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Fishing Barnegat Bay: what the data says
63,796-acre bay near Toms River. The water tops out around 31 ft. The depth chart is built from real NOAA hydrographic survey soundings (depths referenced to low tide), so the channels, holes and drop-offs you see are measured, not guessed. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Striped Bass fishing at Barnegat Bay
Spring striped bass on Barnegat Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 20 ft. They move out to 9 to 31 ft in summer and finish the year down in 9 to 31 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a flutter spoon (deep) or a umbrella rig (trolled) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Bucktail jig + trailer, Walking topwater (dawn) |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Flutter spoon (deep), Umbrella rig (trolled) |
| Fall | 9 to 31 ft | dawn & dusk | Topwater walker, Jerkbait |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Alabama rig (slow), Flutter spoon |
Summer Flounder (Fluke) fishing at Barnegat Bay
In spring, summer flounder (fluke) run shallow here, mostly 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 31 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. Sharp break is the standout, a drop-off at roughly 8 ft, rated prime for summer summer flounder (fluke). Best bite is midday and early morning. Tie on a bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed) or a gulp grub on jighead and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail + Gulp swimming mullet, Hi-lo rig + squid strip |
| Summer | 7 to 31 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail (1-3 oz by drift speed), Gulp grub on jighead |
| Fall | 8 to 31 ft | midday | Heavier bucktail on the lumps, Big Gulp 6" grub |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Slow bottom rig + strip |
Bluefish fishing at Barnegat Bay
Start shallow in spring: bluefish sit in 3 to 20 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 5 to 30 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. The spot to know is Creek inflow, a inflow / creek mouth in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for bluefish in fall. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a popper (early/late) or a metal jigs in the rips and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Metal (Hopkins/Kastmaster), Pencil popper |
| Summer | 5 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Popper (early/late), Metal jigs in the rips |
| Fall | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & midday | Pencil popper, Big metal |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Metal jig worked slow (southern waters) |
Black Sea Bass fishing at Barnegat Bay
Spring black sea bass on Barnegat Bay hold shallow, usually 8 to 31 ft. Summer fish stay in 8 to 31 ft, and winter fish hold in 9 to 31 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for black sea bass in summer. Plan around midday and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a bucktail + grub or a diamond jig + squid teaser gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 8 to 31 ft | midday & dawn | Hi-lo rig + squid, 1-2 oz bucktail + Gulp |
| Summer | 8 to 31 ft | midday & dawn | Bucktail + grub, Diamond jig + squid teaser |
| Fall | 8 to 31 ft | midday | 3-4 oz vertical jig (deep), Double-teaser rig |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Heavy hi-lo rig on deep wrecks |
Tautog (Blackfish) fishing at Barnegat Bay
Spring tautog (blackfish) on Barnegat Bay hold shallow, usually 5 to 25 ft. Summer pushes them deeper, 9 to 31 ft, and winter fish settle into 9 to 31 ft. The spot to know is Sharp break, a drop-off in about 8 ft of water that rates prime for tautog (blackfish) in fall. Best bite is early morning. Summer baits: a 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 25 ft | midday & dawn | Tog jig + green crab half, Bare jig + clam (early) |
| Summer | 9 to 31 ft | dawn | 1/2-1 oz tog jig + crab |
| Fall | 6 to 31 ft | midday | Tog jig + whole green crab, Old-school rig + double crab (deep) |
| Winter | 9 to 31 ft | midday | Heavy jig + crab on deep structure |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 14 ft
- Deepest basin: deep basin, around 12 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 9 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 9 ft
- Sharp break: drop-off, around 8 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 5 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 4 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 4 ft
- Marina / dock area: dock line, around 3 ft
- Creek inflow: inflow / creek mouth, around 3 ft
- Old creek channel: creek channel, around 3 ft
- Gravel shoal: gravel shoal, around 3 ft
- Shoreline point: point, around 3 ft
- Weed flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Barnegat Bay?
Barnegat Bay is about 31 ft at its deepest point. The depth chart here comes from real NOAA hydrographic surveys (charted soundings referenced to low tide), so the contours reflect measured depths.
What fish are in Barnegat Bay?
Anglers target striped bass, summer flounder (fluke), bluefish, black sea bass, tautog (blackfish) on Barnegat Bay.
Where is the best fishing spot on Barnegat Bay?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 14 ft of water that rates prime for striped bass in summer. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Barnegat Bay?
For striped bass, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Little Egg Harbor · Lake Absegami · Great Bay · Deal Lake · Lake Topanemus · Duhernal Lake
Browse all New Jersey fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. Bathymetry credit: NOAA Office of Coast Survey (ENC soundings, MLLW datum). How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.