NJShore Guide
Updated April 2026

NJ Offshore Fishing Grounds

Interactive map of 650+ prime fishing spots from inshore wrecks to offshore canyons

  • Total grounds654
  • Canyons36
  • Wrecks97
654Fishing Grounds
36Canyons
97Wrecks
117Reefs

Explore the Fishing Grounds

Click any fishing ground on the map to view details, target species, and navigation information. Grounds are color-coded by type: canyons (purple), wrecks (red), reefs (green), lumps (blue), and more.

Showing 654 of 654 fishing grounds
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Map Legend

Canyon
Wreck
Reef
Lump
Slough
Hole
Other

Featured Fishing Grounds

Area around 28 Miles Wreck

Wreck
bluefishtunashark

A huge area SE of Great Egg Inlet. Contains spots like "The Cigar", "750-square", "Primes Lump", 24-fathom hole", and Deepwater Reef. Drift over the structure with live bait for best results.

Near Absecon Inlet439,444 acres

50-100 Fathom

Canyon
tunabillfishmarlinbonito+2 more

Probably the biggest area in the Canyon because it covers from 50 to 100 fathom depth lines starting in the E side of the "Hudson Canyon" and fonish in the "DIP" spot. The profundity is going deeper from N to S and is very regular from W to E. Trolling along the canyon edges is most productive.

322,596 acres

Hudson Canyon

Canyon
tunasharkbillfishmarlin

An enormous area composed in the North for places like TIP, the Bombs, Elbow, and West Wall, where the fish acumulates in the edge of it. Going to South of it, the area loses slope. The bottom contains also shelly material. Important spot for Comm. Fisher

219,229 acres

The Flats

Canyon
tuna

A big area in the W of Hudson Canyon. A flat area compared to the canyon where it is located. Early morning and late afternoon produce the best action.

129,439 acres

Wilmington Canyon

Canyon
tunasharkbillfishmarlin

A huge area that goes from 100 fathom to 1000 fathom deep but the area it covers is so large that in comparison to the other canyons it has a moderate slope. 95 nautical miles SE (125 degrees T) offshore from Cape May Inlet. Look for temperature breaks and color changes at the canyon walls.

101,547 acres

Baltimore Canyon

Canyon
tunasharkbillfishmarlin

Another area in the Cape May area with the stanard caanyon shape an positiones frpm NW to SE. Look for temperature breaks and color changes at the canyon walls.

95,423 acres

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Offshore Canyons

36 canyons

New Jersey's offshore canyons are known for big game fishing. Hudson Canyon, the largest submarine canyon on the East Coast, attracts yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi, and billfish from spring through fall.

Baltimore Canyon

Canyon
tunasharkbillfishmarlin

Another area in the Cape May area with the stanard caanyon shape an positiones frpm NW to SE. Look for temperature breaks and color changes at the canyon walls.

95,423 acres

Mako Hole

Canyon
tunabillfishmarlinbonito+2 more

40 fathom deep hole. W of Baltimore Canyon is surrounded by 35 fathom deep waters. Trolling along the canyon edges is most productive.

6,606 acres

Poormans Canyon

Canyon
tunabillfishmarlinbonito+2 more

A big area containing a ccanyon structure ranging from 80 fathom to 450 fathom deep. Located South of Baltimore Canyon. Early morning and late afternoon produce the best action.

50,107 acres

Poormans Canyon South

Canyon
tunabillfishmarlinbonito+2 more

South of Baltimore Canyon. It has this name because north of it there is another canyon with the same name. It goes from 100 to 500 fathom deep in a short space. Early morning and late afternoon produce the best action.

32,194 acres

Washington Canyon

Canyon
tunasharkbillfishmarlin

Located near the famous Explosive dumping area. 40 to 500 fathom deep in a relatively short distance which means that the slope of the canyon there is considerably important. Look for temperature breaks and color changes at the canyon walls.

