Tautog Fishing in New Jersey

About Tautog Fishing in New Jersey

New Jersey has one of the oldest and busiest party boat fleets in the country. The state's inlets sit directly on the migration path of almost every major Atlantic species, from stripers and fluke to black sea bass, porgies, blackfish, and offshore tuna. Party boats running out of Point Pleasant, Belmar, and the other Jersey shore ports are a fixture of the region and have been putting everyday anglers on fish for generations. Tautog is one of the targets drawing anglers to the cold-to-temperate Atlantic water along New Jersey's Atlantic coast.

In New Jersey, Tautog trips head out from ports along the North Jersey coast, Raritan Bay, the South Jersey inlets, and the offshore canyons. Places like Point Pleasant Beach, Belmar, Atlantic Highlands, and Cape May anchor the local fleet and put captains on the water where Tautog holds. Jersey party boats are built for volume and value. Most trips are half-day or three-quarter-day runs with a heavy focus on bottom fish, and bigger boats run offshore trips for tuna during the summer and fall. The scene is famous for its early-morning trips, hard-working crews, and a year-round schedule that only slows in the dead of winter.

For full Tautog biology, size, habitat, and a state-by-state breakdown, see the Tautog fishing guide.