Best Times & Seasons to Fish Cape May, NJ (Complete Guide)
Cape May 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 Cape May can make a huge difference for your fishing success.
The best time to fish in Cape May 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 Cape May Coastal Waters |
| Bluefish | July through early October is the best season for local bluefish. |
| Kingfish | June through September is the best time window for king mackerel. |
| Tuna | July and August are the two best tuna fishing months. |
| 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 Cape May 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. |
Waters in Cape May attract both beginners as well as experienced anglers. Those anglers, who visit this place once, decide to come back here again and again. During your trip, you’ll manage to visit the places that have excellent fishing opportunities and provide memories that last for a lifetime.
Best Time to Fish Cape May
The vast majority of anglers choose to go fishing in Cape May in summer. The water is getting warmer in summer. As a result, all fish species get the most active during this time of the year.
It’s important to note that only certain species of fish are active during colder months. Water is cold in spring, fall and winter. That’s the reason why many fish species migrate to the southern areas where the waters are warmer. So, fishing is less productive during these months.
However, it’s possible to fish in the Cape May area all year round. Among the fish species that you can catch during the cold months are blackfish, bluefish, herring, striped bass, and others.
When the spring comes and water warms up, these fish species come back to the Cape May area. The spring season and warmer waters mean better opportunities for anglers.
Anglers can go fishing in the morning, afternoon, or evening. The best time of a day to fish in Cape May mainly depends on the fish species that you are planning to target.
Cape May Species Breakdown: Best Time
Cape May is home to many fish species. Here, it’s possible to target different species of fish all year round. However, different species of fish are active during different seasons. That’s why it’s so important to know when and where to fish in the area. Now, we’ll talk you through the most common fish species that can be found in the region.
Seabass
Are you an angler, who prefers to catch bass? Cape May is the area where you can enjoy seabass fishing. Here, you can catch bass of all kinds such as sea bass, striped bass, etc.
There are many beaches where anglers can enjoy bass fishing. A lot of seabass fishing spots are located between Cape May and the southern part of New Jersey. Delaware Bay is one of the best fishing spots to target bass near Cape May, NJ.
Blackfish
The vast majority of fish species are active in Cape May during the summer months. Nevertheless, anglers still have a chance to enjoy fishing in winter as well. Blackfish constantly migrate and go through the Cape May area.
It’s recommended to target blackfish near the fishing reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. Take advantage of blackfish charters. An experienced captain will take you to the best fishing spots where you can catch blackfish in the Cape May, NJ area.
Bluefish
Fishing is less productive in the area when the water cools down. However, anglers can still catch many different species during the fall months. For example, fall is a great time to catch bluefish in the waters of Cape May. Bluefish actively feed in the area in summer and fall. Try to catch this bluefish on Cape Cod Bay.
Kingfish
Cape May is the place where anglers can catch kingfish. It’s important to know that kingfish is the most active during the summer months. The fish actively feeds when the waters warm up.
The fish goes to the deep waters during the cold winter months. You can catch kingfish in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening. It would be better to target kingfish on the Atlantic coast.
Marlin
Anglers can enjoy marlin fishing in Cape May, NJ throughout the year. Here, you can catch blue marlin and white marlin. The chances to catch a marlin in the area are high between July and September.
Fishermen achieve the best results in August. The Ocean City White Marlin Open and the Mid Atlantic 500 are the best places near Cape May to target marlin. Book a NJ marlin fishing charter to reach the best fishing spots in the area.
Striped bass
Do you like surf fishing? Cape May allows anglers to target striped bass on the local beaches. Fall is the best time of the year to catch striped bass. When water is cold, many fish species go to the warm waters. However, this can’t be said about striped bass.
The striped bass is active in the area all year round. Cape May beach is the right place to fish the striped bass in the area.
Sharks
Many anglers give a preference to shark fishing in Cape May, NJ. You should aim to catch sharks in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Anglers will be able to find the fishing charters that specialize in catching sharks. Summer is a great time of the year to catch sharks in the area. The chances to catch sharks are high in June and July.