75,907 acres

Wilmington Canyon

Canyon
tunasharkbillfishmarlin

A huge area that goes from 100 fathom to 1000 fathom deep but the area it covers is so large that in comparison to the other canyons it has a moderate slope. 95 nautical miles SE (125 degrees T) offshore from Cape May Inlet. Look for temperature breaks and color changes at the canyon walls.

101,547 acres

Wrecks & Artificial Reefs

97 wrecks

Sunken ships and artificial reefs create productive fish habitat along the New Jersey coast. These structures attract sea bass, tautog, fluke, and other bottom species.

Ammo

Wreck
flukebluefish

A pretty big area 2.5-3 nautical miles NE from the Shark River Inlet. Covers all the 60 feet depth line finishing n 40 10.0 degrees of latitude. Bucktails tipped with Gulp or strip baits are deadly for fluke.

Near Shark River1,737 acres

Ammo

Wreck
flukebluefish

A pretty big area 2.5-3 nautical miles NE from the Shark River Inlet. Covers all the 60 feet depth line finishing n 40 10.0 degrees of latitude. Bucktails tipped with Gulp or strip baits are deadly for fluke.

Near Shark River

Anastasia

Wreck
striped bassbluefishflukesea bass

Anastasia is a schooner barge of 1,313 gross tons that sank off the NJ coast in approximately 75 feet of water with four casualties. One of at least three vessels named Anastasia documented in NJ coastal waters, this site has little remaining structure after decades of bottom activity. The sandy seafloor context makes it useful as a bottom-fishing reference point rather than a standing-wreck destination. Sea bass and tautog visit the scattered debris during season, and the area falls within range of the broader Manasquan Inlet offshore zone. Charter captains from Manasquan Inlet and Point Pleasant may include this area on multi-stop bottom-fishing trips when targeting the nearby Mohawk and Stolt Dagali wrecks.

Near Manasquan Inlet2,666 acres

Arundo

Wreck
striped bassbluefishflukesea bass

MV Arundo (ex-Petersfield), a 412-foot Dutch freighter, was torpedoed by German submarine U-136 on April 28, 1942, sinking in five minutes with 6 casualties. Her unusual cargo — military trucks, two locomotives, and 5,000 cases of Canadian beer bound for North Africa — made her a legend among NJ wreck divers. The wreck lies 15–16 miles off Shark River Inlet at 125 feet, heavily broken up and silted after post-war wire-dragging. The debris field holds ling (red hake), sea bass, and tautog in the structure, with pelagics working above in warmer months. Fishing-net entanglement is a known hazard, and silt limits visibility. Charter boats from Shark River and Manasquan Inlet run offshore trips to the Arundo during sea bass and ling seasons.

Near Shark River2,666 acres

Barge

Wreck
striped bassbluefishflukesea bass

Barge is an artificial reef site off Sandy Hook, NJ, consisting of a sunken barge hull that has been colonized by sea bass, tautog, and porgy since its sinking. The steel structure provides hard substrate on an otherwise sandy bottom. Striped bass and bluefish work the edges during migration. Accessible on a short run from Sandy Hook Bay, Keyport, or Leonardo marinas.

Near Sandy Hook2,666 acres

Barge

Wreck
sea basstautog

This wreck is inside of the area known as "Mud Hole". In the E part of the drop-off marge. 4 nautical miles NE (22 degrees T) from "Oil Wrecks " spot. Jig vertically over the wreck for sea bass and tautog.

Near Shark River

Popular Fishing Runs

Plan your trip with these popular routes from NJ fishing ports. Distance, travel time, and target species for each run. Filter by difficulty to find runs suited to your boat.

5 runs are in peak season for May.

Belmar to Hudson Canyon

BelmarHudson Canyon

Canyon

85

nm

4.5h

travel time

30'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBillfishSharkMahi-Mahi

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

The classic canyon run. Leave before dawn for a full day of offshore action.

Cape May to Baltimore Canyon

Cape MayBaltimore Canyon

Canyon

65

nm

3.5h

travel time

30'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBillfishMahi-MahiWahoo

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Shorter canyon run from the southern tip of NJ. Popular for overnight trips.

