Wreck Site off the New Jersey coast
SS Vizcaya, a 287-foot Spanish passenger steamer built in 1872, met a catastrophic end October 30, 1890, when the coal schooner Cornelius Hargraves struck and nearly bisected her off Barnegat in the dark, destroying her lifeboats on impact and killing 69 of her 88 passengers and crew. The wreck rests in approximately 70 feet of water on a sandy seafloor, now a collapsed debris field with boilers and engine as the only significant upright structures. Historically popular with treasure hunters — she carried $350,000 in merchandise — the Vizcaya is known today as a dependable lobster wreck and an occasional producer of sea bass and tautog. Charter boats from Barnegat Inlet reach the site on standard-range trips.
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 AvailabilityVizcaya is known for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Fluke (Summer Flounder), Sea Bass.
Vizcaya is accessible from Barnegat 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 Vizcaya.
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