NJ Fishing Advertise Here at New Jersey's Number 1 Fishing Website!


Message Board


Highlands or Shark River? - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey


Message Board Registration       FAQ

Go Back   NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey > NJFishing.com Salt Water Fishing
FAQ Members List Calendar

NJFishing.com Salt Water Fishing Use this board to post all general salt water fishing information. Please use the appropriate boards below for all other information. General information about sailing times, charter availability and open boats trips can be found and should be posted in the open boat forum.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-22-2017, 08:27 PM
JusGlase JusGlase is offline
NJFishing.com Regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 58
Default Highlands or Shark River?

Hi Guys,

New to this forum, thanks for any advice on this! I fished NJ for years before moving my boat out to Southampton NY. Just purchased a 28' CC and looking to get back into fishing. Used to keep my boat down in the Manasquan River but now will be living in Long Branch.

I have the choice of keeping the boat in Sea Bright, Highlands, or the Shark River. What would you choose if you were me?

My thought is the shark river is ideal for getting right to the ocean, but highlands offers the opportunity to be right in the Raritan Bay, but a longer ride to the ocean grounds.

Any advice here would be appreciated, especially if you keep your boat in one of the two areas.

Thx!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-22-2017, 09:02 PM
bulletbob bulletbob is offline
NJFishing.com Old Salt
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 2,377
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

It depends on what you fish for and what months you will be fishing.. April through June, , IMHO its Raritan Bay.. Stripers will start there first, and it stays good until it starts to get too warm for good daytime fishing for them.

Fluke are often thick as hell in the bay and very active early in the season, while the ocean fishing stays slow due to cold water,, So again, for early season fluke, IMHO, the choice would be Raritan Bay. Blues start showing in the bay in late April early may, and you have good fishing for them, while they are more sporadic in the ocean..

However, for April Blackfish IMHO Shark River would be your best bet.. Same with the 3 week May/June Sea Bass "season".

July/August/Sept, when the water is warm in the bay, and a lot of the big fluke have been mopped up, or are starting to move out, you are better off hitting the rough bottom from Sea Bright to Asbury Park so IMHO Shark River or MI would be best at those times.. Look ANY of those ports would be great, and personally I am envious that you have those choices... bob
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-22-2017, 09:11 PM
Capt. Lou Capt. Lou is offline
NJFishing.com Old Salt
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,346
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

Inshore Highlands , offshore - inshore Shark River ! Personally I would have purchased an express that I could stay on &'leave it in the Hamptons ! I fish out there all the time & it's a great area for most species , considering the bay etc.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-22-2017, 09:40 PM
Gerry Zagorski's Avatar
Gerry Zagorski Gerry Zagorski is offline
Owner NJFishing.com
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Edison, NJ
Posts: 11,773
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

Great advice above. If you decide to stay North and are choosing between Sea Bright and the Highlands, I'd choose the Highlands. Problem with Sea Bright is a lot of summer traffic on the road to get to the boat and most of your trip in the river to get out to the bay is no wake.

Welcome to the site!!
__________________

Gerry Zagorski <><

Founder/Owner of NJFishing.com since 1997
Proud Supporter of Heroes on the Water
NJFishing@aol.com
Obsession
28 Carolina Classic
Sandy Hook Area
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-22-2017, 09:46 PM
NoLimit NoLimit is offline
NJFishing.com Old Salt
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: I quite this forum because my post was censored
Posts: 1,112
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

Keep in mind that the afternoons prevailing south wind means a rough ride if home is Shark River. Plus that wind can keep temps low along the Jersey shore while fish will be feeding inside.

I used to fish out of all the inlets from Beach Haven and north and Highlands or Atlantic Highlands offers the most days of quality fishing.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-22-2017, 11:09 PM
Captain Rich's Avatar
Captain Rich Captain Rich is offline
Site Sponsor
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,789
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the low water/ shoaling problems shark river has been having.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-23-2017, 12:30 AM
Joey Dah Fish's Avatar
Joey Dah Fish Joey Dah Fish is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,969
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

Hands down highland many more options to fish. Bay and ocean. Sometimes bay is sloppy and ocean is fine. Conversely sometimes ocean is ugly and the bay is fine. Not many option in shark river.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-25-2017, 10:52 AM
Billfish715 Billfish715 is offline
NJFishing.com Old Salt
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,329
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

Pleasure Bay or Oceanport Landing. Google them for directions.

Both are about 10 minutes from you. Good crabbing, river fluke ( Shrewsbury and Navesink, close to Sandy Hook Bay. It's worth a look. If you want to be close to your boat, that's where I would look.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-25-2017, 11:04 AM
Sharkyispy's Avatar
Sharkyispy Sharkyispy is offline
NJFishing.com Old Salt
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Sarasota FL
Posts: 2,897
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

Shark River Municipal Marina is a nice marina, very clean, nice floating docks, new clubhouse Water levels fairly decent unless at back end of areas. Channels are normally OK and hoping dredging made better. Fairly quick access to inlet and ocean, also have options of heading north up to Shrewsbury/Rocks and structure or south to Sea Girt area or others that have good fishing also. As mentioned Mudhole is @ 12+ miles out at beginning from Shark River.
__________________
Mike Reynolds
[email]Sharkbite_Bucktails@aol.com
23' Parker Deep V
Supporter and Member of RFA/NJ
IGFA Member
www.sharkbite-bucktails.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-25-2017, 04:54 PM
EddieG EddieG is offline
NJFishing.com Ambassador
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 166
Default Re: Highlands or Shark River?

You will spend most of your time in mud at the SRYC.. I remember many of days waiting for the tide to rise in order to get into the slip.. sea view Marina is right down the road from there and you will have no problems with getting the boat in or out..
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:03 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.