Nov.5: The Fishing Line, The stripers are here

They’re here. Yes, early reports indicate that the stripers are on the move. Don’t miss some of the best fishing Cape May County has to offer.
“The stripers have arrived, in the rips and the Delaware Bay,” says Captain Joe pritchard. The chunk bite has been optimal so far, with fish from 28-48 inches. Of course fresh bunker is the bait of choice.
The bite has just started, which means there is plenty of time to get on board, to fish for your trophy. Call 463-0857 and make plans to go.
Ron Flemming at Cape May Bait & Tackle reports that while the winds kept most fishers on dry land, those who did get out caught stripers to 23-inches off the Cape May beaches and Cape May Point jetties. Bloodworms, clams, and small lures, all caught the shorties.
Kingfish are still being caught around the point jetties along with spot, using bloodworms for bait.
Ron got out himself and caught two small stripers at the canal bridge on a 5 1/4″ split Bomber Long A, then the mosquitoes carried him away.
Another day Ron was out at the beach around the lifeguard station and again caught two small bass using a 1½ ounce diamond jig with a red tube. Ron agrees with Captain Joe, “The bass are here, they just need to get a little bigger.”
Chuck & Mary Hinchcliffe at Off the Hook Bait and Tackle (OfftheHookBaitandTackle.com) tell me all of their boats are bringing in nice size stripers while chunking. The smallest weighing in about 25-pounds and you can see the largest in the Be My Guest photo in this column.
Bucktail Willie (Shillingford) out of Whale Creek Marina had a good week on stripers with several over the legal limit of 28 inches. One day he had 14 bass including three legal size. He used live spot for most fish but bucktails and eels are beginning to work, too.
All the fish were tagged with American Littoral Society Tags. If you catch a tagged striper please return the tag to the address with critical information: date caught, size, approximate location. Yellow tags belong to American Littoral Society. Other tags have an 800 number to call.
Capt. John Sowerby, Caveman Sportfishing Charters, is looking forward to a decent body of stripers arriving with the colder weather and the new moon (Oct. 28). Call him at 425-1970 If interested in fishing for trophy size stripers.
NEWS:
Tautog fishing is at its best in the fall, and this fall the possession limit increases to six fish a day on Nov. 16. Learn about where and how to fish for this challenging fish at njfishandwildlife.com/arttautog08.htm.
As a result of an ongoing oyster restoration program, the NJ DEP Division of Fish and Wildlife will open the oyster bed Fitney Bit, at the mouth of the Mullica River, to a limited one-week oyster harvest season, Monday, Nov. 10, to Saturday, Nov. 16, sunrise to sunset.
The harvest is open to all commercial and recreational shellfish license holders. Visit njfishandwildlife.com/news/2008/oysterharvest08.htm
The Spiny Dogfish & Coastal Sharks Management Board approved Addendum II to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Spiny Dogfish. Addendum II will be applied retroactively to the 2008/2009 fishing season which has an annual quota of 7,940,776 pounds after adjustments for overages. Under Addendum II, states from New York to Virginia may harvest 2,064,602 pounds. The northern states (ME to CT) have already harvested their entire allocation and their fishery will remain closed until the beginning of the 2009/2010 fishing season. Check out asmfc.org under Breaking News or call Christopher Vonderweidt, 202-289-6400 or cvonderweidt@asmfc.org.
TOURNAMENTS:
Long Beach Island Surf Fishing Classic, Oct. 11–Nov. 23, six-week event, tournaments sponsored daily, weekly and grand prizes, prizes for youngsters (14 and under), students (15-18), ladies (19 and over) and senior citizens (62 and older). Boats are not permitted. Registration $25 adults, $15 others, forms at the Chamber office, 265 W. 9th St., Ship Bottom; Barnegat Light Bait & Tackle, 1501 Bayview Ave.; Fisherman’s Headquarters, 280 W. 9th St., Ship Bottom; Jingles’ Bait & Tackle Shop, 1214 Long Beach Blvd, Beach Haven; and Surf City Bait and Tackle, 317 Long Beach Blvd; and Oceanside Bait & Tackle, 8201 Long Beach Blvd, Brighton Beach. Visit lbift.com or 494-7211.
Nov. 6, NJ Marine Fisheries Council, Atlantic County Library, 306 Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway Township, 4 p.m., 292-7794.
Nov. 8, Carpenters Local 1743 Striped Bass Tournament, benefits Brendan Borek Memorial Fund, Hinch Marina, 989 Ocean Drive, Cape May, $50, includes dinner; scales open 3-5 p.m. Captain’s meeting Nov. 7, 7 p.m., 729-0399.
Check out SeeMyBigFish.com and be sure to send your fish stories and pictures to Be My Guest reporter. Send info to cmiller@cmcherald.com.