Wreck Site off the New Jersey coast
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.
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
Compare all striped bass charters and book online
Check AvailabilityInshore tackle for back-bay and jetty
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Recommended tackle for Striped Bass and Bluefish fishing.
Medium-power 7 ft rod + 3000-class reel. Stripers, fluke, and weakies.

PENN

PENN
“The combo NJ surf-fishing beginners actually keep using two seasons later.”— Jersey Shore Guide editors
1/2 to 2 oz bucktails for fluking the channels and bridge pilings.

kmucutie

kmucutie
Topwater plugs for blitzing stripers at sunrise off the inlet.

JOGFFDE

Dr.Fish
Paddle-tail and shad-style plastics for snapper blues and fluke.

Matrix Shad

Vhxmaizxn
3-4 tray bag built to walk jetties without snagging or dumping.
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Barge is known for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke (Summer Flounder), Sea Bass.
Barge is accessible from Sandy Hook. Check with local charter captains for precise navigation coordinates.
Wreck sites provide structure that attracts fish. They are excellent for bottom fishing and often hold sea bass, tautog, and striped bass.
Check recent reports to see what's biting at Barge.
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