This past week saw the increase in action that we have been waiting for. A little more favorable weather and the fact that a couple of boats opened their season worked together to give us the bump we’ve been looking forward to.
Also, after checking out the dogwood tree in the front yard I noticed the blooms were opening. You probably realize that means drum fish won’t be far behind. We’ll be looking for reports about them real soon. Let’s check out the recent highlights.
The Sea Star III, with Captain Chuck and crew, opened its 2025 campaign on Good Friday, then followed that up with a Easter Sunday trip. They were targeting blackfish, and the reviews of those trips were favorable. There was plenty of action as many short fish, as well as a good number of keepers, were caught.
The first pool winner of the year was Gary Agness, who won with a 4.6-pound blackfish. The Sunday winner was Ryan Wagner, who walked away with the pool after catching a 4.25-pound blackfish. Both anglers also were able to land their four-fish limit. Captain Chuck’s son Chris, who was able to fish while doing his mate duties, was also able to catch his limit on Sunday.
The Sea Star III sails six-hour trips daily, weather and wind allowing, leaving the dock at 9 a.m.
The Miss Avalon also opened its 2025 season on Good Friday. Their term for the day was “great,” as action was experienced at all their stops. Shorts and bites keep everyone sharp, and anglers Tony and Jerry showed how it was done by each catching their limit. Tony also won the daily pool with a 5-pounder. That sounds like a good start to the season.
The Atlantic Adventure has been steadily running trips all month, with those results continuing this week. They have been running “marathon trips” most days and providing their patrons with plenty of action. Shorts, keepers and plenty of limits have been caught. They will switch their focus as the spring blackfish season comes to a close as April ends. Flounder, drum fish and sea bass will be on their agenda for May.
Sea Isle Bait and Tackle had some nice catches of blackfish and striped bass in the last week. The first in the report were two blackfish. Adam stopped in with a keeper. He also had some throwbacks that provided good action. The second keeper went to a lady angler named Brandy, who bested a 19.5-inch, 4.33-pound tog. She caught her keeper at Townsends Inlet during a morning outing.
Jimmy Crudele stopped into the store to pick up some salted clams on a recent morning. He hit the beach and was the benefactor of catching a 43-inch catch and release striper.
Others who made it in before the deadline were B.J., who caught two keeper blackfish from the inlet, Tim, who was fishing for stripers under the lights where they were schooling up, and the Bakley girls, who each caught a keeper tog while fishing over spring break.
Boulevard Bait and Tackle checked in with word of a nice striper being caught from the Sea Isle surf. The angler was a lady named Cathy, and the striper was a 46-incher, which represents her personal best. Fresh clam was the bait of choice. Congratulations Cathy on your nice catch.
Cathy was busy, as she caught a 28-inch drum fish a little after the striper. She joined Mike, who also caught a drum fish while fishing the Sea Isle surf the day before Cathy caught hers.
Captain Bob, from Full Ahead Sport Fishing, has been putting his fares on the blackfish. His Easter Sunday trip was productive and included plenty of keepers. Later in the week the Matt Schad party also got into the fun and finished with a nice cooler full of keepers.
Unfortunately, the quick, and too short, spring blackfish season is ending today. Conversely, that means that the summer flounder season opens in four days. Drum fish could show up at any minute, and the first segment of sea bass season opens May 17. Momentum is building as the Cape fishing scene continues to develop. Good luck if you get out, take care, and I’ll see you around.
Submit fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
