Best Times & Seasons to Fish Atlantic City (Complete Guide)
Atlantic City, New Jersey is one of the most popular and best fishing spots on the eastern coastline. Knowing the best seasons and times of day to fish in Atlantic City can make a huge difference for your fishing success.
The best time to fish in Atlantic City is from May to September when the bite is hottest for striped bass, weakfish, flounder, marlin, tuna, sharks, kingfish, and bluefish. Winter is the worst time of year to fish these waters.
| Fish Species | Best Times to Fish in Atlantic City Coastal Waters |
| Bluefish | July through early October is the best season for local bluefish. |
| King Mackerel | June through September is the best time window for king mackerel. |
| Bluefin Tuna | July and August are the two best tuna fishing months. |
| Blue Marlin | Marlin can be caught from July through September. August is the best month. |
| Striped Bass | The fall is the best season as stripers target schooling bait. August through October is the hottest. |
| Sharks | June & July are the best Atlantic City shark fishing months. |
| Flounder | Summer is best from early June through September in most years. |
| Weakfish | May through August is the best month for weakfish. |
Atlantic City is known as the angler’s paradise. There are a lot of fishing charters available in the city. With so many options, every angler will find it easy to book a boat for a fishing trip. The area also offers great opportunities for those anglers, who give a preference to shore/surf fishing.
No matter how you choose to fish during your trip to Atlantic City, you’ll get an unforgettable angling experience. Fishermen in Atlantic City see the moments that take seconds only but get memories that last a lifetime.
Anglers usually have many questions when planning their fishing adventures in Atlantic City. Where, when, and how to fish in the area? What species of fish can be caught in the local waters? Now, it’s time to dig deeper into fishing in Atlantic City and try to get the answers.
Best Time to Fish Atlantic City
Anglers need to know that fishing in Atlantic City and its surrounding areas is possible all year-round. That means that you can plan your fishing adventures for any time of the year.
It’s worth noting that anglers’ choice depends a lot on target fish species. Some species are active all year-round. There are also species of fish that can be caught seasonably. So, it’s necessary to select the best time to fish in Atlantic City depending on the species of fish that you are targeting.
Let’s say that you are planning to visit Atlantic City between the late winter and early spring. If so, you can expect to catch such species of fish like blackfish, cod, and ling.
Late spring also provides fishermen with amazing opportunities. During this time of the year, anglers can catch drum, striped bass, and winter flounder.
And of course, summer is a great time to fish Atlantic City. The fishing season starts in the early summer and lasts until the early fall. Anglers can catch many different species of fish including bluefish, drum, fluke, striped bass, sharks, tuna, and weakfish. The late fall is a great time to target striped bass.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Atlantic City
These Atlantic City-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Type of Fishing Offered |
| Icon Fishing and Watersports | Inshore, Nearshore & Offshore |
| Treemendous Sportfishing Charters | Wreck, Reef, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore |
| Tyin’ Knots Charters | Wreck, Reef, Nearshore & Inshore |
| Reel Sportfishing Charters | Wreck, Reef, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore |
| A-Bomb Fishing Charters | Wreck, Reef, Nearshore, Inshore & Offshore |
Atlantic City Species Breakdown: Best Times
Atlantic City impresses anglers with its diversity of fish. It’s possible to target a number of different fish in the spots near the city. We have decided to make it easy for anglers to fish for these species. Below, you’ll be able to find information on the most common fish species that can be found in the local waters.
Bluefish
While fishing in Atlantic City, anglers can target bluefish. It’s possible to catch bluefish by fishing from shore. Also, you can book a boat to catch bluefish. The season to catch bluefish starts in early May and lasts till October. You’ll see a lot of diving birds in the area when the time to fish for bluefish comes. Absecon Bay is the perfect place for fishermen, who are interested in catching bluefish. Oftentimes, the fish bites well in the early morning at dusk.
Bluegill
Anglers, who give a preference to fly fishing, can target bluegill in the waters of Atlantic City. Bluegill is active in the spring and in the early summer. Those fishermen, who are interested in targeting bluegill, should visit Little Bay Creek. Bluegill can be caught in this stream.
Drum
Drum fishing has gained huge popularity in Atlantic City. Anglers, who are interested in targeting drum, should book a boat to enjoy fishing. Those fishermen, who fish for drum, usually get the best results in the late spring and in the early summer. Delaware Bay is one of the best places to target drum in the area.
