Wreck Site off the New Jersey coast
SS Mohawk, a 387-foot passenger liner on the New York-Jacksonville run, collided with the Norwegian freighter Talisman on January 25, 1935, in winter seas off Sea Girt when her steering gear failed. Her watertight bulkheads had been removed to carry bulk cargo during the Depression, leaving her defenseless — she sank in 90 minutes with 45 dead. The wreck lies 5–8 miles off Manasquan Inlet in 80 feet of water. Post-war wire-dragging and decades of trawling have scattered the hull into what divers describe as "an underwater junkyard," but the broken structure produces excellent fishing: large sea bass and tautog concentrate in the debris, summer and winter flounder patrol the sandy margins, and lobsters inhabit the remaining structural cavities. The Mohawk is a popular party boat destination accessible in moderate weather.
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 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
1/2 to 2 oz bucktails for fluking the channels and bridge pilings.
Topwater plugs for blitzing stripers at sunrise off the inlet.

JOGFFDE

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

Vhxmaizxn

TRUSCEND
3-4 tray bag built to walk jetties without snagging or dumping.
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Mohawk is known for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke (Summer Flounder), Sea Bass.
Mohawk is accessible from Manasquan Inlet. 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 Mohawk.
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