Well, it’s welcome to August. Already! The hot weather, and good fishing options with flounder leading the way, have made the weeks roll by quickly. Those flounder play a prominent role, as is usual this time of year, in our report this week. Sea bass, triggerfish, croakers, cobia and kingfish are also mentioned, so let’s get to the report.
The Sailor’s Delight continues to keep their patrons busy as they are catching flounder, both throwbacks and keepers, croakers, skate and sharks. The back waters are an excellent spot to catch these and other fish, plus some blue-claw crabs, and to have a fun-filled day on the water. Book a trip with Captain Paul and enjoy your trip.
No Bones reported that there are still plenty of keeper fluke in the back bays. As proof they offered up a picture with two unidentified anglers and their five keepers.
The Miss Avalon, with Captains Irv and Brandon, has been heading to the local reefs on recent outings. Action has produced triggerfish, flounder and sea bass. You can check out their schedule and book your trip online.
The Avalon Lady is sailing the back waters for flounder, sea bass, bluefish and weakfish. They are sailing daily, and you can book a trip online at www.missavalon.com.
The Starfish has been sailing twice-daily trips at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. that have been putting their patrons on flounder, sea bass and triggerfish.
A new offering from Starfish Boats is back bay fishing for up to six people. You and your party will be fishing from one of the tiki boats that you may have seen plying the waters behind Sea Isle with happy partiers. This is an excellent way to get up in some skinny water or to other locations where conventional boats can’t go. A recent trip produced flounder, spot, sand sharks and sea robins. I’m sure that at the right time of day, and with the proper approach, you could also catch weakfish or striped bass.
Cameron, at Boulevard Bait and Tackle, had the pleasure to weigh in some big flounder recently. The presence of these nice-sized fish, with the possibility to catch one, is exciting for any angler who has a chance to get on the water.
Derek hit the reef for his two big fluke. He landed a 25-inch 5.4-pound fish, then he topped it with a 24.5-inch, 6.32-pounder. Gulp and strip baits did the trick. Fran came in to show off his 27.25-inch, 8.6-pound specimen that he landed. Finally, from the group who caught big fluke caught over the weekend comes Nate Horvath, who landed the biggest one, a 28.5-inch, 9.36-pound jumbo. A fish this size could be looked at as the fish of a lifetime. Congratulations, Nate.
Early and midweek action saw Captain BJ, Derek and K.P. catch a 35.5-pound cobia. They completed their day by adding five keeper flounder up to 22 inches. Kyle and Joe caught a “reef limit” of flounder, to 5.22 pounds.
Moran’s Dockside Bait and Tackle and Hoagie Shop was a busy hub of reports over the past weekend, as flounder and a weakfish took top billing.
J.D. Dever started things off with a 6-pound flounder that he caught while fishing on the Nev Er Enuf. Ron Kahny and Matt Makoid fished together and each caught a nice keeper, as did Noah Holmgren and his cousin Brayden, who were visiting from Minnesota.
Jon Reusch caught a 4-pound, 12-ounce flounder in the back bay, while Nico Guss caught a 22-incher, also in the back bay, and Sam landed a 3.7-pound flounder from an undisclosed location. The waters behind Stone Harbor gave up two keepers to William Bolger, and the weekend report was wrapped up by Chris Lind, who caught a healthy weakfish.
The anglers fishing from Whale Creek Marina are still bringing some nice flounder from the back bay. Deeper holes and channels are probably your best option during these warm times. Also, those who are crabbing are returning with some solid catches of blue claws for dinner.
Captain Chuck, with the Sea Star III, reported “a pretty solid week,” with good action being provided by fluke and sea bass. Keepers and shorts of both species filled the days, and coolers, of the anglers aboard.
A list of pool-winners this week saw Pat Bannon as the lone sea bass winner with a fish that weighed 1.35 pounds. All other winners won with fluke, and they were Kirsten Johansen, who won twice with 3.35- and 4.7-pound fish, Gary Walton Sr. (4.75), Trevor Emmons (5.0) and Larry Brunton, who caught 5.5-pounder.
Captain Chuck and the rest of the Sea Star III crew sail daily at 9 a.m., then return at 3 p.m.
Captain Mike, on the Miss Chris, reported that he fished both at the reefs and down around “the Point” depending on the weather conditions.
Weakfish, croakers, kingfish and flounder, with plenty of throwbacks, were caught at the Point, while the reef fishing saw mainly sea bass and flounders caught. A highlight went to Rich and Nan Hogan, who teamed up to fill a bucket with croakers and kingfish.
The Atlantic Adventure, with Captain Adam, continues to have very good trips. Mike Jung racked up another limit of fluke on a day that had tougher conditions than desired. Others caught their share of keepers recently also, even as the fishing became tougher.
Captain Adam has added another trip to his list of options. It’s a combination flounder and ribbonfish trip. They are said to be good table fare, so why not try and catch them? If things go according to plan, your cooler will have two tasty options in it. If there aren’t many around then the focus will switch to fluke.
The follow-up from the ribbonfish trip is that it was a success. They were easily located but didn’t bite till the tide changed. Fluke fishing filled the wait, and fishing for them was also a winning proposition.
Captain Bob, at Full Ahead Sport Fishing, continues to find the flounder, as two recent charters found out. The first was a fish short of its boat limit, thanks to a shark eating a flounder as it was being reeled in, but featured a 6.25-pounder, while the second limited out by 11:30 a.m. Most of their flounder were over 20 inches, with the heaviest getting to 6 pounds.
The King of the Cape, a flounder tournament run by Tony DiMeglio from Cape May Sport Fishing, Bob Duckenfield from Jim’s Bait and Tackle and by Jason Helms, was recently held. Sixty-eight boats were entered and the day’s weather wasn’t optimal, but that didn’t deter those who entered. Records were set for boat turnout, cash handed out and amount of weigh-ins at the after-party.
When all was said and done the first- and second-place winners in each category were, for Single Heaviest Fish, All Hanked Up II and Cowfish; for The Heaviest Stringer, Jersey Boys and Sloppy Seconds, and for the the Junior division, Robbie Hanes and Steve Hotz. Congratulations to all winners.
Hands Too Bait and Tackle weighed in a flounder for Lia, Grace, Danny and Paul that was 5.8 pounds and 25 inches long.
The Ocean City Fishing Club will hold its 48th annual Boys and Girls Surf Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 9. Parents or guardians may register their children on the OCFC website, www.oceancityfishingclub.com. To help speed up the registration process, it is recommended that you register online and have all waivers completed prior to arriving.
Anglers can begin arriving at 9 a.m. to pick their fishing spot at the north end beach near the Longport-Ocean City Bridge. There will be three age groups, 8-10, 11-13 and 14-16, that will have both a girls and boys division. A complete list of rules appears on the OCFC website.
It was another hot week, but the fishing results were almost as hot. Good luck if you get out, take care, and I’ll see you around.
Submit fishing news and photos to mrobbins@cmcherald.com.
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