Striped bass
Fishermen in Atlantic City have an opportunity to catch striped bass during their trips. Anglers should either take advantage of surf fishing or book a boat to target striped bass. Fish actively feed in the spring months. Striped bass can be found in the waters of Absecon Inlet.
Black sea bass
Black sea bass fishing is also popular in Atlantic City. Actually, it’s possible to fish for black sea bass all year round. However, the high season to fish for black sea bass starts at the end of May and lasts until the middle of June. Anglers have better chances to catch black sea bass during these months. It makes a lot of sense to fish for black sea bass near Duck Thorofare.
Largemouth bass
Largemouth bass is another common fish that can be found in the waters of Atlantic City. Largemouth bass bites well year-round. However, anglers usually get the best results during the spring and the fall months. It’s possible to catch largemouth bass in Absecon Channel.
Summer flounder
Anglers in Atlantic City have an opportunity to enjoy summer flounder fishing. It’s worth noting that fish migrates and constantly changes its location throughout the year. The season to catch summer flounder is high between the late summer and early fall. Oftentimes, anglers choose to target summer flounder near Wills Thorofare.
Tautog
Tautog is also known as blackfish. Tautog fishing is not easy. Catching tautog requires certain knowledge, experience as well as skills. So, it would be better to book a charter and fish for tautog with a captain. The fish gets active in the spring and in the fall. It’s possible to fish for tautog either between April and June or between September and November. Tautog can be found near deep water wrecks and rock piles. It’s a great idea to target tautog in Absecon Inlet.
Tuna
Many anglers prefer to catch tuna in Atlantic City. It’s always interesting to catch tuna. So, anglers have a lot of fun while fishing for tuna. Tuna fishing is the most productive during the summer months. The fish can be found in the Canyons.
Sharks
Try your luck fishing sharks during your trip to Atlantic City. Inshore fishing is the best way to target sharks. Keep in mind that sharks can be found in the canyons. Summer is a very productive time of the year to catch sharks in the region. If you would like to catch sharks during your fishing trip, go to Duck Thorofare.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Best Time of Day to Fish Atlantic City
It’s possible to fish Atlantic City at different times of the day. Anglers need to go fishing in the early morning, between late morning and the afternoon, and from the afternoon to dusk.
The best time of a day to go fishing depends a lot on the time of the year. It would be better to go fishing in the morning during the hot summer months. Evening fishing is more productive during the colder months.
Atlantic City Fishing & Tidal Impacts
When planning fishing adventures in Atlantic City, anglers always have to study the tide times carefully. Fishermen should know when tides are low and high in the area. It would be better to go fishing during an incoming tide. During the rising tide, the ocean brings oxygen-rich waters to the area. The incoming water has a positive impact on the activity of fish.
Storms & Atlantic City Fishing
When planning your fishing adventures in Atlantic City, anglers always have to check the weather forecast. Storms are a big challenge for anglers. Fishing during storms is dangerous. That’s why fishing in stormy weather should be avoided.
Nevertheless, it makes a lot of sense to fish around the storms. Fishing before and after storms can be really good. Pressure drops lower after storms and this has a positive impact on fish activity. So, fish bite better after storms. That means that you should go fishing after storms if you have such an opportunity.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Atlantic City?
Atlantic City is a fishing location that impresses anglers with its diversity of fish. Many different species of fish can be caught in the region. Species abundance makes it possible for anglers to enjoy fishing in the area at any time of the year.
As we have already said, the vast majority of fish is active during the summer months. Many fish species don’t bite during the cold months. It’s also important to note that winter fishing is also good in Atlantic City. Keep in mind that winter is a great time to fish for such fish species as blackfish, cod, and ling.
