Ridge off the New Jersey coast
Ess Ridge snakes along the bottom about 15.4 nautical miles east of Barnegat Inlet — the name follows the ridge's S-curve. Ridgelines this far out gather sea bass and tautog on structure, and passing striped bass use the elevation as a migration waypoint.
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 |
| Black Sea Bass | Off | Off | Off | Off | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Off |
| Tautog (Blackfish) | Off | Off | Good | Peak | Peak | Off | Off | Off | Off | Peak | Peak | Good |
Most charters depart from point-pleasant-beach - Wreck fishing specialists
point-pleasant-beach
Cape May
Wildwood
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Check AvailabilityEss Ridge is known for Sea Bass, Tautog, Striped Bass.
Ess Ridge is accessible from Barnegat Inlet. Check with local charter captains for precise navigation coordinates.
Check recent reports to see what's biting at Ess Ridge.
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