Shark River

[Spiderhaze227]

Hi All, Gonna start launching my boat from Belmar,I usually launch from the Highlands Haven't used my boat in 3 years (Had Kids haha) anyway I have a 17 Ft CC, with a kind of small Gas tank 20 gals and my outboard is not the most economical either. My question, Is there any close Fluke spots close to the Shark River Inlet? I don't want your "Honey Hole Secrets" just pointed in the right direction. I have an FF and GPS and Skill. Any help though would be greatly appreciated

[Man Workin]

Fluke are in the river for most of the year, and you wind find them north or south. S.R is a good location that is where we are docked.

[bulletbob]

You have plenty of fuel capacity for the area you want to fish as long as you use some self restraint on the throttle... The river itself is loaded with fluke but you may have to catch 20 or more for every keeper.. If I were you i would go out the inlet, hang a left and go north a few miles... You'll see LOTS of boats, believe me.. Off the shoreline of Elberon, Deal and Sea Bright you have sandy bottom interspersed with rocky areas closer to shore.. Lots of fluke there, and typically you'll be fishing in water 40 feet deep or less... As you head a little bit further offshore into deep water say 60-80 feet, you get a lot of broken up bottom structure, and the fluke get a LOT bigger, and you'll also get sea bass, and even a few ling this time of year.. The fishing area is pretty big but gets a TON of pressure. Small boats like yours, charters, and head boats from NJ and usually a few from NY as well.
I would use heavier gear than you would for bay fishing, as there are big fluke out there, and also stuff like big silver eels that are tough to deal with on river/bay size tackle.. Remember, out the inlet, left,head north a few miles, and look for boats.. LOTS of boats... Oh Yeah, blues blitz the area a lot as well, so keep a rod or two rigged with a Ava jig or similar on hand... bob

[dakota560]

A few comments to add to BB's post. The SRI can be a treacherous inlet to navigate in wind against tide conditions. Very dangerous, nothing to play with especially in a 17' CC. If you have good conditions, stay to the north side as the south side shoals up. Make sure before any trip you check the tide and wind forecast when you plan on returning. The mouth of the inlet can get bad quickly in wind against tide situations. With your fuel capacity you can head SE to Sea Girt Reef (approximately 5 - 6 miles) or as BB suggested head north and fish Asbury Park or nearby areas. Asbury Park north has great structure and holds good concentrations of fluke. 5 - 6 miles out in a 17 CC is risky so if it were me I'd stay in shore and fish the rocky stuff north on a day preferably with light to moderate west winds. Again be careful if you have strong E or W winds in the afternoon and an opposing tide at the mouth. I've seen too many boats of all sizes spun around at the mouth of that inlet creating a very dangerous situation. Depths to fish will vary with water temp. but range between 30 to 60 feet.

Be safe out there and good luck.

[Spiderhaze227]

You guys are awesome thanks!!!

[Gerry Zagorski]

Lots of rock lumps and humps just north of Asbury and fishing around them is where you will find the bigger fish. A good chart plotter will be your best friend here. They are pretty sticky so dragging bait and drifting is going to be very snaggy so I would stick to bucktailing in these areas.

As mentioned above, the inlet can be pretty tricky with wind against tide. The waves tend to stack up right at the inlet entrance so want to avoid east wind and an outgoing tide and a west wind and an incoming tide.

Just in case you do get caught out there, here's are some tips I wrote on running inlets that might help you.

- If you're not familiar with an inlet make sure you have charts so you are aware of the correct approach. Shoaling usually occurs on the south side of most ocean inlets here in NJ. Some have rock remnants that are out a good distance from the mouth of the inlet that may be submerged during high tide. Running up on a shoal or into rocks may not cause an immediate sinking but it can certainly lead to one. There is an inlet in Morgan NJ that's entire east rock jetty is submerged a few feet under the water during high tide. Imagine not knowing that and cutting that corner. If you don't have a chart or are familiar with the inlet wait and follow another boat in.
- If you’re running out of an inlet and you encounter unfavorable conditions, the mouth of the inlet is the worse place to turn around. If you are at the mouth it’s best to tough it out through the inlet and then if you decide to head back in, make your turn out in the ocean where the waves are not as bad. The waves are usually not as frequent or steep in the ocean and you have better maneuverability and there are fewer boats around to be concerned with.
- Large swells at the inlet entrance are caused by the inlet currents meeting the ocean and boat traffic. This is usually more pronounced when you have a wind against tide situation, especially an outgoing tide and an east winds. If you’re running a small boat why not take the car down to the inlet before you run it to check the conditions. Either that or get on the radio and try and reach someone who had just run it.
- Following seas can be very dangerous and unnerving to small and especially new boaters. They are most frequently encountered when running into rather then out of an inlet. When the back of a wave hits your stern it causes you to loose steering and therefore control of your boat. In small outboard boats with open transom wells they can also cause swamping.
- Another problem in following seas is Pitchpoling. You can liken it to surfing a wave. Easy to do on a surfboard but not to be done on a boat. If you're climbing over a wave once over the top and down the back of it you can build up excessive speed and make your bow dig into the trough of the next wave. The pressure on the back and front of the boat can cause it to roll. This happens most often when you have tight steep waves instead of swells. Best thing to do to avoid Pitchpoling is keep you bow up and as light as possible and avoid getting caught between waves. For this reason when you’re approaching an inlet in following seas hang outside the inlet and observe the wave patterns. Most often waves will come along in-groups of 3s with the last wave being the largest. You want to follow behind that 3rd wave and keep up enough power so any waves don’t catch you from behind. You need a lot of power for this maneuver and some skill. If you or your boat is not up to the task best to stay on the ocean side until conditions improve in the inlet.
- The weather doesn't have to be terrible or the wind howling for inlet conditions to turn sour. Boat traffic also effects the ability of a small boater to run an inlet for 2 reasons 1) Boats cause wakes which are exaggerated in the small confines of an inlet and 2) Boat traffic dictates how fast or slow you can go as well as where and when you can or can't turn. It's always best to hang back and let larger boats clear the inlet before you run it.

