NJ Fishing Charters / NJ Fishing Trips

We offer two types of New Jersey Fishing Charters. First, is our New Jersey Private Group Fishing Charters. Second, is our New Jersey Open Shared Fishing Charters. Both of our NJ Fishing Charter service types, mainly depart from our main charter location in Holiday Harbor Marina and is approximately “7” miles North of Route 72 Causeway Bridge, and is located at 115 Admiral Way Waretown, NJ 08758 on “D” - Dock - Slip D22.

Departing from Holiday Harbor Marina, allows us to explore the prime fishing spots in the Barnegat Bay, Barnegat Light, Barnegat Inlet, Barnegat Reef, Inshore Lump Structural Areas, and numerous numbers of Boat Wrecks in the Atlantic Ocean, within the areas of Long Beach Island, Island Beach State Park, and Seaside Heights.

Contact Us Today to get on your next LBI fishing charter. 

Captain for Hire Services

Based in New Jersey and led by our experienced licensed Master US Coast Guard Captain and his required crew are available to hire for the day or the week. 

• Do you own a powerboat or Yacht?

• Are you in need of a licensed Captain for the day or for the week?

• Do you need to relocate your powerboat or yacht from one marina to another marina?

• Do you want to transfer your powerboat or yacht to another state, so you can use your boat all year round?

• Do you want to learn to fish from your own boat?

Contact Us Today for your next Captain for Hire Service.

Our Captain and Our Vessel

Captain William “Bill” Rothermel is a Master USCG Captain with over 35 years fishing his local waters and around the world. By far Striped Bass (Stripers) is his favorite type of fish to target, whether it is trolling, live-lining bunker, chunking and or casting plugs, jigging diamond jigs or large shads for Trophy Striped Bass, his knowledge of them is quite extensive. However, during the season targeting Summer Flounder (Fluke), Bluefish, False Albacore, Black Sea Bass, Kingfish, Weakfish, Blowfish, Cobia, Bluefin Tuna, Porgy and Tautog or Tog is also frequently caught throughout the season.

2016 21’ Sportsman Open 212 Center Console

Our current vessel, being used for our fishing charters is a 2016 21’ Sportsman Open 212 Center Console is equipped with a Yamaha 150hp outboard motor, equipped with Sea Keeper Ride trim system for smooth traveling to and from the fishing grounds. Multiple Simrad Fish Finder / Chart plotter Combos with side scan, High, low frequency transducers and High Definition Simrad Go9 system, Radar Dome unit, Sirius weather, independent Garmin GPS Track Tracking unit, VHF 115 marina radio and separate Handheld Backup radio system, plus we utilize the industry's top rated weather apps to monitor weather and rapidly changing sea conditions. The vessel is annually inspected by the USCG Auxiliary, to be in compliance with the USCG Certified Safety Checklist. All safety items / safety gear including life jackets, first aid kits, fire extinguisher, flares, sound signals, and spotlight are USCG approved. During colder weather months, we install our side curtains to stay warm and dry. Along with our Trolling Motor, we utilize the latest GPS and spot lock technology to cruise an underwater ledge or anchor lock in place over structure holding fish. While our live well keeps our freshly caught bait energetic to entice the bite. While our raw water wash down system keeps our installed cushioned flooring deck system stays clean and safe from slipping.

Our New Jersey Fishing Calendar is as follows:

Springtime and early summer saltwater fishing begins heating up after the long cold winter months, the bays and backwaters begin to warm up, and life begins to return to normal providing good fishing opportunities. Striped Bass or Stripers is in the prime months for catching and releasing bass over fifty pounds, using Bloodworms or Blood balls. Winter Flounder show up from offshore to inshore bays and estuaries where the spawn in the winter months, typically Winter Flounder are caught during the day, using shrimp, clams or worms, while anchored up and using a chum pot to attract them. White Perch can be found in early spring as the water begins to warm, they move into the back bays and tidal rivers along bridge pilings and deep holes. Light tackle, using Grass Shrimp or Bloodworms are the best baits to use for White Perch. Summer Flounder or Fluke begin their migration typically in early May, based on the changes in water temperatures, from the continental shelf in late spring and early summer into our shallow coastal waters and estuaries. Bluefish slowly begin to show up chasing baits.

April – June Species Caught:  Winter Flounder, White Perch, Striped Bass or Stripers, Bluefish, Summer Flounder or Fluke

Summertime saltwater fishing offers excellent action in New Jersey along the shoreline coast, which allows us to explore the prime fishing spots in the Barnegat Bay, Barnegat Light, Barnegat Inlet, Barnegat Reef, Inshore Lump Structural Areas, and numerous numbers of Boat Wrecks in the Atlantic Ocean, within the areas of Long Beach Island, NJ, Island Beach State Park, and Seaside Heights, NJ in Ocean County. Fishing for Summer Flounder or Fluke typically runs through late September, with the peak “Doormat” Fluke action occurring in July and August in deeper inshore channels along Barnegat Light and Oyster Creek, while Barnegat Reef also becomes extremely productive for Black Seabass, and Weakfish. Striped Bass or Resident Stripers can be caught at night or during dawn or dusk conditions around jetties and bridges using live bait like eels or bunker. Snapper Bluefish are abundant throughout the summer in Barnegat Bay and Barnegat Inlet during “Blitzes”. While the offshore waters at the Hudson, Toms, and Baltimore Canyons Yellowfin, Bluefin, and Bigeye tuna are targeted typically showing up late June or early July, with Mahi-mahi and Marlins appearing as the water temperature continues to rise. Family Fishing Charters with children are always welcome at Fishin Minions to create lifetime memories on the water, with their families.

July – September Species Caught: Summer Flounder Blowfish, Croakers, Weakfish, Black Seabass, Weakfish, Bluefish, Blowfish, Croakers, Striped Bass or Resident Stripers, Yellowfin Tuna, Bluefin tuna, Bigeye Tuna, Marlin, Cobia, Marlin, and Mahi-mahi

Fall saltwater fishing is prime time fishing along the Atlantic Coast, stretching from Long Beach Island, Island Beach State Park and up to Seaside Heights, NJ. Trolling for Striped Bass, within the 3-mile nautical line with Umbrella Rigs, Bunker Spoons or Mojos are extremely productive. Another productive method is jigging for Striped Bass with diamond jigs, Flutter Spoons, and large shads, while the seagulls are blasting the bait from above, and the Stripers and Bluefish are boiling below and on top of the surface, chasing the Sand eels and the Bunker schools from peanut sized to full sized adult Menhaden on the ocean surface. Blue Fin Tunas have been caught inshore as well, as they are also chasing the Sand eels and crashing the Bunker schools. Yellow Fin Tunas are predominated offshore at the Canyons, using whole Butterfish or chunks, whole live squid, and or also jigging them with large diamond jigs, while boats are anchored up and utilizing a chum slick to attract them around the boat. Fishing for False Albacore, while using ultra-light fishing tackle and a small 3” diamond jig or small needle fish lure becomes intense, when these speedsters hook up and the fight is on. Black Seabass and Weakfish are very common here, especially around Barnegat Reef, Local Lumps, and many of the shipwrecks, while using squid or clam strips for bait. Catching Tautog or Tog also known as Blackfish on Reefs, Jetties, and Wrecks with green or white crabs are steady.

October – December Species Caught: Striped Bass or Striper, Bluefish, Weakfish, Black Seabass, Bluefin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, False Albacore, Tautog (Tog) or Blackfish