Captains know where the best fishing in LBI is.

If you are into fishing in LBI, it’s time to charter a boat. Whether you visit early in summer, peak season or at the end of the year, there are fish to be caught in the bountiful waters of Beach Haven and Barnegat Light.

LBI is famous for their charter fishing boats and party boats. We’ve got a list of LBI’s most trusted captains, and special deals to save you money when fishing on the island.

Various packages and boats for Fishing in LBI

There are different packages available. Take note of the type of boat, number of passengers allowed on board, and the length of the trips offered. You can charter a fishing boat to take you inshore fishing within a few miles from LBI’s shores, or you could go offshore fishing anywhere from 20-30 miles out.

Some fishing trips are 4-6 hours long. Some boats take overnight fishing tours and passengers can sleep in the cabin below. Most fishing boats in LBI have humble accommodations but you’ll likely have access to coffee, a microwave and a toilet.

If you’re bringing your family to LBI, take them fishing and build happy memories that they will remember long after the summer ends. Average sized fishing boats will hold a maximum of 6-8 passengers.

For larger groups of people, you will want to go fishing on a party boat, which can hold 20-100 people. LBI has only a handful of party boats left, but the ones remaining are used for cruising and for fishing. Carolyn Ann III, Miss Barnegat Light and Miss Beach Haven are three party boats on Long Beach Island.

Fishing in LBI is a great deal compared to surrounding areas

If you’re fishing for a great deal in LBI, you’ve come to the right place! The cost of chartering LBI’s private fishing boats is fairly even across the board, because they are set according to local fuel costs. The good news is that gas prices in New Jersey are lower than the national average and definitely lower than you’ll find in Pennsylvania, New York or Maryland.

Charting a boat in LBI is a reasonably priced activity, and the fishing experience is well worth the cost. If you have a group of five or six, each person can pay less than $100 for the day.

Are you ready to pick a boat and go fishing in LBI? Ask what’s included in the price. Some captains hand out functional souvenirs like custom-made rods or printed hats and tee shirts!

Most charter fishing packages in LBI include tackle and bait onboard. Usually, captains will clean and package the fish that you catch so it’s convenient to take home.

Catch your trophy fish in LBI

With the bay on one side of LBI, and the ocean on the other, there are various ways to go after “the big one”! If you’re set on catching a trophy fish – usually a striped bass- you should spend time anchored in the inlet or bay using clams or bunker as bait. Local fishermen are also successful trolling the white water with drifting eels on a bucktail.

There are two reliable methods for catching bass in LBI: Jigging and the snag-and-drop method. A jig is a type of fishing lure with a lead sinker with a molded hook, covered with a soft exterior. “Snag and drop” is a local fishing term where a treble hook is tied to a leader, then two swivels with a barrel weight position between them.

If you want advice on which methods to use, stop by one of the bait and tackle shops in LBI and talk with shop owners for a little while. You can also pick the captain’s brain once you board the fishing boat.

Participate in an LBI fishing tournament

Summertime is peak season for fishing, but it’s a year round industry in LBI. There are a number of tournaments hosted and the prizes are impressive!

LBI Surf Fishing Classic

If you visit in the fall, you can participate in the LBI Surf Fishing Classic tournament. This tournament offers thousands of dollars in prize money, awarded to winners on a daily and weekly basis throughout the eight-week-long tournament. There are a number of categories and prizes in the LBI Surf Fishing Classic. In addition to the tournament prizes, many local businesses sponsor their own prizes.

In 2015, Ed Krzanowki took the Striped Bass Grand Prize with his trophy bass, weighing 47 pounds and 5 ounces. The same season, twelve striped bass weighed in over 30 pounds, and eleven Bluefish weighed in over 10 pounds!

Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament in LBI

The Governor’s Surf Fishing Tournament in LBI will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2016. The winning fisherman’s name is engraved on the Governor’s Cup, which is permanently displayed at Island Beach State Park. In 2014, Chris Follmer won the Governor’s Cup with a whopping 36” Bluefish.

Fishing equipment is also awarded to the fishermen with the longest fish in each species category.

It’s time to set sail in one of LBI’s charter fishing boats

Depending on the time of year, you will find different types of fish in LBI. The waters surrounding Long Beach Island are plentiful with stripers, flounder, sea bass, bluefish and tautog. Some captains will even take you fishing for sharks!

Whether you go inshore fishing, offshore fishing, with friends or in a group of strangers, you’re going to have a great day chartering a boat in Long Beach Island. Check out the trips available in Beach Haven and Barnegat Light and get your rods ready… because it’s always a good time to go fishing in LBI!