September 29, 2026 — The massive coastal storm rocking the New Jersey coastline this weekend has caused major flooding, transportation issues, and a headache for fishermen all along the Jersey Shore. The storm sank the hopes of fishermen casting lines to catch a few more Fluke and Sea Bass.
Rough seas all week long forced charter captains in New Jersey to cancel or limit fishing trips as the coastal storm whipped into a Nor’easter by the weekend. The storm has forced the fishing industry to remain docked, keeping them from reeling in sorely needed profits at a time when fuel costs have doubled.
Charter fleets from Long Branch to Cape May have been docked as the storm kicks up offshore waves near 20 feet high and thrashes the coast with sustained winds up to 40 mph. In many cases the rough weather is keeping New Jersey captains from earning money to offset the cost of fuel. Since September 2025, diesel prices have risen by more than 70%, fueled in part the war in Iran that began in April.