Flounder
The Cape May, NJ area gives anglers an excellent opportunity to catch flounder. The reality is, catching flounder provides a lot of fun. It goes without saying that you’ll enjoy fighting with this strong fish. Keep in mind that flounder bite well during the summer months.
Tuna
Cape May has a lot to offer to those anglers, who prefer offshore fishing. A lot of tuna charters are available in the area. Fishermen can catch all tuna species including bluefin, yellowfin as well as bigeyes.
Anglers have an opportunity to enjoy tuna fishing in the area any time of the year. However, the high season is between July and August. It’s a good idea to target tuna species near the local canyons.
Weakfish
Catching weakfish is very exciting. It’s also important to note that the fish impresses anglers with its beauty. The season to catch weakfish in Cape May starts in May and lasts till August. The best time of the day to catch weakfish is early morning. It would be great to target weakfish between the Cape May and Great Bay areas.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Cape May
These Cape May-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 |
| Gone Fishin’ Sport Fishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Reel Sportfishing Charters | Inshore & Offshore |
| Brynnie-B Inshore Fishing | Inshore & Nearshore |
| Heavy Hitter Sport Fishing | Inshore & Offshore |
| Prime Time II Sport Fishing | Inshore & Offshore |
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 to create your combo.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Nantucket, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in Virginia Beach, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish for bluefish, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Norfolk, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Best Time of Day to Fish Cape May
Anglers have to select the time of day to fish when planning a fishing trip to Cape May, NJ. It’s possible to fish in the morning, afternoon and evening. The time of day to fish in the area depends on the time of the year.
For example, early mornings are the most productive fishing times in summer. The weather is hot and the water cools down in the morning. And of course, all of this has a positive impact on the activity of fish. The afternoon is a good time of the day to go fishing in spring, fall, and winter. The water is cold in the morning, but the sun’s light and rays warm up it later during the day.
It’s worth noting that the activity of fish is different throughout the day. That’s why you have to select the best time of a day to go fishing taking into account the fish species that you are going to target.
Many fish species actively feed in the morning. However, there are fish species that you should target in the evening. Let’s say that you are planning to catch bluefish. In this case, you have to plan a fishing trip for late evening.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Baltimore, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near The Hamptons, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Atlantic City, please check out this helpful guide.
Cape May Fishing & Tidal Impacts
There is a direct link between fishing times and tide times. It would be better to go fishing during incoming tides when the water begins to rise. The rise of sea levels means the most productive fishing times.
However, different kinds of fish react to the tides differently. Let’s say that you would like to target weakfish. It’s recommended to catch weakfish in the areas when tides are high. Many anglers choose to surf fish at a higher tide.
Storms & Cape May Fishing
Fishing in storms can be very challenging and dangerous. Also, fish don’t bite during storms. On the other hand, storms stimulate fish to move and actively feed. So, it makes a lot of sense to try fishing after storms.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Cape May?
Some fish species relocate during the winter months. When it’s getting cold, many fish species move from the northern areas to warmer waters. For example, blackfish moves through Cape May. That means that anglers should aim to target this fish in the winter.
Night Fishing in Cape May
Night fishing also creates great opportunities for anglers in Cape May. It makes a lot of sense to target weakfish at night. It’s worth noting that the fish actively feeds during the nighttime when water is warm. Summer is the best time to catch weakfish in the area at night.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
The Cape May area is best known for its beaches. The beaches attract anglers, who give a preference to shore/surf fishing. Beaches in Cape May are the right place to catch different species of bass.
Early mornings are the best times to surf fish in Cape May. It’s possible to enjoy surf fishing in the area all year round. However, fishing is more productive during the summer months.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Cape May
Selecting a fishing spot in the region is not always easy. There are a lot of great locations for fishing in the area. Anglers can enjoy fishing on bays, beaches, bridges, and piers. Plus, a lot of boat trips are available for fishermen. Here, you will be able to find a list of some of the best fishing spots in the Cape May area.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean has a lot to offer to the anglers, who like deep-sea adventures. Book a charter to enjoy deep sea fishing and whale watching. Here, you can catch all saltwater fish species. Many anglers prefer to target tuna and sharks during their fishing trips. The best time of the year to go fishing into the Atlantic is between May and September.
