Fishing has been around for centuries and will no doubt continue to grow in popularity as it has so much to offer anyone taking part in this sport. It can be relaxing and exciting all at the same time. This is probably one reason why New Jersey saltwater fishing is a big part of the tourism for this state. Anglers travel from all over just to have the opportunity to fish these waters.

There are many different types of species of fish found in the ocean and along the coastline of New Jersey making it a dream come true for anglers everywhere. There are numerous lakes in New Jersey where the bass fishing is excellent.

A few of these lakes and reservoirs are listed below:

Union Lake

Swartswood Lake

Merrill Creek Reservoir

Spruce Run Reservoir

Lake Hopatcong

Greenwood Lake

Oak Ridge Reservoir

Of course, bass is not the only species that you can find in this area, there are many other types of fish available in the New Jersey waters as well. To give you an idea of what you can expect when you go fishing in New Jersey, below is a list of some of the different species that you will find here both inshore and offshore.

New Jersey Popular Fish Species

Deep sea fishing is very popular in New Jersey along with inshore fishing. This may be contributed to the different types of fish found in this area. Several of the most popular fish species found in this state are listed below so you can see what New Jersey has to offer the anglers that live here and for its visitors.

Bigeye Tuna This species can weigh up to 300 pounds.

White Marlin This species normally range between 40 to 100 pounds.

Yellowfin Tuna This species can weigh up to 200 pounds.

Blue Fish This species can reach up to 30 pounds.

Aside from the bass species the blue fish is one of the most popular species of fish around when it comes to New Jersey saltwater fishing. One reason for this is because they are so abundant and can be caught most anywhere near the shoreline or when deep sea fishing.

How to Catch Fish in the New Jersey Ocean

There are several techniques that will work great when saltwater fishing in

New Jersey. The one you choose will mainly depend on whether you are deep sea fishing or fishing close to the shore.

Jigging is one method that works extremely well for catching blue fish and bass. Jigging is easy and simply involves placing a jig on the end of a line and presenting it to the fish. You then move it up and down to draw the fish to the hook, which is where the term jigging comes from.

Casting is used quite often especially when pier fishing. When casting try to aim your line toward structures where the fish will be hiding out. This will be more effective than trying to send your line out for long distances. When fishing from a pier at night, you should cast your line where the pier is casting a shadow on the water for the best results.