Cape May to Wilmington Canyon

Cape MayWilmington Canyon

Canyon

78

nm

4h

travel time

30'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBillfishMahi-Mahi

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Atlantic City to Poor Mans Canyon

Atlantic CityPoor Mans Canyon

Canyon

55

nm

3h

travel time

28'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaMahi-MahiShark

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

A good middle-ground canyon run. Named because smaller boats can reach it.

Barnegat to Hudson Canyon

Barnegat LightHudson Canyon

Canyon

75

nm

4h

travel time

30'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBillfishSharkMahi-Mahi

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Launch from the Viking Village fleet. Historic tuna fishing port.

Point Pleasant to Texas Tower

Point PleasantTexas Tower

Offshore

60

nm

3h

travel time

28'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBonitoMahi-Mahi

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Historic radar tower location. Structure attracts pelagic species.

Belmar to Cigar Buoy

BelmarCigar Buoy

Nearshore

25

nm

1.5h

travel time

23'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBonitoFalse AlbacoreBluefish

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Popular mid-range run. Often has good tuna action in late summer.

Atlantic City to Chicken Canyon

Atlantic CityChicken Canyon

Offshore

45

nm

2.5h

travel time

26'+

min boat

Target Species

TunaBonitoShark

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Closer than the major canyons. Good for single-day offshore trips.

Sandy Hook to Shrewsbury Rocks

Sandy HookShrewsbury Rocks

Nearshore

8

nm

30m

travel time

20'+

min boat

Target Species

Striped BassBluefishFlukeSea Bass

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Classic striper grounds. Very accessible from Sandy Hook area.

Barnegat to 17 Fathom Bank

Barnegat Light17 Fathom Bank

Nearshore

18

nm

1h

travel time

22'+

min boat

Target Species

FlukeSea BassBluefishBonito

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Popular bottom fishing ground. Excellent fluke and sea bass action.

Atlantic City to Glory Hole

Atlantic CityGlory Hole

Nearshore

12

nm

45m

travel time

22'+

min boat

Target Species

FlukeSea BassTautogBluefish

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Well-known flounder spot. Bottom structure holds fish year-round.

Cape May to Triple Wrecks

Cape MayTriple Wrecks

Nearshore

15

nm

45m

travel time

22'+

min boat

Target Species

Sea BassTautogFlukeStriped Bass

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Three wrecks in close proximity. Excellent wreck fishing destination.

Point Pleasant to Klondike Bank

Point PleasantKlondike Bank

Nearshore

22

nm

1.25h

travel time

23'+

min boat

Target Species

FlukeSea BassBluefishBonito

Best Months

JFMAMJJASOND

Named for its golden catches. Popular party boat destination.

Grounds by Region

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best offshore fishing grounds in New Jersey?

Hudson Canyon is the premier offshore destination, known for tuna, mahi, and billfish. Other top spots include Carteret Canyon, Baltimore Canyon, Texas Tower, and the many artificial reefs along the coast. Inshore lumps and wrecks produce excellent fluke, sea bass, and striped bass fishing.

How far offshore are the NJ fishing grounds?

Inshore grounds like lumps and wrecks are typically 3-15 miles offshore. Mid-range grounds are 15-40 miles out. The famous canyons (Hudson, Baltimore, etc.) are 60-100+ miles offshore and require overnight trips or fast offshore boats.

What species can I catch at NJ offshore fishing grounds?

Inshore grounds produce fluke, sea bass, striped bass, bluefish, and tautog. Offshore canyons are known for yellowfin and bluefin tuna, mahi-mahi (dolphin fish), wahoo, marlin, and sharks. Many grounds also hold lobster and red hake.

Do I need a charter boat to fish offshore in New Jersey?

For inshore grounds (under 20 miles), a capable private boat can work. Offshore canyon trips require a seaworthy vessel, extensive experience, and proper safety equipment. Most anglers book charter boats from ports like Cape May, Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, or Belmar for canyon trips.

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