[dakota560]

Gerry a post that bears repeating more times than not. There are many people throughout a season that throw caution to the wind when navigating an inlet. Some unfortunately who don't survive to talk about it. If there's two things in Gerry's post I would prioritize it's stop and observe the situation before committing and if necessary wait it out until conditions improve. Too many captains get to an inlet and it seems their only priority is beating other approaching boats in. It's not a race, probably worse thing anyone can do. Take your time and assess the situation, current, wind, boat traffic, bridge openings (if applicable) wave sets etc. And don't be one of those captains who decides to stop in the middle of the mouth, observe from a safe distance out. Second is if your unsure of safe passage, wait until conditions improve which more often than not means the tide slowing down or turning around. There's nothing you'll ever be late for that's worth loss of life, yours or anyone else's.

[Spiderhaze227]

Is Shark River anymore dangerous than Barnegat? I know any inlet is dangerous and has unique challenges.

[Man Workin]

NO

[Man Workin]

Sorry Spiderhaze, S.R inlet has always been one of the nicest and calmest inlets around. They have been moving earth around in and outside the river which did make it a little tricky when there is a heavy east wind. You do have to use caution in a small boat like yours but S.R is the place to go out of if your just dropping in, and want to fish the ocean.

[Spiderhaze227]

Great, I will let you know how I make out. Again Thank you for time answering.

[SaltLife1980]

Is Shark River anymore dangerous than Barnegat? I know any inlet is dangerous and has unique challenges.

Way more safe then Barnegat inlet. That inlet is a mad house in the summer when i am down there for vacation.

[NoLimit]

Back in the 80's, I recall reading that more boats were lost in Barnegat inlet than any other on the east coast.

Also, be sure to wear a life vest when in doubt or not in doubt.

[bulletbob]

I dunno, SRI was never a problem for me, and I never had a boat bigger than a 17.. A stoutly built 17 CC like an a
Aquasport, Mako, Whaler or similar is plenty of boat for inshore fishing a few miles up and a few out.. Just make sure there is decent power, and personally I NEVER go anywhere without a kicker as backup.. If SRI is tearing ass sideways, over, under, and down, and is too much for a good 17 to handle, you probably don't want to go out in an 18, 19, or 20 footer either.. Or a charter for that matter.. Might be just me, but I always felt SRI is usually pretty mild mannered as inlets go when the weather is reasonable.. NO inlet is a good place to be in a 30 knot east blow with 10 foot green/black rollers heaving you sideways toward the rocks .. bob

[Gerry Zagorski]

Yes, Shark river is one of the more tamer inlets due in part to the volume of water running in and out of it. Not a lot of water back in the Belmar area like there is in Barnegat bay and the Manaquan River so it does not run as hard.
However, they can all be tricky at certain times given boat traffic and local tide and weather conditions.

Plan as best as you can to avoid adverse conditions and if you happen to get caught at the wrong time, err on the side of caution, know how to run your boat and don't rush. Take your time and be safe rather then sorry.

[DEEP POCKETS]

Thanks for posting the information Gerry, good reminder for all of us navigating any inlet as we know how fast conditions can change. Wind against is always something to be on the lookout for.

[hammerin hank]

Gerry's post should be included in the boater safety course!!!!! besides the water conditions, the inexperienced boaters, in the inlets are also very dangerous..
Thanks Gerry

[jerseyhunter]

Anyone fishing off the Red Brick Church? and are there still fluke there?