Night Fishing in Atlantic City
Some avid anglers prefer to fish the waters of Atlantic City during the nighttime. The truth is, it’s more comfortable to fish at night during the hot summer months. It’s also important to note that night fishing is very interesting. Night creates excellent opportunities for anglers in Atlantic City. During night fishing trips, anglers can catch such species as bluefish and weakfish.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Atlantic City also attracts anglers, who are interested inshore/surf fishing. There are a lot of places for shore/surf fishing in the region. Anglers can surf fish local beaches, inlets, bridges as well as piers. Among the piers where anglers can enjoy shore/surf fishing are: Ventnor City Fishing Pier, Ocean City Fishing Pier, The Jetty, Brigantine New Jersey, Steel Pier, Rainbow Island Fishing Piers, Highroller Fishing, and others.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Atlantic City
And, of course, anglers need to know the best fishing spots in Atlantic City. In this guide, we will provide information on when and what species to target in these fishing places. So, anglers will manage to get the best possible fishing experience.
Absecon Inlet
Absecon Inlet is one of the best fishing spots near Atlantic City. Try to fish at this spot. It’s a small inlet with calm deep waters. Here, anglers can catch different fish species including flounder, tautog as well as striped bass. Fishing in the area is the most productive in the spring and fall months.
Absecon Bay
Fishermen can also visit Absecon Bay during their trips. There are many ways to fish the bay. Anglers can book a boat to enjoy deep sea fishing. Plus, it’s possible to fish from bridges and piers. The Absecon Bay is the place where angling enthusiasts can target such species as bluefish, flounder, striped bass, and weakfish. The season to fish the Absecon Bay is high between the late summer and early fall.
Absecon Channel
Absecon Channel is another good fishing spot near Atlantic City. It is the perfect place to target such fish species as bluefish, flounder, black sea bass, and striped bass. The best time of the year to fish Absecon Channel is between the late spring and the early fall.
Duck Thorofare
Anglers can also go fishing at Duck Thorofare. Among the fish species that can be caught in this fishing spot are black sea bass, bluefish, summer flounder, Bonnethead shark, and other fish species. The best time of the year to fish Duck Thorofare is between May and September.
Wills Thorofare
Wills Thorofare is the perfect place for fishermen, who are interested in targeting summer flounder. Here, flounder fishing opportunities are fantastic. It’s worth noting that flounder is active in the area all year round. However, fishing in this place is the most productive during the spring and the summer months.
Booking Charters in Atlantic City
Fishing adventures in Atlantic City always require meticulous planning. So, it would be better to start preparing for a fishing trip ahead of time. Anglers in Atlantic City have to decide what time of the year and what time of day are suitable for fishing in the area. Book a charter when your target fish species are the most active.
But most importantly, fishermen have to book the right type of charter. It would be better to discuss your fishing preferences with a captain in advance. Make sure that a boat is fully equipped and has everything that you need during a fishing trip.
Another important thing that you need to be aware of is that booking a fishing charter can be hard during the busy season. The demand for fishing is high during these months. So, it would be better to book a fishing charter in advance.
– Best season to go
It’s important to know that fishing in Atlantic City is the most productive between June and September. Anglers usually get the best results during these months.
On the other hand, summer is usually a busy fishing season in Atlantic City. The demand for fishing is high during the summer months. That’s why fishing can be expensive.
It makes sense for anglers to fish Atlantic City between April and May and between September and October. The demand for fishing is lower during these months. However, anglers can still fish successfully in the region. So, fishing during these months provides high value for money.
– Morning vs. afternoon
What time of the day is more suitable for fishing – morning or afternoon? It all depends on the time of the year.
Morning fishing is good during the hot summer months. Water cools down and fish begin to feed actively in the morning.
However, it would be better to go fishing in the afternoon during the cooler months. Water heats up in the afternoon and this has a positive impact on fish activity.
– 1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
Anglers also need to decide how much time they would like to spend on fishing. Also, it’s necessary to set a budget for a fishing trip. It’s possible to fish half day, full day or several days during trips.
Are you taking the first steps in mastering the art of fishing? Or, maybe, your time on fishing is limited? One way or another, you should consider booking a half-day fishing trip. It’s also important to note that a 1/2 day trip is the cheapest option.
If you would like to spend more time fishing in Atlantic City, then book a full day trip. A full-day trip gives anglers more time, but such a trip is more expensive.
Those anglers, who are interested in catching a trophy fish, should book a multi-day charter. Catching a trophy fish is not always easy. That’s why anglers may need more time. Multi-day charters allow avid anglers to accomplish their fishing goals.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Cape May, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Montauk, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Ocean City, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish for flounder, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Atlantic City, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in New Jersey, please check out this helpful guide.
