Reef off the New Jersey coast
Acid Waters is a colloquially named fishing area in NJ waters off Sandy Hook, known among local captains for consistently productive bottom fishing. The name may refer to a past industrial discharge site or simply a local nickname for a particularly aggressive stretch of bottom. Sea bass and tautog concentrate on hard-bottom structure, with bluefish and bonito active above during summer. Charter boats from Sandy Hook and Highlands marinas include this area on their regular offshore rotation.
Click a species row to see fishing methods, regulations, and tips.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Bass | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Bluefish | Off | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Off | Off |
| Summer Flounder (Fluke) | Off | Off | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Off | Off | Off |
| Black Sea Bass | Off | Off | Off | Off | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Off |
Most charters depart from point-pleasant-beach - Best striper access
point-pleasant-beach
Cape May
Atlantic City
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Check AvailabilityAcid Waters is known for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke (Summer Flounder), Sea Bass.
Acid Waters is accessible from Sandy Hook. Check with local charter captains for precise navigation coordinates.
Reef structures provide habitat for a variety of species. Artificial reefs are regularly stocked and monitored by NJ Fish & Wildlife.
Check recent reports to see what's biting at Acid Waters.
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