State Park. Visiting anglers should match their launch and inlet to the grounds they want.
How stripers are fished here
The local fleet trolls deep and follows bunker.
Trolling deep
Captain Dave’s trolls bunker spoons, umbrella rigs and mojos deep in the water column. Rigging detail is in our striped bass guide.
Following bunker
BHCFA reports describe following bunker (menhaden) schools. The bunker spoon imitates the same bait, and the fleet fishes where the bait is.
Who fishes stripers out of Beach Haven
Several charters list striped bass fishing out of Beach Haven. The Benita J, captained by Dave Wittenborn, appears under both the association and Captain Dave’s.
Charter boats
- Benita J, Capt. Dave Wittenborn. Listed with the Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association and as Captain Dave’s LBI Fishing Charters. Captain Dave’s fall striper trips run out of Barnegat Inlet, as noted above.
- Miss Beach Haven, Capt. Steve Palmer.
- Irish Jig 2, a Parker 2520, Capt. Gary M. Dugan Jr. Listed with Irish Jig Sportfishing.
- Hot Tuna Charters, a 38-foot Blackfin Sport Fisherman, Capt. Bob Gerkens.
The LBI Cup
The LBI Cup is a striped bass tournament out of Beach Haven, usually held in November.
FAQ: striped bass fishing out of Beach Haven
When do stripers run off Beach Haven?
Spring and the fall run. Captain Dave’s runs striper trips November to early December.
How far do boats run to the reefs?
Garden State South Reef is 5.1 nautical miles off Spray Beach, in 55 to 65 ft. Little Egg Inlet Reef sits off Little Egg Inlet, at 50 ft.
Is Little Egg Inlet or Barnegat Inlet the right choice?
Beach Haven boats use Little Egg Inlet. Captain Dave’s fall trips leave Waretown through Barnegat Inlet and fish off Island Beach State Park. Match your launch to the trip.
Which charters list striped bass?
The Benita J, Miss Beach Haven, Irish Jig 2 and Hot Tuna list striped bass, and BHCFA carries the association listings.
Where do I find general striper tactics and other gamefish?
General tactics and other species are in our coastal and offshore gamefish guides.