Cape May Beach
Cape May Beach is one of the best fishing spots in the area. This place attracts so many surf fishing enthusiasts. It’s the ideal place to target bass species. Plus, here you can catch bluefish, flounder, marlin, shark, and tuna. Early spring is the best time of year to fish Cape May Beach.
Cape May Point State Park
Cape May Point State Park is located near Cape May Court House and Dewey Beach. It’s a very popular fishing spot among anglers, who like surf fishing. This place impresses anglers with fish diversity. Here, you can fish all year round and catch many species of fish including blackfish, bluefish, flounder as well as striped bass, and weakfish.
Douglass Park Recreation Area
David Douglass memorial park is a great place to enjoy fishing and have a picnic. The park impresses with its natural beauty. Here, anglers can see wild dunes. This place makes it possible for anglers to enjoy fishing in Delaware Bay. It’s the place where you can surf fish on a beach or take a boat trip to enjoy deep sea fishing.
Spring is the best time of the year to fish on Delaware’s beaches. Bluefish as well as striped bass are the most common fish species in the area. Here, fishermen have a good chance to catch a large fish in the spring.
Morey’s Pier
Morey’s Pier is best-known for its two fishing piers. These piers are open for fishing. The pier has many good fishing spots. In fact, there are different types of fish that you can catch in the Cape May area.
Here, you can catch fish that live in the open ocean as well as fish that lives near bridges and piers. Fishing on Morey’s Pier makes it possible for anglers to catch structure-oriented fish. All saltwater fish species can be found near Morey’s Pier. Anglers can enjoy fishing near the pier any time of the year.
Booking Charters in Cape May, NJ
A fishing trip to Cape May, NJ has to begin with planning. Everything needs to be planned meticulously ahead of time. When preparing for a fishing trip in the Cape May area, you have to decide what time of the year and what time of the day to go fishing. If you prepare for fishing adventures properly, then you will manage to get the most out of your time.
Best season to go
Fishing is the most effective during the summer months. That’s why so many anglers prefer to go to Cape May, NJ in the summer to enjoy fishing in the area. So, summer is usually the busiest season. If you are planning to visit the area during the summer months, you must be prepared to pay higher prices.
Also, you can go fishing in Cape May in the early fall. The air and water temperatures are still warm and that’s why fish bite well. The demand for fishing is already lower, but fishing opportunities are still excellent during this time of the year.
Morning vs. afternoon
Anglers choose to go fishing in the morning or afternoon. It’s worth noting that each time of day has its own pros and cons for fishermen. It all depends on the fisherman’s preferences and the time of the year.
Let’s say that you would like to go fishing in the morning. In this case, you have to wake up earlier. On the other hand, the morning time is more comfortable during the hot summer months. Also, fish actively feed in the morning because the water cools down.
Or, maybe, fishing in the afternoon is more to your liking? In this case, you don’t have to wake up early and can sleep more time in the morning. However, a lot of anglers find it uncomfortable to fish in the afternoon due to the hot weather. So, the afternoon time is more suitable for fishing in the area during colder months.
1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters
It’s possible to book half-day, full-day, and multi-day charters in the Cape May, NJ area. No matter how long you are going to fish, you’ll be able to get great experiences and positive emotions.
Is your fishing time or budget limited? If this is the case, you should take advantage of a 1/2 day fishing trip.
Let’s say that you would like to spend the entire day on fishing. If so, a full-day fishing trip is worth considering. Such a trip is more suitable for beginners because it gives anglers more fishing time.
Sometimes, anglers would like to spend several days fishing. Book a multi-day charter to have the most unforgettable fishing trip in your life. It’s important to note that multi-day charters are a suitable option both for avid anglers and beginners.
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