Blue marlin fishing out of Beach Haven is a canyon fishery. Local boats run from Hudson Canyon to Wilmington Canyon, and Hot Tuna’s winning blue marlin came from 1000 fathoms between Wilmington and Baltimore canyons. For inlets, the ramp and conditions, see the Beach Haven port page, and for the fish itself, see the species guide. This page covers what the local fleet does: where boats run, the structure from Little Egg Inlet outward, the local spread and the captains who fish it, so you can build a marlin plan around one port.
When blue marlin are part of the Beach Haven canyon trip
Local captains run blue marlin as part of their canyon trips rather than in a fixed window. They fish them alongside tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi on the same canyon days. The regional guide (see also the Atlantic Northeast fishing guide) covers when blue marlin push into the mid-Atlantic canyons.
Before you commit to a run, check the OBS SST layer in Breakpoint to see where the warm water sits against the canyon edges. For wind and sea numbers on the day, read the NWS coastal waters forecast for Little Egg Inlet to Great Egg Inlet out 20 NM.
Where Beach Haven boats run for blue marlin
Beach Haven boats work two pieces of water for blue marlin. Both sit on the shelf edge, and both are canyon runs, not day-boat reef trips.
Hudson to Wilmington
Captain Dave’s canyon charters describes the grounds as running from Hudson Canyon to Wilmington Canyon, including every lump and ledge in between. That is the working range for the local fleet. Boats leave through Little Egg Inlet off southern Long Beach Island and turn offshore from there.
The 1000-fathom water
Hot Tuna’s winning blue marlin came from 1000 fathoms between Wilmington and Baltimore canyons. That deep edge water is the place to look when you build a troll line.
Chart Contours in Breakpoint shows the depth lines, and OBS SST shows where the warm water lies against them. Together they help you decide where to start looking, but they cannot tell you where the fish are. Chart layers are not for navigation.
Grounds and structure from Little Egg Inlet out
These are named local structures the fleet passes or fishes on the way out. The marlin water is out at the canyons, and none of these is a blue marlin hold.
| Name | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Little Egg Reef | 50 ft | Off Little Egg Inlet |
| Jessie C (crew boat) | Within Little Egg Reef | |
| Garden State South Reef | 55-65 ft | 5.1 nm off Spray Beach |
| Rhino (crew boat) | 65 ft | Within Garden State South Reef |
| Ocean Wreck Divers I (USCG 44-foot patrol boat) | 60 ft | Within Garden State South Reef |
| VHFC patrol boat | 80 ft | Within Garden State South Reef |
| Triple Wrecks | ||
| Mud Hole |
Reef and wreck positions on Breakpoint layers are reference data, not navigation.
Little Egg Reef
Little Egg Reef sits in 50 ft off Little Egg Inlet. The Jessie C, a crew boat, lies within it.
Garden State South Reef
Garden State South Reef lies 5.1 nm off Spray Beach in 55 to 65 ft. It holds the Rhino at 65 ft, Ocean Wreck Divers I at 60 ft and the VHFC patrol boat at 80 ft. The Triple Wrecks and the Mud Hole are the other named local grounds. For inlet notes, read the NOAA Coast Pilot inlet chapter.
How the Beach Haven fleet fishes for blue marlin
Local boats troll in daylight with a wide, mixed spread.
The nine-rod spread
Captain Dave’s canyon description is daytime trolling with a nine-rod spread built from:
- spreader bars
- daisy chains
- ballyhoo
Rigging and fish behavior are covered in the species guide. This page stays with what the local fleet runs.
Who fishes for blue marlin out of Beach Haven
Blue marlin out of this port are mostly a charter-fleet fishery, with owner-operators working the same canyon water.
Charter captains
The Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association lists blue marlin among the species its boats run for. The boats named here are:
- Benita J, Capt. Dave Wittenborn, also listed under Captain Dave’s Beach Haven – LBI Fishing Charters.
- Miss Beach Haven, Capt. Steve Palmer.
For white marlin and other billfish, see the billfish fishing guides.
FAQ
Can you catch blue marlin out of Beach Haven?
Yes. Local charters list blue marlin on canyon trips, and Hot Tuna’s winning fish came from 1000 fathoms between Wilmington and Baltimore canyons.
Which canyons do Beach Haven boats run?
Captain Dave’s describes grounds from Hudson Canyon to Wilmington Canyon, including the lumps and ledges in between.
Where was Hot Tuna’s winning fish caught?
In 1000 fathoms, between Wilmington and Baltimore canyons.
What spread do locals troll?
Daytime trolling with a nine-rod spread of spreader bars, daisy chains and ballyhoo, per Captain Dave’s.
Who runs blue marlin charters from Beach Haven?
Beach Haven Charter Fishing Association boats, including the Benita J (Capt. Dave Wittenborn) and Miss Beach Haven (Capt. Steve Palmer).
